Channel Islands

Twelve Years and a Thousand Dolphins
Three days in Ventura County for our anniversary

Twelve years ago we got married.
And every year since, we’ve made time to get away—just the two of us. Always something small. Always something that feels like us. It’s a tradition Alyson’s parents started, and one we’ve kept going through every season of life. A chance to pause, reset, and celebrate another trip around the sun together.

This year, we ended up in Ventura County. We found a sweet Airbnb on an avocado farm it was a function farm so they asked that we not explore, but it was quiet and peacful. We picked it partly for the charm, but also because it had a little kitchen. We love having the option to cook breakfast slowly and pack up lunch for the day. It helps us move at our own rhythm. Saves money, too. But mostly, it just feels more us.

Ojai Felt Right

We had plans to explore more of Ventura on our first full day, but we realized Ojai was just up the street. So we made a game time decision and drove out that way instead.

We’ve been a few times before, for Alyson 33 birthday and road trip stopovers, and every visit feels grounding. Familiar, but fresh. This time was no different.

We wandered shelves at Bart’s Books under the sunshine, then walked downtown, got coffee and a gluten-free treat from Three Little Birds, and just let the day unfold. No rushing. No schedule. We popped into shoppe shops, a couple thrift shops and even pottery fair.

At The Naturalist, we did a casual wine tasting. It was slow enough that we got to chat with the guy working and even pick a record to play while we sipped. Just one of those small, lovely details that made the day feel just right. Loved spending that day doing all of our favorite things, even if the Low Buy Year puts a bit of a damper on thrift shopping.

We grabbed a few things from the natural food co-op on the way back. This is where the no schedule caught up to us. The restaurant I’d originally planned to go for dinner, closed early that night! Dinner was gluten-free pizza from Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana and an early bedtime to be ready for the next day.

Channel Islands Magic

The next morning was for the Channel Islands. We booked ferry tickets kind of last-minute, which a longer boat ride to a further port on the island. Not ideal, but we made it work.

Alyson’s been getting motion sick lately, so she tested out these little behind-the-ear patches. Total lifesaver. I wore one too, just in case. I could tell before we even left the harbor that it was going to be a long ride, and I never get seasick. The ocean was Rough.

But then, something happened.
Dolphins. A massive pod of them. Hundreds, maybe a thousand. Racing the boat, leaping through the waves. It was completely wild. One of those rare moments that makes everything else fall away.

Once we reached Santa Cruz Island, we took it easy. Alyson still wasn’t feeling 100 percent, so we hiked about a mile along the Pelican Bay Trail, took in the views then headed back. We ate lunch at the cove, and took it easy, watching the ocean and enjoying the cool weather. Spent the rest of our time on the island scrambling on the rocky beach looking for cool rocks and other treasures from the ocean.

The boat ride back was calmer, thank goodness. We saw three more dolphin pods, and I spent most of the trip standing outside, wind in my face, thinking about how much I already want to go back. I’m scheming a fast-pack trip across the island in my head. Not sure Alyson’s up for another ocean crossing, but I’m not done with those islands yet.

That night, we showered off the sea and ate comforting Thai food from,Chili Basil Thai Cuisine. We were completely wiped, after the early morning, rough boat ride and a day in the elements.

A Slow Last Day

To avoid LA traffic, we lingered close on our last day. We made coffee, packed up the car, and spent the day wandering downtown Ventura.

We thrifted a little, wandered into the Ventura Library’s used bookstore, got an afternoon coffee from CAJÉ Coffee Roasters and stopped by the Channel Islands Visitor Center. A sweet docent showed us some tide pool creatures, and we stamped our National Park passport.

We ended the trip with a long, unhurried walk along the beach in Oxnard. Just walking. Talking. Being present.

We waited out the traffic, then finally hit the road for the long drive back to the high desert.

A Few Things That Stayed With Me

This trip didn’t have a checklist. There was no pressure to “see it all.” since we had there before. Just time carved out to be together and to choose slow, simple things on purpose.

Cooking breakfast in a quiet kitchen. Watching pelicans from a rock. Checking in on each other during a hard ferry ride. Saying yes to where the day wanted to take us.

Twelve years in, and we still love to adventure together. Love to see beautiful things together, and explore new or familiar places. Love to spend our intentionally together.

That feels worth celebrating.

—Tyler