Slow down, cool off, and dive in with Ventura Dive and Sport
By Marlowe Haas
When temperatures rise, Central Coasters know where to go: we head to the ocean. And there are few better ways to experience it than on a scuba diving trip to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary with Ventura Dive and Sport.
For divers who have been only in warm tropical waters, the ever-fluid conditions of our famous kelp forests offer a whole new experience — and some of the best scuba diving in the world.
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Pebble Beach
The Experience of a Lifetime…
By Mike Miller
As an avid golf junkie, playing some of the best golf courses in the world is a mission of mine. Regardless of how you define a “top golf course,” Pebble Beach Golf Links has to be on that list.
Pebble Beach is a golf destination that is rich with history. I not only love to play golf, but I am also drawn to watching the best players in the world compete at the highest levels the sport has to offer. I grew up watching Tiger Woods dominate the competition at Pebble Beach. I watched in amazement as Jordan Spieth hit his famous cliff shot on number eight, risking life and limb to save his par back in 2022. The memories of great golf moments at Pebble Beach go on and on.
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On the Oceanfront: Tacos, dolphins, and more in Oxnard
By Nicole Leonetti
Oxnard, one of California’s most unexpectedly diverse coastal cities, could be characterized as a beach town, or an agricultural powerhouse, or an idyllic suburb. Here rich farmland meets wide sandy beaches, and strawberry fields sit minutes from scenic harbors and surf breaks.
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Manzana Creek
Story and photos by Adam Nuñez
The Manzana Creek Trail lies entirely in the remote San Rafael Wilderness about 25 miles north of Lake Cachuma. With deep canyons, peaceful meadows, and many creek crossings, it beckons to hikers seeking adventure. One excellent destination is the historic Manzana Schoolhouse — an actual one-room schoolhouse built in the 1890s to accommodate about 25 students. It’s nestled on a small knoll in the Sisquoc River Valley. Keep in mind, this is a 20-mile round-trip excursion. But it’s well worth the effort! Not sure if you’re up for the entire 20 miles? There are three official camping spots along the trail with numerous others scattered about. Many of these spots have tables and iron-ringed fire pits.
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Pure Links: La Purisima Golf Course
Lompoc is home to one of the most challenging and entertaining golf courses in the state of California: La Purisima Golf Course.
By Mike Miller
Affectionately nicknamed “La Piranha,” La Purisima is widely considered one of the most difficult public courses in the United States. Designed by Kenneth Hume Hunter, Jr., and opened in 1986, it was built with a singular, uncompromising vision: to provide a “pure” golf experience. In the world of La Purisima, “pure” means no houses, no distractions, and absolutely no mercy.
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