Beaches Spanning From Carpinteria Through Ventura County to Malibu

My kids and I love going to the beach but for many years we seemed to go to the same ones all the time. So I stopped by the Automobile Club and asked them if they had a brochure on all the local area beaches open to the public. They shrugged their shoulders and said no such guidebook existed. What the?? So they handed me a fold out map, which was of no use to me. I wanted to know exactly how to get to these beaches, if they have restrooms, what the parking situation is like, etc.

Then I started searching around the Internet for information and found bits and pieces in various locations that were moderately useful. But I still wanted one consolidated place where I could find out about where to go to the beach around Ventura County on up the coast to Carpinteria and down to Malibu.

So finally I compiled a comprehensive list of local area beaches, in two parts (click the links)

Carpinteria to Ventura

Oxnard to Malibu

This took a lot of time to compile, so I truly hope you benefit from these lists! While I have not personally been to all 40+ beaches on this list, I've either visited or driven past the pretty much all of the beaches. So enjoy and provide feedback if you have comments and/or additional information.

Scarlett Belle Riverboat Cruises

The Scarlett Belle is a modern riverboat located in the scenic Channel Islands Harbor. The boat can accomodate from 40 to 150 passengers and is a fun, luxurious venue for weddings, parties, corporate events, anniversaries and more...casino nights, graduation parties, public holiday cruises, etc.

For more information, visit www.scarlettbelle.com or call 805.204.0977.

Located at A&M Boat Charters & Cruises at the Marine Emporium Landing at Channel Islands Harbor, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd., #219, Oxnard.

Exit the 101 freeway at Victoria, proceed south on Victoria, at West Channel Islands Blvd, turn right. Go to the second stop light and turn left onto Harbor/ W. Channel Islands Blvd. Go to Cabezone Circle make a left. Into the Marine Emporium. Walk to the back of the three buildings facing the street to the dock where you will see the Scarlett Belle and Sunfish. Free parking.

Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park consists of 5 of the 8 Channel Islands off the Santa Barbara coast. Although the islands are close to the shore, their isolation has left them relatively undeveloped.

The northern Channel Islands are Anacapa (1.1 sq mi), San Miguel (14.6 sq mi), Santa Cruz (96.5 sq mi) and Santa Rosa (83 sq mi) and the southern islands are San Clemente (57 sq mi), San Nicolas (23 sq mi), Santa Barbara (1 sq mi) and Santa Catalina (75 sq mi).

The islands in Channel Islands National Park include San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands. Anacapa is in Ventura County while the other four are in Santa Barbara County. San Clemente Island, the southernmost Channel Island, is owned and operated by the U.S. Navy. Catalina Island as we know with its population of 3,700 is a popular tourist destination. San Nicolas Island in Ventura County is also controlled by the U.S. Navy. On a clear day you can see two of the five islands, Anacapa and Santa Cruz.

Visitors to the islands may swim, snorkel, hike, camp, watch wildlife, sail and explore tidepools, beaches and canyons. There is no food service on the islands, so bring what you need. Take a commercial service to the islands like Island Packers, which has been servicing the islands since 1968. Landings at Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands are year-round while the more remote outer islands, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa and San Miguel are scheduled late spring through early fall.

Visit the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/chis to learn more about visiting Channel Islands National Park. The park is open year-round.

The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park is located in the Ventura Harbor at 1901 Spinnaker Drive (805.658.5730) and the Outdoor Santa Barbara Visitor Center is located at the Santa Barbara Harbor at 113 Harbor Way, 4th Floor.

On a clear day you can see two of the Channel Islands from Newbury Park and other Ventura County spots. Here's a view from the Rancho Potrero Open Space area.

Channel Islands Maritime Museum

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (formerly known as Ventura County Maritime Museum) is a cultural and scenic haven in the Channel Islands Harbor complete with world class maritime art, ship models and ocean breezes.  It opened in 1991 as an independent, not-for-profit public benefit corporation funded by members, friends, charitable foundations and businesses.

In Summer 2012, the museum moved across the harbor to 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard (off 3900 Harbor Boulevard).

The museum is open every day from 11 AM to 5 PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $5 for Adults, $4 for Seniors (62+) and $2 for children ages 6 to 17, as of January 2013. Admission is free the 3rd Thursday of each month.

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is home to a permanent collection of extensive marine art, featuring works by the Dutch and Flemish painters, 17th century artists Willem van de Velde and Bonaventura Peeters. Noted modern artists in the collection include John Stobart, Montague Dawson, David Thimgan, Roy Cross and Christopher Blossom.

The museum also houses one of the two largest collections of antique Napoleonic prisoner of war sailing ship models in the US. Three thousand years of maritime history are illustrated by historic ship models, including the life's work of renowned builder Edward Marple. Exhibits on whaling, sailors' arts, the history of the Channel Islands Harbor and Port of Hueneme round out the collection.

In my many visits to the museum, I have been very impressed by how knowledgeable the docents were about the contents of the museum! I learned a lot and was amazed at the collection of nearly 100 intricate ship models on display going back hundreds of years. I was also pleased to see docents take the time to engage my kids in some of the exhibits.

The Museum welcomes about 25,000 visitors annually. The Elementary Education Program, staffed entirely by volunteers, conducts in-house tours for thousands of elementary school students each year. The At Sea Education program supports three day youth sailing expeditions onboard working tall ships.

For more infomation, including current exhibits and upcoming museum events, visit cimmvc.org or call 805.984.6260.

Channel Islands Boat Rides - Island Packers

Since 1968, Island Packers has provided boat trips to all five of the Channel Islands, whale watching trips, wildlife cruises, harbor cruises, group charters and more.  Authorized concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park. Offering tours to Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Barbara Island.

