Ventura embodies a casual soul and unexpected allure. The newly rebranded Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau is spreading the word that here, “meeting-goers can check stress and pretense at the door and become one with the locals.” A couple of distinctly Ventura experiences allow groups to do just that.
The caves of Santa Cruz are just an hour boat ride from Ventura Harbor and the Channel Islands National Park can be experienced up close and personal via kayak. Groups of two to 40 people get to glide among the marine wildlife and intricate beauty. Channel Islands Outfitters is the best contact for this outdoor adventure, which includes lunch.
Another, more adrenaline-inducing experience is a Sulpher Mountain downhill bike tour. Bikers descend 2,000 feet on an electric or mountain bike, with beautiful views of Lake Casitas and Ojai Valley as they fly downhill, perhaps encountering a deer or two along the way. Ventura Bike Depot will handles all the details, including transportation from the hotel and lunch, for groups from 5 to 25.
At the 258-room Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, all rooms have new furnishings, the ballroom has been upgraded with new carpet and there is a new business center with “print anywhere technology” (guests can print from their mobile devices). The property has 19,000 sf of meeting space.
