How to Spend the Perfect Spring Day in Ventura

Welcome to Ventura, where the sun always shines, the ocean breeze blows through your hair, and you feel like the main character of a movie as you walk along the streets with a little sand on your feet. With the beach to the west and the beautiful Topatopa mountain range to the east, Ventura is an outdoor lover’s dream. 

Though we may be a little biased by saying nearly any time of the year is the best time to visit, spring is especially beautiful. With wildflowers blooming all around Ventura and the perfect temperature to go out and enjoy the sunshine, you won’t be disappointed if you’re planning a trip to Ventura this season. Get ready for a day filled with exploring all the fun Ventura offers.

Wondering how to spend a perfect spring day in Ventura? Let’s dive into it!

Take a Morning Hike at Arroyo Verde Park

Start the morning off right with beautiful views and fresh air. Take a refreshing hike at Arroyo Verde Park, home to 132 acres of rolling hills and the city’s first all-inclusive playground. With its lush greenery, scenic trails, and panoramic views of the city and ocean, you can start your day by stopping to smell the flowers that bloom in the park during this time of year. 

Families can bring their strollers for strolls around the park while adventure-seekers can tackle more challenging paths along the over 2 miles of rugged hiking trails through the hills. 

Get Brunch at a Local Cafe

After working up an appetite on the trails, head to one of Ventura’s cafes and restaurants for a classic California brunch. Whether you’re looking for a tower of pancakes topped with whipped cream, a crunchy breakfast sandwich, or avocado toast that looks almost too pretty to eat, you’ll be able to find something that fits your flavor. Try Frontside Cafe for an Aussie-inspired brunch or head over to the iconic Pete’s Breakfast House. Immigrant Son Caffe is a local favorite as well that you can’t go wrong with. 

Explore Downtown Ventura: shop and play

Spend the late morning exploring Downtown Ventura (maybe with a cup of coffee in hand from local brews at Palm and Boy or Kaapicat). A stretch of Main Street is closed to vehicle traffic which means you can meander your way along the street lined with boutique shops, art galleries, and quaint cafes safely and at your own pace. 

Hunt for unique souvenirs, or, get lost in all of Ventura’s thrift and vintage stores where there’s a high chance you’ll be able to find designer shoes for a fraction of the cost. Pick out beautiful sea glass jewelry at Betty Belts or head over to B on Main for a gift that will always remind you of Ventura. There’s a lot to explore in Downtown Ventura so take your time and get ready for your shopping bags to fill up!

Things to Do

Family Fun

Ventura Shopping

Music & Nightlife

Arts, Culture & History

Pet Friendly

Hotels

Parking

Outdoors

Beaches & Surfing

Biking & Hiking Trails

Bird Watching

Food & Drink

Restaurants

Outdoor Dining

Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries

Farmers Markets

Happy Hours

Arroyo Verde Park Foothill and Day Roads, Ventura, CA 93003

(805) 652-4551

Frontside Cafe 1070 E Front St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 628-9566

Pete’s Breakfast House 2055 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93003

805-648-1130

Immigrant Son Caffe 543 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 667-9085

Palm & Boy Coffee and Acai 451 E Main St #8, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 667-9201

Betty Belts | Ocean Room Gallery 12 N Fir St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 648-6997

Ventura Botanical Gardens 567 South Poli Street, ventura, CA 93001

(805) 232-3113

Ventura Harbor 1583 Spinnaker Drive , Ventura, CA 93003

Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market 1449 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 654-8228

Water’s Edge Restaurant and Bar 1510 Anchors Way Dr, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 642-1200

Surfers Point at Seaside Park Shoreline Dr, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 658-4726

Emmawood State Beach CA-1, Ventura, CA 93001

Paradise Pantry 222 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 641-9440

Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen – Ventura 494 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 628-3312

Peirano’s 204 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 628-9028

Grab Lunch with a View at the Ventura Harbor Village

Fun on the water? I bet we can count you in. Wave hello to harbor seals and have a ton of fun on pedal boats at the Ventura Harbor Village before grabbing a fresh seafood lunch right by the water. You’ll find boutique shops, seafood eateries, and plenty of waterfront activities to fill the rest of the afternoon. Maybe fish n chips are calling your name at Andria’s or you want to warm up with a fresh bowl of clam chowder at Brophy Bros. Across the harbor is Water’s Edge — sip on a cocktail and watch boats go in and out of the harbor. 

At the harbor, you’ll get an epic view of the green rolling mountains that frame our beach town. The stark contrast of the blue ocean in the harbor backed by lush green hills makes for a killer photo! 

And don’t forget — the Ventura Harbor is also the gateway to the Channel Islands National Park. Hop on an Island Packers boat and step into a completely different world, just 90 minutes off of the Ventura coastline.

Take Pictures of the Flower Bloom at Ventura Botanical Gardens

Just up the street from Main Street, head up to the Ventura Botanical Gardens for a diverse array of blooms ranging from all of the five Mediterranean climates. An easy and beautiful nature walk, you’ll get a world-class view of the Pacific Ocean the entire way up. The Ventura Botanical Gardens also offers some of the best photo ops in town — the vibrant colors of the flowers and the blue ocean will dazzle in those pictures! Make sure to bring a camera and some good walking shoes. Admission is free on Wednesdays and Fridays, otherwise $7. Check out more information here. 

PS. Looking for more places you can see the California Super Bloom in Ventura? Here’s a list of places where you can find wildflowers aplenty

Grab Dinner and Drinks Outdoors

With the temperature warming up at night, choose to sit outside on the restaurant patio to enjoy a warm meal and a delicious cocktail to end the perfect spring day in Ventura. Most restaurants in Ventura offer outdoor seating and in California (especially Ventura) those warmer spring evenings are a perfect opportunity to let the last rays of sunshine warm up the dinner table. The best perk? Maybe restaurants with outdoor patios are dog-friendly so you don’t need to leave fido at home when you’re planing your spring getaway in Ventura. Peirano’s, Finney’s, and Paradise Pantry are great dog-friendly restaurant options in Ventura.

You might be surprised by how many cocktail spots are in Ventura. For a list of unique cocktail spots you have to check out, go here. We’ll cheers to a perfect spring day in Ventura well spent!

Head to the Beach for a Sunset Walk

A perfect spring day in Ventura wouldn’t be complete without heading to the beach to watch the sunset and dip your toes in the sand. If you’re downtown, walk just blocks to the ocean towards Surfers Point where you’ll be able to watch locals cruise on the waves. Or, head a little way up the coast to Emma Wood State Beach. With the perfect backdrop of green hills and yellow flowers poking up along the sand, Emma Wood is a great beach to go to to end the day.

Wherever you end up, watch the sky turn into a pretty orange-pink and sit back and relax. You’ve done a job well done to make the most out of a perfect spring day in Ventura.

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