I've been on a kick this year to see more historic parks and landmarks in SoCal. Shout out to…read moreYelper All-Star Derek W. of Lakewood, CA for inspiring me with his awesome photos and experiences! The challenge I'm finding is parks being open through the week, when we (ahem) "more mature folks" like to enjoy less crowds. So when I saw Heritage Square in Oxnard was open, with possible docent tours, on a TUESDAY, I jumped on the opportunity to partake of some local history. We headed for the Square and saw some parking but, being a first timer, I decided to drive around the entire square and see the layout from the street. I decided to park on W Seventh St, to the north and take advantage of shade, and the close proximity to Heritage Coffee and Gifts(separate review), which I knew we would wander into before departing the area. Turns out W Seventh is the perfect place to start. We entered and immediately were taken with the beautiful architecture, landscaping, care and attention to detail this special area exudes. It was all pretty magical and I wasn't sure where to start. Luckily, it wasn't more than a few steps in that we spotted the water tower and visitor's center/gift shop/central hub. We stepped inside and were greeted warmly. I explained that I saw they had docent lead tours and we could sign up online, but I wasn't sure what time we would arrive, so I didn't make a reservation. Was it still possible to get a tour, or was there a self-guided walking tour info sheet? We were asked to wait a moment while the manager and lead docent was found to see if they were available. Gary was available and we began our tour. What a WONDERFUL storyteller! Weaving the families and their history with Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and bringing them to life in front of their very lovingly restored homes! He took us inside of some of the buildings, where operational businesses agree to have the public tours pop in for a moment of show and tell. Details about the original designs, room layouts, furnishings and use were all so amazing to see, touch and learn about. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. We paid $10/pp and it was well worth it! Just to hear the history of the on-site church alone was worth it! But to venture inside, see the details in the hand-made stained glass and the conversion of the oil lanterns to electric. To hear how it has changed denominations over the years and to view the photos inside, documenting the preparation of the Square, the moving process for the homes and the restoration was so intriguing. This is such a beautiful and unique area. I love that these beautiful homes were repurposed and are thriving with businesses! At the end of the tour, Gary encouraged us to check out the annual Holly Trolley Tours, Christmas Tree Lane Event and Gingerbread House Exhibit and tours. All sounded absolutely delightful!. I immediately signed up for their newsletter and I'm REALLY looking forward to returning durning the holiday season and posting more pics of festively dressed docents and delightful decorations. Cheers! "CC"

The tours are such a great way to learn more about Oxnard. Ms. Connie Korenstein and all the…read moredocents who volunteer are gems and so good at what they do. Make a visit soon and plan your trip by visiting their website to get tour schedules and info. Review the expectations before your visit and ensure the littles are able to follow instruction to not climb and explore on the historic grounds.

We had both our daughters quinceañeras at Palazzio and both times we had a great experience. This…read moreplace is beautiful and the owners make the experience very easy and memorable. Gil is there the day of the event helping to make sure things run smoothly. My daughters fell in love with the stairs and the lighting is just awesome not to mention the food was delicious and the decorations really pretty. I recommend Palazzio for your event and I know you will enjoy it as much as we did both times. It's a memory that will stay with us forever!

I recently attended the first Business Networking International (BNI) Ventura County Gala Awards…read moreBanquet hosted at the Palazzio Event Center and it was a wonderful evening. The venue was beautiful and perfect for an event of this size. Everything was very well organized, the atmosphere was vibrant, and it was great to see so many local professionals gathered together to celebrate collaboration and business growth in our community. Many thanks to Gilbert and his team for the hard work and attention to detail that made this event such a great success. I would definitely recommend this venue for special events.

Great stay at Santa Paula Inn! From the moment we booked, everything felt welcoming and easy. The…read morephone reservation was especially pleasant--friendly, courteous, and the owner/manager answered my questions directly (a hospitality level I haven't experienced in years). Arrival was smooth. The half-circle drive off Mill Street is easy to enter and was open when we arrived. The only tip I'd add is once you get past the front area, head toward the rear parking lot for the best flow. Walking up to the front door is charming--Swiss/German country cottage style with historic character, dark wood tones, and shingle siding (with white end units). The lobby setup is warm and inviting, with great lighting and multiple seating areas where you can relax or have a conversation. Check-in was quick and friendly. The staff explained the room ventilation controls and the split cooling system (new technology). The room stayed very quiet and comfortable--our third-floor room cooled to about 65°F each night. The stairs to the third floor were exactly as expected--no elevator--and they felt well designed with consistent tread depth and height. The hallways also have fun movie posters from the 20-60s, which adds personality. We stayed in Room 301, and it was roomy (about 300 sq ft). The room had a chaise lounge with an ottoman, plus a desk and chair. The bathroom layout is a bit old-school, with the sink just outside the bathroom area inside the bedroom, but it worked fine. There's a small step up (around 1 1/2 inches), and the tub/shower and toilet were comfortable and clean. The shower had plenty of hot water. The bed was a highlight--pillow-top comfort with very soft sheets and comforters. The king pillows were large, soft, and easy to adjust (even though I usually prefer smaller ones, these were great). Overall, the room and property felt quiet. It seemed like most guests were in by around 9:00, and we had a peaceful, restful night's sleep. Also worth noting: there are four EV chargers in the rear parking lot for electric vehicle owners. The restaurant looked amazing and smelled great, though we didn't dine this trip--we're planning to next time we fly into Santa Paula Airport. Finally, Monica, the manager, was wonderful--an absolute pleasure to talk with and genuinely kind. And a special thank-you for the complimentary morning coffee and muffins. Highly recommend for anyone who wants comfort, charm, and quiet peace.

