Tell Me About Oxnard, CA

KCmike · Mar 15, 2015

We are thinking of staying on the Ocean a few days at the Embassy Suites in Oxnard. I want to be close to Santa Barbara for a day visit and then head up the coast. Is Oxnard a fairly safe area here? Are there still a good amount of waves even though the Channel Islands run along side this part of California?

Luvzmy3boys · Mar 15, 2015

I have not stayed in Oxnard but we drive through on the way to Santa barabara every year. It is safe. Not as touristy as Santa barbara in terms of dining, lodging but less expensive. I have several friends who grew up in Oxnard and they grew up surfing so there are waves. There are lots of nice beaches between Oxnard and north of Santa barbara.

KCmike · Mar 16, 2015

Luvzmy3boys said:
I have not stayed in Oxnard but we drive through on the way to Santa barabara every year. It is safe. Not as touristy as Santa barbara in terms of dining, lodging but less expensive. I have several friends who grew up in Oxnard and they grew up surfing so there are waves. There are lots of nice beaches between Oxnard and north of Santa barbara.

Thanks so much for the information. We've found a good price on a hotel here and was hoping to do a few days here and enjoy the beach.

SMD · Mar 16, 2015

You might want to google the tar/crude oil seep on Ventura County and SB beaches and decide if that's a deal break for you. Or at least plan a little for what you'll run into.

KCmike · Mar 18, 2015

Is it really that bad? I did google it but it looked mostly a story from a few years ago. Am I going to see oil in the ocean/beaches?

lcasa · Mar 24, 2015

My son goes to CSUCI which is between Oxnard and Camarillo. The beach area is fine but I would consider going just a bit further north - Ventura has a cute old fashioned downtown, a nice pier, and lots of restaurants and it would get you closer to SB. There are some not so great areas in Oxnard - but further inland.

KCmike · Mar 27, 2015

Oh no. I was hoping to get good responses on Oxnard. It's the best deal I can find for something on the beach and a cook to order breakfast each morning sure sounds good. I will look into Ventura.
I've read by the beach it is ok but further out it can be quite rough. This was dated back in 2010.

SMD · Mar 27, 2015

It won't look like an oil spill on the beach, but you might get dime sized blobs on your clothes, shoes and towels that could ruin them.

lcasa · Mar 30, 2015

I asked my older son who lives in Ventura and he says that Embassy Suites is nice and in a good area. He loves living in Ventura btw - they go to that beach /pier all the time.

mr.bungle · May 7, 2015

My friend got married at the embassy suites Mandalay in Oxnard and my former employer rented a beach house down there for holiday parties. That section is ok but overall, Oxnard is kind of a joke locally. Lower income and not the best area. Stay in Ventura. There is stuff to do in Ventura as well. Or stay in Camarillo or Thousand Oaks.

KCmike · May 8, 2015

We're going to forgo Oxnard and head back down to San Diego to start the first leg of our California trip. Thanks for the all replies.

ncc1701 · May 8, 2015

KCmike said:
We're going to forgo Oxnard and head back down to San Diego to start the first leg of our California trip. Thanks for the all replies.

Have a great trip. If you back to Coronado check out Burger Lounge on Orange Ave. if you haven't on your other trips. We finally got there last month on our 3rd trip to The Del.Cramped but very good. Will do it again next time.

KCmike · May 8, 2015

ncc1701 said:
Have a great trip. If you back to Coronado check out Burger Lounge on Orange Ave. if you haven't on your other trips. We finally got there last month on our 3rd trip to The Del.Cramped but very good. Will do it again next time.

Thanks for the heads up. We are booked for two days at the Hotel Del because we couldn't get our third night. We like the Village Pizzeria and we also use to eat at the Beach N Diner but it closed up years ago. I look forward to trying the Burger Lounge. Any other tips for food?

ncc1701 · May 9, 2015

KCmike said:
Thanks for the heads up. We are booked for two days at the Hotel Del because we couldn't get our third night. We like the Village Pizzeria and we also use to eat at the Beach N Diner but it closed up years ago. I look forward to trying the Burger Lounge. Any other tips for food?

Like you we like Village Pizzaria. We also went up to the ferry landing to eat at Il Fornio. We took a cab to and from the Del but there is parking and someother restaurants we haven't tried yet. We usually walk up to Villa Nuevo to grab a light breakfast. Haven't tried them for lunch .

VandVsmama · May 9, 2015

The tar on the beaches and in the water in that area is natural seepage that come up from the ocean floor. Used to be worse before the oil derricks offshore were built, according to what my SB-raised DH tells me. To get the tar off your feet and skin, use baby oil and it works like a charm.

MermaidOfNeverland · Jun 25, 2015

Oxnard is alright, but I would choose Ventura. Good prices, nice area. The Harbor can be fun. It is sort of a small town though. I do not recommend Thousand Oaks. I grew up in the area and while it is extremely safe and pretty nice, there is very little to do. There are some nice little museums, the Civic Arts Plaza, and a little shopping. The best thing about it is its location to other areas in Southern California, but I think you can get better prices for what you get in Ventura.

Oh, BTW, I suggest the Four Points in Ventura. I've stayed there twice and both times were nice, affordable, and convenient.

GoBears 1980 · Jun 26, 2015

This is an old topic, but the Mandalay Beach Embassy Suites is a great hotel and a hidden gem on the California Coast. There is nothing as nice in Ventura.

Channel Islands Harbor (Oxnard) also has some great dining in it.

abayaflowers · Jul 4, 2015

We love Oxnard and have stayed at the Ventura Beach Marriott which is literally right next to the San Buenaventura State Beach. We, normally, go around end of July early August so that we can attend the Ventura County Fair.

Absolutely a great place! There's a shuttle from the parking lot of the state beach that we take to the Fair. So, no driving, no parking fees. Just enjoy.

Santa Barbara is beautiful, but we normally drive back up the Coast to stay in the city so that we can walk around and enjoy.

Hope this helps.

Tell Me About Oxnard, CA

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