Five undeveloped islands off the Ventura coast, sometimes called the "Galapagos of North America." The park headquarters and visitor center is at Ventura Harbor (1901 Spinnaker Drive), where you can learn about the islands before committing to the boat ride. Island Packers runs daily ferries to Santa Cruz Island (the closest, about an hour out), which has sea caves, kayaking, hiking, and large colonies of California sea lions and elephant seals. Book ferry tickets in advance, especially on weekends.
Channel Islands National Park
Five wild islands off the coast with sea caves and wildlife