Ventura's official name is San Buenaventura, after the mission Father Junípero Serra founded here on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, the ninth in California's chain. The town incorporated on April 2, 1866, became the county seat in 1873, and about 108,000 people live here today, according to the state's January 2026 estimate. City Hall sits on Poli Street in the old county courthouse, built in 1913, and the city still calls itself the Poinsettia City by the Sea.

Most visits start at the water. The Ventura Pier, first built in 1872, reopened in June 2024 after storm repairs, and the Promenade runs from it to Surfers Point. Down the coast, Ventura Harbor is one of two harbors where Island Packers boats leave for Channel Islands National Park, and the park's visitor center is at the harbor too. Downtown, Main Street's thrift and antique shops lead to the mission, and the Saturday farmers market has run there since 1986. Below you'll find this week's Ventura events, then the beaches, museums, shopping and kid-friendly spots worth knowing, where to eat, and the annual events worth planning around.

Details checked Sep 16, 2026. Hours and prices change, so confirm with the venue before you go.

Top things to do in Ventura

Outdoors and hikes

Ventura Pier and the Promenade

A 1,620-foot wooden pier first built in 1872, once the longest in California, with the beachfront Promenade running from it to Surfers Point and San Buenaventura State Beach's 2 miles of sand stretching south.

750 E. Harbor Blvd. · Free; the state beach lot is $10 per vehicle

The pier gate is open 6:30am to 10pm. It reopened on June 29, 2024, after storm damage closed it in January 2023.

Official info

Grant Park and the Serra Cross

The hilltop park above downtown, given to the city in 1918, with the Serra Cross at the top. A wooden cross first went up on the spot in 1912, and the city replaced it in 1941 with the one standing today.

Free

Open during daylight hours. Drive up from Poli St. by way of Kalorama and Summit; Brakey Rd. is closed to cars. There are no restrooms or water.

Official info

Ventura Botanical Gardens

More than 3 miles of hillside paths and stairs in Grant Park, planted with species from the world's five Mediterranean climate zones and replanted since the 2017 Thomas Fire burned the whole garden.

567 Poli St. · $15; free for ages 18 and under, members and EBT cardholders, and free for everyone on Fridays

Open Tuesday to Sunday 9 to 5; closed Mondays and rainy days. Leashed dogs are welcome on Wednesdays, Fridays and monthly free days.

Official info

Ventura River Trail

A paved trail on the old Southern Pacific rail line that runs 6.3 miles from Main Street up the Ventura River to Foster Park, where the Ojai Valley Trail carries on about 10 more miles toward Ojai.

Free

At the coast it links to the Omer Rains Trail, which follows the beach past the pier.

Official info

Museums, arts and history

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura

California's ninth mission, founded by Father Junípero Serra in 1782 and made a minor basilica in 2020. The self-guided tour takes in the 1929 museum, which holds the original church doors and two wooden bells, plus the garden and the church.

225 E. Main St. · Tour $8 adults, $5 seniors and military, $3 ages 5 to 17, free under 5

Open daily 9 to 4; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Official info

Museum of Ventura County

The county's history museum on Main Street, home to George Stuart's Historical Figures.

100 E. Main St.

Open Wednesday to Sunday 11 to 5. Admission was free all of September 2026, and parking is always free.

Official info

Albinger Archaeological Museum

A small museum beside the mission built around a single dig site that turned up 3,500 years of history, from the Chumash to the 1850s, including the mission's water filtration building, the oldest standing structure in Ventura County.

113 E. Main St. · Free

Open Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5.

Official info

Olivas Adobe Historical Park

A two-story Monterey-style adobe built in 1847 for Don Raymundo Olivas, now California Historical Landmark No. 115, with tours inside the house.

4200 Olivas Park Dr. · Tours $5 adults, $3 seniors and children

Open Sundays 11 to 3.

Official info

Rubicon Theatre Company

Ventura's professional nonprofit theatre company, winner of a Drama Desk Award and 15 Ovation Awards.

1006 E. Main St.

Show times and prices vary; the 2026/27 season is on sale.

Official info

Shopping and markets

Downtown Ventura and Main Street

A compact, walkable downtown where thrift, antique and consignment shops sit between restaurants, bars and the mission.

Main St. around California St.

Meters are $1 an hour on Main and California streets and 50 cents on other downtown streets.

Official info

Downtown Ventura Farmers Market

Ventura County's original certified farmers market, running since 1986, with more than 45 farmers and food vendors every Saturday.

200 block of E. Main St. · Free to browse

Saturdays 8:30 to noon, year-round, rain or shine. No pets. The Midtown market runs Wednesdays 9 to 1 in Pacific View's west parking lot.

Official info

Ventura Harbor Village

Shops, galleries and 16 places to eat and drink on the water, plus Island Packers' whale watching and island trips and walk-up kayak, paddleboard and pedal boat rentals.

1583 Spinnaker Dr. · Free to visit

Harbor parking is free Monday to Thursday. Friday to Sunday and holidays, 10am to 8pm, it's $1 an hour for up to 4 hours or $10 a day.

Official info

Pacific View

Ventura's indoor regional mall on East Main Street, and home to the Wednesday Midtown farmers market.

3301 E. Main St.

Open Monday to Saturday 10 to 8 and Sunday 11 to 7.

