Oxnard Pocket Guide

OXNARD

Pocket Guide A HIDDEN GEM ON

THE COAST

OXNARD

Pocket Guide TA BL E OF CON T EN TS

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A B O U T C H A N N E L IS L A N D S HORES

Slip away to Channel Island Shores, steps away from a pristine beach and a short drive to Santa Barbara and L.A. T H I N GS T O D O AT C H A N N E L IS L A N D S H O R E S

13 EVENTS Take your vacation to the next level

and head to any of these fun annual events that take place around Oxnard.

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You don’t have to leave the resort to have a ton of fun in Oxnard!

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E X P L O R E O XN A R D

From laid back to something more thrilling, Oxnard is rich in a diverse range of activities to entertain everyone.

BE S T P L A C E S T O E A T

Discover where to go for family-friendly dining or to get in touch with your sweet side!

Explore the preserved beauty of the Channel Islands National Park.

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S H OP P I N G 12 Oxnard offers a variety of fabulous

shopping opportunities.

ESTABLI SHI NG THE CH A N N E L I SLANDS NATI ONAL PARK

Learn the history of how the Channel Islands were established as a National Park.

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DINING IN

Enjoy a dinner with these fresh farmers market finds from the comfort of your own kitchen.

CHANNEL I SLANDS NATI ONAL PARK

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TOP PHOTO SPOTS

Discover a multitude of must-stop photo ops as you explore all of the incredible lookouts Oxnard has to offer.

OXNARD RESOURCES AND M ORE

Find all the insider tips you need to enjoy your Southern California vacation.

CHANNEL ISLAND SHORES

Your Personal Piece of Paradise

Where Coastal Charm Meets Home-Like Comfort Channel Island Shores, your coastal home away from home, is steps from a pristine beach and just a short drive from Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Relax in your spacious accommodations or fire up the barbeque on your own patio after kayaking the local harbor and building sand castles by the sea.

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Your comfy condo is just one block from the beach, making it the perfect place to relax after a full beach day. Stroll barefoot through the thick grass to your front door, which opens to a spacious living space and kitchen. Most suites even come with a private hot tub on the patio!

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@channelislandshores

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STAY IN TOUCH

CHANNEL ISL AND SHORES : OXNARD POCKE T G U I D E

@GrandPacificResorts

Things to Do

AT C H A N N E L I S L A N D S H O R E S

With all the resort has to offer, there’s no need to leave! Take a day and have fun at Channel Island Shores with these on-site or near-site activities!

BEACH DAY Borrow some free beach toys at the front desk. Did you know this beach has the most sand and beach space in Ventura County?

VOLLEYBALL COURT Borrow a volleyball from the Front Desk and rally with the family!

ITALIAN SODA BAR Enjoy this sweet treat every Wednesday in the lobby.

WINE & CHEESE SOCIAL Join us in the lobby every Friday and Sunday evening for complimentary wine and cheese.

SANGRIA SATURDAYS Join us in the lobby every Saturday evening for complimentary sangria, chips and salsa.

PLAY AT THE RESORT For more on-site activities, make sure to check our weekly activities calendar.

E xplore

OXNARD If you want to visit the surrounding area and get the most out of the Southern California Coast, Oxnard is the perfect stop. Santa Barbara is only 30 miles north and Los Angeles is about 60 miles south. Consider some of these fun day trip spots to get the most out of your stay in Oxnard.

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR – 2 miles Only a short bike ride or walk away from the resort, head to the shores and enjoy a day on the harbor. Grab a paddle board or kayak and watch the sunset right on the water.

Rent a kayak or paddle board in the harbor with the Channel Islands Kayak Center.

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Pro-Tip: This store offers discounts to our guests!

GONDOLA RIDE Take to the water and enjoy a private gondola as it winds through the beautiful Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, CA. Under the guidance of a professional gondolier, glide along the romantic canals around Coral Island while enjoying the views and creating some one-of-a-kind memories with your friends and loved ones.

Experience It. Click Play !

