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Get-Away & Gateway OxnardBy Lisa Sonne GATEWAY TO WATERWAYS GATEWAY TO WINE COUNTRYIf you are seeking vintage pleasure, you might head north to the vineyards of Santa Barbara, to the Santa Inez reds and whites made famous in the movie Sideways, or to the grapes of delight in Paso Robles. On the other hand, you could choose to drive south to the new tasting sites in Malibu. But in either case, you can start your trip with the award-winning tastes at the Herzog Winery, an eighth generation, family-run operation. For a culinary treat that rivals the offerings of larger cities, try the Tierra Sur, where the Chef Todd Aaron creates some memorable concoctions. One savory innovation is a BLT with lamb instead of pork, with the lamb specially cured for six hours before placed on focaccio. Oxnard is still a fertile agricultural pocket of Southern California, which is evident in the landscapes and also in some of the best cuisine. The lettuce and tomatoes of this lamb BLT are all picked locally, as are the garnishes that complete Tierra Sur’s beautiful presentation. PORTAL TO THE PAST Heritage Square is an outdoor architectural park for lovers of Victorian and Craftsman homes. Preserved original mansions and a picturesque Church, were moved together with historically duplicated buildings for a unique community magnet. Some of the buildings are offices, and others are open for theatrical performances or tours. A vintage article framed on one wall in a great old Victorian describes how the state election results had to wait until the rest of the votes arrived by carrier pigeon! Not far away, La Dolce Vita provides a romantic spot to sit and to eat on a balcony with a Heritage view. The red and gold “Woolworth’s” sign in downtown Oxnard may conjure time warp memories for some visitors. David Feigin, a self-described “revive-ist,” wanted to make sure change still counts in more ways than one, so he restored the town’s old Woolworth Building including a unique small Woolworth’s museum with vintage five-and-dime machines that still work. A 1930’s dispenser in the ladies room lets you trade a nickel for a dollop of hand lotion. A dime will get you two tissue packs. The Experi-Mental Café on the corner is a coffee shop done in eclectic 60s style with a counter with serves up great deli food. Feigin wanted a place to capture the good stuff he remembered from his childhood, so vintage TVs show broadcasts from back in the day, and a table is piled with free books – take ’em or leave ‘em. Even Feigin’s son has a role in the Café, where he plays in a band on weekend nights. For more information about Oxnard as a Gateway and a Get-Away destination, a great resource is the new California Visitors Center in Oxnard. It can serve as a free quasi-concierge for tourists. As one of 13 Centers in the state, it’s equipped to help your visits be more fun and fulfilling. In the racks of brochures, other Oxnard activity possibilities include horseback riding, gliding, tazer tag, a go-cart racing school, the Fisherman’s Wharf, Oxnard’s Children’s Museum and the Carnegie Fine Arts Museum. PLACES TO STAY: THINGS TO DO: Water Taxi Information: 805.985.4677 Channel Islands National Park Web: http://www.nps.gov/chis/ EAT & DRINK Lisa Sonne writes for magazines, television, feature documentaries, and publishes www.WorldTouristBureau.com |
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Between the 
While in Oxnard, you can take a water taxi through miles of canals to look at homes, boats, and waterfowl. You can also sign on for a progressive feast, with Captain Bob squiring you from appetizers at one dock, dinner at another, and dessert at a third, with four eateries to choose from. You can, of course, mix and match restaurants and courses in your own order. For example, you can enjoy the marina feel of The Lobster Trap while nibbling crab cake served with caviar, then a short cruise away relax in the family-run atmosphere of the Seaside Grill, serving tasty Persian fare integrating local produce. After a water jaunt beneath the stars, you can then choose between many deserts at the friendly Whale’s Tail.
For a daytime adventure, you can jump on an Island Packers boat and head to the closest of the beautiful offshore Islands, Anacapa. You are likely to see porpoises, dolphins, or whales on the way to the national park, depending on the time of year. Just an hour off the coast, the rugged island offers hiking with stupendous views and knowledgeable guides, memorable kayaking, and stellar diving. There’s nothing commercial on the island, so it’s a true chance to get away to nature. The three generations of family that 
In port, there are things for marine fans to enjoy, from the micro to the macro. The Maritime Museum includes a collection of historic model ships made in incredible detail. They also have displays that show the evolution of water travel. Not far away, Michelle and Andy Volaski are putting the homestretch touches (they hope) on their own full-size, 87-foot long, million-dollar-plus Paddle Wheel creation called the Scarlette Belle. She is designed to hold future weddings, reunions, and corporate parties and to handle film shoots and charming harbor tours. Locals stop by to cheer on the entrepreneurial spirit behind building something reminiscent of the Deep South for the Southern California waterways. As of early summer, 2007, they are still hoping to be ready for passengers this year, especially for Oxnard Harbor’s celebrated boat parade of lights in December. (Check website link at the end of this article for the latest information.
Tours behind the scenes offer lessons about corks and barrels and kosher winemaking. If you are lucky, the winemaker himself, Joe Hurliman, may be on hand to answer questions.
In Oxnard, some ranchers still wear big hats and silver belt buckles, and champion surfers catch the local curls. A twice-weekly farmers’ market often features voluptuous strawberries and sugar beets. Local residents recognize their mayor as he walks nearby through the Central Plaza, and they call out to him by his first name. The city and area are trying to take some of the best of their past into the future.
Feigin loves taking people through and enthusiastically shares what a maverick the founder of Woolworths was – revolutionizing retailing by taking sales items out of the locked cases and giving them price tags to spare customers the embarrassment of asking the price. Boomers can enjoy more than one time warp when they visit Feigin’s other endeavor under the Red and Gold iconic sign.
For the resort experience, and lots of family fare, enjoy the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach—Hotel and Resort. It’s right on the beach (fairly rare in Southern California) with sand dunes and bike paths, meandering streams and waterfalls, and the Oxnard Harbor closeby.