Official info

With kids

Harbor Cove Beach

A protected, still-water beach that locals call Mother's Beach or Kiddie Beach, and the only legal swimming spot inside the harbor.

1878 Spinnaker Dr. · Free; harbor parking rules apply

Lifeguards on May weekends and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Restrooms, outdoor showers and free beach wheelchairs (805-642-8618).

Official info

Arroyo Verde Park

129 acres in the foothills with trails in three difficulty levels and an inclusive play area, rebuilt after the Thomas Fire and opened in 2022, with a sensory garden, a carousel, hammocks and musical play.

Foothill Rd. at Day Rd. · Parking free on weekdays; $3 cash on weekends and holidays

Dogs can be off leash Tuesday to Sunday from 6 to 9am.

Official info

Marina Park

A 15-acre beachfront park on Pierpont Bay with a new playground of nine play structures, opened in 2025, plus picnic and barbecue areas and outdoor showers.

3000 Pierpont Blvd. · Free, including the parking lot

Official info

Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center

The national park's Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Ventura Harbor, with island exhibits, a marine life display, a 25-minute film and free ranger talks at 11 and 3 on weekends and holidays.

1901 Spinnaker Dr. · Free

Open daily 8:30 to 5; closed Thanksgiving and December 25.

Official info

Ventura Aquatic Center

A 50-meter pool, a recreation pool, a water playground and two slides at the city's 94-acre Community Park, which also has a playground and a 1.4-mile paved trail.

901 S. Kimball Rd. · Open swim $11, free for ages 2 and under

Booking ahead is recommended.

Official info

Where to eat in Ventura

Well-reviewed local spots from our directory, chosen by rating and number of reviews. Chains are left out.

Browse all Ventura County restaurants

New in Ventura

What's opening soon, what just opened and what's been announced, each checked against its source.

Opened Sat, Aug 8Restaurant

Slice House by Tony Gemignani

Tony Gemignani's slice shop opened in Montalvo Square, selling New York, Sicilian, Grandma and Detroit pizza by the slice or whole pie.

1780 S Victoria Ave, Unit E, Ventura

Official site

Checked Sep 14, 2026 with Conejo Valley Guide

No date yet (was first half of 2026)Entertainment

Round1 Bowling & Arcade

The Japanese entertainment chain is building out the former Sears with bowling lanes, billiards, private karaoke rooms and a big arcade. Still under construction.

Pacific View Mall, 3301 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93003

Official site

Checked Sep 14, 2026 with Pacific View Mall directory

No date yetRestaurant

YUU Japanese Food Hall

A Japanese street-food hall planned alongside Round1 at Pacific View, with ramen, udon, okonomiyaki, takoyaki and gelato from eateries based in Japan.

Pacific View Mall, 3301 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93003

Official site

Checked Sep 14, 2026 with Round1 USA

See everything opening across Ventura County

Big dates and annual events

Good to know

Things to do in Ventura: FAQ

What is Ventura known for?

Mission San Buenaventura, founded in 1782 and the source of the city's official name; the Ventura Pier, first built in 1872; Main Street's thrift and antique shops; and Ventura Harbor, where Island Packers boats leave for Channel Islands National Park. Ventura has been the county seat since 1873.

What are some free things to do in Ventura?

Walking the pier and the Promenade, the Channel Islands National Park visitor center at the harbor, the Albinger Archaeological Museum on weekends, Grant Park and the Serra Cross, and ArtWalk in September. The Ventura Botanical Gardens are free on Fridays and always free for anyone 18 and under, and harbor parking is free Monday to Thursday.

Is the Ventura Pier open?

Yes. The city reopened the pier on June 29, 2024, after storm damage closed it in January 2023, and its gate is open from 6:30am to 10pm. The pier was first built in 1872 and is 1,620 feet long.

How do you get to the Channel Islands from Ventura?

By boat. Island Packers, the park's official boat company, runs trips to all five islands from Ventura Harbor and from Oxnard, so check which harbor your trip leaves from. The crossing to Anacapa or Santa Cruz Island takes a little over an hour, and trips are paid when you book, so plan ahead. The free park visitor center at 1901 Spinnaker Dr. is a good first stop.

Can you bring dogs to the beach in Ventura?

Not onto the sand at San Buenaventura or Emma Wood state beaches, where dogs are limited to the day-use areas, or onto the harbor's beaches. Leashed dogs are welcome at Ventura Harbor Village. For off-leash time, Camino Real Park has a fenced dog park open dawn to dusk, and Arroyo Verde Park allows dogs off leash Tuesday to Sunday from 6 to 9am.

What is there to do with kids in Ventura?

Harbor Cove Beach, the calm beach locals call Mother's Beach; the inclusive play area at Arroyo Verde Park; Marina Park's new beachfront playground; pedal boats at Ventura Harbor Village; the free national park visitor center; and the slides at the Ventura Aquatic Center. In October, Seaside Trick or Treat at the harbor is free.

When is the Ventura farmers market?

Downtown every Saturday from 8:30am to noon on the 200 block of East Main Street, year-round and rain or shine, and in Midtown every Wednesday from 9am to 1pm in Pacific View's west parking lot. The downtown market has run since 1986, and pets aren't allowed there.

Thinking about living in Ventura?

Neighborhoods, schools, commute times and home prices, all in one guide.

Read the Ventura living guide