The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park Reviews

For a fairly small NPS visitor center, this one is very well done. It's got a great diorama (??) with all the critters and many plants represented in their natural surroundings. A tower you can go up for a view of the Channel Islands (if there's no fog...); and an outdoor garden with most all the plants native to the area.

We stopped here after spending the day before kayaking around Santa Cruz Island of the Channel Islands National Park. We probably should have dropped by before our kayaking trip. The center has excellent displays describing the flora and fauna of the Channel Islands. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly.

The movie, and displays were very interesting and informative. The staff (in particular the older gentleman who is a volunteer there) did a good job answering our questions and giving us additional information. There's a nice view from their tower and the surrounding area is a nice place to picnic or relax.

I've been to several other National parks, all larger and what I'll call more well known (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Smokie Mountain, etc.). This is definitely not in that category. Where I felt I cold spend days in those other visitor centers, this one you can see everything there is to see in 45 min to an hour, and that is if you really dive deep. It's nice and well maintained. I guess I just expected to to be bigger.

Visit the center and make sure to see the film. It gives an excellent background perspective to the area, the Channel Islands, and the native people.

We arrived early for our ferry so we walked over to the free visitor center. Lovely, clear presentations about the Channel islands and beautiful tidepool. Takes about 30-40 minutes for a quick walk through.

Great place to stop before you travel to the islands. Lots of information about the islands and great Maps. Beautiful views from the top.

I'm always amazed by the quality of the the CI National Park Visitor Center. It's informative, interesting and fun. Interesting displays and knowledgable docents. Be sure to catch the beautiful view from the observation tower.

This is a nice visitor center. My friend and I met up here to go on a Channel Islands tour, and people were so helpful and friendly! They have a great little shop for souvenirs or just for things you may have forgotten.

The security guard we asked for help with directions was pleasant and helpful, and answered all our questions.

This is a nice visitor’s center with a small aquarium and Information about the Channel Islands. There is a 25’ video that does a nice job explaining the Islands.

This is the best way to experience everything you want to know about the amazing Channel Islands and their history. The hands on tide pool and the videos in their theater are an amazing experience. I live here and visit it often. I never fail to bring my visitors to see it.

We were fortunate to call in the day before our boat trip to Santa Cruz, expecting to pick up a few leaflets, but this modern centre offers much more. A chat with the young ranger was helpful, the exhibits about the history and wildlife of the islands were informative and well-presented. The optional 15 minute film of the islands was for us a "must see", the viewing platform accessed either by stairs or an elevator was well thought out, but the highlight for me was the small aquarium with fish and other creatures from the marine conservation area. All this for free (but donations are welcome). Well done National Park Service!

The center has enough detail to hold an adult's interest and enough models and interactive to hold a child's attention. The ranger gave a very insightful presentation at their tidal pool, try to attend one. (Yes, indoors they have a small tidal pool!)
When you are at such a beautiful location as Ventura, you probably don't want to spend your visit indoors - no worry, it will take less than an hour to visit the center for most of us. Even if you are not going to the islands, you will enjoy the center.
It is donation only, so you have nothing to loose for going. If you don't like it, leave in 10 minutes - but I know you'll stay. Be sure to walk up for the ocean views.

We took the free shuttle bus from Downtown and explored the visitors centre; there is plenty to see inside and outside and the climb up the observation tower is interesting and informative. Once you are at the top, there are great views and it's a great location for taking photos.

My family stopped here and we enjoyed watching the informational video about the Channel Islands. The rangers were very friendly answering questions we had. There is a small little replica of a tidepool inside which the kids enjoyed. Outside, take in beautiful views and learn about the native plants in the area.

We haven't been to this National Park, but this visit made us interested in going. The film was excellent and gave good information.

After spending one night in Ventura, I wanted to stop at this Visitor Center, planning to pick up a few brochures on local attractions. Visiting this modern facility located between the marina and the sand was very enjoyable. A docent immediately greeted us and informed us of the movie in the theater that he would start whenever we were ready. Did that first and this is not to be missed! Spectacular scenery and narration.
The exhibits are well maintained, informative, and great for children.
Friendly, helpful staff. Highly recommend!

Informative, easy access. Great educational material and hands on for children and adults. A definite stop for all. Gift shop has several great items to take home to remember your trip to Ventura.

We stopped at the visitor center after our trip to Anacapa Island. It was the perfect place to stop to find out a lot about the other islands, even for people who don't go out to the islands. Ranger Bonnie was super sweet and took the time to really go through the Junior Ranger book with my daughter. Thank you!! All the other staff (volunteers and rangers) were great too!

We enjoyed the visitor's center and spent about 1 hour there. The 25 minute film is very good and easily kept my 10 year old son attention. The Rangers were helpful and eager to share information with our boys. Don't miss the tower with telescopes to view the islands.

Parking is free.

i liked the hands on exhibits. see and feel the pelican skull with it's long beak. Great view from the tower. nice to learn of the fantastic archipelago that exists right off shore.

While this is a hard to locate, all the way to the end or the harbour, it is well worth the effort to locate.
There a lots of books and travel stuff along with an abundance of information on the Channel Islands and their reserve.
There i s a small but well stocked ocean exhibit that lets the kids touch the fish. The docents are well versed and very knowledgeable of the local area and the fishes that inhabit it.
There is also a small theater where they run short movies about the local islands and their inhabitants.
I highly recommend this for families and adults alike.
I lived on my sail boat in Ventura Harbor for 12 years and visited the center many times and always loved it.

We were in the area for a one week program. One of our stops was the visitors center. They have a lot of information on the area and plenty of parking. It was very helpful to spend some time in the center before going out to the islands. The move was also very worthwhile and you should take the time to see it!

Take 30-45 minutes to stop by the visitor center before you hopefully are able to take a boat to one of the islands of the national park. There is a good 15 minute introductory film about the islands that make up the park and there is a fish tank exhibit, with fish, starfish, lobster... the ranger there on the day I was there was very knowledgeable, friendly and upbeat. If you're there at feeding time, you can help feed the fish.

Cool to learn about the islands. So much history there and started from scratch. Watch the movie for an overview, check out the Jr Ranger program and small aquarium for the kids. Right across the street from the beach. We never made it to the islands but felt like we got a good feel from this station

This is the perfect place to stop before you head out to the Channel Islands to learn more about what many refer to as "North America's Galapagos"! The Channel Islands are an example of biogeography -- what happens to plants and animals that find themselves many miles away from land? Displays show the adorable tiny Island Fox as well as other plant and animal species as a way of introduction. Whether you are traveling out to the Islands or just visiting Ventura County, this is a great place to go for 15 minutes or over an hour if you stay and watch the film -- or even longer if you bring a picnic -- there's tables. While the Visitor Center is small, it has a good bookstore. Be sure to take the short nature trail that is peaceful, scenic, and educational. I often bring my students there to explore and write.

