April 24th, 2015 at 8:00 am
Strawberries are one of California’s most popular and profitable crops, generating almost $2.6 billion for the state’s economy. They are grown on nearly 40,000 acres over 500 miles that stretch from sunny San Diego all the way up to chilly Monterey Bay.
However, Ventura County splits the difference between the opposite ends of the strawberry-growing regions in California. Just as the growing season begins to cool down up north, it begins to heat up down south, and Ventura manages to get the best of both worlds. Or seasons.
The combination of sun, soil, and weather throughout Ventura County creates an environment perfect for not only growing strawberries, but for picking them as well. Because the plants are low to the ground and the berries light enough for even for the smallest children to pick, many farms throughout the region offer “pick your own” (PYO) tours and opportunities for families to spend a day getting back to nature in a fun and rewarding way.
Here are two of the more popular spots to pick strawberries in Ventura County:
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April 20th, 2015 at 11:00 am
The Spring Garden Tour and Party, hosted by Ventura Botanical Gardens, proudly celebrates its seventh annual event this year. Tour seven of Ventura’s most fascinating gardens, including a showcase of palms, a whimsical art garden, and a Nantucket garden on the sea. As you feast your eyes on the colorful gardens, you can treat yourself to a cold beer from Surf Brewery and enjoy a variety of offerings from favorite food trucks. There also will be a plant sale and silent auction in City Hall.
Where:
398 Ferro Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
When:
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April 17th, 2015 at 8:00 am
Evenings in Ventura are some of the most precious times of the year. The clear sky, the bright stars, and the cool breezes from the ocean create a magical atmosphere where it seems anything can happen. What better way to spend those evenings than enjoying friends and fun under the stars and awash in a sea of sounds at one of Ventura’s most historic and beautiful venues?
“Music Under the Stars” celebrates an eclectic mix of musical styles over the course of summer, featuring performers that range from Beatles cover bands to Afro-Cuban Jazz to New Orleans blues and everything in between. These artists will play at the historic Olivas Adobe, one of Ventura County’s oldest and most historic structures. It’s rumored a female ghost haunts the hallowed halls, making the adobe one of the county’s few “officially” haunted locations.
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April 13th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Whether you’ve lived in Ventura your whole life or are just stopping by for the weekend, and you love food, the Ventura Food Tours are for you. They’re a perfect weekend activity for tourists who want to get to know a new city and discover new cuisines, and for locals who want to meet the proprietors behind their favorite eateries. Choose from three tours: Downtown Ventura, Eating Ojai, and the new Taste of Santa Barbara tour. This is your chance to learn about the chocolate-making process, how to pair fine wine with the perfect complementary cheeses, the difference between macaroons and macarons, and local history and architectural points while enjoying great food and great company.
Where:
Various locations
Ventura, CA
When:
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April 10th, 2015 at 9:00 am
Time hasn’t exactly stood still in the Heritage Valley. But it’s about as close you can get to an earlier version of California, just 45 miles north of Los Angeles.
Blessed with mostly sunny days year round, the valley in Ventura County is home to many historical and recreational attractions, primarily in Fillmore–“the last best small town in Southern California”–and Santa Paula–“citrus capital of the world” thanks to its miles of lemon, orange, and avocado orchards.
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