Making Waves At Ventura County Coast

2024-10-26
/
/ New Delhi
Ventura County Coast
Making Waves At Ventura County Coast

Ventura County near Los Angeles is an ideal surfing getaway (Photo: Ventura County Coast))

A visit to Ventura County, near Los Angeles, in California comes packed with a variety of experiences, from surfing at one of the top spots in the Golden State to travelling back almost 100 years in time to witness the evolution of the aviation industry. Whatever the preference of a traveller, the experiences come wrapped in luxury.
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When I look back and think about it, the experience was the closest I could get to our ancient gurukul system of learning and that too in a foreign land, at least 15,000 km away from home. I, along with a dozen others, had just reached the welcoming home of Mary Osborne in Ventura County, about 100 km north-west of Los Angeles in California, the largest state in the United States.

Top athlete and famed surfer Mary Osborne was at hand to train us in surfing

Osborne is a professional surfer and a longboard champion who has been named the ‘Best Female Athlete’ in the entire County. She was to teach us surfing and which she could very well have done at the beach. But, Osborne, like any guru in ancient India, had invited all of us over to her home, situated right at the Solimar Beach, one of the nicest spots in California for surfing. Along with her mother and other family members, Osborne welcomed us warmly, literally, as a bonfire had been lit in the yard in front of her house, to help us fight off the cold, as an unusual cold snap had gripped California for about a week. To add to the welcome, another lady was playing lovely tunes on her guitar.

And then, once we had changed into our wetsuits, each one of us was handed a surfboard and we walked to the beach, where Osborne began training us for surfing, asking us to mimic some actions which would be needed to stay afloat in the sea and to ensure that the board stays upright.

We were on a familiarisation trip, hosted by Visit California, at the conclusion of IPW2024, that had taken place in Los Angeles, the 11th time that the biggest inbound travel show of the United States was being hosted in California.

Of the numerous post-conference fam tour options, each uniquely attractive and a great way to discover the largest State of the country, I had opted for a tour that took me to Ventura County coast, for its variety of experiences and landscapes. But more on that later!

Here at the Solimar beach, dressed just in our wetsuits, even the gentle breeze that blew in from the sea was enough to send shivers down our spines and I was dreading the moment when we would have to step up and enter the water as I was certain it would be freezing.

But after the training, it was time. So, we carried our boards and approached the waves that seemed to touch the coast gently, just as a mother would
touch her baby. Not yet confident of what awaited me, I approach the edge of the waves and just tipped a toe to feel the water. The water was freezing and not just for me, most of us just shrieked and ran back to dry land!

It was indeed very cold as I could not even feel my feet. But I knew that I had little choice but to continue to walk in the water up to the
point where it was deep enough for me to place my surfing board.

The trainers accompanied us in the water, with two persons assigned to each trainer and I was very fortunate to have Osborne herself as my trainer.

And I joined other members of the group in surfing which continued for well over an hour. Of course, once in the midst of the action, I began to enjoy myself, trying to learn from other, more experienced persons in the group. I did manage to stand on the board several times, but for short durations, and at those moments, I felt as if I were the Queen of the Ocean and the waves were at my command.

When it was time, Osborne beckoned us back and we went back to her house and this time around, the bonfire proved to be a lifesaver as we huddled around it to get some warmth and feel the blood flowing once again in our veins.

A busy day, with yoga and open air lunch accompanied with live music

After we had changed back into our clothes, Osborne had organised an impromptu yoga session for all of us to help us overcome the fatigue caused by surfing and to loosen up our taut muscles and body. The yoga instructor was dexterous and even though some of the postures were rather complicated, we felt very relaxed after the session. To add to the sense of peace and rejuvenation, the guitarist accompanied the yoga session with some very soothing music.

All these activities had, of course, made us famished and there again, as in a gurukul, our guru for the day had thought of everything, including a ‘Brunch on the Beach’, with tables laid out in her garden with food and some drinks. With our hearts, mind and body satiated, we bid adieu to Osborne and surfing in Ventura County.

Surfing the skies

Ventura County Coast

Commemorative Air Force Museum is one of the largest aviation museums on the West Coast

While surfing is certainly one of the biggest tourist attractions here, Ventura County is also very popular for its Commemorative Air Force Museum at Camarillo. Said to be one of the largest such facilities in this part of the US, it has a rich collection of vintage World War II aircraft that stand gleaming in their hangars.

Looking at their condition, it would be impossible for anyone not a fan of aviation to guess that these aircraft date back to at least 80 years ago, if not 100.

The collection seems to have them all, as we walk around looking at the aircraft, a variety of fighters, bombers and transporters, used by US Air Force, the aircraft of the Allied Air Forces and even German and Japanese aircraft, many of which had developed a reputation as being excellent flying machines of war.

Ventura County Coast

The museum is haven for aviation geeks with its precious flying machines in perfect working order even 50 years later

We are shown around some of the beauties in the hangar and get to explore some of them from the inside as well. But unfortunately, due to paucity of time, we cannot have the thrill of flying in one of these vintage planes, all of which are perfectly airworthy and in fact, one of the biggest attractions here in Camarillo is the option to go for a fly around in these planes.

It occurs to me that the museum is also an ideal place to host a unique corporate or MICE event as there is no paucity of space for hosting large gatherings or even interesting backdrops for team building exercises, without forgetting unique selfie spots, such as world’s only remaining US Navy’s B25-PBJ Bomber!

It is also possible for visitors to book plane rides for their loved ones on their special days such as anniversaries, an option that is frequently used by people from around the world.