Island Packers has two locations:  Ventura Harbor, 1691 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105B, Ventura and Channel Islands Harbor, 3600 S. Harbor Boulevard, Oxnard.

For more information, visit www.islandpackers.com or call 805.642.1393.

Wheel Fun Rentals - Bike Rentals - Ventura

With a number of locations in Ventura and Santa Barbara, Wheel Fun Rentals provides a nice assortment of bicycles, quads, coupes, surreys, tag-alongs and other 2 to 4 wheel human powered vehicles for rides along the beach. They also offer a wide assortment of water vehicles...boats, surfboards, boogie boards, etc.

Nearby locations as of June 2012 are:

Oxnard- Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard (805.984.1994) Oxnard - Channel Islands Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd, Oxnard (805.382.6233) Ventura - Crowne Plaza, 450 E. Harbor Blvd (805.648.2100) Ventura - Four Points by Sheraton, 1050 Schooner Drive (805.658.1212)

Ventura Pier 850 Harbor Blvd., Ventura (805.650.7770)

Ventura State Beach Picnic Area, 901 San Pedro, Ventura (805.650.7770)

Ventura- Marriott 2055 Harbor Blvd., Ventura (805.643.6000)

Santa Barbara - Fess Parker's Double Tree Resort 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara - Cabrillo, 23 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara  (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara - State Street, 22 State Street, Santa Barbara (805.966.2282) Santa Barbara - The Hyatt, 1111 East Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara (805.966.2282)

They also do group and teambuilding activities. For more information visit www.wheelfunrentals.com or call 805.650.7770.

Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard

Channel Islands Harbor is located in Oxnard; take the 101 Freeway to Ventura. Exit Victoria Avenue. Turn south onto Victoria Avenue. Continue on Victoria for approximately 5 miles until you reach Channel Islands Harbor.

Channel Islands Harbor offers a variety of activities for the entire family. Throughout the year various events are held including the Celebration of the Whales, visits by Tall Ships, Concerts by the Sea, Fireworks by the Sea on July 4th, the Ventura County Boat Show, Ventura Vintage Rods Harbor Run Classic Car Show, and the annual Parade of Lights.

On a daily basis, guests may dine at Harbor restaurants such as Christopher's Latitude 34 Deli, H.C. Seafood & Co., Lobster Trap, Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine, Whale's Tail and more. You may shop at clothing, gift and accessories stores or cruise the Harbor on the Channel Islands Harbor Water Taxi.

Visitors may rent boats at Hopper Boat Rentals, or Channel Islands Kayak Center, visit the Maritime Museum or just enjoy a beautiful day at one of our local beaches. Weekends offer live musical entertainment. Fresh fruits and vegetables plus arts and crafts may be found at the Harbor's Farmer's Market held at the Marine Emporium Landing from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. every Sunday, rain or shine!

For more information, visit www.channelislandsharbor.org or call 805.985.4852.

Conejo Joe and family stop by the harbor as often as possible for various events and to walk around, as well as to walk a few blocks over to the beach!  Quite a nice opportunity to beat the Conejo Valley heat...and only 15 to 20 minutes away!

Channel Islands Sportfishing Center

Channel Islands Sportfishing Center (aka Cisco's) is located at the Channel Islands Harbor at 4151 S. Victoria Avenue, Oxnard. They have a fleet of 13 boats (as of October 2011) and operate 7 days a week. They have Military Appreciation Day and Kids Ride Free specials, whale watching trips and more! Visit www.channelislandssportfishing.com or call 805.382.1612 to learn more and book your next fishing trip.

One of Cisco's boats - the Speed Twin

Goin' Places Boat and Segway Rentals at Channel Islands Harbor

Goin' Places Rentals, located at the Marine Emporium Landing, 3550 S. Harbor Blvd, Channel Islands Harbor, rents out electric boats for use in the harbor and Segways on an hourly basis. During summer months (June through September) they are open weekdays 10am to sunset and weekends 8am to sunset. October through May open by appointment during the week and 10am to 6pm on weekends. For more information, visit www.goinplacesciharbor.com or call 805.382.1924.

Hook's Landing Sportfishing in Oxnard

Hook's Landing Sportfishing is located in Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard at 3550 South Harbor Boulevard. Hook's has 2 boats. The Coroloma is a 3/4 day boat that leaves at 6am and returns at 4pm. The New Bluefin is a charter boat that also runs full day trips (5am-5pm). Try sportfishing as a teambuilding exercise! More information at www.hookslanding.net or call 805.382.6233.

Blue Ocean Kayaking Guided Tours of Channel Islands

Blue Ocean Kayaking welcomes you aboard the “SUNFISH” a custom built Supported Kayak Vessel. The boat has a special built Swim Step for very easy boarding on both Kayak & Vessel. All Kayaks are stored overhead, so there is no clutter on board.

Professional kayak guided tours of Channel Islands National Park, Anacapa Island. Paddle thru caves and seal rookeries on this family fun tour. Includes kayak and gear and boat ride.

The benefit of a Supported Kayak Vessel is we start your tour at one end of the Island then pick you up at the other end. You will not have to fight the wind, current or repeat the same sites on the way back.

Located at Channel Islands Harbor, 3001 S. Victoria Avenue, Oxnard. Visit www.blueoceankayaking.com or call 805.204.0977 for more information.

Channel Islands Helicopters in Oxnard

Take an adventure in the sky and see the Channel Islands region of California as it was meant to be seen...from a luxurious and fast helicopter. Channel Islands Helicopters' professional helicopter pilots and staff can help make your vacation memorable, a birthday or anniversary or a first date absolutely unforgettable!

Stop by 1601 West 5th Street or call 805.512.1371 to learn more. Or visit www.channelislandsheli.com.