The visitor's center is your typical visitor's center. However, the view across the street of the beach is amazing. On a clear day, I'm sure you can see the Channel Islands. Even if it's not clear, the beach is amazing.

We visited the visitor center on the day before the boat trip to Santa Cruz Island. It was a sunny day, and we were able to see the Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands from the visitor center. Our kids also enjoyed the junior ranger program, exploring the garden.

The Park itself - focus on travel to islands enough. Not enough at Visitor center to merit stopping to understand the islands.

We didn't have time to visit the Channel Islands National Park, and this Visitor Center was the next best thing. When you visit, be sure to watch the informative and interesting video about the islands narrated by Kevin Costner. We enjoyed talking with the volunteers and rangers at the center and they were very helpful and friendly. There is a garden outside with vegetation that you would see on the islands. The center provided lots of exhibits, history and information as well as souvenirs to take home. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. You can also stamp your National Park Passport there too!

Celebrating our 10 yr-old g'daughter's BD at the beach - this place was a "must go" and one of the true highlights for the kids (big and small)! We had been there before but 1st visit for the rest of the group (5 adults, 7 kids). Everyone LOVED it, especially the incredible "journey" up the educational stairway that takes you from deep in the ocean to the surface of the sea. So incredibly well done, HIGHLY recommend!

We learned so much about the Channel Islands at this National Park including its history, original inhabitants, vegetation, and animals. It was interesting to discover how many animals are only found on the Channel Islands, including a specific fox species. The film was very informative and should not be skipped when visiting the center. The exhibits were great, but the film was outstanding. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Our own Galapagos, each one different. Lots of wildlife, great boat trip looking for whales and dolphins on the way to the islands.

The channel islands themselves are one of California's absolute gems. They do take at least an entire day to visit (more if you are going anywhere but Anacapa or the east end of Santa Cruz. I personally really like this visitor center, but it is pretty low key and Hokey. You might get there on a day with good employees, or with lazy, grumpy government types. They used to show a dated video that was kind of dramatically over the top. Still, if you are in the harbor area and have extra time, walk along the harbor front down to the visitor center and have a look. Better yet, take a day and a boat ride with Island Packers and go the the islands yourself!

My wife and I stopped here prior to spending three days on the islands. The visitor's center includes maps and information about each island as well as exhibits about the wildlife and ecology of the marine sanctuary. There is also an observation tower with views of the beaches and ocean. This was one of the coolest NPS visitor's centers that we've been to. I like to read every single map and sign and we were here for two or three hours, permit more or less time depending on what you'd like to do here.

The only reason this is a four dot review is because we received conflicting information from staff about water availability on Anacapa and Santa Rosa islands, which was frustrating as we prepared for our day trips to the islands. We packed in all the water we needed and survived but it made for a less than reassuring experience at the visitor's center.

Liked the walk up to the tower that already educates you about the ecology of the Channel Islands before viewing them from the tower.

Go visit this small center showing a variety of live sealife in an ocean environment. Good place to get an overview of the islands.

Its a little confusing trying to find this visitor center, its not in the Channel Islands harbor in Oxnard, instead its in Ventura's harbor at the end of Spinnaker drive. There is lots of things to do here, and when you are done you can walk across the street and visit the beach. Here you can also see the sand dunes which are covered with native plants. Also, its close to restaurants and other activities in the Ventura Harbor.

I was very surprised too see this place, it has a thereatre, very helpful staff, clean. Very close to boats to get to the Channel Islands

Yahh, I made it to the Channel Island National Park in California! First off Ventura is a absolutely gorgeous chill area. We are fresh off a international journey so I had spend a few days in my home state before headed back to SC.

Channel Islands is known as the Galapagos of the USA. The visitor center is educational, has a rooftop, theater, gift shop, and very clean bathroom. The guides inside were very helpful and very attentive about answering questions. There is a pier close by and a beach across the street with parking. We saw alot happy travelers enjoyed the Cally sun! You can't take tours from here, another company handles guided tours thru to the different islands. We visited the beaches only, I will take a tour next time for sure. Do your own research if you want daytrips to avoid disappointments.

Make sure you start your trip here, for info. The park has different sections also, we are off to see the sea lions and hang out at the beach.

Enjoy!
@glampedlife

Great place to take the family. Be sure to walk through the native plant garden, located just outside the Visitor's Center.

We were able to get a great deal of information prior to boarding the ferry over to the islands. I recommend stopping by.

The visitors center is very easy to get to. It's small but the kids enjoyed the gift shop/info center for a good 15-20 minutes. That's about how long it took to see the ocean exhibit with a fun little variety of sea life. There were informational videos about the islands. The upstairs observation look out was nice as it pointed out which island was which. Back downstairs in the entrance area are maps and informatics about each island. There's a very small plant life walk through that includes some local tin animal art.
I probably won't go out of my way to come again but it was something educational to see after the super fun boat ride we took earlier that morning.
Side note: sea lions are always hanging out in the Channel Islands harbor a few miles away.

Good to come here before your boat ride out to Channel Islands. We came at 4PM before they close at 5:00. Just enough time to watch the movie in the auditorium and walk up on viewing platform to the islands off in the distance.

We stopped here to stamp our passport book. We originally went kayaking out at the islands in August and had since purchased our passport book. I'm glad we went back. There is an aquarium in the center of the bldg. I could sit there for hours watching the fish. There is also a lookout tower that you can see the islands from on a clear day. Very informative.

PS Also has a small nature trail that you can walk on.

The visitor center is easy to get to with a large free parking lot across the street. The Rangers were very gung-ho about the Islands and provided a lot of information. There is a movie that is well worth watching that gives a good overview on the islands and the flora and fauna that inhabit them. A lot of the exhibits are geared toward kids but we found them interesting. The view from the top of the tower is worth a trip and it is free.

Loved the introduction to Channel Islands. Has a small hands on miniature pool of the plants and fish. Can feed with ranger. A movie is available and a topographic map helped us to be om3 familia4 before taking a boat ride out to Anacapa.

Our group of 24 totally enjoyed the visitors center, the park film and got to participate in the 'live' underwater tour of Anacapa Island. That was very impressive, educational and fun. I highly recommend it either from the island or the visitors center. Be sure to make arrangements with the staff at the center before you go for the virtual tour.

This is a small visitor center. They have a gift shop, stamp station, and some hands on displays for kids. There is an interesting model of the islands.

We visited this visitor center to get an overview of the Channel Islands Nation Park. We love national parks and were not able to actually go to the islands on this trip because of the weather.

The movie was very good and I really liked the aquarium within the center.

Even if you don't make it out to the Channel Islands, this visitor center is a must see. The exterior gardens and inside and outside displays are great, especially the fish tank and the pygmy mammoth display. Don't miss the movie! Everything is very well done, and the location on the marina/ocean offers other chances for enjoyable activities as well. Island Packers, the concessionaire for island visits, is just 1/2 mile away on the same road.

