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Oxnard Shores

Extending north from Hollywood Beach to the southern border of McGrath, is a westerly facing stretch of sand that just begs for combo swells and Santa Ana winds. The beach here is wide and flat compared to many other Ventura locations. And due to the expanse of Oxnard Shores, there's usually a peak holding on nearly every tide and swell direction. On higher tides, you'll get the reforming outer bars that push into a dumpy shorebreak. While lower tides cause the waves to break further from the shoreline, wall up a bit more, and dramatically increase their down the line speed. Pulling swells from both hemispheres is no easy task, but Oxnard Shores rarely disappoints on a combo.

Crowd Factor: The crowd's present, but with miles of sand to choose from, there's plenty of room to move around. The most densely packed areas are usually just south of Fifth Street, and near Mandalay Shores. But even on a warm summer Sunday, you can probably still find an uncrowded shoulder to abuse.

Location: From Harbor Blvd., turn onto Fifth Street and head toward the ocean. Once you get there, walk out onto the sand, look south... and there it is... mile after mile of beach all the way down to the Channel Islands Harbor. Pick your peak.

Access: There's ample parking along Mandalay Beach Road and some of the adjacent side streets. Claim your parking space, lock your car, and make your way to the sandy shoreline. That's all there is to it.

Amenities: Free parking for sure -- and lots of it actually. Other than that, there are a few bathrooms scattered here and there, along with some strategically placed picnic benches. During the summer months you'll see lifeguards keeping a watchful eye over the water.

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