The outdoor activities that Ventura County residents are able to participate in are vast and varied. Several top-notch public courses such as Rustic Canyon, Soule Park and Saticoy Regional are regularly enjoyed by area golfers while scenic trails for biking, running or hiking abound.

With 50 miles of coast line running from Point Mugu to Mussel Shoals, fun in the sun can be had at San Buenaventura State Beach, Hollywood Beach, Marina Park Beach or McGrath State Beach. Camping, surfing, swimming and more are all fresh-air pursuits that are regularly enjoyed by locals.

With the bright lights of Hollywood only an hour-and-change away, it’s no surprise that entertainment is a large component of Ventura County’s culture. Several famous movies, including Back to the Future III, Little Miss Sunshine, Chinatown, Swordfish, Erin Brockovich, The Aviator, and The Rock filmed select scenes in Ventura County while several fairs and events are regularly held throughout the region.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds is the home of the annual Ventura County Fair, which over the years has hosted numerous famous acts and large-scale festivals. The historic Majestic Ventura Theater is the region's most popular local venue and regularly hosts concerts showcasing genres from across the musical spectrum from homegrown talent as well as prominent performers from around the country.

In addition to the numerous pro teams that call nearby Los Angeles home, the United Soccer League Two’s Ventura County Fusion play home games at the 5,000-seat Ventura College Sportsplex.

A sophisticated highway system that Ventura resides near make traveling throughout the state as convenient as possible for drivers. Amtrak and Metrolink trains serve this area, as do Greyhound, Gold Coast and VISTA buses. The cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks also have their own small bus systems. In terms of air travel, Camarillo Airport and Oxnard Airport provide connections to the national airspace system and are the home airports to several businesses as well as private aircraft.

Ventura County is jam-packed with world-class restaurants and retail outlets. The Riviera Shopping Center and the Marina Village Shopping Center are two of the many options available to local shoppers, while its numerous restaurants offer cuisine from all over the world. Wineries such as Four Brix, Panaro Brothers and Old Creek can also be found in the area, as can breweries like Leashless, Seaward and Poseidon.

With a rich history dating back to pre-colonial times, there’s no shortage of landmarks and attractions in Ventura County. Tourists regularly flock to destinations such as the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum—one of only 10 official U.S. Navy museums—as well as engaging sites such as the Ventura Botanical Gardens and the Mullin Automotive Museum.

Ventura County is home to 20 school districts serving approximately 140,000 K-12 students. Several post-secondary institutions are located in Ventura County, including Oxnard College, California State University-Channel Islands, California Lutheran University, Northridge College, the University of California-Santa Barbara and Azusa Pacific University.

Founded in 2000, Naval Base Ventura County is comprised of three facilities—Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island—that combine to serve as an all-in-one mobilization site, deep water port, railhead, and airfield. The base supports over 100 tenant commands and has an onsite population of more than 19,000 personnel, making it the largest employer in the area.