OXNARD
Just south of the Ventura city limits lies Oxnard, the largest city in Ventura County and a diverse, friendly coastal city. Within easy driving distance of Los Angeles to the south and Santa Barbara to the north, Oxnard is an ideally located getaway spot. Originally named for the Oxnard brothers, a 19th-century family whose business was sugar beets, Oxnard today is known for both its agricultural and its cultural richness, its pioneering past, and its beach resort atmosphere.

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. The Channel Islands Harbor Visitor Center can be reached at 805-985-4852.

The city boasts a rich array of distinguished art and cultural sites. Families won’t want to miss the Gull Wings Children’s Museum, an interactive handson museum for children ages two to 12. The Carnegie Art Museum displays art, photography and decorative arts by international and regional artists in a neoclassical building built as a library in 1906. The Ventura County Maritime Museum (Fisherman’s Wharf in Channel Island Harbor, 805-984-6260) showcases an internationally renowned collection of maritime art and ship models dating from 1650 to the present, local maritime history, and guest artist exhibits. Other cultural sites of note in Oxnard include the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, which hosts well known musical artists, comedians, concerts and entertainment, and the Elite Theatre Co. at the Petit Playhouse in Heritage Square for theatrical performances. Downtown, Heritage Square features relocated and restored Victorian homes and farmhouses of some of Oxnard’s most prominent families. Docent-led tours are available every Saturday, 10am–2pm.

Oxnard is alive all year long with special events. If you’re a strawberry lover planning your visit for spring, circle the third weekend in May on your travel calendar. That’s the fixed date of the California Strawberry Festival, one of Oxnard’s—and Southern California’s— largest and most famous events. Some 60,000 people are drawn annually to the celebration, where the focus is on every strawberry recipe imaginable but where you can also find a wealth of other foods, music, entertainment, and children’s activities. Oxnard is also home to the annual Oxnard Salsa Festival. Held the last weekend in July, visitors can enjoy everything “salsa”—music, dancing, and food. The city’s Channel Islands Harbor is the site of a number of special Oxnard annual events, including the magical Parade of Lights during the December holiday season, the Celebration of the Whales, the Harbor Fine Art Shows, and the 4th of July Fireworks-by-the-Sea. In addition, the Harbor hosts a local Farmers’ & Fisherman’s Market from 10am–2pm every Sunday, rain or shine. The fresh produce has been expanded with more farmer participation bringing in fresh and abundant strawberries and a good variety of vegetables that include organic selections. Fresh bakery items, coffee, smoothies, nuts, herbs and sweet smelling flowers can also be purchased. And so, of course, can fresh fish. The market also offers delicious food selections such as barbecue tri-tip and chicken. Visitors can enjoy their tasty selections along the water’s edge while listening to musical entertainment. Enjoy downtown’s lovely Plaza Park, where another Farmer’s Market is held from 9am–1pm every Thursday. Fresh produce, bakery goods, coffee, honey and flowers are available for purchase.

Celebrities and adventurers from all walks enjoy Jim Hall’s Kart Racing School— the only track and school of its kind on the West Coast. Karting is considered the most affordable motor racing sport and offers the fastest learning curve of any on-track motor sport. Several celebrities who race in the Long Beach Grand Prix learned to race at Jim Hall’s School in Oxnard.

Accommodations in Oxnard include 1,800 sleeping rooms, of which 499 are suites. More than 200 restaurants provide a variety of dining options. Planned to open Winter 2005 downtown, a complex will include a 14-screen movie theater and 20,000 square feet of nationally recognized retailers and restaurants.

Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau
800-2-OXNARD • 805-385-7545
www.visitoxnard.com