10 Things To Do, See And Eat Right Now In Socal's Most Underrated Beach Town

DW Drums is simply a concealed delight conscionable crossed from 1 of those dystopian Amazon warehouses disconnected nan freeway and an basal visit for those who paradiddle. Tours are only offered by assignment astatine 2 p.m. connected Thursdays, but it’s worthy uncovering nan time. It originates successful a lobby afloat of footwear drum pedals and ends successful a room lodging an tremendous gold-plated kit belonging to Rush’s Neil Peart and a ample information of Zappa drummer Terry Bozio’s ridiculously expansive setup.

In betwixt location are bottomless ways for drummers to geek out. Friendly unit will show really they trim and style nan wood earlier analyzable drilling machines make each nan correct holes, artists successful spray booths adhd nan lacquer, and different teams adhd nan skins and hardware and good tune nan drums. It’s a convivial spot wherever computers and artisans activity successful friends harmony. There are steampunk drums and Ferrari drums and skull-clad drums. Dave Grohl peers down from a poster, of course.

Oxnard’s tourer committee precocious launched a

and it’s not conscionable a trading ploy; nan metropolis really is location to immoderate worthy and unassuming places to get your birria fix. The pro move astatine Tacos La Bonita is nan gooey, cheesy quesabirria taco aliases a mates of nan tacos con tortilla a mano (with freshly made tortillas) stuffed pinch asada aliases pastor. Other options see lengua en salsa (beef lingua successful herb sauce) and nan campechano mixed nutrient filling.

The setup present is simple: Order from a spread successful nan wall and find a colorful stool astatine a array nether 1 of nan woody structures. It’s a agleam and cheerful spot — each poinsettias and lightbulb signs connected our sojourn — but tin beryllium chilly. Bring a jacket. The associated has been astir since 2010 and it precocious launched a

motortruck slinging churros, salchipulpos (fried basking canine pieces) and elote en palo (sweetcorn slathered successful Cotija food and chili).

‘Ololkoy Beach Park was renamed for nan Chumash connection for “dolphin” successful 2023, and it’s a fitting moniker. You mightiness spot nan namesake creatures break nan aboveground of nan water betwixt present and nan Channel Islands — and it’s a spot that engenders a very playful delphinoid consciousness of being.

Pull disconnected nan roadworthy astatine nan recently refurbished playground and parkland by nan immense swaths of writer flanked by rows of thenar trees. From here, it’s a short locomotion (also accessible via wheelchair) on boardwalks done nan imposing soil dunes, wherever miles of soil and surf await.

There’s a mostly protected motorcycle way starring to Oxnard Harbor a mile aliases truthful south, too. It passes

, a decent Hilton edifice pinch pool, firepits and oceanfront suites if you want to enactment overnight and person points to burn.

Beacon is 1 of nan champion java spots successful nan area and overmuch of that is acknowledgment to proprietor John Wheir, who travels to meet producers globally and cares astir nan cup. It offers nan afloat gamut — espressos, lattes, mochas tinged pinch lavender aliases guajillo chili — alongside a scope of mugs, hats and each kinds of java paraphernalia for making nan cleanable brew.

Drop successful for a barista training convention focused connected latte creation aliases 1 of nan Brewing Methods Classes wherever they return 1 java and brew it respective different ways “to comparison terroir, varietal, process, and really that affects what you sensation successful nan cup.” If you travel later successful nan day, you could ever travel up pinch an apricot ale aliases blueberry rhubarb blonde astatine

adjacent door.

Beacon is technically conscionable crossed nan Santa Clara River and successful nan confederate outskirts of Ventura, but we’re calling it for Oxnard. It’s worthy nan other fewer minutes connected nan 101 north. Another action that’s strictly successful nan city:

astatine The Collection Riverpark adjacent to nan freeway.

There’s kayaking and past there’s kayaking. If your erstwhile acquisition involves circumnavigating yacht-filled marinas aliases calm lakes, buckle up. A circuit of nan oversea caves astir Scorpion Anchorage connected Santa Cruz Island will return you done cathedral-sized caverns afloat of oversea lions arsenic good arsenic coffin-sized rocky apertures truthful tight you person to thin backmost to get through. The kelp-filled water swells and recedes while you’re astatine it, conscionable to ratchet up nan adrenaline. We saw personification threat a paddle connected a stone past clip we did it.

The

runs tours spanning 2 1/2 to 5 hours, and you tin hike aliases snorkel earlier aliases aft nan adventure. Add connected a ferry summons to nan circuit value aliases bargain separately done

. Just getting to nan islands is simply a fun, hourlong vessel travel retired of Oxnard (or Ventura) harbor that’s often accompanied by dozens — if not hundreds — of dolphins.

Until recently, Oxnard had a genuinely world-class trade brew spot pinch

connected Del Norte. Its taproom sadly closed successful early 2026, but we’re crossing each our fingers and toes they find a measurement to reopen and service up those legendary sours again soon.

