ARCADE
1st Place
GOLF N’ STUFF, 5555 Walker St., Ventura, 805-644-7131
2nd Place
VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, 805-477-0470
3rd Place
BUENA LANES, 1788 Mesa Verde Ave., Ventura, 805-677-7770
BEACH
1st Place
VENTURA STATE BEACH
2nd Place
SILVER STRAND BEACH
3rd Place
SURFERS POINT
BIKE TRAIL
1st Place
VENTURA RIVER TRAIL
2nd Place
VENTURA PIER PROMENADE
3rd Place
ARROYO VERDE
BOWLING
1st Place
BUENA LANES, 1788 Mesa Verde Ave., Ventura, 805-677-7770
2nd Place
DISCOVERY VENTURA, 1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, 805-856-2695
3rd Place
HARLEY’S CAMARILLO BOWL, 305 Arneill Road (Pickwick Center), Camarillo, 805-482-0747
CAMPGROUND
1st Place
LAKE CASITAS, www.casitaswater.org/lower.php?url=camping
2nd Place
EMMA WOOD, www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=604
3rd Place
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/camping.htm
CAR SHOW
1st Place
OXNARD CRUISE NIGHT, downtownoxnard.org/cruise/
2nd Place
SANTA PAULA CRUISE NIGHT, First Fridays
3rd Place
CAMARILLO FIESTA AND STREET FAIR, www.camarillofiesta.com
CHARITY EVENT
1st Place
CASA PACIFICA ANGELS WINE, FOOD & BREW FESTIVAL, 1 University Drive, CSU, Channel Islands, Camarillo, 805-366-4011
2nd Place
VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL, venturamusicfestival.org
3rd Place
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, RELAY FOR LIFE OF VENTURA, relay4lifeventura@gmail.com, https://goo.gl/KxscvE
CULTURAL EVENT
1st Place
ARTWALK VENTURA, www.artwalkventura.org
2nd Place
VENTURA STREET FAIR, JULY 4
3rd Place
SURF RODEO, 205 N. Garden St., Ventura. 805-628-9083
GOLF COURSE
1st Place
OJAI VALLEY INN, 905 Country Club Drive, Ojai, 805-697-8780
2nd Place
BUENAVENTURA GOLF COURSE, 5882 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura, 805-677-6772
3rd Place
RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB, 2401 W. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard, 805-983-4653
HIKING TRAIL
BEST PLACE FOR HAPPY HIKING
Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park
14105 Broadway, Moorpark
www.mrca.ca.gov
There are some amazing hiking trails throughout our county, and everyone knows where they are — meaning, you’re likely to run into lots of other hikers. Happy Camp in Moorpark is one place where you might get to catch your breath with some real alone time.
Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park is a 3,000 acre wilderness area managed by the Mountains Conservation and Recreation Authority (MCRA) through an agreement with Ventura County. It is well-known by the local equestrian community as a great and convenient (i.e., good trailer access) spot to enjoy a trail ride away from the home barn with few hikers or bikers. Mountain bikes are allowed but some trails have deep, thick sandy or chalky areas that might deter some riders.
Decades ago the area was cattle grazing land, and you can find signs of that past, such as fencing, water troughs and gates, throughout the park. The 12.5 miles of trail offer loops from easy to strenuous and, depending on the time of year, the area can be lush and green with gorgeous wild flowers, or brown and dry with majestic oak groves. Deer, mountain lions and bobcats live in the park, so be conscious about packing out what you pack in. Beware of Chalk Hill, however, which carries an infamous reputation for getting rutted out by rains — it is challenging for even the most trusted trail horse or hiker, if not impassable.
The park has a year-round spring created by deep groundwater basins. Hikers who offer a carrot might coax horseback riders to share this watering spot, which is off the main trail.
A few words about sharing the trail with horses: Say hello as soon as you see the horse — it helps the horse (and the rider) know you’re a friend. Those on bikes should stop. It is an inconvenience, and every horseback rider knows it, but they appreciate it.
Note that leashed dogs are allowed only on certain trails between the parking lots and the first gates, to protect the sensitive habitat areas of the preserve, and all trail users are asked to stay on the trail. Dogs off leash are NOT allowed anywhere in the park.
Restrictions aside, the area offers a wonderful series of trails for outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts. Go hiking . . . and be Happy.
— Story and photos by Kimberly Rivers
1st Place
ARROYO VERDE PARK, Ventura
2nd Place
CHUMASH TRAIL, POINT MUGU STATE PARK, www.parks.ca.gov
3rd Place
VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS INC., www.venturabotanicalgardens.com, 805-232-3113
FUN FOR KIDS AND ADULTS
1st Place
GOLF N’ STUFF, 5655 Walker St., Ventura, 805-644-7131
2nd Place
DOJOBOOM, 193 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, 805-410-4690
3rd Place
SKATING PLUS, 1720 Mesa Verde Ave., Ventura, 805-644-2121
LOCAL ATHLETE
1st Place
MARY OSBORNE, SURFING
2nd Place
SAGE ERICKSON, SURFING
3rd Place
KIEFER COOKSEY, SOCCER
LOCAL SPORTS TEAM
1st Place
BUENA HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS
2nd Place
VENTURA HIGH SCHOOL COUGARS
3rd Place
ADOLFO CAMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL SCORPIONS
MUSEUM
1st Place
RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, 805-522-2977
2nd Place
MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY, 100 E. Main St., Ventura, 805-653-0323
3rd Place
CHANNEL ISLANDS MARITIME MUSEUM, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard, 805-984-6260
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
1st Place
EMBASSY SUITES MANDALAY BEACH, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard, 805-984-2500
2nd Place
CROWNE PLAZA VENTURA BEACH, 450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, 805-648-2100
3rd Place
WESTLAKE VILLAGE INN, 31943 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, 818-889-0230
PLACE TO SWIM
1st Place
VENTURA AQUATIC CENTER, 901 S. Kimball Road, Ventura, 805-654-7511
2nd Place
LAKE CASITAS WATER ADVENTURE, 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura, 805-649-1122
3rd Place
PUNCH BOWLS, Los Padres National Forest, Santa Paula
SKATE PARK
1st Place
OXNARD SKATEPARK, 3250 S Rose Ave., Oxnard
2nd Place
CAMARILLO SKATEPARK, Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo
3rd Place
VENTURA WEST SKATEPARK / AVENUE SKATEPARK
SURF SCHOOL
1st Place
VENTURA MAKOS SURF CAMP, Ventura, 805-312-0713, www.venturamakossurfcamp.com
2nd Place
MARY OSBORNE SURF CAMPS, 1225 E. Main St., Ventura, 805-973-7263, www.maryosbornesurf.com
3rd Place
SILVER STRAND SURF SCHOOL, 805-426-0765, www.silverstrandsurfschool.com
SURF SPOT
1st Place
C-STREET/SURFERS POINT
2nd Place
MONDOS
3rd Place
RINCON
TENNIS COURT
1st Place
PIERPONT RACQUET CLUB, 500 Sanjon Road, Ventura, 805-648-5161
2nd Place
CAMINO REAL PARK, Dean Drive and Varsity Drive, Ventura, 805-652-4550
3rd Place
LIBBEY PARK, 210 S. Signal St., Ojai, 805-646-5581
YACHT CLUB
1st Place
CHANNEL ISLANDS YACHT CLUB, 4100 Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor, 805-985-2492
2nd Place
VENTURA YACHT CLUB, 1755 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, 805-642-0426
3rd Place
PACIFIC CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB, 2600 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard, 805-985-7292