Nice Interesting and educational Center, there are touch pools inside, dioramas of the islands, an observation tower and movie presentation.

They have a small shop and exhibits about the plants and animals that inhabit the Channel Islands. The volunteer told us lots of interesting things and they sell videos, books, bookmarks and magnets. Although I have not taken a tour of the Channel Islands, I have seen Huell Houser's video that he did for California's Gold. Whether you are a visitor to California or live here, watch his videos on public t.v. and you will get informed and be inspired to see everywhere he visited.

The ocean is right across the street and there were only a couple of people on the beach. Parking was free on the street.

This center/museum is the best way to find out about the Channel Islands. The 3D models of the islands and their proximity to each other shows what lies across the channel. The video of the history and biology of the islands is wonderful. The museum has fossils and an indoor tide pool. Well worth a visit to discover this National Park.

Dropped by here the last time we had Pirate Day in Ventura Harbor. Not only do they have neat little tanks with local wildlife, but after a short walk, you can take a peek out of the tower window of the harbor and environs. Great place for the kids and there's plenty of free parking.

Can't make it to the Channel Islands? The next best thing is a visit to the Visitor Center on the mainland.

Right outside the center is the Island Garden. It is small but is beautifully landscaped with native plants found on the islands. There is an adorable art installation of PVC sculptures of island species of birds, reptiles and mammals. My favorite was the head of a pygmy elephant, the skeleton of which was found on one of the islands. This little garden beats the Ventura Botanical Garden for diversity of plants and signage.

The displays at the center are informative and interesting. Go through the "Deep Sea" door up the staircase to an overlook. Telescopes are set up for viewing the islands. Inside the center's building is a small tide pool with living fish, starfish, anemones and even a lobster. Stand next to a life-size model of an elephant seal to get an idea of how massive they are.

Make sure to watch the movie which runs every hour on the hour.

There is free parking in a lot right beyond the turnaround by the center. There is no handicap parking adjacent to the center.

There are several things packed into this small Visitor Center. The main/first floor has exhibits, many are “hands on”, and information about the Channel Islands. There is also a good video with an overview, a small gift shop and information desk with friendly staff on the first floor. On the third floor there is a viewing area, complete with telescope, which overlooks two sides of the Visitor Center. (Stairs and elevator available up to the third floor.) Outside there is a nice deck with seating on the marina side and a small, but interesting, botanical garden with native plants labeled. They also had a few of their native plants available to purchase.

As previously said, there is a great tide pool in the lobby. It has abalone, lobster, garibaldi and other fish. The movie, displays and Pygmy Mammoth are all interesting and worth the time spent. The observation tower can be reached by stairs and elevator. The wind was very strong at the top of the tower, so we did not stay long. Pictures in the stairway are hard to make out as they have become quite faded.

Call the center to find out what time the ranger will be speaking and FEEDING the fish in the main exhibit tank! Enjoy the movie, static exhibits, and knowledgeable staff. Even if you can't take a boat out to the actual park, enjoy the center and walk along the harbor and enjoy the view. See harbor seals playing around the sailboats.

The visitors centers is located in the harbor area. Before entering walk the path outside to check out the native plants with labels. Look for the animals(art). As you enter there are the Topographical displays of the Channel Islands National Park. There are 8 islands but only 5 are registered National Park. above the topographic island display are hanging narratives of what animals plants are native to the specific island. Ask to watch the movie which is 25 minutes of incredible information. elevator was not operational so if you cant climb the three flights of stairs to the observation platform your will miss the view of the channel islands. Call if you need the elevator before going. A small gift shop with a small tidepool of fish, gigantic starfish and other sea life. There was a great PBS program West of the West about the Channel Islands and they sell it in the gift store, pick up a copy of this amazing history. After Shop the boutiques across the parking lot, eat lunch and there is a small beach inlet that people where using to go sea kayaking, and swimming so you could make a full day there. Loved the quick visit. FREE. Plan on 1 hour or less.for the visitors center.

Took my 6 and 8 year old. They were amazed to learn what is just off our coastal waters. The rangers were very helpful & informative and more than happy to answer every questions we had.

Channel Islands National Park headquarters with a great tide pool exhibit and film about the Islands. Most visitors do not make it to the offshore islands and this facity does a good job of exposing visitors to the wonders of the Channel Islands.

Before your trip to the Channel Islands you may want to stop at the Visitor Center in Ventura Harbor. The staff was friendly and the center featured small exhibits, but a lot of brochures to enhance your visit to the Islands. Be sure to check out the views from the top, on a clear day you can see forever.

Have been visiting Ventura for such a long time, and absolutely love coming to the Harbor/Marina, but this was the first time that we have visited the visitor's center. Such an interesting and informative center with so many great displays and even live video feeds of an underwater algae field and a bald eagle's nest. The theatre and video presentation are top notch, and is narrated by Kevin Costner. There is a cool tide pool display as well. Visit the 2nd deck, you can look at an almost 360 degree view of the marina and utilize the viewfinders to look around. the State of California did a great job with this one!

This visitor center has a film, nice rangers, a good though small exhibit for both kids and adults, an observation tower, and fun ranger-led talks! We could not take the boat tour of the islands, so the visitor center was the next best thing. Small but good. If you're in the area, it's a must-see.

The visitor center isn't big but it is very informative about the Channel Islands located off the coast.of Ventura Harbor, California. There are exhibits of many of the island animals, including a very small fox that is native to the islands. Several exhibits explains the history and wildlife on the islands. A small glass tide pool sits in the middle of the floor with some starfish and a dark cave with a lobster.

In the large outside lobby are replicas of the islands. Also outside is a native plants exhibit so you can get an idea of the interesting plants that inhabit the channel islands. Upstairs is an observation deck that one can even see the islands when the weather is clear.

Do your homework before you visit the Channel Islands. The Visitor Center is on the mainland. If you just visit the islands - you'll miss the visitor center. If you have a passport to stamp - you need to find the visitor center. It is very nice and the sign for the park is right outside the visitor center. Nice displays and items for sale. Definitely worth the time.

I've lived in Oxnard for years, and yet had never visited Channel Islands National Park. The display is super small, you don't need much time here. However, do stay for the movie...and as our guide told us, you WILL want to visit the Channel Islands. The movie is first class, very educational and entertaining at the same time.

This is a great place to learn about the Channel Islands National Park. The exhibits are few but very well done. The gift shop is well stocked even though it is small. Don't miss taking the elevator to the top and walking down the stairs to see the view, read the wall signs and hear the ocean sounds. The film is well worth seeing also.

Small, but helpful. Wish it was located near where the boats to the island departed. Or perhaps, the boats need to be located closer to the Visitors Center. In taking the early boat out and the later boat back from the island, we missed the opening hours of the center and had to make an extra stop the next day.

