Camarillo

Aviation enthusiasts should not miss the opportunity to visit the fascinating Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Museum (CAF SoCal) where you can get up close and personal with some of the most amazing original Air Force combat aircraft. In addition you can admire their collection of artifacts and displays from World War II and their aviation library. The museum is entirely operated by volunteer enthusiasts who keep the collection of planes in perfect working order – for the thrill of a lifetime you can book a ride on their War Bird Ride Program – choose from the P-51, the PJB bomber, the open-top PT19 or the historic SNJ.

CAF SoCal, World War II Aviation Museum, 455 Aviation Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-482-0064

Camarillo lies at the gateway to the Central Coast Wine Country, and there are several vineyards and wineries that welcome visitors to come and see their vineyards and cellars and enjoy an informative wine tasting. The folks at Explore Wines Tour know all the best vineyards, all the best varietals and, best of all, they do all the driving so that you can do all the tasting. When you join one of their private wine tours you can discuss your wine preferences with your knowledgeable guide who will customize your tour to your particular tastes. Your tour will include pick-up in Camarillo, all-day guided wine tour including exclusive cellar access, tastings and lunch.

Explore Wine Tours, Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-364-2397

The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (WFVZ) is basically a non-profit organization which specializes in birds. The foundation strives to educate the public about bird conservation and showcases their amazing collections of eggs, nests and other birding specimens. You can join a public tour of the museum every second Wednesday and every last Friday of each month (phone at least one day ahead to book) or you can phone them to arrange a walk-through tour (without a guide). Avid bird watchers can attend bird-identification courses in spring (April, May and June) which include both evening lectures at the museum and afternoon field trips.

WFVZ, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo, CA 93012, Phone: 805-388-9944

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

The McGrath family has taken full advantage of the mild Camarillo weather and the excellent soil conditions to produce an enviable abundance of delicious organic fruit and vegetables for the community. The McGrath Family Farm are owned and operated by fourth-generation Irish American farmers who welcome you to come and find out all about organic farming on one of their farm tours. Children will have great fun on the October pumpkin tours while aspirant organic farmers can book a one-on-one tour with Farmer Phil to learn the ropes. Pick your own produce is seasonally available or you can stop by their Camarillo Farmer’s Market.

McGrath Family Farms, 1012 West Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-983-0333

If you find yourself in Camarillo on a Saturday morning you can join the locals at the popular Camarillo Farmer’s Market. The market is a local tradition and everyone comes to meet, eat, mingle and celebrate the region’s wonderful fresh produce. The regular market vendors bring their choicest fresh produce including vegetables, fruit, citrus, berries, farm-fresh eggs and grass-fed beef. In addition you will find many allied market products like jams and preserves, honey and much more. You can also buy flowers and plants at the market and when you need a break you can grab a bite to eat or drink from one of several food vendors who sell everything from breads and pastries to seafood and sausages.

Camarillo Farmer’s Market, 2220 Ventura Blvd, Old Town Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-987-3347

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

When you need to escape the city and spend a bit of time enjoying the remarkable Camarillo weather you can make your way to Camarillo Grove Park . The park occupies what was once a stage-coach stop in a rustic spot near the end of Camarillo Springs Rd. The park boasts a new Outdoor Nature Center where visitors can learn about local eco-systems and endemic flora and fauna along an interpretive trail. If you enjoy hiking you can explore the two hiking trails, one of which takes you up to a lovely panoramic view point. You can do some bird-watching along the way and you may be lucky enough to come across some small animals. The park offers picnic sites, BBQ grills, restrooms, play equipment and a dog park.

Camarillo Grove Park, 1605 Burnley Street, Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-482-1996

Studio Channel Islands is a Camarillo organization dedicated to advancing the cultural and artistic side of Old Town Camarillo. The organization operates several programs for artists and art lovers including Artist’s Open Studios, the Blackboard Gallery, art education classes and several other cultural events. Art lovers can spend some happy time admiring the ever-changing art exhibitions (12 per year) at the Blackboard Gallery, which also hosts regular exhibitions by their member artists. If you want to try your hand at painting you are welcome to attend one of their Adult Art Classes on Tuesday nights in Studio R1. Before you leave the gallery you can buy some unique art pieces (jewelry, ceramics and arty accessories) at the gift shop.

Studio Channel Islands, 2222 E. Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-383-1368

Wine lovers have much to look forward to during their visit to Camarillo, starting with Cantara Winery which is located just a few blocks west of the city. The winery offers cellar tours and wine tastings from Thursday to Sunday each week – perfect for weekend visitors to the city. The winery harvests ten varietals each year and brings in much of their other grapes from Lodi, where wine-maker Mike’s parents have vineyards. Some of the wines you can look forward to tasting include Syrah, Zinfandels, Tempranillos and some delicious blends like the Mischievous Lodi. There is also a Chardonnay from grapes brought in from Lodi.

Cantara Cellars , 126 Wood Rd, Suite 104, Camarillo, CA 93010, Phone: 805-484-9600

Back Patio Cellars owners Frank and Jen started off by lovingly making a small batch of red wine, by hand, on their back patio. Today their hobby has turned into an award-winning commercial winery where you can come and taste a selection of quality wines right in the heart of Camarillo. The winery is open to the public for tastings from Friday to Sunday (other days are possible by arrangement). The winery currently produces as least eight wines each year including red and white blends and single varietals like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. All the wines are produced in small batches and often sell out quickly – you can join their wine club to ensure you don’t miss out on new releases.

Back Patio Cellars, 930 Flynn Rd, Unit F, Camarillo, CA 93012, Phone: 805-388-3457