I love walking & this is one of my favorite spots ! It's absolutely gorgeous. This park is well…read moretaken care of and so many people enjoy it . Def recommend you check it out!

We occasionally enjoy picking up some lunch with our boy and chilling under a shady tree with a…read morenice view !! The harbour is bustling with many a vessel, walkers, doggies on leashes, sea lions, and seals abound !! So relaxing to watch and breathe in the fresh air !! Cheers !

We just went this past weekend. We throughly enjoyed our camping adventure this weekend. We spent…read moretime down at the creek, we walked through the aviary, spent time at the playground, etc. Highly recommend this park and campground. Very family friendly, and clean. We are looking forward to our next visit!

We've been camping at steckel for numerous years and have never had any negative interactions with…read morehost or anyone for that matter. We camp with locals of Santa Paula and are all in agreement that the host Brie is the worst host we've ever came across, her husband is rude and they both lack people skills. They husband and son approached our campsite about 15 till 10pm and without introducing/identifying themselves as the camp host rudely told us to quiet down and shut radio off. Our group had the whole cul de sac of rv campsites reserved that weekend and we are all aware and practice good camping etiquette, we were in no way in violation of noise and our conversation had been toned down because we had children sleeping in a tent. He was told to work on his approach and identify himself next time. Then comes brie at exactly 10 pm rudely telling us to wrap it up, at this point I had enough. We exchanged words and she got emotional and cried, I asked her to leave our campsite and I'd be filing a complaint with park management. Contact Staff Management if you have any issues with hosts. Parks Manager Jeri Cooper Jeri.Cooper@venturacounty.gov Parks Operations Chad Bowie Chad.Bowie@venturacounty.gov

It's beautiful especially right now with a the water. We weren't aware there were no dogs allowed…read moreso had to take turns walking down to take a look.

Perfect hike for toddlers to get "natured". About a fourth a mile from where we parked the car…read more Down the bike path. There's a spot to lock up your bikes. It's clean and well Maintained. No trash or graffiti. Just the birds and trees and water ... oh and a pair of beautiful ducks

Love Marina Park! Such a beautiful place with areas for fishing, two beaches, a kids play ground,…read moreand nice grassy areas for a picnic. It's handicap accessible with some paved paths and makes for a nice short walk to view the inside of the harbor. Bathrooms are usually well kept too. Easy street parking or in their large lot.

This is my FAVE park in Ventura because - IMO - it has everything you need for a great day at the…read morebeach. Let's start with FREE PARKING! Some local beaches are starting to charge, but this one still offers PLENTY of free parking. In addition, there are multiple playgrounds - including a pirate galleon from when the park was established during my childhood, a THOUSAND years ago! It doesn't have the zip line that caused me to smash my leg into the concrete side, leaving a still visible scar 1,000 years later, which is probably for the best, but a kinder/gentler playground with more modern amenities for today's active child. There is also an expansive grass area, where you will find many local pups bounding about with joy. On the grassy areas, BBQs! Also a protected, man made beach cove with an easy enter, small to no wave water entry. Lots of families prefer to set up their space on the green grass and then make their way to the beach, which is an ideal way to have your picnic sand free! A foot shower is also available to rinse the beach off before you settle back onto your blanket. Plenty of benches, tables and a bathroom that is, if I'm being completely honest, acceptable, but could use an upgrade. If you're more active, make your way to the public dock to launch your kayak, paddle board, etc. I've also seen people fishing from this dock and launching remote control boats - so cute! If you haven't brought your own board or boat, there is a rental kiosk handily available. This is also a great park to stroll through. A clear path goes from the parking lot to the tip of the Ventura Harbor entrance, known as Soter Point, where a beautiful sculpture stands. When I think of the perfect beach park, I think of Marina Park in Ventura. Cheers! "CC"

Sweet pocket park off the main drag of Ojai. There are so many gems to discover when you are on…read morefoot and truly present and unhurried. Ojai has many! I was enjoying the first morning hours before the intense heat of the day set in and this was today's find. I enjoyed reading the history of Ojai and the surrounding mountains according to the early Native Americans. There are nice displays of a riparian and a butterfly garden. There is also a wonderful compass display of the surrounding mountains and their heights. Some quiet benches and a fountain round out this tiny park.

Cluff Vista Park is a sweet little park built onto what feels like a traffic median in downtown…read moreOjai. It's a pretty place, a quiet, well landscaped triangle with nice views on all sides. I guess this lot was once a gas station, and then an abandoned lot until the park was built in 2002. It seems like it was probably a big project, but a worthwhile one for the citizens of Ojai. There are benches, a water fountain, some space for just walking around and enjoying the open air. Small, but luxurious. My husband and I dropped by on our way to Nocciola across the street, and it was a lovely place for a quick stroll. We had the park almost entirely to ourselves, and it was very pleasant and peaceful. If you want a calm public spot to relax for a bit in Ojai, visit Cluff Vista Park and take a breather.

I'll echo what the other reviews say... A windy and long…read moredrive to get here- make time for it and keep your eyes on the road. My Subaru loved the creek crossing over the road. A short, beautiful hike to the waterfall, very FernGully feeling. So many birds here including Western Bluebirds, Scrub Jays, Turkey Vultures, and various raptors. The air is crisp and cool, bring a warm layer for sure. And, as always, pack it in pack it out, and leave it better than you found it.

This is a quick little jaunt up to the waterfall which is very fun to play around in. It was pretty…read moremagical with the miss and all the little cavelets. We saw a snake swimming in the water which was super cool, but be aware! It's nice and cool and shaded as the end.

