Do & See
Fly Away!
Stop by any one of the many small airports in Ventura County and check out the beautiful planes! The Santa Paula Airport has a nice restaurant where you can have an ice tea and watch the planes take off and land. The first Sunday of every month is the best time to visit this airport for an up close look at all the planes! (Potlucks are common here on Fridays too.) On Fridays, visit the Camarillo Airport for the “$300 hamburger”! The Santa Barbara Airport has been updated recently and is really beautiful! (Plus, they recently started up again the direct flights to Portland! Go Ducks!)
David's Sweeet Piper Cub
Ride ‘em Cowboy
Saddle Up Riding School, located in Aliso Canyon on thousands of acres is an amazing place to learn how to ride and care for horses. Instructor Jennifer Nielson is an amazingly patient woman with a heart of gold who knows her stuff. Take an evaluation lesson and then sign up for monthly classes.
In the Ring
The Ultimate Ventura View
On a clear day, hike on up to the “V” and soak in the most amazing view in So Cal! It’s worth the sweat!
The Ultimate "V" View!
Doggone Fun Day
Come and check out the Winterfest All Breed Dog Show at the Ventura Fairgrounds. It is a great way to spend a day checking out all the breeds you know and have never heard of before! It is also a terrific opportunity to talk to dog owners and learn more about behaviours and needs of specific breeds so when you adopt or buy a dog of your own, you’ll choose the best fit for your family and lifestyle.
Beautiful Great Pyrannease!
Spa Day at its Finest
You won’t want to miss this! The Santa Barbara Bacara Resort is the ultimate in Spa Day-cation! Start out with a beach/cliff hike, then work out in the spacious exercise room, take a yoga class, then relax in the steam room, the sauna and the whirlpool. After a heavenly facial and a glorious massage, hang by the glistening pool. Have lunch in the Bistro or cocktails in the gorgeous bar/restaurant.
The Spa Pool
Beatrice Wood Was Here
Visit our most famous resident! It’s a love story, an art story, a time of break throughs in glazing pottery like never seen before. Visit the Beatrice Wood Studio in Ojai and step back in time and learn the story of Beatrice and the people she knew, who she inspired and those that inspired her.
Beatrice's jars of glazes still line the walls
Need to Fuse your Glass?
If you can’t make it to Bullseye Glass in Portland, OR then Pacific Art Glass is the next best thing. It is hard to tell from the outside that inside you will find a HUGE world of shiny glass of all shapes, sizes and colors. The owner, John, is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They are located just south of Los Angeles in Gardena.
Art Glass, Tools & Supplies since 1976!
Now I want to mosaic everything in my path
You’ll need some stepping stones! Taking a basic mosaic class was really fun. It was a two day course with the first day glueing the design and grouting on the second day. Tami does consignment work and is extremely talented and experienced. She does classes in table tops, dog portraits, garden globes and more. Check out the photos and the class schedule at the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art!
Here is my finished masterpiece!
Art from Scrap
This shop in Santa Barbara is an crafter’s dream come true! You have to see it to believe it. I love the mission statement: Promoting a greater understanding of environmental issues and encouraging creative expression in the arts. Visit the reuse store and help save our planet. They have classes too! They are located at 302 E Cota Street.
Take a class and learn what you can do with scrap materials
Palace of Funk
A visit to Palm Springs is only a few hours away! Palm Springs is known for its quirky restaurants and motels which is what makes the town all the more delightful. Here’s a little place that Ruby Montana owns that will steal your heart. Swim in the pool, soak in the sun and hang with her sweet Chihuahuas.
Coral Sands
Conejo Valley Days Rodeo
There’s nothing like an old fashioned rodeo with bulls, cowboys, clowns and the American flag. I love the part where the girls ride around in circles like synchronized swimming on horses. This year they had a fellow who trained his horse to roll over and play dead, turn on a dime, and more. It was an amazing showdeo. Don’t miss next year’s events!
Don't drop it!
Eye Lash Tinting
You’ll need to get your movie star on!!! As a redheaded female, it is easy to look like Opie from Mayberry RFD after getting out of a pool. Having dark eyelashes can make all the difference in the world. Good technicians are very hard to find and I have found one of the best in our area! Jeanine Guerra, the owner of Crimson Day Spa in Santa Barbara is who you need to see! She’ll even give you a facial at the same time. Be sure and tell her hi for me when you go! She is located at 31 Parker Way and her number is (805) 563-7546.
