You're from Ohio, if you haven't been to LA take a 1 hour trip south down the 101 freeway and visit the Peterson Auto Museum, the Getty, and the San Sylmar Auto Museum which is free and fantastic. The San Sylmar you can walk into the auto museum but if you want to visit the other museum you need to make a reservation usually weeks in advance for the weekend. They have a dress code for the regular museum.

Oxnard is not too far north of Malibu. I'm surprised no one has mentioned Malibu. It's nice scenic drive and very wealthy. One year on a Saturday canyon run a bunch of Pelicans stopped to eat in Malibu. I think it was Tyson Schmidt that ran into Jennifer Anniston. Another ran into Pierce Brosnan. So you never know about Malibu if you're into that sort of thing.

The restaurants at the marinas are usually good if not a bit pricey. There's a great Mexican place. I'll try to come up with the name. We ate there a couple times after the German Auto Fest.

Too bad about the demise of the GAF. It used to come around about this time of year.

There is nothing in Oxnard except farmland and the county jail. Drive north to downtown Ventura or south along PCH into Malibu. Only reason we ever went out there while growing up was Salzer's Records for rare import stuff.

Do NOT drive fast on Potrero, or Decker, or Kanan, or Mulholland these days. Ventura County Sheriff have those roads staked out pretty well.

In Malibu on PCH:
And ferraris run into telephone poles and split in half ..... :cool::p

Sorry about underestimating the distance to Morro Bay - it's been a few years and I got carried away.

The advice about driving south is also noteworthy.....if you get to Neptune's Net - it's customary to stop there for lunch....

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Venice Beach:

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Oxnard sure has changed since I was a kid raised in Santa Barbara. You really need to drive the 45 minutes North on 101 to Santa Barbara. Do State Street walk and then lunch/dinner on the Harbor at Brophy Bros. Have wine & appetizers on the small deck that looks over the Harbor. Here is Zack enjoying the view...

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Hmmm, It's been a lot of years but my biggest memeory of Oxnard is the smell of chicken poop.

You're probably thinking of Yolanda's.

Attended a buddy's wedding eleven years ago and frequented this establishment during our bachelor party evening - quite memorable!!! :D

May not be appropriate for your situation plus I'm not sure it is still in operation but thought it worth mentioning... ;)

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I thought the Mexican food in this area was awesome! I'm not a local but here's one we ate at that was enjoyable - quite a few all around so there's something for you if you enjoy Mexican cuisine:

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Spearmint Rhino is still there. There is a HUGE billboard on the 101 North for it.

dont forget PJ Grunts.

Never seen the sign for that. I try not to stop in Oxnard.

The best part of Oxnard for me would be that it is close to lots of great places, like Camarillo, Malibu, Santa Barbara.

Bringing this old thread back from the dead. I have family visiting and they want to stay for a week at the beach in October. I'd like to set them up along the Oxnard / Ventura coast for ease of access (to visit from my house) from the SFV. There are some nice condos for rent in the Mandalay settlement right east of the harbor. Is that area at all nice on foot and by bicycle? My family will be automobile but does like to stay put and relax in a quiet place with a few local eateries.

Ventura I am familiar with and the area around the harbor there is nice, but not much for rent in terms of c.ondos, only some Holiday Inn type of places which aren't my target. The area close to the beach further north is a bit rough IMHO, with lots of older structures that I wouldn't want to rent for my family. You'd have to find a real gem there to make it enjoyable.

TIA,

George

Ojai and Santa Ynez/Solvang for sure.

There are a TON of canyon drives. Kanan and that bunch. Don't need to go fast but they are fun fun fun for the twisty's. The road behind Cal State Channel Island and into Newberry park (only in the late morning or after lunch on a week day), Balcom Canyon, Grimes Canyon, HWY 50???? between Ventura river and Santa Barbara. The list of canyon runs is huge. Of course this is if you have a Porsche.

The answer to your main question is YES. That is a very nice area.

If you like Brazilian food, Moqueca Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine in the Harbor area. And there are a ton of Great Local Mexican Places. Also if you like fish, a VERY Casual place is Fisherman's Catch. It is a short hop up to Santa Barbara. Also Andria's for fish is a local legend and the Neptune's Net on the coast highway.

If you are looking to hang out Mandalay is a great area!! But don't expect a HOPPING NIGHT LIFE.

DanB

Hey George, I've rented beach houses at Faria and Solimar beaches just north of Ventura. Lots of fun and lots to do. Have you looked on VRBO yet? There's a lot of places on Oxnard, Ventura also.
Oxnard California Vacation Rentals by Owner - Oxnard California VRBO, Vacation Home Rentals, Condo Rentals, FRBO Vacation Rentals, Oxnard California Travel Information

There are some nice weekly rental houses in Silver Strand Beach. Pretty reasonable in October.