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY – 35 miles

DAY TRIP TO SANTA BARBARA – 35 miles

Take a quick drive inland to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to tour the Museum and dine in the Library.

If you’re looking for a quick road trip, jump on Hwy 101 and go up the coast to Santa Barabra. Enjoy a local beach, restaurants, a zoo and a fun coastal drive!

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Best Places to Eat AROUND OXNARD

ROMANTIC GETAWAY Salt Waterside Bistro – 1.1 miles One of our favorite local restaurants on the harbor for a night of fine dining.

Duke's Malibu – 40 miles Take a short road trip to Malibu and enjoy a romantic sunset while enjoying a fresh meal with a gorgeous beach view at Duke’s.

CLASSICS AND FAMILY FRIENDLY Fishermen’s Catch Restaurant – 1.3 miles Get a taste of locally caught fish right on the harbor.

The Waterside Restaurant and Wine Bar – 1.7 miles Take a seat on the patio to face the harbor and enjoy live music with some American eats the whole family can enjoy.

SWEET TREATS Buttercups Cool Treats – 1.3 miles Treat yourself to a frozen yogurt with endless toppings and flavors.

Missy’s Cupcake Creations – 1.5 miles Enjoy the flavorful cupcake creations from this local baker and walk off the sweets along the harbor.

Dining In After a long sun-drenched day at the beach, being able to dine in is the best feeling – especially when you have your own barbecue on the patio.

Making a flavorful meal from the comfort of your own kitchen is simple when you shop at the local grocery stores and farmers markets. Find fresh chicken, seafood and veggies that will have the whole family asking for seconds.

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Shopping There are a variety of fabulous shopping outlets around Oxnard, from a large outlet mall to small boutique shops.

THE COLLECTION RIVERPARK – 7 miles For local shopping and browsing experience, visit the Collection Riverpark for fun, popular shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

CAMARILLO PREMIUM OUTLETS – 16 miles Take a quick trip to this shopping destination with over 160 retailers, a movie theater and restaurants. Take advantage of this shopping experience to get yourself that Southern California look and so much more!

FARMERS MARKET We’re lucky, because Oxnard is known for the abundance of farms and hosts many farmers markets every week. You can find almost anything to prepare a fresh meal and decorate your table with beautiful flowers. Take your pick of locally caught fish and fresh-picked produce and bring it back to your kitchen for a home cooked meal.

Channel Islands Harbor Farmers Market – 2 miles Open every Sunday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market – 5 miles Open every Thursday from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm 12

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Events The beach can be great, but if you’re looking to take your vacation to the next level, head to any of these fun annual events that take place around Oxnard.

JANUARY – Tacos, Treats & Tastings MAY – California Strawberry Festival JULY – Salsa Festival SEPTEMBER – Oxnard Jazz Festival DECEMBER – Tamale Festival For more local events make sure to visit the events calendar.

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Channel Islands National Park

Take a day to see the preserved beauty of the Channel Islands National Park. With the closest island only 12 miles away from the coast of Oxnard, making a day trip is simple!

CHANNEL ISLAND FUN FACTS • The chain of islands boasts 175 miles of pristine undeveloped coastline • Temperatures range from 20-100 degrees • Home to 150 unique species found nowhere else in the world, earning them the nickname Galapagos of North America • Oldest human remains in North America dated at 13,000 years old found here • Is located 60 miles from 18 million people but is one of the least visited of all the National Parks

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Channel Islands National Park History

Right off the mainland yet worlds apart lay five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park.

Thousands of years of isolation have given rise to unique species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth, helping preserve a part of the Southern California coast as it once was.

As one of the least frequented national parks, Channel Islands is a bit of a hidden Southern California gem, and its visitor center is located just 10 minutes from the resort!

Santa Cruz is the largest of the Channel Islands as well as the largest island in

California. It’s also home to one of the largest known sea caves in the world: Painted Cave is over four football fields long and is nearly as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Visitors are encouraged to hop on the Island Packer Ferry to explore Santa Cruz Island to hike, kayak, scuba dive, and spear fish – or simply to take in the stunning pristine coastline filled with sea caves, coves, and sandy beaches.

