Moving to Ventura (Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz: quality of life, place to live, restaurants)

[pollygeorge]

I was searching the net and came across this website. Very interesting. I am new and moving to Ventura. I think I found a room mate and will know on Thursday. Anyone have any interesting sites, restaurants, things to do to share? And....Merry Christmas!!!!

[Winston Smith]

What do you like? The Ventura vicinity offers a lot if you enjoy hiking and the outdoors -- Point Mugu, upper Ojai, the Santa Paula and Fillmore back-country. From the Ventura and Channel Islands harbors you can take boating excursions into the Santa Barbara Channel for whale watching or day trips to Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands. On foot explore the beach, or get a bike and ride up and down the coast.

[~Boo~]

The Ventura Harbor use to have some great restaurants. Haven't been there for awhile though.

cre8 had some good suggestions. It depends what your interests are.

A great place to take in the view is from Grants Park http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc11603.php We've been told there are rattlesnakes there so be careful if you walk around, but we've never had a problem.

Santa Barbara has more of a night life & if that's not your thing, it's even a great place to visit during the day & not that far away.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I live in Oxnard, just south of Ventura and work in Ventura. I grew up in the area and it is a great place to live. I think in 2006 Outdoor magazine ranked Ventura as the #2 surfing community in the World. There is a small night life. Just about every lifestyle is represented. There is Nicholbies on Main Steet. Its a great club, above the Nicholbies store. Paddys if you are into the same sex thing. I am not but I have a brother that hangs out there. My favorite club is The Bom Bay Bar and Grill. Friday and Saturday nights the place is booming. I think there cover is $8.00 to get in. I never pay the cover though. But then I have spent a lot of time there. BomBays has live music up front and a DJ in the back. They also have 140 foot bar with just about what ever you want to drink available. On Friday and Saturday if you go around 10 or 10:30 the place is got a good party scene going on. They also have a nice resteraunt that serves food before 10pm. Also this time of year there is always a big New Years eve party. I think that the cover is $25 for that. As you can tell I am a little partial to the place.

If the night life in Ventura doesn't do anything for you, Santa Barbara is just up the road. They have there share of clubs there.

If clubs aren't your thing, the Ventura County fair is in August I think. Seems they have changed the date before. That is right in town. They also have the dirt track there that is fun to watch. The beach is always there, but it is kind of cool here in this area. In June we have what we call June Gloom. Can't see much then. The Channell Islands are off the coast and when it is gloomy outside you can't see the Islands. If you are into boating we have that here. I think that you will like it here.

[olman889]

Originally Posted by pollygeorge

I was searching the net and came across this website. Very interesting. I am new and moving to Ventura. I think I found a room mate and will know on Thursday. Anyone have any interesting sites, restaurants, things to do to share? And....Merry Christmas!!!!

great choice!!i love ventura.if u ask me its probably the best county in the u.s by far.the weather is beautiful.the ocean,mountains,lakes,etc...
i regret ever leaving v.c.
just could never be able to afford to own aplace there again.place has gone wild.lol$$$ i cant imagine that a place i owned back in 1999 for 160k now goes for 700k.wow!never saw that coming if not i would of stayed.
youll love it there,there so much to do and everythings close.
besides santa barbara,sf bay area,sd co.i would rank vc like 3 or 4 in the country for its quality of life.peaceful beautiful

[simonjay]

I agree. Ventura is the best. period.