For information on events, hotels and dining in Ventura call or stop by:

For information on events, hotels and dining in Ventura call or stop by: VENTURA VISITORS CENTER 101 S. California Street • Ventura, CA 93001 • (800) 333-2989 • www.SeeVentura.com
Santa Rosa
San Miguel
Anacapa
Santa Cruz
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p
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n
n
aker
Dr.
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Olivas Adobe
Historical Park
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15
Channel Islands National Park
18
7
Angler
Ct.
Spinnak
er Dr.
17
6
Rubicon Theatre
30
28
or B
Harb
lvd.
27
Blvd.
ato
Navig
17
6
.
ner Dr
Schoo
Beach
mont
St.
VENTURA HARBOR
8
Visitors Center
Coastal Bikeway
Ventura River Trail
San Buenaventura
State Beach Park
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29
32
14
Museum of Ventura County
Ventura County Fairgrounds / Surfer’s Point
24
San Buenaventura City Hall
23
Monarch Butterfly Roost
22
(Dec. - Jan.)
Mission San Buenaventura
Amtrak California
Ortega Adobe Historical Residence
19
Olivas Adobe Historical Park
18
Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center
17
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
16
Island Packers
15
Fillmore & Western Railway Company
14
Yellow Cab Co./Tours
Watermark Restaurant
The Wine Rack
12
Channel Islands Outfitters
10
11
To Fillmore & Western
Railway Company
Olivas Links Golf Course
25
13
To Santa Paula
Buenaventura Golf Course
Grant Park Lookout Point
20
3
San Buenaventura State Beach Park
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wa
igh
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Ve
or
Harb
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r Dr.
Olivas Park
Dr
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Island
Marina
Park
Ventura Harbor Village
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27
15 Packers
Channel Islands
National Park
Visitor Center
Santa Paula
32
29
VENTURA
HARBOR 31
VILLAGE
To Ronald Reagan 16
Presidential Library
27
24
5
2
25
19
10
21
California St.
20
12
4
1
9
30
11
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Loma Vista Rd
d.
Day R
S TA R AT T R AC T I O N S
Vagabond Inn Ventura
9
Marriott Ventura Beach
8
7
6
Memorial
Park
Pol
i St
.
5
4
23
26
Holiday Inn Express Ventura Harbor
Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor
Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
Country Inn & Suites
Comfort Inn Ventura Beach
3
The Clocktower Inn
2
Best Western Inn Ventura
1
LO D G I N G
Exit Ventura Freeway 101 at California Street
For Dining, Shopping and a Unique Walking Experience.
www.downtownventura.org
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• Over 60 Restaurants &
Live Music Venues
• What
• 160 Shops & Art Galleries
to Do
• Where to Stay
y
• Map Inside
• Cultural District with
Mission & Museums
With world-class cuisine and a cool arts scene, island breezes
and unique boutiques, Ventura offers a relaxed escape in a
spectacular coastal setting. A Real California Adventure!
Rediscover the Ventura Golf Experience
Emily Thompson
About Ventura
•
Sunny more than
250 days-a-year
•
Daytime temperatures
average 70o year-round
Located off the 101 Freeway, Olivas Links and Buenaventura are two awardwinning 18-hole golf facilities. Olivas Links features a rolling links-style
layout defined by seaside grasses and natural habitat; complete with a
large practice facility. Meanwhile the nearby parkland-style design of
Buenaventura incorporates mature trees and subtle undulations suitable
for all playing abilities.
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3750 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura, CA
5882 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura, CA
(805) 677-6770 I olivaslinks.com
(805) 677-6772 I buenaventuragolf.com
Shoemaker Brothers
Schaf Photo
32
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Rich in cultural history with four museums, nine murals, a thriving theater center
and home to Limoneira, the largest lemon supplier in the United States (tours
available). The downtown features historic turn-of-the-century buildings, Victorian
and Craftsman homes, great eateries, surrounded by scenic views of citrus and
avocado orchards.
