The Ventura fog rolled in quickly and covered the trees, ocean and mountains in a fog that stripped all life of color one afternoon as we paused for a bite to eat at The Greek in Ventura Harbor. On a three-day escape out of Orange County / Los Angeles, we were on a the road to coastal Central California, just two hours away when the climate changed dramatically from sunny blue skies to a blanket of fog. 

Beautiful and mystical, the scene of rich blues, yellows, reds and greens transformed to soft muted tones, creating a whole new palette to photograph or paint. Lessons gleaned from workshops on Plein Air painting and fine art photography awakened us to the possibilities that fog provides.

If you are traveling that well-trodden path, Highway 101, between Southern and Central California, Ventura offers fantastic restaurants with gourmet meals, many organic menus and scenic beauty unlike any other ocean city along the California coast. This author has made many companion travelers stop in Ventura and all have been changed by the experience. Not on the radar of many Southern Californians, celebrities are quite aware of this peaceful place where you can relax and enjoy the hotels, dining, beaches, culture and night life afforded those with several hundred dollars to spend on a day escape or weekend getaway.