Despite being midway between Santa Barbara and Malibu/Santa Monica, Ventura has grown more organically alongside the agricultural community of Oxnard. As the long-standing home to outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, Ventura continues to attract sports-orientated people with an environmental edge – Ventura Land Trust a cornerstone institution for conservation. Evidence of midcentury oil rigs can still be found inline, indicating multiple stages of industrial development in the 25,000-population city.

Though not exactly your small, coastal boutique hotel, the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach is the city’s premier beachfront hotel. Built in 1972 (originally as a Holiday Inn), the 12-story tower has long been a landmark for travelers on the Highway 101 corridor – now with 235 rooms. A wholesale conversion in 2005 and touchups in 2017/18 present the hotel well, if it lacks charm.

As for food and coffee in Ventura, Harvest Cafe (Google Maps) is unmissable, near to the Patagonia’s HQ. Then try Prospect Coffee Roasters for a perfect morning coffee.

Training Notes

Ventura’s backdoor has several trails, some immaculately engineered as part of the Ventura Botanical Gardens and with the Ventura River Cycleway and open water immediately beside Downton, Ventura is set up well for runners, cyclists and swimmers.

For flat, uninterrupted runs, use the Ventura Cycleway (“Ojai-Ventura Bike Path”) which heads upstream along the Ventura River all the way to Ojai. See route maps below:

• Ventura River Parkway
• Upper Ventura Map
• Lower Ventura Map

For addressing some climbing and hill intervals, head inland west of the city to claim views across town – direct yourself past City Hall through the Botanical Garden to use the ridgeline trails (Alltrails).

For track workouts, use Larrabee Stadium at Ventura High School (Google Maps).

Bike rental via Trek Bicycle Ventura who are two miles down the road from Downtown. Road rides head north along the 33 in the direction of Sulphur Mountain. Commit to road or sample gravel.

Swimming open water in Harbor Cove, or cut to Ventura Aquatic Center (Google Maps).

For booking, visit ihg.com/crowneplaza

Review based on stay in Room 202 (January 2026)