Nice visitors center with a botanical garden labeling the plants indigenous to the islands. There is a topographical model of each island and a nice tide pool aquarium with some amazing starfish. The movie gave me some insight into the things to do in the islands.

We stopped in and were greeted by ranger Bethany. She was very informative, very helpful and took the time to explain everything to the grandkids. She took the time to explain the different fish in their tank and how they ate and lived. Then she suggested the Channel Islands movie, which was very informative. I give ranger Bethany an A+.

The Channel Islands are, after all, islands, and one might guess that the visitor center for the corresponding national park would be on one of them, but the visitor center is ashore and does not require a boat trip to visit.

The visitor center features a really interesting film about the history of the Channel Islands, not to be missed on a visit here. The exhibits are a bit skimpy, though the staff is more than willing to fill you in if you have questions, and the views of the ocean (and some of the nearer Channel Islands) from the upper observation deck are exquisite (except in the very late afternoon when the sun is shining, when the glare overwhelms the view).

WARNING: The Island fox, a species that exists only on the Channel Islands, is cuter than you can imagine, and piles of plush dolls of island foxes can be found in the visitor center. If you bring a small child to this place, be prepared to leave with one of these cute toys in her or his grasp.

The facility gives a good overview of the Channel Islands but more information would be useful. Exhibits are designed for families so it is a good facility for families to visit. I noticed some children were really enjoying the "hands-on" displays.

I would have liked to see more details on the ecology of the islands.

Staff was friendly and willing to answer my questions.

The viewing area was nice.

Stopped here on our way home and we are glad we took the time. Great place gives you a lot of information and history of the Channel Islands. Has some nice exhibits and a cool little aquarium. Definitely go up the tower and check out the terrific view.

This was very nice visitor center compared to the dozens we have visited at National Parks and Monuments around the country. It includes an informative film, some nice exhibits and interactive exercises. The rangers were very friendly and involved. We have thought about visiting the Islands but after this visit, we are now making plans. I recommend taking the time to check it out.

What can I say? It was closed. We would have liked to have gone up into the observation tower to see the view, but it was closed. Instead, we walked across the street to the beach and watched the sail boats come into the harbor. Harbor seals frolic around the boats in the marina so watch for those.

I was so happy to get answers to all my questions. They had exhibits of the island foxes and the island scrub Jay. The volunteers were more than happy to answer my questions. The exhibits are fantastic.

When they say they close at five it’s not possible to get there from the boat to the visitor center before they are locked and gone at five. I still looked around the building even though it was closed up and there are some great views of the harbor and some displays. If you are taking the boat out to the islands for a day trip there’s no way to see the visitor center on the same day.

Compact, yet thorough, visitor center covering the CI National Park. Excellent diorama of land creatures at the park, and an aquarium display of live fish and other underwater creatures found there. Helpful Park guides, and a tower allowing you to see the Islands at a (great) distance. Only shortfall is that the Visitor Center is not in the National Park--the islands are between 12 and 60 miles offshore!

We stopped in after a wildlife cruise to the Channel Islands and the visitor center had great topographical maps and displays that helped clarify for us the area we had just seen. There is also a movie that is informative about the history of the islands. There are stairs (elevator was broken) to a lookout on the top of the building. We opted out of climbing the stairs but it looked like it would be a nice view of the area.

Small visitor center for the Channel Islands. Offers information on travel to the islands. Nice touch displays for kids. Viewing platform above and al fresco dining at next door café. Free beach parking. The beach across from the center is moderately protected so good for families with smallish kids.

Well worth the visit. I was surprised as I’ve been to Ventura many times. Good displays and nice viewing area on top

If you want a great time and learn the history of this gorgeous area come and enjoy! Kids have so much fun here! I come here a lot and I find it so relaxing and interesting! All of my out of town visitors are brought here and everyone loves it!

This is a wonderful place to visit prior to your trip to the islands. We learned a lot about the Channel Islands. The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable. They told us about a 25 minute movie and said they would start it for us. Excellent movie. Thank you

The Visitor Center is small, informative and fun. The displays are interesting and there is a new viewing tower with immersive facts about the ocean levels.

Located on 5 islands at the end of the continent, the park itself is isolated and protective. The water is pristine and the land is recovering. It is a special treat to spend a day hiking in one of America's least visited National Parks.

We made a stop at the visitor center after our morning wildlife-watching cruise to the Channel Islands with Island Packers. It's located within walking distance of their dock. The visitor center building is attractive, but small for the number of people who were trying to access it on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Exhibits about the islands, wildlife, and fossils found in the area share a space with the gift shop, and it was quite crowded. Rangers are available to answer questions and help plan your visit to the islands. A theater shows an interesting video about the island ecosystem that lasts 20-30 minutes. An observation deck on top of the building provides panoramic views of the harbor, beach and channel, with Santa Barbara in the distance (elevator is provided). Outside there is a small garden of native plants with a nature trail (hard-packed dirt surface). Admission and parking are free. Wheelchair access is good. There are restaurants within walking distance at Harbor Village.

The Channel Island Nat'l Pk Visitor Center is a great place to start a visit to the National Park. Small but well done exhibits. Nice little bookstore. Rangers and volunteers very helpful and knowledgeable not just about CINP, but also surrounding area natural history and attractions.

Like much of southern California, the Center needs a good cleaning, upgrading and an infusion of cash. The best way to experience the Channel Islands is to go there. Skip the Center, watch the boats and walk the beach (the seaward side is dog-friendly.)

We needed to go out of our way to visit this visitor's center as it is up in Ventura whereas our boat for the Wildlife Tour went out of Oxnard. It is a pretty nice place with a small gift shop and a film about the islands that was pretty good. There's also some "hands-on" stuff for the kiddies with some tide pool exhibits. After our trip out to the islands, this was sort of anticlimactic.

This is the small but well done main Isidore center for the Channel Islands national park. There are well done displays aimed at youngsters and a great garden of native plants. I wish we had gone there before landscaping our California home! Nice gift shop and info. There is a beach, but we did not explore it, opting for going to the Islands.

I always bring friends from out of town who want and intro to local sea life and to the local islands. Kids love it!

The visitor centre is a good introduction to the Channel Islands Park. The rangers and volunteers are pleasant and informative. Unfortunately, the film was broken on the day we visited.

We stopped here after leaving San Luis Obispo in the morning and traveling to LA. We got here right around lunch. It had an easy parking lot to get into where we made sandwiches and ate in the parking lot overlooking the ocean! There was a pretty large beach the kids could run around in. The visitor center was excellent. Nice little stop, not huge, but the kids enjoyed seeing some fish and turtles among other things, and there is a nice gift shop. It was a perfect place to stop for a quick break and see some beautiful scenery.

The movie explained the islands and what to expect if we visited them. In talking with the staff we were told where to go to view harbor seals and their pups. So great to get to see them and I saw a whale blowing. Makes my trip!

