Oxnard Harbor Bike Ride.mp4

Bike the Harbor, Catch Sunset at Hollywood Beach

Bike Channel Islands Harbor to Hollywood Beach in Oxnard

Hollywood Beach Oxnard

Sailboats, barking sea lions, wide-open golden beach—Channel Islands Harbor and Hollywood Beach are marquee attractions, and renting a fat-tire E-bike is a fun way to explore this classic Southern California setting in Oxnard. Get your rad fat-tire E-bike from Wheel Fun Rentals at their Mandalay Beach Resort Location (note: the resort is currently under renovations, so book ahead with Wheel Fun and they can arrange your bike delivery).

Woman on an e-bike at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard passing by docked sailboats

docked sailboats at sunset at Channel Islands Harbor

Sea Lions at Channel View Park in Oxnard

Wheel Fun provides a map with local points of interest. Once you get a quick lesson in how to work the “E” on the bike (it’s easy!), embark on a self-guided tour of the Channel Islands Harbor. Pedal on Ocean Drive passing premier homes right on Hollywood Beach. Stop at Channel View Park where it’s common to see a cacophonous gathering of sea lions.

sea lions at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard

woman riding an e-bike at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard

They like to welcome passing sailboats using their distinct barks and thumps. Some just yawn and lounge while others slip into the water for frolics. Keep going on the multi-use path along Channel Islands Harbor, with opportunities to stop at restaurants and pick your favorite sailboat name (Feeling Nauti; Yeah Buoy…).

Woman in red overalls enjoying the sunset at Hollywood Beach in Oxnard

Two people watching the sun set behind Channel Islands National Park from Hollywood Beach

Give yourself enough time to visit Hollywood Beach. On late afternoons in winter this wide-open mile-long beach with iconic Southern California lifeguard towers is blissfully crowd-free. Yes, movies have been filmed on this beach, and the actor Clark Gable (aka “the King of Hollywood”) called this place home. Winter sundowns here are exceptional, with the light sinking directly over the distant Channel Islands National Park, easily seen from the beach on clear days. Watch as the islands are silhouetted while the sun dips across the horizon in pink, gold, and orange. A truly Hollywood ending.

Two people watching the sunset over Channel Islands National Park from Hollywood Beach in Oxnard

STAY & EAT: Hampton Inn Channel Islands Harbor has beautiful rooms, many overlooking the harbor, which is lit up in the evening, first by marvelous winter sunsets bringing a band of tangerine across the backdrop, then from harbor lights winking across the water as docked sailboats gently bob.

Woman on a balcony overlooking Channel Islands Harbor at Hampton Inn Channel Islands Harbor

There are plenty of nearby options for food around Channel Islands Harbor. Enjoy traditional Brazilian cuisine on the patio overlooking the harbor at Moqueca Brazilian Restaurant. We like the Pastelzinhos (Brazilian empanadas); Mahi Mahi cooked in a clay pot; and the Banana Frita (fried plantains). The yucca fries are pretty delicious, too. Wash it all down with the refreshing caipirinha cocktail. For a more casual atmosphere with a vast food menu, head to Sea Fresh Channel Islands at the harbor. The Collection at RiverPark is Oxnard's premier shopping and entertainment center, featuring retail stores, restaurants, cafe's, grocery, and outdoor spaces. The Annex Food Hall is here and there's a weekly (Saturday) Farmers Market.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bike the Monterey Coastal Recreation Trail

    To the Lighthouse

    The Monterey Recreation Trail is one of America's most beautiful coastal experiences, accessible to bikers, strollers, rollers, and walkers. This 8-mile (round-trip) bike ride follows premier parts of the trail before detouring to Pacific Grove's storied Point Pinos Lighthouse.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    The Unexpected Wonders of Monterey

    One of the world’s best teachers? Mother Nature. And one of the best destinations to learn from her? The Monterey Bay Aquarium. Spend a few hours at the Aquarium, then take your pick of self-guided walks...

    View
  3. Tombstones and Tarantulas

    Forget black cats; a randy tarantula crossing your path can really get your heart racing. So can spirits in a cemetery! Visit Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and learn about these misunderstood spiders, plus pay a visit to the Rose Hill Cemetery, where ghosts are said to exist.  

    View
  4. London Calling

    The writer Jack London was known for his adventure stories, and an autumn hike at his namesake state park in Sonoma Valley illuminates more than his career. Eucalyptus, oaks, sprawling vineyards, and brilliant redwoods are part of the autumn magic amid the rich history of the park.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. woman hiking Elkhorn Slough Reserve in Monterey

    Hike Elkhorn Slough Reserve

    Elkhorn Slough Reserve is one of California’s few remaining coastal wetlands. Go on a hike and marvel at one of the state's largest coastal salt marshes, a valued habitat for birds, plant life, sea otters, and marine mammals.

    View
  2. Red Rocks in California

    Colorful badlands, towering buttes, and scenic desert cliffs form a hikers paradise. Red Rock Canyon State Park is a lightly visited desert wonderland where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converges with the El Paso range.

    View
  3. Woman hiking up to views from Desolation Canyon in Death Valley National Park

    Canyons Calling

    Canyon hikes come in all shapes and sizes in Death Valley, and we’ve got two gems. One requires more rigorous scrambling and navigation, and leads to a dryfall; the other takes you up to a brilliant vista.

    View
  4. Hiking Cobb Estate Haunted Forest

    Welcome to Mr. Cobb's Haunted Forest

    The ruins can be explored on an easy 1.5-mile (round-trip) loop trail. Hike it close to dusk for maximum creepiness (just make sure you're out by dusk, when the park closes).

    View