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| Jordan at Training Camp, 2013 |
On the fence about about visiting the Cowboys in Oxnard for training camp? Get off it and go.
It's a great opportunity to watch the
Cowboys practice, something you can't do during the regular season. You might also be lucky enough to snag autographs as players willingly sign for fans once practice ends. Fair warning: the afternoon practices are packed and there is a fair amount of jostling for space to get certain signatures.
The Cowboys opening press conference is 5pm on Wednesday. Here is the
full training camp schedule. You can still get relatively affordable August airfare to Los Angeles on Virgin, Southwest or American.
Visit Ventura
Here's the thing: Oxnard, as a city itself, isn't that great. It's like any other American suburb, granted with the Pacific Ocean hugging its edge and strawberry fields rolling along the interstate. Lodging options are basically limited to the Marriott Courtyard and the Residence Inn where the Cowboys practice. Getting rooms at the latter are nearly impossible during camp.
If you can, stay in Ventura. There is a nice
Marriott with beach access, a gorgeous running trail along the beach and, of course, the legendary
Ventura County Fair. Downtown Ventura is darling with eclectic shopping and decent dining. Here are some restaurant where I have spent my hard-earned per diems in the past:
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| Ventura Pier/Image Via City-Data.com |
Try Montecito & Santa Barbara
Again, Ventura is lovely but if you're up for a
GREAT side trip, head 35 miles north on the 101 to visit Montecito, perhaps my favorite city in the U.S.
I have been going to Cowboys camp in Oxnard since the team held it's inaugural camp there in 2001. By some grace of God, and courtesy of well-connected friends, I've been visiting Santa Barbara and Montecito, the area that some call the
American Riviera, since I was child.
My family shows Arabian horses. We have participated in and attended horse shows at Santa Barbara's world famous
Earl Warren Showgrounds for more than 30 years. I try to get there at least once a summer and the experience never disappoints. July 30th-August 4th is
Santa Barbara's legendary Old Spanish Days. The celebration is definitely worth visiting if you'll be in the area.
I prefer to stay in Montecito, the cozier, albeit wealthier and more exclusive town just south of Santa Barbara. Montecito is home to race car legend Andy Granatelli, Oprah Winfrey and a slew of other multi-millionaire celebrities. Montecito is separated into two villages: the lower, on Coast Village Road, and the labyrinth-like upper.
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| Image Via Montecito Inn |
The lower village is one long street right off the 101. There you will find the little hotel I always enjoying visiting, the
Montecito Inn, which is quite reasonable. Once you are there and plan on staying in Montecito, you really don't need a car. The hotel will give you beach cruisers to explore the area. It is next door to the town's hottest spot,
Lucky's steakhouse, owned by the founder of
Lucky Brand jeans. On any given night, you will find Carol Burnett, Kevin Costner, and, during Cowboys camp, members of the Jones family.
Other great spots include
Cava, a spanish tapas joint as well as the bar and restaurant scene at the
Four Seasons Biltmore, located right across from the beach. The sunset views are glorious. If you stay at the Four Seasons or happen to be a member of a reciprocal club, you can gain access to the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana.
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| Courtesy Coral Casino |
The Coral Casino was a tony exclusive club that opened in 1937 before falling into disrepair. Beanie Babies founder-turned-hotel-entrepreneur Ty Warner has remodeled and rebranded it as an exclusive beach club for the west coast elite. It is delicious. Think beach club, California chic with an outstanding saltwater pool and first-class fitness center.
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| Montecito estate |
The best part of the upper village is the estates. The mansions and villas are breathtakingly stunning. Take a drive through the hills and play the guessing game of "who lives there". There is a great little shopping center which features
Pierre LaFond, a market that is a perfect place for a break after driving around Montecito's winding hills.
The upper village is also home to the Rosewood-managed
San Ysidro Ranch, one of the most luscious (and expensive) resorts you'll find. John F. Kennedy spent his honeymoon there with Jackie. Skip the stay and dine in one of the hotels two restaurants,
The Stonehouse or
Plow & Angel. They make outstanding margaritas.
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| Montecito coastline |
The best part of Montecito is free: just walking along the beach. So, if you visit Cowboys camp, make the drive to the sleepy, yet luxurious village and simply go for a sunset stroll. It will make you forget any triple digit temperatures haunting your friends back home.
Save on Summer Hotels
If you're thinking about heading that way,
Hotels.com is offering
10% off on select hotels with the code JUL1410NA! Book by 7/27/14, Travel By 9/28/14. Might be worth checking out.
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