Drama-free at Sea

For an adventure at sea without the drama of thrashing ocean waves, go kayaking in Oxnard's serene Channel Islands Harbor. The calm waters (shielded by the breakwater at the harbor's entrance to the ocean) make your kayaking trip a soothing afternoon outing. The protected harbor also makes a welcoming home for animals of all shapes and sizes. Say hello to the sea lions lounging on the docks and swimming right up beside you. Admire the cormorants, herons, and pelicans as they gracefully dive for their lunch. Paddle up next to the rocks on the perimeter and you can spot sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea hares—a snail-like species of sea slug—crawling around just beneath the surface. As you paddle out to the breakwater, you can see the ocean spread out before you, and Anacapa and Santa Cruz, the nearest of the Channel Islands, in the distance. If this relaxing kayaking experience has whet your appetite for something more, kick your next trip up a notch with an island kayaking tour.

BONUS: If you're less of a DIYer and more of a guided-tour aficionado, Channel Islands Kayak Center offers a History & Wildlife Tour in the harbor, which gives details of the area's history and some insight into its wildlife inhabitants.

Channel Islands Kayak Center offers single kayak rentals at $12.50 an hour. Their harbor History & Wildlife Tour is $79.95/person, which includes kayak rental for two hours.