Sunlight glistens on the warming waters while yellow mustard flowers blow in the soft breeze along Foothill Road upwards towards Ventura’s Serra Cross. From the top of the hill, spring makes itself known in the green of the farmlands that overlook the Avenue, the clear horizon shaped by the Channel Islands, and the birds chirping in the Botanical Gardens. To fully indulge in the vibrance of the spring season, here are some of the hot spots in Ventura County to appreciate spring, 2025:
The Cross
The Serra Cross, located on the top of a hill overlooking Ventura, allows visitors to gaze along the horizon from Port Hueneme to the Channel Islands and the farm lands that lead to Ojai. The history that lies within the rustic wood cross holds the origins of Ventura County itself, including the arrival of the Spanish on Chumash shores. This is a perfect location for admiring Ventura’s warm spring weather, wild flowers and beach sunsets.
Botanical Gardens
After taking in the view of The Cross, explore the nearby, and beautiful, Botanical Gardens, filled with vibrant flowers that attract local wildlife and make for the perfect backdrop for prom and homecoming photos. The gardens also provide a view from atop of Ventura where you can go for a walk away from all the noise of downtown. There is an entry cost of $7.00, with Fridays being free.
Harmon Canyon
For hikers, Harmon Canyon is a perfect place to explore Ventura’s greenery, leading through streams, hillside and small valleys where deer hop in the brush and tadpoles swim in the creek.
“It’s a beautiful time right now in the hills. As I was walking I saw something leap up from the grass and bushes, and I saw [two deers] as they were making their way up a hill and across a creek,” junior Henriette Myer said. “They were so cute and it really reminded me of how much I missed spring.”
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz island features all the natural beauty of the California coast, protected as a national park that can be visited by boat, often through the Island Packers company at the Ventura Harbor. Locally loved endemic species such as the Island Fox roam freely in the wild flowers and along Scorpion Bay, where you can canoe over kelp forests with schools of Garibaldi and sea lions. The wildlife flourishes in the spring bloom of sagebrush, Santa Cruz Island Ironwood trees, deerweed and hyacinth flowers. The Island has multiple cliffside hiking paths, surf spots, sea caves and opportunities to see rare native plants and marine animals.
“It was so much fun [at Santa Cruz Island] to see all the marine life on the boat ride there. I was able to see huge pods of dolphins and whales so close to home,” Junior Madeline Valesquez said.
