Get Our Autumn Vibes on in Beautiful Ventura

Check out the little surf town that could.

It’s only been 10 months since the Thomas Fire destroyed many hillside neighborhoods above Ventura in Southern California, but this small city about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles bounced back strong in 2018. In fact, Ventura is one of those Golden State beach towns that’s forever charming, unpretentious and timeless. And now that the busy summer months have passed, you can enjoy these lingering days of good weather with fewer crowds. LA Magazine put together a full day itinerary for those interested in a day or weekend trip to Ventura. Here are some highlights:

Morning:

“Any visit to Ventura should begin downtown on Main Street, where the neoclassical City Hall sits at the base of the hills. A half mile in the other direction is the ocean. In between, you can start the day with an egg scramble or raspberry-oat bar in the snug confines of Marie Shannon Confections, on nearby Chestnut.”

Afternoon:

“The little downtown has no fewer than three spots to load up on gourmet goods. Home-grown Spice-Topia is the place to go for teas and just about any spice blend you can imagine, while the VomFass outpost complements its selection of spirits and liqueurs with an array of vinegars and oils. At We Olive, you can taste tapenades and mustards along with all manner of extra virgin. Olive oil has a long tradition in Ventura: A rebuilt press is among the Old California items on display at the San Buenaventura Mission at downtown’s western edge, where a recently completed 50-foot-long tile mural depicts the city’s history.”

Evening:

Catch a play or musical at the Rubicon Theatre, an intimate venue adorned with the stained glass from its church days. The Majestic Ventura Theatre, a 1920s movie palace, has decidedly higher-decibel lineups that will leave your ears ringing as you head back out into the ocean-cooled night.

Get the full day experience here.