Ventura, CA

San Buenaventura was founded in 1782 by Father Junipero Serra as well as the ninth and final mission, San Buenaventura, in the California Mission series.  It was decided that the name San Buenaventura was too long to write on train schedules so it was shortened to Ventura and the nickname has stuck!

Ventura is located between Malibu to the south and Santa Barbara to the north and offers year-round recreational activities including but not limited to guided tours, surfing, golfing, tennis, hiking, parasailing, scuba diving, kayaking, boating, and jet skiing.  Bicycle enthusiasts can travel from Ventura to Ojai along the Ventura River Trail. This 9-mile trail provides walkers, runners, and cyclists with a secure connection to the Coast Bikeway.

Hike the Ventura Botanical Garden Trail for stunning coastline and island views.  End your hike at Grant Park and the famed Serra Cross.

Ventura has 31 parks including but not limited to, the Ventura Botanical Gardens, Grant Park, Arroyo Verde Park (has an off-leash dog area) and the Ventura Community Park. The Ventura Community Park has a wide array of recreational amenities for Ventura residents and visitors. The park, designed to accommodate numerous sports, recreation and leisure activities, serves a wide variety of different interests and activity levels. Which includes an Aquatic center with a recreational pool, a competition pool, two waterslides, a bathhouse, multipurpose fields, and bike and pedestrian path.