Cruising at Channel Island Harbor

After an enriching visit and a nourishing lunch at the museum,it is time to say goodbye to these flying machines and we head to the next activity on our agenda, a boat cruise at the Channel Islands Harbor.

The Channel Islands Harbor comes with an array of watersports such as jet skiing, paddleboarding and boat cruises. Adding to its appeal for tourists, the harbour has recently been named a world heritage site for whales and crucially, one of just 10 such sites around the world. Little wonder then that one of the highlights here are the whale watching tours.

A number of private boat and yacht operators here offer the possibility of organising a river cruise aboard a privatised boat and this is what we do.
Stepping aboard Scarlett Belle, a traditional paddlewheel boat that comes with all the latest modern amenities, we head out for our cruise.

But during the 90-minute cruise, we not only learn about the area where we are and the history of Channel Islands Harbor, but we also learn how to make perfumed candles, with a trainer aboard who guides us throughout the process.

Ventura County Coast

Channel Harbor Cruise is another key activity to be experienced here

Though I had never given it a thought, but on this cruise I realise that candlemaking is not just an art, but also a very precise science, for we have to be careful not only about the choice of our ingredients but also the exact quantities. For instance, we are supposed to begin with 4.6 ounces (200 gm) of melted wax that is poured in a container and on top of which a small quantity of perfume oil is poured and the mixture is left to settle and solidify.

During the cruise, candle-making sessions are conducted

As the cruise continues, we head to the snack bar onboard Scarlett Belle to pick up some churros that I munch on, while watching the paddleboat glide smoothly over the water. By the time our boat heads back towards the port, it is already past the sunset and soon enough, we disembark from the boat, but not without first collecting our personal candles that each one of us has made. Armed with the solid proof, as the candle has by now fully solidified, of my work onboard Scarlett Belle, I join others enroute to our next activity, our dinner, which is specially welcomed by all of us as we are all famished by now, the delicious churros notwithstanding.

Dining with history

Ventura County Coast

Downtown is the best place to look for a lively dinner setting

After the sunset cruise at the harbour, we go to Downtown Ventura, which is an ideal location for walking around as it is full of shops, bars and restaurants, with live music playing at many. The area’s vibrancy and lively ambience is infectious, attracting most tourists for a night out, enjoying the sights and sounds.

Our destination for the night is Serra Cross Conservancy at Grant Park, that comes with panoramic views of, both the city and coastline. We are told that the Conservancy dates back to late 18th century as on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, Spanish missionaries founded Mission San Buenaventura and a large wooden cross was planted on top of a hill overlooking the Mission church. Sitting at the highest point in the area, the cross served as a road sign for travellers in search of the Mission.

With a setting in middle of this historic site, we have a relaxed dinner, enjoying the sights of the beautiful beach and the tranquil Pacific Ocean beyond it.

Santa Barbara: Stars, Saints & Sailing

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is where the US film industry was actually born (Photo: India Outbound/ Varsha Singh)

A poster at Santa Barbara Harbor says it all. “Welcome to the hottest place in the world”. While the poster actually refers to the day in June 1859 when the temperature here soared to 133°F (56.1°C), the world’s highest and which stayed a record for 75 years, today, Santa Barbara has much more than just a baking sun to stake the claim to be the hottest place in the world!

After completing our tour of Ventura County, we have reached the neighbouring town of Santa Barbara, which is yet another hip-town adjoining Los Angeles that has attracted a wide variety of personages, from saints and film stars to fans of sailing. In fact, before Hollywood was born in Los Angeles, in the era of silent films, Santa Barbara was the hub of filmmaking in the United States and was frequented by numerous legends of the epoch, including Charlie Chaplin.

We begin our discovery of Santa Barbara by taking a tour in an openair trolley, an iconic landmark of the city. The 90-minute tour takes us to the numerous tourism landmarks, with a guide explaining the spots and their significance. With its natural beauty, as it sits in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains, just a short hop from the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara has long attracted visitors and tourists of all sorts.

Colourful historical sites of Santa Barbara (Photo: India Outbound/ Varsha Singh)

Colourful historical sites of Santa Barbara (Photo: India Outbound/ Varsha Singh)

One of the sights on the tour is the Santa Barbara Mission, said to be the Queen of missions in the US, founded almost 250 years ago, by Spanish Franciscan monks. The mission continues to be a living monastery and is still home to the Franciscan Friars. Even today, The mission attracts thousands of visitors from around the world each year.

Another iconic building on the tour is the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, which we are told is the most photographed building in the United States, after the White House.

The trolley tour sticks to the iconic public landmarks, but, in sharp contrast to what the practice may be in India or in other countries, the tour steers clear of the celebrities. Our guide on the tour tells me that over the decades that Santa Barbara has been home to numerous celebrities, including American pop sensation Katy Perry, one important aspect of the culture here is to give the necessary space and privacy to the celebrities and the locals also strongly discourage the papparazzi culture, which is often the bane of celebrities around the world.

The trolleys can be privatised for groups or even for celebrations like weddings or anniversaries, the guide adds. The tour also visits numerous other attractions including the Butterfly Beach, a favoured beach of the rich and famous, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree which is the largest of its kind in North America as well as Stearns Wharf which is the oldest operating wharf on the West Coast.

Later that afternoon, we head to the waterfront from where we take a sunset cruise, aboard a 15-m Double Dolphin catamaran operated by Santa Barbara Sailing, a leading sailing company in the city. Sailing along the marvellous Californian coast in the backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains, we spot dozens of California sea lions, dolphins as well as many sea gulls and other coastal birds.

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