Lynn

I am off to Ventura California for Labor Day Weekend....any suggestions? Is it a nice place to relax on the beach, eat good food and sight-see?

xxx

It's on the way to Santa Barbara from LA. Not near as popular, though the downtown area has been spruced up over the years to include some decent restaurants. The beach often gets a little overcast, so you probably won't be able to relax on the beach until later in the day.

Ojai and Santa Barbara would be two places to consider for sightseeing.

Suzie

You can spend a good amount of time at the harbor. There are restaurants and shops and lots of boats to look at (dream about?). There is also Channel Islands National Park Visitor's Center at the end of the promenade. There is an indoor carousel and you can rent boats or charter a sail.
http://www.venturaharborvillage.com/

The beach is also just across the road. Long stretch of sandy beach.

Also down the road a bit is the 15-acre beachfront park at the south end of Pierpont Boulevard. Facilities include picnic and barbecue areas, a sand volleyball court, a children's play area with replica of an antique sailing ship, and restrooms.

Personally I like the beach area off Seaward Blvd. It's a really beachy funky place. There is one specific access road that runs right next to the state beach. That way you get the restroom and showers.

There is also the pier and promenade area between the Holiday Inn and the fairgrounds. People watching and nicve sandy beech.

dncee11

LaTrattoria restaurant, a hole-in-the-wall Italian near the corner of Main/Seaward; 71 Palm, Main/Palm downtown, very expensive but worth it; Busy Bee cafe, downtown on Main, Frankey's downtown on Main.

kam

The old Clocktower Inn is a relatively nice hotel. A drive up to Santa Barbara or inland to Ojai would be nice. Wine tasting in northern Santa Barbara Co. Friends of ours have a vacation house in Ventura and they love it for its funky old fashioned ways. Sweet little mission in downtown. If you wanted to visit the new Getty Museum, it's not too far on the way down to LA and you'd enjoy the drive through Malibu.

LA

Getty Center is great, but don't attempt to get there through LA traffic on Labor Day weekend.

Stay in Ventura or head to Santa Barbara or Ojai.

karen

I second Suzie's recommendation for Ventura Yacht Harbor. The beach there is not bad either. There or some good resturants and a little shopping. There is also a little theatre that sometimes has a Murder Mystery evening. Sort of campy but fun.