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Gateway to the Central Coast

Where Pacific Coast Highway meets the 101 Freeway north of Malibu, you’ll discover the trendy coastal city of Oxnard, gateway to California’s Central Coast and home to a California Welcome Center.

Discover California’s coastline: experience world-renown Pacific Coast Highway from Malibu to Oxnard; go whale watching form the Channel Islands Harbor; hike the Channel Islands; enjoy wine tasting along Ventura County’s Wine Trail; watch seal’s play in Carpinteria; take in the surf at the Rincon; stroll Santa Barbara’s East Beach; hit the dunes in Santa Maria; spend a day among Santa Ynez Valley wineries; listen to waves at Big Sur. California’s Central Coast boasts sights and sounds, flavors and cultural experiences that no other region delivers.

Only in the Central Coast. Only in California.

Begin your fun in Oxnard, the "Gateway to the Central Coast". Enjoy whale watching, only 11 miles from Oxnard's Channel Islands Harbor. Explore restored farm homes at Oxnard’s Heritage Square. Discover the Channel Islands National Park and The Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary. Visit the memorable Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, with Air Force One in Simi Valley. See Ventura's historic San Buenaventura Mission, built in 1782. Discover the Ventura County Wine Trail. Whatever you choose, it’s sure to be California.

Make the California Welcome Center Oxnard the first stop on your Central Coast adventure. You'll find info on local, regional and statewide attractions, tickets to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Disneyland and Universal Studios, gifts and souvenirs, a cyber surf spot, clean restrooms, and above all, friendly and professional staff to assist you with your travel planning needs.

Discover why Oxnard is the Gateway to the Central Coast.

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Welcome Center

The California Welcome Center Oxnard
1000 Town Center Dr Ste 135
Oxnard, CA 93036-1193

Phone: (805) 988-0717
Fax: (805) 385-7571
Email: info.oxnard@visitcwc.com

Hours:
Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm / Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm

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Channel Islands National Park: Spectacular Wilderness 24 Miles Off Shore

Explore these wild and beautiful islands on guided tours or on your own.

With over 150 different kinds of plants and animals—some found nowhere else in the world—it’s easy to understand why the Channel Islands have earned the nickname the “American Galapagos.” This remote and rugged archipelago of eight islands, five of them preserved as national parkland, may be only 25 miles off the Central California coast, but they’re a world away when it comes to pristine wilderness. Visitation is carefully controlled, meaning that you can truly experience the windswept beauty and wildness of Channel Islands National Park , crowd-free.

Start your visit with a stop at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center in Ventura. Next door at Island Packers , choose from various boat tours that head to Anacapa, Channel, and Santa Cruz islands. (Boat trips also depart from the city of Santa Barbara.) On the islands, join guided trips, or strike out on your own (bring plenty of water, and be prepared for changeable conditions—you are in the middle of the ocean, after all). Top spots include iconic Arch Rock, a dramatic land bridge on Anacapa Island. Feeling adventurous? Join a kayak tour to paddle into Santa Cruz Island’s spectacular Painted Cave, one of the world’s largest and deepest sea caves, with walls emblazoned with multicolor lichen. Also consider snorkeling, whale-watching, hiking, and—if you’re feeling really bold—primitive camping (reservations required http://www.recreation.gov).
 

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» Farmers Market Foodie Stroll
April 5, 2011 3:30 PM to March 27, 2012 7:30 PM

Join Chef Greg Murphy of bouchon Santa Barbara at the Tuesday afternoon Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market for an informative ‘foodie stroll’ followed by dinner. Guests rendezvous with Chef at the corner of State Street & Ortega Street, select ingredients with Chef’s assistance and return to bouchon for 6pm dinner. Once back at bouchon, owner Mitchell Sjerven or Manager Sommelier John Loewen will pair local wines to accompany your custom repast so you can relax and enjoy an evening of Wine Country Cuisine on the American Riviera. Tuesdays only.

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