VENTURA VISITORS CENTER
101 South California Street
Ventura, CA 93001 • (800) 333-2989
www.SeeVentura.com
Distance Chart to Ventura
• Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 mi
• Santa Barbara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 mi
• Disneyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 mi
• Monterey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 mi
Limoneira.com • SantaPaulaArtMuseum.org • SantaPaulaTheaterCenter.org • OilMuseum.net
• San Diego . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 mi
• San Francisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 mi
David Pu’u
Tourism Info
805-933-0076
Ext. 291
• discoversantapaula.com
Pre 1542
October 10, 1542
Explorer Juan
Rodriguez Cabrillo first sighted what is
today Ventura and claims the land for
the King of Spain. He first named the
village of 400 native people, El Pueblo
de las Canoas.
Rancho Ex-Mission San
Buenaventura was granted to Jose Arnaz
by Mexican Governor Pio Pico. Arnaz
owned the Mission but permitted the
padre to continue holding services,
converting the Mission Quarters into
a hotel later known as the
Washington Hotel.
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E
W
Ortega
Adobe
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1950s
S
San Buenaventura
City Hall
23
Albinger
Museum San Buenaventura
Mission
21
Memorial
Park
WPA concrete statue of Father
Serra placed at the top of California
Street, later replicated in bronze. You
can find the wooden statue used to cast
the bronze replica in City Hall’s Atrium.
The City is now home to more than 140
public art pieces.
Museum 25
of Ventura
County
30
12
Rubicon
Theatre
11
2
10
4
1
1936
20
9
The current lighthouse on
East Anacapa Island was built to help
prevent shipwrecks which were common
in this eastern extreme of the Santa
Barbara Channel. The concrete
lighthouse features Spanish Revival
architecture and the third order Fresnel
lens can be seen today on the island’s
Visitor Center.
805-648-3376
venturacountyfair.org
In 1855-57
5
24
San Jon Rd.
29
Pe
dr
o
San Buenaventura
State Beach Park
Sa
n
1930-32
Parking Lot
Visitors Center
Coastal Bikeway
Pedestrian Overpass
St
.
24
8
3
Pacific Ocean
.
Ave
d
r
wa
Sea
March 10, 1866
• Over 30 restaurants and live music venues, 50 plus unique shops and galleries and the crown jewel
of the cultural district, the historic mission San Buenaventura. Enjoy a wonderful stay in our vintage downtown environment!
1
Best Western Inn
Ventura
2
298 South Chestnut St.
Ventura, CA 93001
2094 East Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
Walking distance to beach, downtown
& attractions; complimentary full breakfast
and evening wine & cheese. Banquet/
wedding facilities. 3-Diamond rating.
Short walk to State Beach Park. Minutes to
Historic Downtown & Harbor Village. Free
hot breakfast & Wi-Fi. Business Center,
Meeting Room. 3 Diamond/AAA.
Newly renovated! All rooms include mini
fridge/microwave, complimentary HOT
breakfast, and free WiFi. Located
downtown close to pier and beach.
bestwestern.com
clocktowerinn.com
comfortinn.com/hotel-ventura-california-CA882
countryinns.com/venturaca
Crowne Plaza
Ventura Beach
6
7
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805-899-4925
805-648-5371 or
1-800-522-1555
Located in Historic Old Town Ventura,
walking distance to beaches and shops.
Free Wireless Internet/Cable TV.
Authorized providers of
guided sea cave kayaking
to Channel Islands National Park.
Backpacking and Wilderness Medicine
courses available throughout the US.
vagabondinn.com
channelislandso.com
For more information,
call 805-659-6900
or visit VenturaTransit.com.
Gird Percy transforms the Rincon
trail into the first automobile friendly
highway. Later in 1960 this highway would
undergo construction to become the 101
Freeway made famous by the America
song “Ventura Highway”.
1909
E.P. Foster donates coastal
property to later become home to the
Ventura County Fairgrounds at
Seaside Park.
Fillmore & Western
Railway Company
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805-524-2546
All aboard our vintage train for Fun
and Adventure…Murder Mystery Dinner,
Pumpkin liners, North Pole Express,
Margarita Madness and Western BBQ.
fwry.com
(Halloween Night)
The “Great Prank” pushed the trolley cars
of Ventura into the sea so that Ventura’s
Main Street could be paved. The trolley
company was preventing this improvement fearing it would cover their tracks.
