Just west of Los Angeles, Ventura County is one of California's most beautiful, family-friendly locales. Often referred to as the Gold Coast, the county is home to the majestic 860 square-mile Los Padres National Forest, forty-three miles of pristine coastline, seven and a half miles of public beaches and 411 acres of State Beach parks.

Gateway to the beautiful Channel Islands National Park, Ventura County also offers endless opportunities for golfing, hiking and surfing, plus a wealth of great shopping, dining and cultural activities. And with its reputation as one of the country's safest places to live (Ventura County towns consistently rank at the top on the annual list of safest cities in the nation) Ventura County is clearly one of Southern California's best places to live and raise a family.