We recently stayed at the Glen Tavern Inn and had a mixed experience…read more The highlight was the staff. At check-in, we realized our assigned room was near two very barky dogs, and the front desk was kind and accommodating in relocating us to another room. I think it was even a better room. I appreciated their willingness to help. Unfortunately, the room itself felt more worn than charming. The furniture had visible wear and staining, the ceiling showed patched areas and water stains that really needed a fresh coat of paint, and the overall impression was tired rather than historic. A few relatively simple updates would go a long way toward elevating the experience. The bathroom was tight, and it had a small step up that we kept forgetting about, despite the (small) warning sign. The provided toiletries were among the worst I've encountered at a hotel. I had forgotten my own shampoo and soap and planned to use what was provided, but it was SO bad. The tiny disc of soap did not lather. On the positive side, the property felt safe and the room was clean. The lobby had dark wood and a homey feel. But what could have felt like a charming historic inn instead came across as simply old and overdue for some attention. While I appreciated the friendly service, I wouldn't choose to stay here again until I knew they had made some upgrades. From what I hear, this is the nicest place in Santa Paula, so I guess we would stay in nearby Ojai at a similar price point.

I recently used Scofield Catering for a dinner-dance for 60 guests at the Poinsettia Pavilion in…read moreVentura for my swing dance club. Scofield is the house caterer at that location, so I didn't need to shop around. I had never held this type of event before, and the Scofield staff was very helpful with decision-making, upfront pricing and no surprises. I chose a dinner with butler service (not a buffet). The menu didn't sound fancy: caesar salad, chicken piccata, veggies, bread and potatoes. BUT all night the guests just raved about the food!! The eggplant piccata offered to the vegetarians was a particular hit, as was the bread. The chicken piccata was the best I have ever had. The food was beautifully plated and seasoned. The "veggies" were asparagus and carrot spears perfectly cooked and wrapped in a neat little package with leaf, not just some boring "California medley". The service went off without a hitch. I also got comments from guests on the service...everyone was well taken care of in an unobtrusive manner. Seamless. My contact the night of the dinner was extremely helpful to me and very calm. We had a couple of unexpected requests or issues (a traffic jam forcing guests to arrive late, for example), and she handled them all with aplomb. For dessert we had chocolate eclairs (a favorite of mine), and they were also exceptional, with light pastry and even lighter custard inside. All in all, Scofied catering completely exceeded my expectations and i wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend them!

My husband and I were married in Nov 2024 and Stacey served as our day of wedding coordinator,…read morecaterer, florist, and provided chairs, arches, and other needs for our big day! Basically, she was our hero! We highly recommend her if you're looking for someone who's professional, competitively priced, and a one-stop shop for all your needs! Stacey worked with us to customize a menu of elevated finger foods for our yacht reception. She also catered our rehearsal dinner at the beach with delicious BBQ and custom sides. Not to mention, the bouquets she designed were out of this world stunning! Our wedding went off without a hitch! Thank you Stacey and crew!

Susie (and Stacey) and team were great to work with! Susie had so many helpful tips and…read morerecommendations and worked with us extensively on the menu and presentation (edible flowers, vegan options, etc.). She has a can-do attitude and figured her way out of a handful of challenges at the venue. The food was genuinely tasty and we so appreciate her taking care of so many small details.

The Throwback Thursday food truck festivals are hosted at the Camarillo Ranch in the summers once a…read moremonth and have almost any type of food options your family could want. The atmosphere is very lively and friendly, lots of space to set up a picnic. The food truck selections were good, maybe a dozen options. There could be a few more because the lines at 7pm were pretty long. The food is tasty and unique and there is also good entertainment and live music. Highly recommend this event if you are in the area and don't want to cook dinner on a Thursday night.

I highly recommend this business to any family or friend. Great for events weddings, retirement…read moreparties, most casual big celebrations. I appreciate their compound for hosting my family's wedding. I'm much appreciate their hospitality business clean, comfortable environment. I hope to have more celebrations here in the future.

Huge props to our event planner Naomi who really went above and beyond to plan our event. After…read morecoordinating all of the tables, chairs, linens, etc for an outside party weeks ahead of time we were totally blindsided and stressed out by a rain forecast! Naomi was so great and was able to elegantly pivot our plans to be inside at the last minute. The result was BETTER than what we originally planned and a little less expensive. Of course Gabby's team also cheffed up an amazing culinary experience for our 70 guests and the party was fantastic. Bravo!

Thank you to everyone at Seasons who helped make our son's wedding reception and dinner so…read morewonderful! The food was delicious & beautifully presented, the staff were efficient, helpful & lovely, and service throughout the evening was perfectly executed. They left our home in sparkling clean, orderly condition. We couldn't have been happier!

This is the second time eating their food but the first time hiring them...sooooo professional,…read moreefficient, clean, cost competitive and delicious food!! I handed out quite a few of their cards. Johnny served us and did a great job. I'm sure we'll have them over again for another event!!

Can't go wrong using Famous Taco Bar. We have used them multiple times and every time they are…read moreprofessional and their food is delicious. We love them!