In nan meantime, Bottle & Pint astatine nan Collection Riverpark’s

is nan adjacent champion point for ales some section and long-distance. The paper changes pinch nan saisons, but expect German-style lagers from Moorpark’s Enegren, piney IPAs and porters from Ventura’s Topa Topa and MadeWest respectively, and plentifulness of Firestone and Russian River goodness.

Hunger will inevitably onslaught aft a vessel aliases a pint (or two), pinch nan smells wafting complete from nan Mongo Q Mongolian BBQ Kitchen’s 6-foot basking sheet adjacent door. The Annex is for illustration a mini Grand Central. Options see Gordo’s Hot Chicken, Love Pho Cafe, Silverlake Ramen and a Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters (which, for illustration Bottle & Pint, started life successful Newbury Park). And, for immoderate reason, a random jewelry shop successful nan mediate of it all.

The Collection Riverpark itself is simply a wide operation of precocious thoroughfare joints — Cheesecake Factories here, H&Ms location — a cinema, ax-throwing and plentifulness of pedestrianized outdoor abstraction to chill successful an Adirondack aliases play array tennis aliases cornhole. Stop signs opportunity “stop and smell nan ocean,” and though you can’t precisely do that present (the Pacific is astir 5 miles away), it’s an apt sentiment.

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is simply a mini but beautifully formed two-story building overlooking nan harbor pinch friends docents prepared to show you around. Permanent galleries showcase European seascape artists of nan 1600s to 1800s, nan improvement of ships from nan American Revolution to nan Civil War and a study of nan ancient Asian maritime world. It besides runs rotating exhibitions, astir precocious connected nan pelicans of Southern California.

Perhaps nan astir striking, though, is nan postulation of exemplary ships by Edward Marple, who created 9 impressively intricate standard models betwixt nan 1960s and nan 1990s. His type of nan HMS Royal Katherine, which was launched by Charles II successful 1664,

much than 8,000 dowels successful nan hull alone, apparently, truthful you can’t mobility his dedication. The accumulation besides recreates his workspace. Another room worthy perusing: nan 1 lodging an extended postulation of bony models, crafted by French prisoners of warfare during nan Napoleonic Wars betwixt 1790 and 1815. They utilized bones from their rations of nutrient and recreated nan models from memory.

Even if you’re not spending nan night, make clip for luncheon astatine

— and inquire for an outdoor array if you want a glimpse of nan water while you eat. It’s a serene spot, pinch drawstring lights overhead, cacti and a distant soundtrack provided by nan pool’s waterfall and nan overseas joyful shriek from a cannonballing kid.

The paper is focused connected locally originated nutrient and is divided into farm, ranch and water — unsurprising fixed its location amid farms, ranches and nan ocean. Light lunchtime options see a salmon atom vessel pinch saccharine potato, wafer-thin slices of radish and a pumpkin vinaigrette. The food was beautifully seared and dusted pinch crushed pistachio connected our past visit. Heartier options see a tri-tip sandwich pinch roasted poblano and slaw connected a hoagie roll, aliases a burger pinch house-made bacon, bulb jam, pickles and cheddar.

Check retired nan high-ceiling lobby connected nan measurement out: It’s filled pinch posters and photographs themed astir section agriculture; a image of Henry Oxnard, nan city’s namesake looking dapper if a spot startled successful front necktie and trimmed ‘tache; and a exemplary vessel connected indebtedness from nan Channel Islands Maritime Museum.

Nardcore kicked disconnected successful nan ‘80s — a subgenre of hardcore punk comprised chiefly of Oxnard bands (hence nan portmanteau). If you’re looking for a unrecorded hit, aliases to spot immoderate likewise large and accelerated SoCal bands, there’s an improbable spot correct astatine nan harbor.

From a boater’s viewpoint, Mrs. Olson’s looks for illustration immoderate different seaside seafood shack, pinch soil underneath nan outdoor tables and sunseekers gobbling immense plates of fried food. Inside, though, it’s a different story. An aged steampunk soft lines nan measurement in, bath stalls are tiled successful records and nan walls are decked successful a hodgepodge of neon artworks, woody look masks, graffiti and glitterballs. A benignant of psychedelic Cheshire feline grins retired from down nan stage. Recent bands person included L.A. ‘70s punkers Angry Samoans, Huntington Beach noisemakers Guttermouth, and Looking West. Check nan tract aliases deed up

aliases

connected Instagram for nan latest.

The

is another, well, spot for “underground euphony from nan 805” (the compartment telephone codification that spans nan region). It besides hosts tabletop gaming and collectibles and sells comics. The

, meanwhile, is your go-to for tribute acts and nan overseas touring musician. It’s tally by nan aforesaid promoters that big gigs astatine nan Canyon successful Agoura Hills.