Ventura Travel Guides (Updated October 2026)

This was a fun, super chill experience, starting with the staff, the two gentlemen were helpful and upbeat, boat was very well maintained, we ran through safety and the function of the boat, and they sent us on our way, chilling in the harbor was so much fun. Will be back for sure!

Andrey was an awesome teacher! Beginners, first time, and he made us feel comfortable in the water and feel like we knew what to do. Super fun! We are pretty athletic but had never surfed before. Andrey has been surfing for decades and has a passion for teaching.

Booking was simple online, but if you book through Cool Destinations, you need to tell the attendant to check for a Cool Destinations reservation as they had a hard time finding ours. They eventually did and upgraded our boat without additional cost, which was kind. The attendant, Donovan, and his boss, Brad, we’e both very friendly. The harbor is beautiful. Highly recommend.

Fun, Fun, Fun! The patience and accommodations were greatly appreciated! This was my 2nd time and will be a regular activity! With or without the Groupon discount is worth it!

I recently went on a wine tour, and it was an amazing experience. The winery was beautiful, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the wines were fantastic. Our guide was fun, friendly, and very knowledgeable, which made the tour both enjoyable and informative. I truly had a great time and would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable wine-tasting experience.

Katie was my grandson’s instructor. She was patient and amazing. He got up and rode in all the way with his first lesson. He’s sixteen! He loved it! Thank you Katie!

Amazing Wine Tour with Perfect LA Pickup!This wine tour was a fantastic experience from start to finish! The excursion through the vineyards and wineries was incredibly informative — I learned so much about the winemaking process and the history of the region. The hosts were knowledgeable and welcoming, making the whole day both educational and enjoyable.One of the best parts was the convenient pick-up and drop-off from Los Angeles — it made the whole trip stress-free and easy. No need to worry about driving or logistics, just relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and amazing wines.Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a mix of relaxation, learning, and great California wine!

I did a surfing lesson with Noah. He was great. Very patient, knowledgeable, clear, and fun! He also gave me good tips on boards, suits, how to learn about surfing conditions, and other pro tips. I can't say about enough about the Santa Barbara Surf School. Each of the lessons I've had with them have been great. Will come back again soon!

I can't put my finger on the actual element that I enjoyed so much, but all I can say I'm going back to Ventura, CA. Our short trip was great! We did the Scavenger Hunt and was so much fun, albeit towards the end it got a little long. There were 24 items to cover, but overall it really was great. Glad I had the chance to explore on foot. It's so different when you actualy see and do the old fashioned way.

The whole experience was just unbelievable, Alex was the best instructor ever, kind, patient and just overall fantastic!! By the end we were all riding the waves it was just amazing!!! Thank you Alex!!!!

Exploring Ventura with my grandson. Great experience, but difficult to navigate the start. The routes were well thought out and had a variety of places to discover.

Brian was our instructor and he was fantastic. His laid back and easy to follow teaching style was perfect for us. We would highly recommend him and wish him the best in his future endeavors.The whole experience was memorable. The appointment started on time and Brian had us in the water in 1/2 an hour. He guided us through the basics and encouraged us every wave. Though we didn't get up much, every attempt left us smiling. My wife had been wanting to learn to surf for years and the lesson definitely fulfilled that wish.Thanks again for the class and the memories!

We are an older couple with some health issues, but we had a blast and we completed the hunt. We will definitely recommend this to friends. It was the highlight of our 35th anniversary celebration.

Beau did a terrific job. He was very friendly, informative and patient with us. We really got up on the boards and enjoyed the waves!!! We will book this activity again when we go back to this area.

Amazing help and assistance for a first time surfer! Kept encouraging me and cheering me on even when I fell!

My 2 kids and I had a private lesson with Tyler from Lovewater Surf School for a few days while we were visiting Santa Barbara. Tyler is an awesome instructor and was extremely patient. We had a really fun time while learning how to surf! The booking process was seamless - I had various questions and the owner took the time to explain the information to me. Highly recommend!