SOUVENIRS : The Genuine Article--It’s Out There

We know what you’re thinking: “I’ve visited the county and I’d like to bring home a memento to remember it. What kind of stuff is out there?”

Well, like any tourist spot, the county has its share of sweatshirts, bells, thimbles and silver spoons with town and organization logos on them. And the Fillmore Historical Society gift shop even has bookmarks, letter openers and money clips bearing its logo.

But finding really, truly, genuine articles, articles that almost come right out and say, “I am Ventura County,” takes a little hunting. We thought we’d save you some time, and start the hunt for you.

T-SHIRTS: Mixed in with the Rodeo Drive and Los Angeles shirts at the Westlake Hyatt Plaza gift shop is a girl’s T-shirt promoting Westlake. It has a picture of a red Cadillac and says “Westlake” and “Princess in Training.”

The Ventura Harbor has an amazing collection of T-shirts, including one at the Casa de Regalos gift shop that has a picture of a cowboy with horse and surfboard. Beneath the illustration is the message: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him surf . . . Ventura, California.”

A COOKBOOK: Tottenham Court in the Ojai Arcade is selling a “Pink Moment” cookbook, featuring recipes from some of the finer restaurants in the city.

TILE: Rains department store is a few doors up from Tottenham Court. There, among a wide selection of gift items, you can find the California Mission tile square series. Included in the collection are tiles representing the San Buenaventura Mission and the Ojai Post Office.

A BOOKSHELF: For the ultimate keepsake, check out The Village Carousel Gift Shop at Ventura Harbor. The store has been selling, for $175, a “Nautical Bookshelf” created by Ventura artist Bob Soto.