Julie and I love exploring new places. Just because we are a travel couple does not mean that we always agree on the destination or how we feel about our adventures. That was clearly the case on our recent trip to one of America’s least-visited national parks. Before planning your trip, read our Channel Islands National Park review.
Let me give you some quick background so you have a good starting point.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for keeping Miles with McConkey going!
Traveler 1: Julie McConkey
Julie loves warm-weather destinations, beach strolls, cruises, and all things Disney. She is fond of peaceful forests and scenic drives. Julie is not a fan of cold weather or strenuous hikes. However, her loving husband has dragged her along many hiking trails in the wind and rain.
Julie craves experiences and adventures and is a bit of a daredevil. She is comfortable looking over cliffs and flying in helicopters. Despite her lack of fear, Julie frequently gets motion sickness. With a trusty Dramamine, she willingly accepts any challenge. In short, she is a trooper.
Traveler 2: Scott McConkey
I love cool-weather destinations, hiking, looking for birds and wildlife, and seeing new places. To say I am obsessed with national parks is an understatement. I find peace in any natural setting, from beaches to forests to mountains.
Admittedly, I loathe crowds and steamy temperatures. Despite Julie regularly dragging me to Disney World, I have somehow managed to survive.
I find driving stressful and have a debilitating fear of heights. Although I enjoy trying new foods, I have an embarrassingly sensitive stomach, which is easily upset by food or drinks.
Where is Channel Islands National Park?
Now that you have a better idea of who we are, it is essential to understand where to find the Channel Islands and what it takes to get there. The national park comprises five pristine islands off southern California’s coast. These islands feature beautiful landscapes, sea caves, and unique plant and animal life, but they are only accessible by boat.
Island Packers is the national park’s official boat concessionaire, with harbors in Oxnard and Ventura. The main park visitor center is in Ventura.
Channel Islands National Park Requires Planning
A trip to Channel Islands National Park is more complex than a typical national park visit. You must decide which island to visit and how long to stay, and book your spots on the ferry and the returning ferry.
The islands have no stores, restaurants, hotels, or cabins. You should only plan to stay more than a day if you love primitive camping. And you must carry everything with you on and off the ferry. You will not find transportation on the islands.
Whether you visit for a few hours or multiple days, do not miss the last returning ferry for the day. If you do, you will be stranded like Gilligan.
Which Island Did We Choose?
Santa Cruz is the largest island. It features lovely coastal hiking trails, sea kayaking, and the opportunity to see rare island foxes and island scrub jays. My interest in hiking and the chance for rare animal and bird sightings made the decision easy.
Preparing for the Ferry Ride
Island Packers advised us to prepare for unpredictable weather and choppy waters. Do not ignore this advice. You must call the morning of your sailing to see if conditions are safe. Ferry rides get canceled frequently.
The day of our sailing, the seas were rough, but Island Packers decided to proceed. One of us was excited, the other was apprehensive.
When it comes to visiting Channel Islands National Park, the journey is such a big part of the adventure, it can make or break your experience. It broke one of us!
Julie’s Experience at Channel Islands National Park
Julie panicked before boarding the ferry—I kid you not. She asked every employee for the best advice on where to sit to avoid seasickness, but she received varying answers.
Julie decided one particular worker was the wisest and took his advice to sit in the back of the boat along the edge. She thought she could look forward and achieve good airflow.
Immediately upon sitting, a crew member advised her she would get soaked in that seat.
Julie reluctantly moved to another seat near the back but in the middle. In theory, it should have been a good choice.
Once the ride started, waves violently splashed into our hull, tossing the ship like a toy. Julie turned green and quickly stood along the side of the boat for the rest of the journey.
It did not help that 30 other people, all green around the gills, did the exact same thing. As we proceeded toward the island, barfing sounds filled the air, and Julie cursed me the entire way.
The Dramamine was clearly inadequate, but Julie somehow managed to keep from spilling her lunch into the ocean. It was impressive, considering the surrounding carnage.
We landed on the island, but Julie’s enthusiasm was gone. She slowly hiked the coastal trail but felt queasy all afternoon, dreading the return trip.
Scott’s Experience at Channel Islands National Park
Admittedly, I was alarmed to see so many people transform into pale green aliens, holding onto the boat for dear life. I felt genuinely concerned for Julie, yet I could not help but smile.
Cool mist blew against my face. Waves crashed over the side of the boat, soaking my feet. Despite the elements, the anticipation of stepping foot in a new national park and seeing its rare inhabitants filled my soul with excitement. I moved away from the green aliens toward the front of the boat, gaining a clear view of Santa Cruz Island in the distance. My grin stretched from ear to ear.
Throughout my childhood, I spent many summer weekends on the Ohio River, feeling our boat rock to and fro from passing ski boats and barges. I privately thanked my parents for spending so much time on boats.
While Julie cursed me and vowed never to revisit Channel Islands National Park, I secretly plotted a return trip to see one of the other islands.
Our Overall Channel Islands National Park Review
Make no mistake, getting to this park is easily more than half the experience. You will either love it or hate it.
I honestly do not know how I got Julie on the return ferry. Knowing it was the only way home was barely enough incentive for her to board the boat. Thankfully, the ride back feels more like surfing the waves than braving them head-on.
Once you’re back on the mainland, if your schedule allows, stop by the park’s visitor center in Ventura. It has unique exhibits, and the park rangers are some of the most friendly and helpful people we have ever met. Trust me, I pelted them with tons of questions.
Ventura itself deserves more than a quick pass-through. The city boasts excellent beaches, a picturesque harbor, great shopping, and a vibrant culinary scene.
Curious about where to stay and what to do in Ventura? We’ve got you covered in a separate post filled with firsthand tips to help you make the most of your time in this coastal gem.
Back on the ferry, while many visitors report spotting whales or dolphins during the ride, we had no such luck this time.
Santa Cruz Island is rugged but beautiful. We recommend hiking the coastal trails rather than the island’s interior. You’ll be rewarded with superior views and dramatic seaside scenery.
We were thrilled to spot the island scrub jay and the island fox. The scrub jay is endemic to Santa Cruz Island, and the island fox is found only on a few of the Channel Islands. Rare and remarkable — sights we won’t soon forget.
While Julie appreciated the island’s wild beauty and those rare animal sightings, the ferry ride was too much of a deterrent for her to ever return. I, on the other hand, would jump aboard again in a heartbeat.
Featured image credit: Miles with McConkey