EASY & PLEASANT A.M. HIKE IN SANTA PAULA!…read more We were looking for an option to get some steps in, while our son took his S.A.T. in Santa Paula on a Saturday Spring season morning. "All Trails" app showed us a few options, and we ultimately chose this option to get a view of the Santa Clara River, up close. Yelp directions are on point and is a short drive off the 126 Hwy. Once you pass the entry gate there is a designated parking area that includes handicapped parking (cement rather than gravel) as well. TRAIL: The loop and tail of the trail together is about 2.2 miles and the tail (back and forth) comprises about 0.9 miles of it. Elevation is minimal (13ft). I am a mosquito magnet and I did not prep with bug repellent. I was pleasantly surprised I did not get one bug bite on this trail!!! Wahoo! Lots of gnats are flying around so look up and keep your eyes off your phone lol The trail is designated with rocks and/or gravel. Although you cannot see The River from The Loop, there is a short offshoot from the loop that gives you a clear river view at the end of it. No wild animals were seen during our walk. There was quite a few wildflowers in bloom and South Mountain was a healthy green from the recent rains. Boom, Got my Steps in! EASY RECOMMENDATION for a low impact hike outside to keep you in the fat burning zone and synthesize some Vitamin D in the sunlight! Enjoy!

It's not everyday a new nature preserve opens - and especially not in densely populated SoCal! But…read morewe got a new one this year - the Santa Clara River Preserve officially opened back in January thanks to the years-long efforts of The Nature Conservancy! The preserve is a haven for wildlife amongst all the farm fields and small towns - especially for the migratory birds! It consists of 1000 acres of wetland, river bed, and upland habitats. There are several trails here - the river trail, wildflower trail, and wetland trail. It's about 0.3 miles from the entrance to any of the trailheads. The river trail is less than 1/2 mile long out and back but the length changes depending on how much water the river has flowing at the moment. The wetland trail is 1 mile out and back and has lots of harvester ant beds and snakes so be very careful where you step! The wildflower trail is a 0.8 mile loop. The trails are moderately well maintained and don't have much elevation gain. But they are sandy and uneven in places - especially where flooding has occurred. I'd call these trails easy but definitely not handicap accessible. And I recommend bear spray - I definitely saw more than a few mountain lion tracks! I loved the river trail the most - but my biggest disappointment is that there's very little access to the river views. You get two small viewpoints with limited viewing due to the plant growth - but still, it's lovely and this preserve is for the wildlife - not us humans lol! Also, the banks of the river are treacherous- sandy, steep, and prone to sudden erosion - and the Santa Clara River is fast flowing - so I can see why they limit our access. It's not completely peaceful unfortunately- The surrounding area is all agricultural machines and noise that sometimes drowns out the bird song. But it's still a lovely place to visit and heaven if you're a birder! I saw tons of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, hummingbirds, finches, yellow warblers and more - even a couple of endangered Least Bell's Vireo and some new lifers too - the Yellow-breasted Chat and a rare Lark Sparrow!! The grounds have a decent sized amphitheater and offer educational and outreach programs for school groups. The parking lot is all gravel but well maintained and there's a portapotty available. It's free to enter and open dawn to dusk.

We visited the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center and we definitely weren't disappointed!…read moreThere was so much for our nine-year-old to enjoy. He received a Junior Ranger packet with activities to complete, and once he finished, he was officially sworn in as a Junior Ranger. He even got a little wooden badge, which was such a cute touch! The visitor center is also in a great location, right by the Ventura Harbor, with plenty of places to grab ice cream, eat, or do a little shopping. The whole area was clean, nice, and easy to walk around. Such a fun and family-friendly stop, especially if you have kids who love adventures and earning Junior Ranger badges!

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Channel Islands National Park was one of the most unique adventures. Unlike most national parks, getting there is part of the experience. There are no roads leading into the park, you have to take a ferry from Ventura across the Pacific Ocean. Just boarding the boat and watching the mainland disappear behind you makes the trip feel like an expedition to somewhere special. We visited Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands, and immediately understood why these islands are often called the "Galápagos of North America." Thousands of years of isolation have allowed unique plants and animals to evolve here, including the adorable island fox, found nowhere else on Earth. Seeing one of these tiny foxes wandering near the trails was an unexpected highlight. The hiking was beautiful, with dramatic coastal cliffs, sweeping ocean views, wildflowers, and peaceful trails. One of the things we appreciated most was the feeling of solitude. Unlike many of California's more famous parks, Channel Islands feels wonderfully wild and uncrowded. The absolute highlight of our visit, however, was kayaking through the sea caves. Paddling into enormous ocean caves carved by the Pacific was an unforgettable experience. The water changed from deep blue to brilliant turquoise as the sunlight reflected inside the caves, and every turn revealed another incredible rock formation. It was exciting, peaceful, and just a little adventurous all at once. It became one of the most memorable experiences of our entire six-week trip. Because there are no restaurants, hotels, or stores on the islands, you need to come prepared with food, water, and everything you'll need for the day. That lack of development is exactly what makes the park so special. It feels wild, protected, and beautifully untouched. Channel Islands National Park is unlike any other national park we have visited. Between the ferry ride, spectacular coastal scenery, abundant wildlife, wonderful hiking, and unforgettable sea cave kayaking, it was an experience we will never forget. If you're willing to plan ahead and make the journey across the water, you'll discover one of America's true hidden gems.