The city of Oxnard is getting some screen time this summer on PBS’ “Family Travel with Colleen Kelly,” a program that highlights family-friendly vacation destinations. “I’m thrilled we got to work with the ‘Family Travel’ production company and that we’ll get to show the nation the true essence of Oxnard,” Josh Travers, executive director of the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau, said. “I told them about all the wonderful things Oxnard offers as a teaser, but if they really wanted to see Oxnard at its greatest, they’d have to come see it for themselves.” Family Travel first heard of Oxnard by “word of mouth,” Travers said. When the show’s producers reached out to him, Travers was determined to leave them wanting more. Often overshadowed by its neighbors Ventura to the north and Malibu to the south, Oxnard is commonly called a “hidden gem” by travelers on websites such as TripAdvisor and Yelp. In addition to beach attractions, it offers access to Point Mugu State Park, Channel Islands National Park, naval and automotive museums and even a paintball facility. Three months after first contact, Kelly, her family and the show’s production team arrived in Ventura County. Filming commenced in late March and took about five days, Travers said. While viewers will play along with Kelly as she and her family go on an Island Packers whale-watching cruise, shop at Collection RiverPark and attend a 1920s tea party in downtown Oxnard’s Heritage Square, Travers can attest that plenty of work went on behind the scenes. “It was intense!” he said. “Kelly and her production staff wanted nothing more than to show off Oxnard. We created many experiences that were complimentary to her show.” Oxnard will make its television debut in late July as the subject of the series’ fourth season finale. The 30-minute episode will air on 459 channels in the U.S., reaching roughly 17 million viewers, according to the show’s production company Travel Film Productions. Following its initial release, it will continue to broadcast an unlimited number of times for at least two years on hundreds of PBS stations. For Travers, Family Travel serves as an ideal platform for increasing tourism dollars coming into the region. “I’m most excited about showing the world what a great family destination Oxnard is,” he said. “What we’re showing is a very small piece of what visitors can experience here.” – Helen Floersh