This act ended the trolley line and Main
Street was paved.
hiexpress.com
marriottventurabeach.com
Watermark Restaurant
Early 1900s
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The Wine Rack
805-643-6800
Taste • Lounge • Shop
14 South California St.
Ventura, CA 93001
Watermark Restaurant
and W2O Rooftop Music Lounge give you
a complete dining experience. Locally
inspired cuisine and eclectic entertainment
in one of Ventura’s most historic buildings.
watermarkonmain.com
Join us for wine tasting.
Wines by the glass or the bottle. Small
production, sustainably farmed wines.
Gourmet culinary, cheese plates and gifts
from around the world. Live music Fridays.
weaverwines.com
598 East Main St.
Ventura, CA 93001
Island Packers
805-642-1393
Cruise and Explore
the Channel Islands
National Park
351 Santa Clara St.
Fillmore, CA 93015
October 31, 1908
Steps to the beach with spacious guest
rooms and full-service Marriott amenities.
Pet Friendly.
Day trips with landing ashore for 2 to 6
hours. Nature led hikes ashore on Anacapa
or Santa Cruz Island, camp, kayak or
whale watch. Dinner cruises and coastal
adventure sails.
islandpackers.com
Ventura becomes
known as “Bean Country of the Nation”
as Lima Beans replace livestock as the
#1 commodity with over 50,000 acres
planted by 1920. Today, strawberries are
the county’s #1 crop.
March 12, 1898
Opening of the
Ventura and Ojai railroad. The small spur
line was named “the Humming Bird” by
the railroad but the locals called it the
“Buzzard.” It carried oranges and tourists
for many years to the Ojai Valley.
805-653-WINE (9463)
16
Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library
40 Presidential Dr.
Simi Valley, CA 93065
805-522-2977
Tour through Air Force One 27,000, view
an exact replica of the Oval Office, visit
President Reagan’s memorial site. Open
7 days a week.
reaganlibrary.com
April 24, 1891
President Benjamin
Harrison was the first US President to visit
Ventura. Later, on May 10, 1901 President
William McKinley made one of four stops
in California, giving a speech at Plaza
Park in Ventura to a large crowd.
May 4, 1887
The Railroad comes
to Ventura with the first link between
Los Angeles and San Buenaventura.
The town’s name is shortened to
Ventura but is still officially named
San Buenaventura.
September 29, 1873
Serving Ventura County.
The largest and most
trusted taxi fleet in
Ventura County. Now with
Town Cars, Limousines,
and Wine Tours. We are the premier source
for your transportation needs.
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Once you visit you'll dream of coming
back! Rejuvenate yourself with our
breathtaking harbor views & wide array of
amenities for your comfort and enjoyment.
Last
Bullfight was held on Main Street as part
of San Miguel Day. Unlike other parts of
the world, the bull was never killed in
the events in Ventura. The County Fairs
were held on the 29th of September as
a link to this Spanish holiday.
Yellow Cab Co./Tours
805-643-6000 or
1-800-228-9290
January 1, 1873
Channel Islands
Outfitters
Marriott Ventura Beach
2055 East Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
805-856-9533
fourpoints.com/ventura
756 East Thompson Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
8
1080 Navigator Dr.
Ventura, CA 93001
805-658-1212
The only full-service hotel on the Ventura
Harbor, nestled on over 10 acres of prime
coastal land along California’s Gold Coast.
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Holiday Inn Express
Ventura Harbor
Ventura County
formed out of Santa Barbara County.
San Buenaventura is named the county
seat with the Mission San Buenaventura
giving land for a brick court house.
Vagabond Inn Ventura
Four Points
by Sheraton
Ventura Harbor
1050 Schooner Dr.
Ventura, CA 93001
CPVentura.com
805-653-1434
805-653-5000
Ventura’s Chinatown
March 17, 1922
Country Inn & Suites
Well-appointed guest rooms complete
with oversized beds, wired & wireless
internet, business center, comp. deluxe
continental breakfast. 3 diamond/AAA.