No matter the level of adventure you’re in search of, Channel Islands National Park offers something for the whole family.

For the history

To help you learn more about the Channel Islands National Park, we suggest the following books: 1. Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary Relatively few visitors make the trip by boat or by plane across the Santa Barbara Channel to the unspoiled shores of these islands. Those who do encounter a windswept paradise rich in both human and natural history. In this remarkable volume, veteran landscape photographer Tim Hauf captures the flora, fauna, cultural sites, and dramatic landscapes of the little-known Channel Islands.

of how the Channel Islands were established as a National Park turn to page 16.

2. California’s Channel Islands: A History Prehistoric foragers, conquistadors, missionaries, adventurers, hunters, and rugged agriculturalists parade across the histories of these little-known islands on the horizon of twenty-first century Southern California. For visitors and armchair travelers alike, this book weaves the strands of natural history, island ecology, and human endeavor to tell the Channel Islands’ full story.

ISLAND PACKERS This company takes visitors to Channel Islands and arranges whale watching and kayak sessions. Make sure to ask our Front Desk Agents about our partnership with Island Packers.

Establishing the

CHANNEL ISLANDS NATI Channel Islands National Park is made of five main islands — Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Barbara Island — just off the coast of Southern California. With an abundance of rich and untouched landscapes, it quickly became an interest to scientists.

Due to the special interests, it became apparent that it must be preserved so future generations could also enjoy it.

In 1937, a biologist, Theodore D. A. Cockerell, began collecting specimens for research and published articles to explain the importance of the islands. He cataloged the special species of plants and animals and this caught 16

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the attention of the National Park Service (NPS). Shortly after, they asked for national monument status of the Anacapa Islands. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a proclamation that warranted preservation to the Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands, making them known as the Channel Islands National Monument.

As time passed, President Truman and President Kennedy added to the proclamation by increasing acreage, extending the seashore and shoreline areas, and attempting to preserve the underwater life. Eventually, this proclamation turned into a bill to establish the Channel Islands and Santa

IONAL PARK Monica Mountains National Park. However, these first few bills did not pass.

It wasn’t until 1979 when Congressman Robert J. Lagomarino introduced a bill for the Channel Islands National Park.

This included the former Channel Islands National Monument and added the Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, and San Miguel Island. The bill passed in the summer and the Senate approved it in the fall.

President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation the following year: “In order to protect the nationally significant natural, scenic, wildlife, marine, ecological,

archeological, cultural, and scientific values of the Channel Islands in the State of California… there is hereby established the Channel Islands National Park.”

– Public Law 96-199, signed by President Jimmy Carter on March 5, 1980.

These islands are under the ownership of the U.S. Navy and are managed by the NPS. Now with its National Park status, the Channel Islands are a retreat for many visitors to hike, snorkel, kayak, bird watch, and whale watch. Because of its close proximity off the coast of Oxnard, we recommend packing a lunch and enjoying a hike with breathtaking views.

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Top Photo Spots There are so many places on and off site to take photos and make great memories that your family can share and cherish for a lifetime. Here are just a few of our favorite picturesque destinations: • The Harbor • Visitor’s Center by the Harbor • Two on-site selfie spots • Beach Make sure to get the best angles. For some quick tips on taking the best photos check out this video of Jim and Shelly!

HOW TO TAKE THE BEST PHOTOS – ON YOUR PHONE!

#MYGRANDMEMORIES From beaches and kayaking to shopping and hiking, share your vacation photos with Grand Pacific Resorts for a chance to be featured! Simply use #MyGrandMemories on Facebook or Instagram, or upload photos at:

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OXNARD RESOURCES & MORE Make sure to follow us on social to get all the insider tips you need to enjoy your Southern California vacation.

CHANNEL ISLAND SHORES | OXNARD, CALIFORNIA

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