Best Of Recreation
Surfer Mary Osborne, this year’s first-place winner for local athlete.
09/20/2012
Arcade
1st Place
Golf N’ Stuff, 5555 Walker St., Ventura, 644-7131
2nd Place
Ventura Harbor Village, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura
3rd Place
Lazertag Extreme, 1775 E. Daily Drive, suite I, Camarillo, 388-0088 (currently relocating to Thousand Oaks)
Beach
1st Place
Silverstrand
2nd Place
Pierpont
3rd Place
Hollywood Beach
Bike Trail
1st Place
Ventura River trail
2nd Place
Sycamore Canyon
3rd Place
Wildwood
Bowling
1st Place
Buena Lanes, 1788 Mesa Verde Ave., Ventura, 656-0666
2nd Place
Ventura Bowling Center, 1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, 648-3395
3rd Place
Harley’s Camarillo Bowl, 305 Arneill Road, Camarillo, 482-0747
Campground
1st Place
McGrath State Beach
2nd Place
Lake Casitas
3rd Place
Emma Wood
Car Show
1st Place
Santa Paula Cruise Night
2nd Place
Ventura Nationals
3rd Place
Fillmore July 4th
Charity Event
1st Place
Casa Pacifica angels Wine and Food Festival
2nd Place
Relay for Life
3rd Place
Pooch Parade
Cultural Event
1st Place
Oxnard Salsa Festival
2nd Place
Casa Pacifica Wine and Food Festival
3rd Place
Westside ArtWalk
Golf Course
1st Place
Olivas Links, 3750 Olivas Park Drive, 677-6770
2nd Place
River Ridge, 2401 W. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard, 983-4653
3rd Place
Saticoy Regional Golf Course, 1025 S. Wells Road, Ventura, 647-6678
Hiking Trail
1st Place
Arroyo Verde
2nd Place
Two Trees
3rd Place
Wildwood
Just for Kids
1st Place
Sky High Sports, 166 N. Aviador St., Camarillo, 484-6300
2nd Place
Pump It Up, 5120 Ralston St., Ventura, 339-9669
3rd Place
The Clubhouse Funzone, 4535 McGrath St., Ventura, 639-0414
Local Athlete
1st Place
Mary Osborne
2nd Place
Colin Jenkins
3rd Place
Victor Ortiz
Local Sports Team
1st Place
Ventura County Fusion
2nd Place
Ventura County Derby Darlins
3rd Place
Ventura High School Cougars
Museum
1st Place
Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St., Ventura, 653-0323
2nd Place
Reagan Library and Museum, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, 522-2977
3rd Place
Gull Wings Children’s Museum, 418 W. Fourth St., Oxnard, 483-3005
Overnight Accommodations
1st Place
Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, 450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, 648-2100
2nd Place
Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard, 984-2500
3rd Place
Pierpont Inn, 550 Sanjon Road, Ventura, 643-6144
Place to Swim
1st Place
Ventura Aquatic Center, 901 S. Kimball Road, Ventura, 654-7511
2nd Place
Ventura Family YMCA, 3760 Telegraph Road, Ventura, 642-2131
3rd Place
Pierpont Racquet Club, 500 San Jon Road, Ventura, 648-5161
Skate park
1st Place
Ojai Skate Park, 414 E. Ojai Ave.
2nd Place
Oxnard Skate Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard
3rd Place
Camarillo Skate Park, 1030 Temple Ave., Camarillo
Skating Rink
1st Place
Skating Plus, 1720 Mesa Verde Ave., Ventura, 656-2121
2nd Place
Channel Islands Ice Center, 830 Wagon Wheel Road, Oxnard, 988-4440
3rd Place
Iceoplex Ice Skating Rink, 131 West Easy St., Simi Valley, 520-7465
Surf School
1st Place
Ventura Makos Surf Camp, 312-0713
2nd Place
Mary Osborne Surf Camps, www.maryosbornesurf.com
3rd Place
Silverstrand Surf School, 985-7867
Surf Spot
1st Place
C-Street/Surfers Point
2nd Place
Mondos
3rd Place
Rincon
Tennis Court
1st Place
Pierpont Racquet Club, 500 San Jon Rd., Ventura, 648-5161
2nd Place
Camino Real Park, 4199 Dean Drive, Ventura
3rd Place
Libbey Park, Ojai
View
1st Place
Serra Cross Park
2nd Place
Two Trees
3rd Place
Ventura Pier
EDITOR’S PICKS
Best new adventure at the Channel Islands
Black Rock backpacking and kayaking trip
www.channelislandso.com, 899-4925
Kayakers come ashore at Potato Harbor on Santa Cruz Island.
