We rode our bicycles from our hotel to this location so we could eat lunch at a restaurant we wanted to try out. It was a Saturday and despite the COVID-19 pandemic everyone else had the same idea as we had. The place was very busy and the restaurants were jam packed with the one we wanted to eat at having the waitlist closed. We jumped back on the bicycles and headed to Main Street to dine there instead. The city needs to add bike rack locking areas and more benches for people to sit down and relax.

My wife and I hadn't been here in ... 10 years or more. At that time, we were just here on the spur of the moment, and came across a Dog Obedience Exhibit, which was very interesting. We had always enjoyed our visits here. This time, we planned to just come out and relax, tired of the COVID homebound, and just wanted to go out and relax on a Saturday. We were not disappointed. We arrived here a bit before 11 am, wandered around at some of the shops and thoroughly enjoyed our walk. Then we stopped at Andrieas, with Brophy right across the parking lot. There wasn't any particular reason to pick one over the other, though we had eaten at both places on our past visits. Both restaurants had a long line around 11:30; it took us about 15 minutes standing outside (safe distancing!) waiting to give our order, and another 15-20 minutes before our "take-out" delivery package was ready. I had grabbed a table while my wife waited for our food to come. Food was very good. After lunch, we walked to the beach, changed our footwear for something more suitable for sand and water, climbed a slight slope and then down to the beach. We just relaxed and walked right by the water's edge, dodging waves now and then, and just picking up little pebbles here and there. After about an hour, we decided to slowly walk back to the Village, and just leisurely walked and relaxed, looked out the harbor at various boats and yachts, before heading to the parking lot near by and went home. The crowd wasn't overly too bad, though there were enough tourists wandering thru the Harbor, as well as waiting in line at many restaurants. We noticed that there were quite a few dogs walking with their owners, and it also seemed that many of the restaurants we happen to look into, allowed pets. All in all, enjoyable day.

I came to have lunch at Brophy Bros. The food is always excellent. The restaurant itself is clean, pleasant and good service. However, I have to muster up up the will to drop my standards to walk around the village because it is always dirty and unsightly. Take the hallway downstairs from Brophy Bros where the restrooms and elevator is located…the area is dark, unpainted and clearly a place for mendicants to get out of the weather. The floors are absolutely filthy and smells of urine - not terribly inviting when you’re going upstairs to dine! This place makes the black hole of Calcutta look like a spa. Over the years, business has dropped…I wonder why.

Everything about this place is awesome. Every time I go there (about once a month) there is something new going on. Lots of fun shops and restaurants.

The Ventura harbor is a great place to visit. They have a variety of places to eat, from Italian to Greek to Mexican to Seafood restaurants and they are all really good. They have the best little shops to purchase souvenirs and clothing and they even have a toy store and a hat shop as well. On holidays they always have things going on to celebrate, they even have a pirates day that is so much fun. There is always something going on and you always leave knowing it was worth the visit.

Free parking, interesting shops, bars, restaurants at a great harbor! Did I say free parking, so many places nickel and dime you, all for the privilege of walking through the shops. Nice little harbor with a mix of commercial fishing boats and private boats.

Ventura Harbor Village is a great place to take a stroll. The promenade probably is about a mile long if include the yacht club and hotel area. The beach is a short walk away too (one city block). There are lots of people walking their dogs and stopping to have a snack. There's a great privately owned ice cream place called Coastal Cone in the Village. It's a nice treat on a warm day. There's a choice of restaurants: Italian, Greek, Mexican & seafood. Also there are places to get coffee and hot dogs/hamburgers. Most of these are privately owned mom and pop places. You can rent canoes and paddle boats or go out on a water taxi or fishing/diving boats. There's a carousel and video game place as well as a grassy knoll for the kids. There are a few shops for art, kites, hats, beach clothing & trinkets, etc. On special week ends they might have an event planned and then parking can be a problem, but usually it's okay (and free). Lots to see and do, but still kind of quaint like a village.

On a recent close trip too Down town Ventura i surprised at the new restaurants and cool little home town shops that have open on main street. They have home made goods, antiques custom bikes, used book stores and recycled shops. The food choices have also improved from small home cooking to full steak houses. So if you have not visited the town of Ventura lately give them another try. Also Take a short drive from down town to Ventura Harbor Village you will enjoy the harbor, Great shops and food. also take the harbor cruse you will enjoy the tour.

Hidden behind the Four Points Sheraton and Holiday Inn on Harbor Blvd. heading south out of Ventura, follow the signs to Spinnaker Drive to find a parking area and a group of shops and restaurants encircling the harbor on the spit that separates the harbor from the ocean. Sailboats and fishing boats fill the harbor along with Island Packers boat tours to the Channel Islands. You can also catch a harbor tour boat and see the occasional sea lion. My favorite festival held at the village (besides wine tasting festivals of course) is Pirate Days in July, where adults and even children dress up like Johnny Depp and other pirates and wenches to compete in the costume contest or stroll around the medieval village booths scattered around the large grassy area that separates the village from the yacht club. Even though it is a popular event, I can usually find a parking spot in one of the many parking lots. Other events include the holiday boat light parade in December. The trolley that runs to downtown Ventura even offers rides with Santa. Check their website- www.venturaharborvillage.com - for an event calendar. The Yacht club forces you to walk around the club rather than continue on the sidewalk bordering the harbor, otherwise you could stay in view of water on a loop walk from the village to the Channel Islands National Park visitors center, and then back along the beach at Harbor Cove to Surfers Knoll before crossing the road back to the village souvenir shops and art galleries along the walkways winding through the village. Or skip the walk and head for lunch. My favorite spot is Le Petite Cafe for lunch on their patio, and/or a wonderful croissant from their bakery. Margarita Villa Restaurant, located upstairs above the arcade and merry go round, has good food and a patio with views of the harbor. For something quick but tasty try surf n taco for delicious grilled fish tacos and burritos. Best happy hour is Brophy Brothers, again upstairs for great harbor views from their glassed in patio which cuts down on the cool ocean breezes that can blow through the village. There is also Italian or Greek food, plus coffee shops and ice cream shops, so your only problem will be deciding what you want. It really is a fun place to spend a couple of hours.

Ventura Harbor is a great place for a leisurely walk and shopping. Top This Chocolate made it totally worth the visit. The concept is wonderful.....pick your favorite type of chocolate (milk, dark, or white) and then add whatever ingredients you want....nuts, candy, cookies, gummy bears, sprinkles, potato chips, goldfish, etc. Their chocologists then make it into a chocolate bar or you can have a liquid chocolate cup. DELICIOUS! They also have prepared chocolates for purchase. Do not miss this place!!