Best LGBTQ Beaches in Ventura

Located adjacent to the breakwater at Ventura Harbor, Harbor Cove Beach is a beach with light brown sand and small patches of vegetation. Harbor Cove Beach has four alternative names - Mother’s Beach, Peninsula Beach, Mom’s Beach, and Marina Play Cove. The water near the beach is calmer than other beaches in the city of Ventura due to the presence of multiple jetties present nearby. 

Located in the community of Mussel Shoals, Mussel Shoals Beach is a long and narrow beach situated in the northern part of Ventura County. A part of the beach is lined with a row of houses situated side-by-side and has light brown sand. The beach also has a gradual slope, and parts of Mussel Shoals Beach have been fixed with rocky embankments to prevent erosion. The southern part of the beach is narrower than its northern part, and there are also patches of vegetation on the beach. An artificial islet spread over two acres called Rincon Island (which was previously used for extracting oil) is present near Mussel Shoals Beach. This island is located around 3,000 feet away from mainland Ventura County and is connected to the mainland via an oil pier (known as Richfield Pier) situated near the southern end of Mussel Shoals Beach. However, it is important to note that both Richfield Pier and Rincon Island are currently off-limits to public. 

Located six miles north of the city of Ventura, Mondos Beach is a small yet popular beach situated along the Ventura County coastline. The beach has both rocky and sandy parts. The water near Mondos Beach is generally calm and has mild waves. There are residential areas present on both eastern and western ends of Mondos Beach. Mondos Beach does not have lifeguards or other amenities, so plan accordingly. The beach allows dogs on leash. Getting to Mondos Beach is easy - it is located near 3674 Pacific Coast Highway. There is a free parking lot for Mondos Beach on the opposite side of the highway across the beach entrance. Since accessing the beach from the parking lot involves crossing a busy highway, we recommend being careful. There is a rocky access point on the western end of the beach, so it is advisable to wear appropriate footwear. Mondos Beach offers many fun activities including surfing, skimboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, paddleboarding, swimming, boogie-boarding, boating, wildlife watching, beachcombing, sunbathing, kayaking, canoeing, snorkelling, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, and diving. The beach has a surfing sandbar and offers small, consistent, and crumbly waves making it popular among beginner surfers, paddle boarders, and amateur swimmers. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Mondos Beach, we recommend being careful as the water near Mondos Beach is known to have rip currents. The water near Mondos Beach is home to a variety of animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). As an interesting fact, Mondos Beach was one of the frequent surfing spots of Mary Monks (who was also known as "Mondos Mary"), one of the pioneering female surfers of Ventura County and a local surfing legend. The Museum of Ventura County also has an exhibition dedicated to her, which offers interesting information about her life.

Located along the Ventura waterfront, San Buenaventura State Beach is a two-mile-long state-protected beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This large beach is one of the most popular beaches in the city of Ventura. It is important to note that some of the southern parts of San Buenaventura State Beach have recently become rocky and pebbly as the sand here has been blown away by frequent winter storms. Multiple rock jetties are also present along the beach shoreline. A grassy park is also present near this beach. San Buenaventura State Beach also has a 1,600 feet long pier named the Ventura Pier.