Harbor Cove Beach(Marina Play Cove, Mom's Beach, Mother's Beach, Peninsula Beach)

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. 

Harbor Cove Beach has lifeguards (between Memorial Day and Labour Day weekend), volleyball nets, restrooms, and showers. The beach also allows dogs on leash.

Harbor Cove Beach offers many fun activities including swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, skimboarding, kayaking, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, volleyball, windsurfing, jet-skiing, surf skiing, boating, sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, and wildlife watching. The water near the beach is calm and ideal for less than confident swimmers, amateur surfers, and children. The water near Harbor Cove Beach is also home to a variety of animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). The rock jetty present near the beach shoreline is a great fishing spot - you can catch a variety of fish here including surfperch, corbina, and croaker. The volleyball nets present on the beach are installed by the Rincon Volleyball Club and many local volleyball tournaments are organized on the beach. The beach and the water near it are also a frequent practicing area for the Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club. The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center for Channel Islands National Park is situated near the beach just across Spinnaker Drive and features interesting exhibits that offer information on the nearby Channel Islands. If you are interested in visiting the Channel Islands, Island Packers Cruises offers boat trips to the islands.

Getting to Harbor Cove Beach is easy - the entrance to the beach is located near 1950 Spinnaker Drive, where there is also a large free parking lot. 

There are many attractions near Harbor Cove Beach. Harmon Canyon Preserve is a 2,100-acre natural preserve with oak forests, streams, hills, and canyons. The preserve also offers an interesting insight into Southern California’s vibrant biodiversity and unique geography. If you like shopping, Ventura Harbor Village offers many shopping stores, restaurants, and art galleries. If you are looking for another attraction near Harbor Cove Beach, Ventura Pier, which was built in 1872, offers magnificent Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and is a great fishing spot. It also features informative panels highlighting the history of the city of Ventura, a snack bar, sitting areas, a seafood restaurant, and a gift shop. In addition, the pier has also featured in various television series, movies, and novels including the 1990s TV Show Melrose Place, the 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine and the 2014 novel Pier Rats by Bruce Greif.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Harbor Cove Beach. Café Zack is an upscale restaurant that is set within a 1930s cottage and offers delicious steaks, seafood, pasta, and pork chops. Himalaya Restaurant Ventura offers a range of delicious Indian and Nepalese dishes including newari, choila, chicken tandoori, samosas, lamb curry, and naan. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Harbor Cove Beach, the modestly priced Galloping Hen offers excellent breakfast dishes including pancakes, eggs, and bacon.

If you are looking for a hotel near Harbor Cove Beach, there are many great nearby options. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn is 25 minutes away by car. It offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a pool, a hot tub, an exercise room, and a garden. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach which offers many amenities including a gym, a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and complimentary breakfast. Another moderately priced hotel is the 3-Star The Pierpont Inn which offers many amenities including a pool, a garden, a restaurant, and a fitness center. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Harbor Cove Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Best Western Plus Inn of Ventura is located conveniently close to some of the most popular attractions of the city of Ventura and offers a pool and complimentary breakfast.