Only hotel on the beach in Ventura and
steps from Downtown. Ocean views and
private balconies. Wi-Fi in all rooms. Ask
about our Surf & Stay packages.
In 1918
4
805-652-0141 or
1-800-727-1027
805-648-2100
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Comfort Inn
Ventura Beach
805-648-3101
450 East Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
9
3
181 East Santa Clara St.
Ventura, CA 93001
708 East Thompson Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
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The Clocktower Inn
September 9, 1850
March 23, 1928
June 8, 1846
January 5, 1847
St. Francis Dam
fails sending a killer flood down the
Santa Clara River Valley. Over 400
people lost their lives in the disaster
that reached Ventura. Much of the
disaster relief was centered on Ventura.
Raymundo Olivas was
granted the Rancho San Miguel where
he built a large adobe home for his wife,
Theodora and their 21 children. The ranch
was owned by the family until 1899. The
house is a museum today and honors
Ventura’s Latino pioneers.
California is
admitted to the Union as the 31st State.
California Street is named for this event.
Shell Oil Co.
brought in Gosnell #3, producing 940
barrels a day. That success was followed
on October 22 when Lloyd # 5 came in
at 2,000 barrels a day, making Ventura
Avenue one of the most important oil
fields in California.
July 6, 1841
The Battle of
San Buenaventura. Two rival Mexican
Governors fought a small skirmish in
Ventura. The Mission was bombarded by
small cannons and the forces of General
Castro won the day. Only one man lost
his life in the “battle”.
(Sui Mon
Gong) began in 1866 and grew to house
over 200 Chinese until 1923. Simple
wooden buildings used to make up a
completely self-contained community
with its own shops, businesses, rooming
houses, and a Taoist Temple
(The Joss House).
the Grant family donated 107
hillside acres to the City. Today, these
hills house Grant Park (one of Ventura’s
best vantage points), and the Serra
Cross. Currently, organized efforts by the
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy aims to
create additional parkland in pristine
wilderness to preserve the natural history
of the area including iconic Two Trees.
March 27, 1838
The City of San
Buenaventura is incorporated with a
population of about 350 and one square
mile of land, with the old Mission right
in the middle. The first Mayor was
Merchant Walter Scott Chaffee. All
city notes and laws were in both English
and Spanish.
Lawyer Erle Stanley
Gardner wrecked his new Model T Ford
when he forgot where the brakes were
located on his automobile. He would
become a successful attorney in Ventura
and go on to write stories and then mystery novels. He created his famed character Perry Mason based on some of his
Ventura exploits.
Mission
San Buenaventura was hit by a massive
earthquake and tsunami. Fortunately no
lives were lost in the temblor. The church
was badly damaged but rebuilt and
reinforced with massive stone buttresses
visible today.
Emigdio Ortega built
the Ortega Adobe: a modest structure
roofed with tile from Mission San
Buenaventura. Later it became the
birthplace of the famous “Pioneer
Ortega Chile”, believed to be the first
commercial food operation of its kind
in California.
June 1, 1917
December 21, 1812
Photo by Chris Jensen
1912
March 31, 1782
(Easter Sunday)
Mission San Buenaventura was founded
by an aging Fray Junipero Serra OFM
as the 9th Mission in California. It was
planned to be the third mission but its
establishment was delayed. It was the
last mission founded by Serra before
his death.
The California
Battalion under Col. John C. Fremont
captured Ventura and raised the
American Flag. The next day a small
bloodless skirmish was fought with
Mexican lancers at Saticoy Springs.
The working class and culturally
diverse residents of Tortilla Flats are
displaced by the emergence of the 101
Freeway. Today, a mural located underneath the freeway overpass celebrates
this neighborhood as an integral part of
Ventura History.
For three thousand years the
Chumash people made their home in
what is today Ventura. A maritime culture,
they harvested the bounty of the oceans
with their seaworthy plank canoes and
established several important villages
including Shisholop (present day
Surfer’s Point).