Ventura & Gold Coast, California

The California Gold Coast is a fascinating amalgam of California attractions. The region is home to beautiful beaches, sun-warmed coastal cities, matchless recreational opportunities on land and water alike, and glorious wildlife viewing. But it also offers a uniquely accessible glimpse into the region's rich cultural and agricultural history. The California Gold Coast offers attractions that pay off handsomely by giving the visitor a deeply satisfying sense of having discovered the place on one's own.

Ventura— Tucked away on the coast is an emerging destination that has managed to embrace revitalization while maintaining an authentic connection to California's coastal past. Indeed, the city of Ventura (officially named San Buenaventura, or the "City of Good Fortune") today offers a wealth of downtown attractions, recreational adventures, and historic sights. Ventura's city center charmingly combines vintage architecture with much that is new—great contemporary dining, wine bars, art galleries, and antique shops—to create an updated version of the classic California beach town. True to that heritage, the city remains relaxed and decidedly eclectic. A visit to Ventura can feel like a step back in time. In fact, city-sponsored history walks, led by a local historian, highlight Ventura's colorful and exciting past—including the ghosts who allegedly still haunt certain city buildings.

Ojai Valley— Northeast of Ventura along scenic Highway 33 is the renowned Ojai Valley. A place of incomparable beauty, the valley was immortalized as the mythical Shangri-La in the film Lost Horizon, which was filmed here in 1937. Just 20 minutes east of Ventura, the Ojai Valley is home to some of the most interesting shops, world-class art galleries, fine dining, and spas in California. The area boasts a rich and colorful past. The Chumash Indians, who inhabited the region more than 1,000 years ago, gave the valley its name, which means "moon". Indeed, in Ojai, natural wonders are always beckoning. The city sits encircled by the dramatic Topa Topa Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, and nearby Lake Casitas Recreation Area provide outstanding recreational opportunities. And Ojai makes the ideal starting point for back-country hiking on miles of trails, boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping.

Oxnard— Oxnard's superb weather makes it possible for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy biking, golf, fishing, tennis, surfing, hiking, sailing, lawn bowling, and other activities virtually all year long. More than seven miles of breathtakingly beautiful public beaches and several parks provide perfect outdoor recreational environments. Movie buffs should take special note of Hollywood Beach, a filming site since the 1920s. A year-round attraction in Oxnard is the Channel Islands Harbor, which celebrates the town's nautical past and present, and serves as a dining and shopping destination as well. The harbor is a departure point for all manner of ocean activities, from fishing to whale watching to kayaking and scuba diving. A water taxi serves customers within the harbor area. New for the harbor is the Progressive Dining experience, utilizing the harbor's water taxi to ferry diners between meal courses and restaurants.

Heritage Valley— Often called the "Citrus Capital of the World," picturesque Heritage Valley is filled with vast citrus groves and avocado orchards, and includes such charming historic towns as Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Piru. One of the best ways to enjoy the Heritage Valley is to hop aboard the delightful Fillmore & Western Railway, an antique train offering scenic rides between Piru and Santa Paula. The California Oil Museum in Santa Paula, where Union Oil was born, chronicles the fascinating history of the area's oil industry, so crucial to the development of the region.