Harbor Holidays
Parade of Lights celebrate the season
By Nicole Leonetti Photos courtesy Channel Islands Harbor
I love a parade — especially when boats are involved! I’m in heaven during the holiday season when both the Channel Islands and Ventura Harbors have their annual Parade of Lights events. These parades have become holiday traditions, bringing joy to these communities and to all who join them each holiday season. This year’s fun begins during Halloween (Parade of Frights) then kicks into high gear in December, with back-to-back weekends full of fun and light at these two Ventura County harbors.
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Cycling the Central Coast
Whether in the mountains along the shore, there’s no better way to experience the Central Coast than on two wheels
By Misty Hall
If you’ve read this magazine before, you’ve probably noticed I’m always harping on you to get off the freeway and explore the amazing communities along the Central Coast. One fabulous way to do that? Rent a bike!
“You get to see more than if you’re walking, but it’s still personal like walking,” said Toby Kaiser-Arnett, owner of Pedego Electric Bikes Pismo Beach. “If things are blooming, you smell them. If you want to stop and take photos, it’s no big deal. You can meander a bit … You’re really able to experience a place.”
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The Piers of the Central Coast
Story and photos by Katherine McMahon
If you visit a beach on the Central Coast this summer, you may find yourself strolling out over the water on a wooden pier. Today, these structures are popular tourist destinations, but most were built for a very different reason. Back in the 1800s — long before Highway 101 was built — ships were the main suppliers of goods to this quickly-growing region. Piers allowed ships to offload their passengers and cargo much faster (and safer) than using the small barges of the past. These piers quite literally helped build the cities they belonged to.
Once the railways and highways were built, the piers weren’t needed like before. Several of them fell into disrepair and were removed, but some were repurposed and have become beloved recreational features in their beach communities.
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Seclusion Near the City
Western Santa Monica Mountains
Story and photos by Adam Nuñez
The entire Santa Monica Mountain range stretches east to west about 40 miles starting in West Los Angeles all the way to Camarillo in Ventura County. The elevation begins at sea level and reaches upwards to 3,100 feet. The Ventura County portion of the range sees less foot traffic than the busier regions closer to Los Angeles. This allows for more tranquility, and I daresay even solitude, especially on weekdays. Springtime is the ideal season to explore since the winter’s rains have led to bursting hues of green grasses and a rainbow of wildflower colors. And, waterfalls like Sycamore Canyon Falls near Newbury Park are more likely to be gushing with water.
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Winter Adventures with Island Packers
By Nicole Leonetti
You can binge-watch all the high-definition 4K nature documentaries you want, but nothing comes close to seeing whales in the wild. No television can give you a true appreciation for the majesty of a breaching humpback, or the sheer mass of a 90,000-pound gray whale. No photo or YouTube clip can put you on the bow of a boat as hundreds of dolphins frolic in the waves under your feet.
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Central Coast Hikes
Story and photos by Adam Nuñez
Finding harmony in Harmon Canyon Preserve
Follow the trails of the Harmon Canyon Preserve, and you’ll traverse over grassy hills and under knotted oak trees. You’ll pass fragrant sage plants and hear the skitter of wildlife through the thick brush. Bobcats, deer, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and badgers have been spotted here — along with human hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers, too.
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