We recommend starting your trip in historic Downtown, where you can get the lay of the land, learn about Ventura’s rich history, and explore the many locally owned shops and eateries. Start your day with a hike up to the Ventura Botanical Gardens and enjoy the spectacular view of the ocean and rolling hills from below historic Serra Cross. Follow your hike with a trip to the San Buenaventura Mission, one of the best preserved in the state, and still a functioning church.

Take a historical walking tour of Ventura’s Downtown for more local history (see the brochure in the Visitor’s Center). Love art, too? Head to the Mission Museum or across the street to Museum of Ventura County for a little of both art and history. A short drive down Ventura Avenue will take you to some of Ventura’s most contemporary art sites, occupied by hundreds of working artists: Bell Arts Factory and City Art Studios.

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