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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Between the stacks
Mom-n-Pop bookstores of Ventura County
Story and photos by Adam Nuñez
Bookshops are thriving in Ventura County. They are a full-immersion experience, and more than just books. Between the stacks, you might find art, board games, local handmade crafts, plants, and community announcement boards. And, of course, these shops exude that nostalgic, slightly woody, vanilla-like scent that wraps you like a warm blanket as soon as you walk through the doors.
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Northbound
A Coffee-Fueled Drift Up the 101
By Zach Rosen
Finding coffee during a trip is a necessity.
A coffeehouse offers more than just a cup of joe, but a chance to experience the local culture, maybe grab some breakfast, and take a moment to pause… and enjoy the surroundings.
Each town has its own aroma, its own roast, its own way of waking you up. And if you let it, the journey becomes less about the distance and more about stringing together these small, caffeinated moments of respite. What ties them together isn’t just caffeine or convenience; it’s the way each cup reflects its surroundings.
Along Hwy 101, coffee becomes a language of place.
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Pick Your Path
Winter biking adventures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties
Story and *photos by Adam Nuñez Simi Valley photos submitted
Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are a paradise for family-friendly bike rides. There are many miles of paths along the coast, through lush city parks, and under shaded tree canopies, all with incredible views and pleasant rest stops. Ventura County alone has 84 miles of Class 1 bike paths. These are fully separated bike and pedestrian paths with minimal to zero vehicle traffic. Class 1 rides will mostly be covered here. These can be enjoyed by elite athletes all the way down to toddlers learning to ride for the very first time.
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