Downtown Ventura Main Street and Front Street

Downtown Ventura has historic architecture on hilly streets and beautiful tall trees. Main Street is pedestrian-only and palm-lined. The 19th century architecture, painted in pale pastels, is lovely! On Main Street, there are an abundance of long-standing cafes, such as Thai food cafe Rice by Mama, Irish pub Dargan's, and Indian food cafe The Taj. Also great is Nature's Grill, which has fresh ingredients, and non-salty meals with lots of vegetables- a relief when you're traveling.

An area of modern, hip cafes has opened up recently on Front Street. It is a 13 minute walk or 4 minute drive from Main Street.  I prefer this area to Main Street. Check out Frontside Cafe, with gorgeous clean-lined decor inside. I love this place! It is owned by an Aussie and has the best food- try their Aussie yogurt with granola. Toppers Pizza is also here. Transmission Brewing has an amazing glass building perched high up with views of the ocean and city (no kids allowed upstairs).
A great thing about historic downtown Ventura is that it is completely walkable! Park along Main Street, and then walk to your heart's content! There are some beautiful buildings to take in, such as the Erle Stanley Gardner Building on the corner of Main and California. City Hall is a gorgeous Beaux Arts building- you can't miss it as you look uphill on California Street. It was Ventura's courthouse until the 70s. Main Street also has a groovy art-deco theatre that is lit up in neon at night. In fact, the whole of Main Street looks very cool at night, with neon lights twirled around the palm-tree trunks.
Walk west on Main Street and you will come to the prettiest part of Ventura, the mission and the plaza called Figueroa Street Mall. Don't miss this romantic spot.
Walk east on Main Street and you will find a lovely mix of Victorian houses turned into cafes and shops. There is a shop called Rosie Lee Imports that sells everything British: biscuits (cookies), chocolate bars, meat pies, and vegemite.
Main Street, because it is parallel to the beach, is sheltered, warm, and not windy, so enjoy the sunshine! From Main Street you can walk one block to a lovely park with huge old trees and a playground, Plaza Park. This park has a magical feel.
Walk several blocks south on Figueroa Street and under the freeway and you'll come to Surfer's Point, a super place to walk around with the ocean crashing below.
For some colorful mini-golf in a garden setting, drive to Golf N Stuff. For a hip little beach area check out Seaward Avenue and the Seven Jetties.
BEWARE: There are cameras at some weird intersections and you can end up with a $550 ticket in Ventura. Especially tricky is the California Street exit as you head into downtown. Go super slowly in this area so you have time to stop at the yellow light, or else avoid this intersection.

Directions

Exit Highway 101 southbound at Main Street. Once you get to around Oak Street, park along the road. Exit Highway 101 northbound at California Street, turn right on California Street, right on Main Street and park along the road.
Rosie Lee Imports, 673 E. Main St, Ventura CA 93001, call (805) 643-5832.
Nature's Grill, 566 E. Main St, Ventura CA 93001, call (805) 643-7855.

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