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. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View