| San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura, California | | | | She also likes to arrange for the lifeguard staff to give |
| has an unusual amenity, especially for a public beach: a | | | | a talk so the kids have a water-friendly experience. |
| concierge. | | | | "We want everyone to be aware of what to do in the |
| Park administrators don't call Anne Dominguez a | | | | water," she says. |
| "concierge," but it's OK for visitors to call her that. She's | | | | Ventura Hotels Nearby |
| been special events coordinator at San Buenaventura | | | | The beach is close to the Crowne Plaza just to the |
| State Beach for the past 12 years. She helps church | | | | north near Ventura Pier, and the Marriott to the south, |
| groups, corporations, fund-raising committees and even | | | | a few yards' walk from the entrance to the state |
| families orchestrate the details of a beach picnic event. | | | | beach. Families and smaller groups can also find |
| Room for 3,000 Beach-goers | | | | small-scale hotels and bed-and-breakfasts an easy |
| And with good reason. The day-use beach is so busy, | | | | walk or drive away. |
| and so big, that it requires a full-time staff member to | | | | San Buenaventura State Beach is also a good "hub" |
| help visitors, especially groups, to make their visit one | | | | beach for vacationers looking for a Southern California |
| to remember. | | | | beach vacation that includes not only sun and sand, but |
| The beach is arguably the perfect large-group picnic | | | | also day excursions. Ventura Harbor is two miles' |
| venue. It starts south of Ventura's 1,700 foot-long | | | | south, with restaurants, shopping, and charter boats for |
| municipal pier and stretches south for two miles, with a | | | | whale watching and trips to the Channel Islands |
| small lagoon. In its center area, jetties frame swimming | | | | National Monument. The monument's headquarters are |
| beaches staffed by lifeguards. Behind sand dunes, the | | | | actually at the harbor. Santa Barbara is a half-hour |
| beach offers enough picnics, lawn, barbeques, parking | | | | drive to the north, the Camarillo Premium Outlets |
| lots and the all-important showers for 3,000 people. It's | | | | shopping area is a half-hour south, and Ventura itself |
| the largest day-use picnic area at a state beach in | | | | has plenty to entice tourists, in its charming downtown |
| Southern California, according to state parks officials. | | | | and its Ventura County Fairgrounds right on the ocean. |
| Anne has helped facilitate events ranging from the | | | | To reach San Buenaventura State Beach, take U.S. |
| annual Aids/Lifecycle bicycling fundraiser, which draws | | | | Highway 101 to the Seaward Avenue exit in Ventura. |
| thousands of participants, to corporate team-building | | | | Turn south onto Seaward Avenue, left on Harbor |
| picnics, to families planning a baptism. | | | | Boulevard and then left on San Pedro Street. The |
| She especially enjoys helping church, school and youth | | | | state beach entrance is at the end of the block. |
| groups, since many of the children participating are | | | | Cost to enter is $8 per vehicle. Groups of more than |
| making their first visit to the beach. For those kids, just | | | | 30 people may require a permit fee. The park |
| being at the beach is thrill enough, Anne says. But she | | | | recommends large groups call ahead for reservations. |
| can help group organizers find kid-friendly hotels, cater | | | | For families and groups of smaller than 30 people, the |
| picnic fare at the barbecue areas, even recommend | | | | park is available on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| vendors for jolly-jumps and other activities. | | | | |