I unfortunately was not able to take the trip over to the Channel Islands, but feel almost like I was there because of the great visitor center on the mainland. The video shown there was spectacular and the live tidal pool was as good as at many aquariums I've seen. Part of my traveling party did go to a nature tour of the islands and believe it was time and money well spent.

Another excellent educational National Park Service Visitor Center. You will learn from the exhibits. Good for children and adults.

Great history of the Channel islands and area. Very interesting includes early inhabitants and the most recent ones too. Wild life displays are great for young people.

Decided to check out and really enjoyed it. Lots to see and learn. It is also near the seaport village area. Really good seafood in village. Would bring small children

Cool exhibit showing topo maps of the islands. Also of course the NPS stamp. Stamp or you didn't go there LOL.

My wife and i took a ride to Ventura while staying with family. It was a trip just for us. When we arrived, there were no trips available to the main Island of Santa Barbara only the Island of Anacapa the next morning since it was the 4th of July weekend. So we booked the tour and found ourselves a place for the night. It was my first trip to California so I made sure I watched a Pacific sunset before getting up at 5am for the trip.
We arrived at the harbor at 6am for a 7am departure. It was an hour boat ride out to the Island. As the main land faded away behind us it was open waters. Dolphins played along side the boat which was a site to see. Once on the island there were strict rules to follow concerning the wildlife there. Stay on the paths and do not get between the mother birds and their babies. The sounds of the seals are very loud as there voices echo through the caverns below. There is a small house and Lighthouse on the island. The house was used for the keeper and the work he needed to do to keep up the property, a very lonely place to be. The views are amazing. You can see those who paid to Kayak the shore lines and most likely paid to camp on one of the larger islands. We took some breath taking pictures of the islands to the north and the clouds that formed around them. If you're not into blah landscapes this is not the trip for you. Seek the island of Santa Barbara for lush scapes and more wildlife. If you plan to camp it will be very rugged and the out houses are not the best. Enjoy your trip! we did!

This is a really fun visitor's center if you are in the area. It's at the very end of Spinnaker Drive near the Ventura Marina. They have a tide pool exhibit where they encourage young children to pick up starfish and other creatures. There is also an exhibit showing a half-excavated mammoth skeleton found on one of the Channel Islands. The exhibit is a cast of the real skeleton which is not on display. Outside they have a giant 3D model of the Channel Islands built to perfect scale. They also have a theater where they show a short film about the Channel Islands which is very informative. There is no admission charge for anything so drop on in!

Regardless of how acquainted you might be about the Park, the islands' history and the area, take the time to tour the Center and see as many of the four movies as you can. It is well worth the time spent.

Watch the free movie about botanicals and animal, sea, bird, etc. life that exists no where else! It's very informative and inspirational. The women working in the gift shop were super helpful and nice, too. Walk past the gift shop and there is more to see that educates the mind ~ not to mention there's air conditioning!

I have been visiting this place on and off since before 1991 and I think this is a very good place to take young children. I know that my daughter (who normally got bored with museums) enjoyed it in 2000 at the age of eight). I enjoy just going and renewing my knowledge of the area from when I use to live there in late 60's, 70's, and early 80's.

Not much to say about it except it is free, and while it is getting a bit yuppie on the environment stuff, it is still a nice place to visit (and there is an elevator for those stair challenged folks). Take part of the day and go see what the Channel Islands have that most of us concrete jungle folks do not see, except at a distance.

We visited the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center before and after our day trip to Santa Cruz island. It is a modern, thoughtfully designed visitor center. There are great views of the harbor from the lovely landscaped grounds. Inside you can watch an educational film and view exhibits. There is even a touch tank. The store has a selection of books and gift items for sale.There is a passport cancellation station for the Channel Island National Park

This is a great little visitor center for the Channel Islands. The hands on exhibits are terrific for kids of all ages and the view from the top of the center should be enjoyed. There was quite a bit of haze due to the Santa Barbara fire (unfortunately a way of life in California) but we could still faintly see the outline of at leas two of the islands. The film (like just about every National Park movie I've seen) is very well done and not to be missed. Great free entertainment.

We were short on time so an actual boat trip to the islands was not doable but we would love to come back during the spring to see the wildflowers. It was memorable also being at a National Park stop during the centennial week and always fun to add another stamp to my National Park Passport!

We missed our boat trip to the Channel Islands due to gale force winds, but enjoyed an hour at the Visitor's Center in Ventura.

My son participated in a Coastal Marine Biolab (CMB) program at Ventura Harbor and the final presentation was held at the Channel Island National Park Center. This was the perfect venue for the presentation. We were able to mingle with the other families and also enjoy the Park Center and learn more about the Channel Islands (where the students went SCUBA diving). The Rangers were friendly and very helpful. If you are in the area, this is a must visit to learn more about the ecology and history of the Channel Islands.

good info for the entire family, especially if you want to know about the local environment. spend around 1 hour there.

This is billed as the Visitor Center for the Channel Islands but all that is there are some topography maps and an interesting aquarium.

Our visit to the Channel Islands Vistor Center was a very satisfying educational experience. Located adjacent to the waterfront in Ventura, it offers a most scenic and beautiful sight, especially if one climbs two short stairs to the top level with a panoramic view. The building itself is small, but the exhibits are well laid-out and thoughtfully put together. The movie highlighting the history and geography of the Channel Islands was well made and informative. It is a place definitely well worth a visit.

Really enjoyed our stop here. Very informative people, great movie when helps to learn more about the islands. Really neat crows nest top of the center with great views of Ventura and the ocean.

Very nice tide pool exhibit with low glass viewing for small children. Well laid out display of native animals, birds, and sea life, with a wonderful life-sized elephant seal. Gift store has a expansive variety of nature-related children’s, teen, and adult books, natural history and reference books, and a range of affordable nature-related souvenirs. I have visited this delightful center on numerous occasions both with family and with my elementary school class.

Really good introduction to the California Channel islands. The staff at the visitor center were very helpful and knowledgeable. The videos will help you determine which island you might wish to visit and the tide pool was really interesting (spiny lobster and all!)

A very nice, small NPS visitor center that gives a good intro to the Channel Islands especially if you watch the 25 minute movie. The viewing platform from the 4th floor gives a great panoramic view of the surrounding area. The only issue was that on a busy holiday weekend parking was nearly impossible to find. Perhaps our next visit we will book a tour out to the islands.

This is a great was to see what Channel Islands NP has to offer. There are fantastic exhibits and films shown (for free). The national park service does not run ferry boats out to the islands. A private company called Island Packers takes care of this (805-642-1393). Call for reservations and fees.

This is a really nice visitor center that will be interesting for adults, but don't expect to keep younger children occupied here for long! Watch the movie - it's actually good. You won't spend much time here, but definitely get some good advice from the staff about the attractions in the area. If you are visiting Ventura Harbor, start your visit here.

