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Ventura, California is a popular destination for travelers and locals alike. The city is known for its picturesque seaside location with beaches, parks, and boardwalks that make it a great place to spend the day outdoors. Visitors can explore the Channel Islands National Park or take in the views of the surrounding ocean from one of several piers. Ventura is also home to several popular attractions such as the Museum of Ventura County and the Mission San Buenaventura. With its many activities and attractions, Ventura is sure to please all types of visitors.
Reviews of Ventura are extremely positive, with many praising it as a great place to visit and explore. Guests often describe it as peaceful and scenic, with plenty of things to do during their stay in Ventura. People are particularly fond of the museums, restaurants, and outdoor activities available throughout the city. Additionally, people have reported that they appreciate how easy it was to get around using public transportation or by car. Altogether, reviews suggest that anyone who visits will find something enjoyable in this lovely Californian city!
based on 28 ReviewsGet to know San Buenaventura (Ventura) with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Ventura Standard of Living is Rapidly Decreasing. - 4/17/2022
I have lived in Ventura for over 20 years, worked for over 30. While this was a nice town it has essentially turned into a worse place than LA, with a huge amount of growth and no added infrastructure. In addition, we currently have a majority of city council members who have been bought out by big business and development. Our streets have trash everywhere, there are homeless encampments surrounding the city, and the police do little. You can't leave a bike unlocked for two minutes or even locked for five minutes without it being stolen. Catalytic converters are not even safe. Currently there is no end in sight for any of this improving, I suggest staying away.
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Not worth it - 12/31/2021
I have lived here my entire life of 43 years. Ventura used to be very nice in the 80s and 90s, now it is an extension of Los Angeles in the worst way. Super overpriced housing, no large employers so you have to commute 2 + hours each day to LA or Santa Barbara. Ventura has now become overcrowded and homeless encampments are sprouting up everywhere. Not worth moving here unless you are rich and from LA and make 6 figures. Anyone else will struggle with lack of jobs and housing. Only plus is the proximity to larger cities but you are car dependent anywhere you go. Not bike or walking friendly.
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Enjoy the stars as you sleep under them. - 6/9/2019
I have lived in Ventura County since 2006 and that includes Port Hueneme, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Ventura. This city has a lot of friendly, down to earth people that seem to enjoy the area. In comparison to Santa Barbara (30 minutes north) it is more affordable but over the years the Ventura city council have been attempting to increase city revenue. They have replaced free street parking on Main Street, near a lot of shops, with metered parking and after the St. Thomas fires occurred rent sky rocketed for rentals. It was really sad to see the greed when so many displaced citizens were in need of housing.
Juxtapose the current minimum wage set at $12 with the average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Ventura city at $1,955. A person working 40 hours a week would be making $1,920 gross income. So as you can see, needing a roommate will necessary and a lot of home owners rent rooms out of their homes because they have high mortgages, sadly. People come here for the
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Beauty Lost - 10/19/2018
Ventura used to be a beautiful town, well loved by all who lived here. Then, in the late 80's, Orange County got too crowded and people started moving North. Now we are overcrowded, filthy, and the homeless capitol of the west. The beaches, once filled with children are now filthy and unsafe to walk on. Houses and apartmental buildings have been built behind every house so that no one has a yard any more. Once a treasured jewel, Ventura has become the place for decent people to leave. I can't wait to move
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Very Expensive - 7/1/2017
I have lived in Ventura since 1988 and it is now 2017. The one thing great thing about Ventura is the weather. It's mild and does not get very cold.
We have a couple of months (May and June, and sometimes into July) where it is very overcast and cloudy. We do not experience really warm summers, it is usually around 68 to 75 degrees being right on the ocean.
Even though I work full time and make $26 an hr. I cannot afford to live here anymore as the rents have gone way up. A one bedroom apt. goes for about $1500 a month now and anything larger than that can be as much as 2 to 3 thousand. Sales tax is up to 7.5% and the state just increased the gasoline tax and registration fees for your cars again. There are lots of camera controlled intersections so the city can collect additional revenue from traffic violators. Quite a few rude drivers around here as well that have no regard for the safety of others, also a lot of regulations compared to other places.
If your car
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Good and Bad - 4/24/2016
When I was a teen my family moved to Ventura. Back then is was a small town that did not have much to offer for young adults which bothered some but since I'm a outdoors type of person I enjoyed the beach and mountains in the winter with snow. I tell people you can drive to the beach and snow in the same day. Back then the mall was open and the city did not have all of the resturants they do now. There are all types of eating places from local business to chain.
I do miss the climate. I have lived in other cities in the U.S. from Fort Walton Beach, Honolulu, Belton, Texas and Chapman, Kansas. Hands down it was the best place I every lived with Honolulu being a close second for climate and things to do. Ventura is only a 45 minute drive to LA.
However, the reason I do not live there is the cost. I ended up being homeless last time I moved back there. Even the housing projects had a two year waiting list with them not even taking names. I never want to be
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Pay for sunshine & ocean - 2/17/2015
Ventura is a wonderful place to live....if you can afford it. Economists say that as coastal property gains popularity with retirees, people will be buying their retirement homes cash with no thought of mortgage cost/interest rates. This will age the population and unfortunately younger families will be looking further inland or at denser new developments. The good news is that these retirees will also buy investment properties so rental properties will be available.
Ventura is still cheaper then Santa Barbara or Malibu/Coastal LA for housing. It has all the amenities you could desire, first class hospitals, shopping, boating, etc.
I highly recommend trying to find your place in the sun here. The weather is the best in the
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Overall, a nice place to live. - 8/22/2013
I have lived here almost my whole life. The climate is mild - a lot of sun compared to many places; however, I personally don't care for the 2-3 months of fog in the summer and would love to go someplace where there are more disctinct seasons, with a hotter summer. The summer fog (which usually starts in June and everyone calls "June gloom") usually breaks up around noon more or less each day, but it will be windy at the same time and the wind will blow it back a couple of hours later. Fall is the warmest time of year. Winter is a little chilly (to me), but usually sunny. Winter also offers the clearest and cleanest views of the Channel Islands off the coast. Spring can get foggy as well, and rather windy. There are many outdoor activities, since there is the beach (including the harbor w/shops & restaurants and the Channel Is. Nat. Park Visitor Center, and farther north there is the pier, playground area and promenade for walking/biking), the Channel Islands and also the
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A Mixed Bag... - 1/10/2012
I relocated to Ventura about a year and a half ago for a job after having spent over ten years living in the Los Angeles area. So first I will give the good. The weather, as other have stated is purely awesome. While it's true that we do get a lot of fog in the Spring and Summer I would take this any day over 90 plus degree days in Los Angeles and the fact is that many coastal areas in Southern California are very similar. And although I am not a beach person I would definitely say the beaches in Ventura are very nice. Unlike LA beaches it is never very difficult to find parking and the crowds are way better than they are in Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach.
Another positive, again in comparison to most areas in Southern California, is that Ventura is quite bit cheaper than most decent places to live in Southern California. In Ventura is it possible to purchase a three, or even four bedroom house, for between $350K-$450K in a good area. You will not be living four blocks
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