COAST ALLURE; VENTURA GEARING UP FOR CROWDS OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

Thousands of vacationers are expected to descend on the beach communities in west Ventura County for a last fling this weekend, the Labor Day holiday that marks the unofficial end of summer.

Local officials said that while Santa Barbara and Lake Casitas may be the better-known tourist destinations, Ventura's beaches and harbor areas are a strong draw. And the fact that Ventura runs a good 20 degrees cooler than most inland areas bolsters its appeal.

``All our businesses are keeping their fingers crossed that we're going to have nice sunny weather because that will be a good way to end our tourist season,'' said Oscar Pena, general manager of the Ventura Port District. ``Because so much of the state is experiencing hotter weather this year, we're going to get people who want to cool off.''

Even with this week's milder temperatures, officials said they expect more than 10,000 people to arrive over the weekend, contributing to the area's $15 million-a-year tourist economy.

Visitors to western Ventura County can go sport fishing, take a boat tour of the harbors, watch commercial fisherman bring in their day's catch, and rent diving equipment, bicycles and surfboards. There are also excursions to Channel Islands.

However, campgrounds at Emma Wood and Carpenteria state beaches are filled to capacity, leaving late-comers unable to simply pull up to the sand and stay for the night.

Chris Butts, manager of Ventura Cycles-4-Rent on Main Street, said the company is moving much of its inventory to the higher-volume stores at the campgrounds in Santa Barbara and Lake Casitas. But he said the Ventura store is expected to have a busy weekend as well.

He said most of the stores' 1,000 bikes will likely be out for much of the three days, with the most popular biking destinations being the Ojai trail that opened recently in Ventura and the promenade along the beach.

``You can ride all the way to Santa Barbara if you like, and vice versa,'' Butts said. ``Bikes are better than cars because for one, there is zero air pollution, and second, you're free, you're open. You can see way more than just walking or driving.''

Bicyclists also do not have to pay the new and controversial $4 parking fee at Ventura Village, a 35-store shopping center on Spinnaker Drive - which is often used by beachgoers because of its proximity to the water. Parking is free only with validation at the center.

Unlike the water-quality problems that have recently plagued Huntington Beach in Orange County, Ventura County's 42 miles of coastline are expected to be virtually problem-free.

Robert Gallagher, of Ventura County's environmental health division, said only one beach, Hobie Beach, exceeds bacteriological limits set by the state of California and may be closed over the weekend.

The water there has been tested, and an update on the status of Hobie Beach can be accessed through the the division's Web site, at www.ventura.org/env-hlth/env.htm after 4 p.m. today.

Officials said that while visitors come to be near the ocean, many are discovering other things to do on land.

``We're finding there are people that are stopping in Ventura because it is a seaside community,'' Pena said. ``But there are also some definite cultural venues - there is a nice museum downtown - that you can visit in this community.''

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2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) The beaches of Ventura are a strong draw for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Unlike beaches to the south, Ventura County's 42 miles of coastline are expected to be virtually problem-free.

(2) Lynn Redman beats the Labor Day crowd as she walks her son Greggory, 3, and his baby sister Allyson along the pier in Ventura.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News