This should likely be your starting point for any trip to Channel Islands. Note that is on the mainland and you will need to arrange transportation to the Islands separately.

When my grandkids came to visit me, this was the first place I took them to see. They got a hands on experience and I even learned something. And of course I thought I new just about eveyrthing,

I've been here more than once. It's always a bit dirty, forlorn, under-utilized and depressing. I don't recommend it.

The visitors center for the Channel Islands national park is in the Ventura Harbor. It has some good exhibits and an observation tower. This is where you sign up for the boat ride out to the island.

My husband & I are on a mission to visit every national park in the U.S. This visitors center is one of the best in the system! The movie, exhibits and a small tide pool are beautifully presented. The center makes wonderful use of every square inch of the facility. There is an outdoor viewing platform with panoramic views! Brown pelicans did flybys and a sea lion tried to sneak onto a nearby dock. We stopped by to acquaint ourselves with the park, before our cruise the following day. It only added to the excitement of cruising out to the islands!

Outstanding visitor center with hands on displays and a great theater presenting the history and wonders of all the Channel Islands. One of the best VCs I have visited. Live tank of unique species and a great town to view the islands on a clear day.

If you are new to the ocean or new to the national Park or if you have kids the visitor center is a must see they have touch pools great and knowledgeable Rangers and all in all just enjoyable experience

I have a very different take on the Lagomarsino Visitors Center than most reviewers. It seemed old, tired and worn out to me, and in major need of a thorough cleaning. Good intro to the islands however.

We stopped by here to gather info for a future excursion to the Channel Islands. The ranger was very informative of the many choices for getting to & enjoying the islands. The center itself has a very cool tidal pool in the lobby inhabited by various sea creatures, including several huge starfish & a pretty orange fish. Great for kids...of all ages. Go up to the top of the observation tower for a great view of the surrounding area. Then walk the beach at sunset for great snap shots.

Thoroughly enjoyed this outing. Seals in water next to center provided added entertainment. Nice water exhibit with living fish/animals. Small tower has interesting facts displayed as you climb stairs.

Great exhibits. Also a marvelous film of the Channel Islands that explains what it is like on each of the islands. Staff answers all your questions.

Small, but well equipped visitor center. Good movie---we were the only ones in the theater---they'll show the film on demand. Great way to orient yourself, and to see aspects of all the islands, even if you only have time to visit one island---like us.

A day that started with wind and rain turn out to be a fine shinny bright day, my Family and I stop at this very small but very informative visitor center that today were celebrating their 37th anniversary, we learn about the five Islands that form this magnificent national sanctuary, The Channel Islands often call the North American Galapagos.

We're definitely coming back and taking the boat to one or a few of the Islands next time.

If you can't make it to the islands the exhibits and 25 minute documentary are great, also friendly helpful volunteer staff.

You may hear this place referred to as a museum - it's not a museum. It's a visitor's center, and a pretty good one as those things go, but not nearly large enough or ambitious enough in its exhibits to be referred to as a museum. It's a great place to go before or even after a visit to the Channel Islands, or if you're thinking of visiting one of them. The informational film is very well done, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the exhibits are illuminating and fairly imaginative, if somewhat small. The garden is cute, but also pretty small.

I usually do not review the visitor centers for national parks, but this one was such a great resource for my park visit that I felt I should write something up.

I had a planned day trip to Anacapa Island that was changed to Santa Cruz due to weather. The staff at this visitor center and the 3-D maps were so very helpful in planning a new itinerary for my island visit.

The displays here are fantastic. Each island's best features are highlighted. There are examples of both the flora and fauna of the islands which help prepare you for a visit as well.

We stopped in here while walking around Ventura harbor. It's a super informative visitor center. There are exhibits about the biodiversity on each of the islands along with great specimens of the species that live within the park. They have a real tide pool where you can see some fish and other creatures. The movie on the islands was probably the highlight of the visit. We learned a lot about each of the islands. This inspired us to try to plan a trip out to one of the islands in the future.

Cool tip: they have a balcony at the top with some telescopes. Unfortunately, the day we went was a little cloudy. On a clear day, I bet you would get great views up there.

I took my grandchildren to the visitor center, and they enjoyed it very much. The movie is fabulous--terrific photography and very educational. My grandchildren range in age from 6 - 11, and they all were very engaged with the movie and the exhibits, including the stairway to the top viewing area. We were fortunate that one of the rangers gave a talk at the tide pool exhibit while we were there--we all learned a lot! Outside on the deck we viewed the rocks below, and saw all kinds of sea life including an octopus. This place is one of the spots that makes me proud to live in Ventura!

First, the view! Go to the observation deck where on a clear day you can see the islands and great views of the harbor and Ventura.

There is a not to be missed mini aquarium inside. It is full of lobster, starfish, crab, and beautiful fish. Be sure to watch the 25-minute movie which really gives you good information on the region.

This is a great stop with kids. First off it's free, the tidepool tank is great, the Rangers and volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable, you an watch a movie about the islands, and hang out in the harbor, then go across the road to the beach!

Great vidio of the Chanel island national park, about 30 minutes and runs continuous. Rangers will give you all the information you need to decide what Island you would like to visit, well worth the time to visit.

Very informative for all ages. They have a free short movie about the channel Islands that gives you some insight about the area. Also large tanks with sea animals you can touch. Lots of books, tapes, toys to buy, regarding the ocean and the Islands

We went to Santa Cruz island on one day and then on the next day we checked out the main Channel Islands Visitor Center in Ventura. We had to do this as the boat tours offered by Island Packers and the Visitor Center overlap and you the boat schedule does not work out so that you can do both in one day. We thought that was a little silly but we couldn’t help. We really wanted to check out the Visitor Center so we thought it was worth it to come back before we left Ventura.

I was pleasantly surprised by this Visitor Center. It is small, but there is a lot to see and learn. There is a giant topographic map of the islands (as all NPs seem to have). Thought it was cool how they did it all spread out. There is a tidepool inside with real sea creatures in it, there are animal models, an exhibit about mammoth history in the islands, a book store, a touching table, etc. There is a lot in there and we were there for at least an hour.

There is info about animals in the stairwell to the lookout tower and from the tower you can see a lot of Ventura and the Harbor. It’s really nice. Chilly (it was October), but nice. We had it to ourselves.

The lady park ranger in there was really chatty and nice. Talked to her for quite a while. Very helpful and kind to my toddler.

The only thing is that there was a school group there when we were there. They cancelled the C.I. educational videos because they were using the room (which was a little disappointing) and when the school group came into the Visitor Center they filled the small room and they were loud. It was a little overwhelming for my son (and me). But they were only there for like 15 minutes.

I was surprised by how much I liked this Visitor Center. It’s small but there was a lot of cool things to look at and learn about.