Crimson Spa
Full Service at Firestone
Here’s where to go to get pumped up! New tires or in need of air… Visit your local Ventura Firestone Tire dealer at 200 South California Street. (805) 643-6101. You’ll find a very knowledgeable and helpful group of people to help you!
Hans puts much needed air into Opal, the Airstream's tires
Get Your Gear Here!
Here’s where to go to get the scoop on the local fishing haunts! Eric’s Tackle Shop is part museum, part tackle shop, part sports TV hangout. For all your fishing needs or a fun browse, stop on by at 2127 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura. (805) 648-5665. Keep those lines tight and subscribe to Eric’s blog.
Visit Eric for bait, custom rods, rod/reel repair, travel service, taxidermist & seminars
Trampoline Aerobics
Exercising has never been easier! Just $11 and you can bounce for an hour. Remember the ol’ seat drop? Try doing 25 in a row! A perfect evening for the whole family plus you can rent space for birthday parties and/or take the evening and Saturday morning aerobics classes. Visit Sky High Sports in Camarillo at 166 N Aviador St. (There are more locations in California, Oregon & Washington.)
Bouncing Bart!
Vacuum To the Rescue
Who doesn’t need great customer service for something so annoying – when your vacuum breaks. Here’s your man, Matt, at All-Vac. Customer service that no longer exists today – from a new purchase to a repair! Located at 3619 Telegraph Rd, Ventura 93003 (805) 642-9559.
Matt, Collector of Internal Residue
2010 Ventura Hillsides Musical Festival
This year’s festival was held in late September featured many amazing artists including Colbie Caillat from Thousand Oaks, Emmylou Harris, the Gin Blossoms and WPA. The weather was perfect, the snow cones were heaven and the impromptu dancing from the trail above was quite entertaining. Lots of grass available for picnic seating but the day did get a little hot in the direct sun. (We moved to find some shady trees.) Don’t miss this event next year or your opportunity to volunteer for a wonderful cause to preserve and restore the hillsides of Ventura.
2010 Ventura Hillsides Musical Festival
Go By Train
When is the last time you rode a train? How about overnight? Rent a roomette, a family room or a bedroom and enjoy a leisure 28 hour ride from Oxnard to Portland. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. There’s even WiFi and a movie theatre. (Don’t forget to use your AAA discount!)
Heading south out of Portland over the Steel Bridge
Quintessential Surf Inspired Handmade Jewelry
You want to know what the definition of “beach-hip-surf-inspired-artisan-jewelry-and-accessories is”? Look no further. It is a run, don’t walk to BettyBelts shop in Ventura at 12 North Fir. Even if you don’t surf, you will appreciate the quality and aesthetic beach chic! Donna is the Owner/Designer and a passionate surfer. BettyBelts is also part of the 1% Back For The Planet. Visit Donna’s website to meet her designers and see their incredible surfing photos!
Donna, in her vendor tent at the Point Mugu Surfing Competition
Enhance Your Natural Beauty
Danielle is an artist with lashes. She uses the Novalash product for individual butterfly light lashes. She is an expert at application and very talented. The lashes are perfect for special occasions, however, the lashes are long-lasting so you’ll want them on year-round. The added bonus is that Danielle is a sweetheart and fun to chat with during your appointments! (Or if you prefer to rest, her rooms are very comfortable, relaxing and quiet.) Visit StudioLash at 586 Poli St, Venutra. Call (805) 643-5274 for an appointment.
Danielle, StudioLash proprietor
Get Smogged
An emission test cycle, also known as a smog check, is a specified procedure for measuring pollutant emissions of engines. I highly recommend Dikes-Thornton Automotive Inc at 3111 East Main Street in Ventura. Very friendly and quick service makes this exercise painless. Call (805) 642-4818.
Your car is in good hands with owner, Jamey Thornton
Ventura County Fair
It’s time for the Ventura fair! Enjoy fast, fun and/or scary rides, chocolate covered bacon, giant slides, mutton riding, aquarium exhibits, bungee jumping, big & little animals, Vitamix demonstrations and much, much more.
I love cut outs!
Disneyland
You’re never too young to visit Disneyland and you’ve never been there enough times. Which is more fun – the Tea Cup, Space Mountain, the Jungle Cruise or the parade at night? It’s all good!
Bart & our nephew on the Toy Story ride
Roller Derby
Ventura boasts its own roller derby team, the Derby Darlins. Catch this fast action sport and cheer our ladies on!
Ventura's Roller Derby Darlins
Magic Mountain
Magic Mountain has some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, gut-wrenchingest rides in the country-including a few record-breakers. The long lines are worth the wait!
Roller Coasters Galore
