VISITING Ventura County · The Gold Coast

Visiting Ventura County with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Start at Ventura Harbor and downtown, then head inland to Moorpark for the farm.

Top 1 can’t-miss spots

#1Ventura Harbor, 1901 Spinnaker Dr.

Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center

Daily 8:30am–5pm.

Free

See it in the guide

Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Ventura

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day

MORNINGChannel Islands National Park Visitor CenterOpens at 8:30 · Ventura Harbor, 1901 Spinnaker Dr. · Free

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPMuseum of Ventura CountyOpen Wed–Sun · Downtown Ventura, 100 E. Main St.

If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGUnderwood Family FarmsCheck the season · Moorpark, 3370 Sunset Valley Rd.

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPVentura County librariesCheck the calendar · Branches across the county · Free

Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

HBVentura HarborWalk to the visitor center.Near Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center

Plan B

Rainy-day backup plan

If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these.

Downtown Ventura, 100 E. Main St.Museum of Ventura CountyIndoors.Indoor

Branches across the countyVentura County librariesIndoors.FreeIndoor

Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Driving

A car helps; the farm in Moorpark is about 30 minutes inland.

Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Ventura

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in VenturaBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 prices

Christmas lights in VenturaDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices

This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in Ventura County. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#1Sat Noon–3pm

Camarillo Old Town Boo Fest

Trick-or-treat at the shops along Ventura Boulevard and enter the costume contest, with a free carnival at Chapel City Church at Ventura Blvd. and Arneill Rd.

Old Town Camarillo · Old Town Camarillo

Free

Hours, food & parking

#2Sat 4–6pm

Trick or Treat Trail at Zachari Dunes

Kids collect candy at stations around the beachfront resort. RSVP on the resort’s page.

Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach · Oxnard

Free

Hours, food & parking

#3Fri & Sat 9am–6pm

Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival

The last two days of the farm’s fall festival, with pumpkin fields, animals and farm rides. Halloween Day is priced higher than Friday.

Underwood Family Farms · Moorpark

Fri $16 at the gate

Hours, food & parking

See everything this week →

Good questions

Visiting Ventura County with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Ventura County kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Ventura County guide lists 4 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 1 pick for babies and toddlers. This page adds free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 9 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Ventura County and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay?

Ventura Harbor or downtown Ventura puts the harbor and Main Street close together.

What about December?

Oxnard’s Parade of Lights is Dec 12 and Ventura Harbor’s is Dec 18–19.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Ventura.