Who knew? 8 Islands from San Clemente in the south to San Miguel in the North in 3 counties. But go to the visitor center to see, hear and experience the islands as best you can without actually going there. See the tidal pool exhibit, watch a movie and then climb the tower for a great view of ocean and harbor. Take the family or go alone. Enjoy.

Interesting place, loved the movie. Got us ready for our trip to the channel islands. Lovely native plant garden so you know what to look for.

The Channel Islands Visitor Center was informative and nicely laid out. The staff and volunteers were very helpful. It was a nice way to learn more about the National Seashore. Oh, and it is free!

We started our day along the coast between Malibu and Ventura a little later than we had planned and actually stumbled onto this place. Ranger Bonnie was very helpful and informative. We got great ideas on how to plan for a visit to the islands on our next trip out west.

Very friendly and informative. Gave some great advice for our trip the next day to Santa Cruz Island.

Great to see the ocean from here. Stop by the outdoor gardens, walk along the ocean, tuck into the theater to see more about the islands. A great two-story observatory to see the islands on a clear day. The visitors center/shop is nice and educational too. Nice place to go if you want to see the ocean without spending a day at the beach or trekking through sand. There are some local restaurants and shops but most got bad reviews so we headed into town to Lure Fish House - see positive review for there!

Very interesting and beautiful garden.
Church itself is historic and peaceful. Loved the architecture. My seven year old also enjoyed the visit.

The visitors center was a pleasant surprise! It was unassuming on the outside.
We discovered a nice tidal pond inside filled with native fish, lobsters, and plants. The volunteer happened to feed the animals during our visit. There is a three story exhibit displaying different ocean levels and the plants and animals which live at these depths. Prior to leaving, we watched a 25 minute film covering all five islands. There are other shorter films focused on particular islands we did not watch.
Outside is an extensive garden with plants which grow on the islands.

The film, the ranger talks, and all the signs about the islands will make your trip to one of The Channel Island a much richer experience. You can learn about the geology, the flora, fauna, history of the Chumash (Native Americans), history of ranching, and so much more before you actually visit the islands first hand. There are hands-on experiences for the children.

The climb to the top of the observation deck on the 1st floor is well worth the effort, especially on a clear day when you can actually see something through the telescopes. Sometimes the fog obstructs the view.

The visitor's center is located at the Ventura Marina so it is easy to access. After your visit, there are a number of restaurants for a nice lunch within walking distance.

The city of Ventura offers a free trolley from various hotels out to the marina. Check with your hotel for a schedule.

This is a great place to get an introduction to Channel Islands National Park. Be sure to view the film. It is beautifully presented and helped us get a better grasp of the extent of the history of the islands and the people and wildlife who have lived there. The visitor center includes a small tidal pool where a ranger presents a great program. Kids got to participate in feeding the fish, which was fun. There are also sea life artifacts for hands-on exploration. The staff was knowledgeable and very helpful.

A small but informative visitor center. Staff is great with recommendations and information on all the islands. There is a movie you can watch about the islands. What's great is you just walk across the parking lot and you're at the beach!!! There are also restaurants, shopping and you can take a stroll around the channel and look at boats.

OK I volunteer here in the native garden outside the building so I am prejudiced. The garden is incredible in the Spring when the Giant Coreopsis are in bloom. We work hard to keep the garden looking natural. You get a preview of plants that are endemic to the islands, and we do propagate seeds from the island plants for the garden and replacements on islands. The plants may look "dead" in the summer but like the plants on the island, they are just awaiting the winter rains to make them break dormancy. (since we have no rain lately, we do cheat and water so newly planted babies can survive)

Inside there is a nice exhibit of islands and animals found there. A very small aquarium delights children. Be sure to watch the movie narrated by Kevin Costner - it shows the islands at their best, as well as, the underwater part of the park. Climb up the tower and on a clear day you can see the islands.

Great location and lots of great information on display for adults and children. The live tide pool aquarium inside is awesome. Also the gift shop sells good merchandise. Parking can be tight when crowded, but it's worth it.

This visitor center is compact and may provide you a full info about if and when and how to visit or what to expect upon taking a boat ride and hiking one of islands. We received full knowledgable answers to all inquiries.

A clean and informative center. It offers a short movie of the waters around the Channel Islands, large replicas of the islands, museum with literature for sale, an aquarium with typical fish, and a historic display of island animal life past and present. The volunteer staffers are knowledgeable and friendly. Great two story lookout over the harbor and ocean. Great for families,

Don't miss the gardens beginning in February. Bright blooms on island coreopsis, lupines and ceanothus identified by signs and in a walking guide, add to the informative displays on the islands. Inside the center is an interesting tidepool display. The bookstore is well stocked with trail guides, local history and plant guides, and the staff is always informative and helpful. On a clear day, you can see the Channel Islands from the viewing tower. There's also a great view of the Ventura area and harbor with the occasional sea lion sighting, and your visit is free.

My husband and I were in town and didn't have time to visit the actual Channel Islands, so we stopped by the Visitor's Center to learn more about them. The center was very easy to find. It had educational displays. We stayed for the tidal pool fish feeding. The park ranger who conducted the feeding was super friendly and did a good job of engaging the kids in the audience. Her story about why she became a park ranger was also very nice to hear and I'm so thankful she shared it with us.

We also watched a video about the Channel Islands. It was very informative and very well done. It made me want to visit the islands.

GREAT visitors center! SUPER easy to get here from Hwy. 1.
We had visited all of California's incredible National Parks except Channel Islands. And we still didn't get out to the Islands themselves, but now, after exploring this visitors center, watching the FANTASTIC movie shown in a really spectacular theater, we felt that we understood the reason for the protection of the Islands.
We understood the importance of the Park.
We came to the visitors center, learned about the Channel Islands,
Learned about the animals who call them home.
Gave money to the cause to help protect them.
We left feeling like we had done everything needed to experience the Channel Islands.
For me, I don't need to set foot on the Islands to love this park.
All I needed was to understand why.
Its not for me.
Its for me to protect.

I live locally. My niece LOVES to go to the "harbor" which is the Visitor Center, which includes two animals that are not live (the dolphin and seal) that she likes to sit on and likes to climb outside the Visitor Center. She also likes the exhibit inside the gift shop.

Junior ranger program. Hands on tide pool. Great 3d graphics. Small but very fun center for everyone including young children

great information and a must if going to channel islands. Island Packers great choice to use. Very informative.

Amazing Visitor Center! The best Park film we had ever seen! Volunteers Carol and Larry were friendly and helpful, Volunteers make all the difference! We enjoyed the garden and the tower that overlooks the ocean. We bought all kinds of souvenirs!

From an indoor water tide pool to an tall outlook over the Channel Islands, Ventura Harbor and beaches, this is a great place to visit. There are two movies that are helicopter views of the islands along with narration by Kevin Costner (who I heard is from Ventura). Outside there is a nature area with plants from the islands identified by placards - even poison oak.

