NORTH OF CAMARILLO:

Ventura: https://visitventuraca.com/ This charming city is about 16 miles from the hotel.

Ventura Harbor https://venturaharbor.com/ is home to about 580 boats of all different sizes, and has some interesting shops and restaurants as well.

Brophy Bros. https://www.brophybrosventura.com/ has great seafood and a great view of the harbor itself.

The Ventura Pottery Guild has a wonderful collection from various artists https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/directory/ventura-county-potters-guild/.

There is a ferry to the Channel Islands in the Pacific Ocean, which are mostly uninhabited https://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm.

East Main Street (a quick drive from the harbor) is walkable and closed to cars. They have some interesting shops and restaurants.

At one end of Main Street there is a mission (church) https://www.sanbuenaventuramission.org/ that was established in under Spanish rule the late 1700s.

Santa Barbara: https://santabarbaraca.com/ It’s about ½ hour north of Ventura and the drive goes right next to the ocean for a few miles. Plan on doing a lot of walking, especially on their main street downtown (State Street).

The Botanic Garden https://sbbotanicgarden.org/ is unique and a bit challenging if you have any mobility issues. The trail takes you down into a canyon and then up via narrow steps.

Stearns Wharf https://stearnswharf.org/ is old and very touristy but almost a “must do.” There are a few restaurants specializing in seafood; the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company at the end looks like a dive but has the best lobster rolls anywhere.

There is a Sea Center on the wharf which is small but interesting. https://www.sbnature.org/visit/exhibitions/94/wet-deck.

Every Sunday there are artists on the sidewalk right next to the wharf and beach but it’s a long walk back and forth.

Brophy Bros. https://www.brophybros.com/

has a location on the harbor west of Stearns Wharf with the same menu as in Ventura.

The mission https://www.santabarbaramission.org/ is beautiful and represents a lot of California history, when Spain ruled it and after the US won the Mexican-American War in 1848.

For a good immersion into the history of early Santa Barbara, the Red Tile Walk on State Street is very interesting.

Whale watching: https://santabarbaraca.com/plan-your-trip/outdoor-recreation/whale-watching/ Late spring and summer is when whales migrate north from their winter “home” in Baja California. There are a few whale-watching boat tours that leave from the harbor (not Stearns Wharf). You should book it as soon as you can as the boats do fill quickly.

Solvang: https://solvangusa.com/ https://solvangusa.com/things-to-do/top-10-must-see-do-spots-in-solvang/

There isn’t any place like this in the USA. People come to shop and eat Danish food and it’s interesting in a different way. The drive from Highway 101 to Solvang is about a 1.5 hour drive from the hotel, and takes you past wineries, ranches and an ostrich farm https://www.ostrichlandusa.com/.

Elverhoj Museum of History and Art https://elverhoj.org/ is an interesting museum in an old home, showcasing Danish art and artifacts.

Solvang also has a mission https://missionsantaines.org/ and is different from all the others.

LOS ANGELES:

Some websites that will help you decide what to do, with some “shout-out’s below for some favorites--

Time Out Los Angeles http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/ General info about LA.

www.discoverlosangeles.com Various events etc.

MUSEUMS:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art https://www.lacma.org/ This museum is the largest in Los Angeles County and has an excellent collection of art, ranging from ancient times to contemporary media. It is one block from the Academy Museum.

https://grammymuseum.org/ Also located in downtown LA, this museum has interactive exhibits and exclusive collections.

The Getty Museum https://www.getty.edu/museum/

Huntington Library/Art Museum/Gardens https://huntington.org/; reservations are required. They have collections of British, Asian, European and American art. The gardens are outstanding and can take all day to walk thru.

The Norton Simon Museum https://www.nortonsimon.org/ Located in Pasadena, it has a beautiful collection of European masterworks as well as Asian art.

Petersen Car Museum https://www.petersen.org/ Located across the street from the Academy museum, this museum has several hundred cars, with a new exhibit opening soon with 300 placed “underground.”

La Brea Tar Pits https://tarpits.org/ This place is very unusual--tar is literally oozing up to the ground, exposing mammal skeletons from the Ice Age.

The California Science Center https://californiasciencecenter.org/ located in downtown LA, and the Natural History Museum (https://nhm.org/) are definitely a must-see for anyone who is interested in nature, our planet and technology.

https://griffithobservatory.org/ Fascinating if you’re interested in anything astronomy related. You can also see the Hollywood sign from a different viewpoint than just driving around LA. Parking is a challenge so you should go there as early in the morning as possible.

The Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences Museum https://www.academymuseum.org/en —the “Oscars.” It’s very interesting if you like movies and everything related to them.

TOURISTY “MUST SEE/DO” (and other things as well)

The Original Farmers Market (https://farmersmarketla.com/) is just a few blocks away from the Academy Museum. Aside from the typical touristy merchandise, there are stalls with local merchandise and all kinds of food to satisfy your appetite for lunch or dinner.

Little John’s https://littlejohnscandies.com/ has amazing English Toffee. Magee’s Nuts has freshly made nut butters (https://mageesnuts.com/). A scoop at Bennetts’ Ice Cream will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth. Monsieur Marcel has thousands of imported specialty foods--olive oils, spices, sauces, pasta, cheese, charcuterie and wine etc. www.mrmarcel.com. The Farmer’s Market is in front of an “outdoor mall” with some interesting shops and restaurants. https://thegrovela.com/

Olvera Street https://www.olvera-street.com/ is the oldest part of downtown LA. It’s a very crowded/narrow street filled with stalls selling Mexican related things.

Union Station https://www.unionstationla.com/ is further down the street. This is an old, beautiful railroad station that was very busy before jet travel became convenient. One great thing-there is a piano in the lobby that anyone can use. Some movies have been filmed there, including “The Way We Were” with Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.

Santa Monica Pier https://www.santamonicapier.org/ The pier is like a carnival, with rides ranging from a merry-go-round to a roller coaster and Ferris wheel. It’s the official end to Route 66, which started in Chicago and was one of the first numbered US highways. There is a stairway down to the beach in case you need to dip your feet into the Pacific Ocean.

https://groundlings.com/ TheGroundlings is an improvisation and sketch comedy theatre that has been entertaining LA audiences for over 50 years. This is hysterically funny! In West Hollywood area (LA proper). Many of their performers have become famous.

Theme Parks

https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com This is a combination of a studio tour and an amusement park, emphasis on amusement park.

https://www.wbstudiotour.com/ Warner Brothers studio tour

https://www.paramountstudiotour.com/ It’s on the Hollywood/LA side of town.