|
California’s Strawberry CoastBy Valerie SummersWith a name like Oxnard, one might not expect to find, what Portuguese explorer, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo called “the land of everlasting summers.” Situated just one hour north of Los Angeles, what is now called California’s Strawberry Coast, is home to the popular annual California Strawberry Festival celebrating the area’s production of these delectable berries each May with fine arts, crafts, food and entertainment. In its early years, while the city developed its agricultural industry, Oxnard became a favorite of the Hollywood elite where several film idols purchased vacation residences to escape to a sun-warmed, uncrowded environment. Oxnard continues to offer its visitors a relaxed, coastal setting, rare in Southern California where beach property is generally congested or inaccessible. Much of Oxnard’s activity is centered at Channel Islands Harbor where nine marinas attract boats of all kinds and where several festivals occur during the year. Home to more than 3,000 pleasure boats and edged by a variety of restaurants, the marina provides the Channel Islands Harbor Taxi which enables diners to float in to their favorite dining spot. For a unique dining experience, the Progressive Dining program includes water taxi service to three waterfront restaurants where guests enjoy appetizers, entrees and desserts of their choice in three different settings.
One of the area’s main attractions is the Channel Islands National Park. Island Packers, Ventura County’s official concessionaire, offers a charter service to Anacapa Island from Channel Islands Harbor all year long. Sea life is abundant around the islands and the tide pools make for great exploration. I booked passage on the Vanguard and carried my picnic lunch aboard for the 1 ½ hour cruise. The boat filled up with campers, kayakers and a group of UC Santa Barbara alumni. As promised by the skipper, a pod of porpoises greeted us with their unique antics before we arrived at our destination close to the much photographed Anacapa arch. I learned that starting the day after Christmas and continuing through March, visitors can keep a watchful eye out for the Pacific Gray Whales as they migrate through the Santa Barbara Channel. I spent several hours exploring Anacapa and listening to the knowledgeable guide while enjoying the quiet of this one of the eight Channel Islands which are home to more than 2,000 species of animals and plants.
A guided tour was also offered which included a stop at the Italian renaissance Revival style post office, the Beaux Arts Classical Bank of A. Levy and A. F. Priest’s Asian Plaza Park Bandstand Pagoda, a Ventura County landmark which continues to be the centerpiece for activities for the entire community. Another well known architect, A. C. Martin, who created some of Los Angeles’s most enduring buildings, including City Hall, St. Vincent’s Cathedral and Grauman’s Million Dollar Theater on Broadway, contributed many of Oxnard’s residential designs. My next stop was the close by Heritage Square where I wandered through a complex of 15 lovingly restored or replicated turn of the 20th century buildings on a downtown plaza. Most of these buildings now house a variety of businesses. Docent-led walks are offered each Saturday, 10a.m.-2p.m. The Murphy Auto Museum provided an interesting diversion. I toured the newly opened facility enjoying the tales of the docent while wandering around the 50 some odd classic, milestone and special interest vehicles which included a large collection of 1927-1958 Packards. During my visit, I was introduced to two new dining establishments. The first, Herzog Wine Cellars, a first-class facility housing the largest kosher winery on the west coast, which includes an opulent wine tasting bar and a gourmet Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Tierra Sur, which features seasonal menus utilizing fresh, local produce. Another new dining establishment, with the unlikely name of the Seaside Grill, not only serves up delicious Persian cuisine, but also treats guests to entertainment by two sensuous belly dancers. There was so much more to see and do in Oxnard including festivals, special events, a variety of museums, or just hanging out at the beach, giving me more reasons to head back up to my special getaway just outside of Los Angeles in the near future. For information: California Strawberry Festival Progressive Dining Tour Island Packers: Offering half-day, full-day and overnight
camping trips to the Channel Islands and kayaking trips around the island coves
and sea caves. They also operate whale watching cruises. Autumn Home & Downtown Tour Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort Heritage Square Murphy Auto Museum Herzog Wine Cellars: Open Sunday-Friday Seaside Grill Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau Images by Valerie Summers |
|
TM
I escaped to Oxnard for the
weekend recently, checking into the Embassy Suites Hotel Mandalay Beach Resort
just north of the harbor. The handsome Mediterranean-style structure stretches
out along the 8 ½ acre ocean front property. The all-suite hotel features
private bedrooms with separate living rooms including a sleeper sofa and
micro-kitchen and two full marble baths. It occurred to me that I could have
brought my whole family. Not only was I delighted with the spaciousness of my
quarters, but found the amenities a real bonus. First was the complimentary
cooked to order breakfast and hosted evening cocktail reception. Then there was
the enormous outdoor heated pool and two large whirlpools and a special shallow
pool for the little folks. On the premises guests could rent all kinds of
bicycles, surreys and boogie boards, check into the spa or fitness center or
play a game of tennis.
Back on land, I happily found that
I had arrived during the annual Henry T. Oxnard Autumn Home & Downtown Tour
where I discovered an area of nearly140 historic classic bungalows in mint
condition. The self guided walking tour of seven impeccably preserved homes
which I visited began at the Neo-Classical Greek Revival Carnegie Art Museum.
The former library, which offers changing exhibits, will feature Susan Tibbles:
Opinion, an assemblage of the works of this visual satirist whose art slaps at
complacency and taps into political and social themes, on display Dec. 9-Feb.
18, 2007. The tour’s open-house group included craftsman, California bungalow,
Mediterranean and Tudor Revival styles. I had an opportunity to speak with
several of the owners who were eager to tell stories of the homes and how they
became the current owners.