This is cool little visitor center but no a wholel ot to do. Really only need about 45 minutes to go throught it at the most. But it is free, it is right on the beach at the harbor, I love to take people to visit when they come from out of town just to share a little about the Channel Islands and the wildlife that lives there.

The perfect introduction to the islands before a boat trip to visit them. The film is a must seem, along with the native ( to the islands) plant garden just by the entrance.

Nice visitors center and very helpful employees and volunteers. Great observation tower with telescopes. Parking is easy right across the street and so is the beach. Our granddaughter spent several hours building a sand castle and playing in the ocean. Also, this is all FREE!

The Center is beautifully designed and very educational. Wonderful views from the tower of the harbor and the ocean. The displays a well thought out and visitor friendly. The staff is well trained and engaging.

They have a wonderful history film they show about the islands. Great for adults and children. Lots of information about our islands and the animals and fish that are located here. Spend a little or a lot of your time, lots of good views and plants.

After visiting Santa Cruz Island on a day trip, this was the perfect place to deepen our knowledge of the Channel Islands. It's on the small side, but well kept up with very friendly staff. Worth a visit!

If you have young children and you want an awesome place to take them to learn about nature and particularly the Channel Islands, take them to the National Park Service's Visitor Center located in Ventura Harbor. Go to the end of the Harbor entrance road, just past the Island Packers where you board boats for a trip out to the Islands. Parking is free at the beach lot on your left. This spot at the end of the road gives you perhaps one of the best views in Ventura County. Looking West is a terrific view of Ventura and its local mountains. Looking South is a view of the ocean and the Channel Islands on a clear day. And of course the harbor itself is beautiful.

Now about the Visitor Center. It is specifically set up for young children but is also interesting for adults. There is a small aquarium where the kids can get a good look at local fish, shells and underwater plants. There are several interactive displays that teach about the islands' history and the recent attempts at preservation & restoration. There are also some hands on displays that will keep the young ones amused and interested. Don't miss a climb to the 3rd floor observation tower, a good place to capture the views I spoke about. There is also a 25 minute film about the Islands and the Park Service's activities. It is in HD and it is great. Occasionally they will broadcast, real time, the researchers during their actual dives off the Islands.

Now here is the best part for the little ones. The Park Service has a Junior Ranger program. They will give your child a workbook for them to fill out as they explore the visitor center. It takes them through most of the exhibits and helps them learn about what they are seeing. After they complete their assignments (we spread this out over three visits for our 4-year old grandson) they interview a ranger, get their workbook checked and receive their Junior Ranger badge. It is a very worthwhile children's activity and interesting for the parents as well.

On the way out of the center don't miss the small but interesting native plant garden in front of the center. Also, if you want to make a full day of your visit to the harbor, you can spend several hours at the beach right across from the Visitor Center. It has one of the best protected beaches for young children just to the right of the jetty. On the left side of the jetty the beach is open to the full force of the waves, so everyone can be happy here. After swimming you can treat the family to some shopping in the harbor's unique shops and then get some dinner at one of the local restaurants. My favorite is Brophy Brothers. They have a great happy hour during the week from 4-7 PM.

So don't miss a day out at Ventura Harbor!

Surprisingly isolated just 15 miles (24k) off the coast of densely populated Southern California and having never been attached to the mainland, the Channel Islands are full of flora and fauna, much endemic having evolved in isolation, leading to their nickname of the American Galapagos.

While there is no substitute for a visit to one of the islands or a wildlife cruise of the surrounding waters (both offered by Island Packers), the National Park’s visitor center does a very good job of providing an introduction and a flavor of the islands with the excellent park film, gardens with typical flora, a large aquarium, an observation tower from which one can see the islands in the distance, and a number of other exhibits with helpful rangers and volunteers available to help and answer any questions.

As with all Channel Islands National Park facilities, there is no entrance charge but note that the visitor center is a very popular destination for school field trips so one many need to wait for the movie or other activity a short time if visited during a school day.

A great visitor center,
. See the movie to get a feel for the islands. Climb the tower for the view but also for all the information along the way. By all means spend time at the tidal pool. The Rangers will be happy to tell you about its inhabitants. I loved the garden outside with plants from the islands and information about their practical uses.

This visitor's center is a good introduction to the Channel islands national park. Stop here for a short movie on NP's history and efforts to restore the land and give wildlife their home back.

They also have a small park build to showcase the island plants and have a beautiful aquarium displaying the thriving marine life.

The 20 minute video about the islands was excellent, gave us a good overview before our trip out there. The exhibits were probably more interesting for younger folks, and the garrulous volunteer latched onto us until the next party arrived, preventing us from taking our time and focusing on the exhibit material.
Very well designed, clean, good rest rooms.

Center has a tide pool display with live plants and animals and a nice display of information about the Channel Islands and the local area. Not huge, but big enought to interest the children. They do offer short films to watch and of course, some souvenirs are available. Worth the stop.

We enjoyed this visitor center and outdoor plant sale. The volunteers and rangers were very helpful. The selection in the store was outstanding, something for everyone. We stayed and watched the movie which was informative and beautiful. The touch tank and ranger talk were also well done. Be sure to visit this center on your trip to the Channel Islands.

They have models of the islands with descriptions, as well as a 25 minute movie, so you know before you go. The pristine beauty of the islands and the coastal inhabitants are true gems.
The park personnel at the desk were very informative and helpful. Also , there were lots of brochures listing boat service and times, flights, etc.

This was a wonderfully designed visitor center. Star with the movie in teh movie theater. Then explore the topographies of the islands. In the main area, there is a small aquarium and set up of the marine life on the islands. The book selection is outstanding, and I had wonderful dialogues about the islands with both the volunteers and Ranger Bonnie. Outside is a very interesting garden, complete with garden art, of much of the flora that grows on the islands.
The islands themselves are fascinating - the visitors center has so much to share. Be sure to go upstairs as well, and capture the view.

This visitor center provides information about the park, which consists of five islands off the coast of California. The center is small, but it has some good exhibits, including a small tidal pool re-creation that includes fish, starfish, a lobster, etc. There are relief maps of the five islands with information about each one -- this is a good way to get a perspective on the sizes of the islands. We enjoyed the informational film, which tells about each island and has a focus on how several animals that were facing extinction have been able to repopulate since the islands are now protected by the National Park Service. The staff here was really helpful and we enjoyed our visit here.

Waiting for Channel Island Ride and decided to visit the Visitors Center. Interesting displays of the Islands to include tidal pools, wildlife and pictures of the various Islands.

Its free and worth your time if you can park. We visited on a weekend early and were able to park.

Be sure to catch the movie about the Channel Islands. Small exhibit area and gift shop, but rangers offered good info about getting to the islands for a visit and what to expect.

Fabulous overview of the wildlife and ecosystem of the islands. Take time to see the film of the history and current landscape.