The serpentine spine of the southeast end of Santa Cruz Island is one of the best hikes around, revealing the unique island flora across volcanic crags along the isthmus of the most topographically diverse isle off the California coast. From Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, it’s 15 miles of solitude enjoying the epic scenery on the mountainous islet.
Hike through groves of spindly, native island oaks and the most southerly stands of Bishop pines in the U.S. Share the single-track trails and historic ranching roads with raucous island scrub jays and playful island foxes in the deep canyons and gurgling arroyos. Be one of the few sleeping beneath clusters of twinkling stars at Del Norte Campground with stunning views of the north side of the island.
Marvel at Chinese Harbor from above, its glistening waters on the left and the towering sandstone and shale cliffs on the south side revealing the narrowest region of the island while straddling the Pacific.
Soon the ranch roads come to a halt, and the brittle rib of black, ashy-colored volcanic rock offers the only access to the Montanon Ridgeline. Life sprouts out of the black rocks and fissures of these volcanic crags. Some of the island’s many endemic plants are well represented here, a true botanical garden while trekking toward Montanon. Tread lightly around Santa Cruz Island liveforevers, silver lotus and clusters of buckwheat.
From approximately 1,500 feet above sea level on Montanon Ridge, only cawing ravens reach loftier heights. The rest of Santa Cruz fingers its way east, reaching out to narrow Anacapa Island three miles from its tip. The pace quickens on the four-mile descent weaving downward to Scorpion Canyon and its stream of cobble spilling into tranquil Scorpion Anchorage.
Afterward, wash off the trail dust with a kayak trip three miles west to Coche Point and the Mediterranean-like Potato Harbor. Paddle beneath honeycombed cliffs, spelunking the many sea caves along the way. Keep an eye out for black oystercatchers, wandering tattlers, Brandt’s cormorants and peregrine falcons. Eventually, the cacophony of bellowing California sea lions increases, with each stroke of the paddle, signifying arrival at the dreamy natural anchorage.
Only an hour’s ferry ride from the mainland, experiencing the less-traveled regions of Santa Cruz Island feels as if it’s worlds apart.
Channel Islands Outfitters is the only outfitter guiding three-day Black Rock backpacking and kayaking trips exploring the best of the southeast finger of Santa Cruz Island.
— Chuck Graham
Best Halloween-time activity
Pumpkinliner
Fillmore and Western Railway, 364 Main St. , Fillmore, 524-2546,
Reservations@fwry.com
Kids and adults alike can hop aboard the Pumpkinliner during the weekends throughout October to join in the pumpkin harvest and the festivities of Halloween at Ichabog in Santa Paula.
When I was a child, my favorite part of Halloween was driving way out in the country to some farmer’s pumpkin patch and wandering through what seemed acres of pumpkins to find just the right one for carving into the perfect jack-o-lantern. Sadly nowadays, so many people just go to their local supermarket and throw a pumpkin in their cart, and that’s that. Fortunately for all of us in Ventura County, that old-fashioned option is still available, with the added benefit of not having to drive somewhere to find a pumpkin patch. We can take the train there!
On Saturdays and Sundays (departures at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.) throughout October, the Fillmore and Western Railway operates the “Pumpkinliner,” a vintage train that leaves from the Fillmore train station and travels to a private pumpkin patch, Ichabog, somewhere along the railway on the way toward Santa Paula (and next to the Loose Caboose Garden Center). Kids of all ages can find that perfect pumpkin, enjoy Jolly Jumps, a carousel, arts and crafts booths, barbecue food booth, face painting and lots of Halloween activities.
The Fillmore and Western Railway has many train entertainment options throughout the year (Mystery Train Dinner Theater, Heritage Valley Tours, Christmas Tree Train, the Great Train Robbery to name a few). But in October it’s all aboard a restored vintage train down the rails to a private pumpkin patch, certainly the very best Ventura County Halloween activity. The perfect pumpkin awaits your selection.
Tickets prices: $20 for adults; $12 for youth, ages 4-12; $10 for child, ages 2-3.
— JR Grant
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