MANDALAY SHORES RESORT

Mandalay Shores Resort The Central Coast's Hidden Gem

Welcome home to Mandalay Shores.

Located steps from the beach in beautiful Oxnard, California, spend your day playing in the sand, then enjoy an ocean breeze from your balcony as you watch the sunset over the Pacific.

Things To Do

How To Make a Perfect Thanksgiving Meal in Your CondoNovember 19, 2021If you plan on staying at one of our resorts this Thanksgiving, our condos are fully equipped to whip up your turkey dinner and favorite side dishes. For those looking to pull off the ultimate Thanksgiving feast, we break down everything you need pull off the perfect meal. Your Condo Kitchen As you prep your Thanksgiving dinner list, first take stock of all the cooking appliances and tools at your disposal. All of our condos come with fully-stocked kitchens, which include the following appliances: Refrigerator Dishwasher Toaster Oven Microwave Dinnerware, glassware, flatware Cutting knives Pots and pans Coffee maker *Before you arrive, please verify which items are available in your specific unit. Things to Bring Depending on which Thanksgiving dishes you choose to make, you may want to bring a few of the following items from home: Basic Ingredients Pick up common cooking and baking ingredients like flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar before you arrive. Roasting Pan Stainless steel roasting pans with a rack will hold your turkey well and ensure it cooks perfectly. If you don’t have one, a cast-iron skillet, extra-large sheet pan, or large casserole dish will do. Meat Thermometer If you’re planning on making turkey, don’t forget the meat thermometer—an essential tool that will save you tons of unnecessary pre-Thanksgiving dinner stress. Pie Pan For a classic pumpkin or apple pie, be sure to bring a pie pan to give your creation the ideal crust-to-pie ratio. Crock-Pot A crockpot allows you to whip up everything from soup to hot apple cider. And after the prepping is done, it’s hands off until ready—which means more time with family and friends. The Menu Turkey Because is it even Thanksgiving without turkey? Check out Ina Garten’s delicious Perfect Roast Turkey recipe. If you’ve never cooked a full bird before, this is a straightforward and good go-to recipe that will help stave off any day-of panic. After you’ve prepped the turkey, it will need to roast for about 2.5 hours, giving you time to get started on other dishes or kick back with a warm beverage (or cool one, depending on where you are!) Classic Stuffing Nothing completes a roundup of traditional Thanksgiving dishes quite like stuffing. While easy to go for the boxed options, if you want something truly next level, give the gift of homemade stuffing. Check out this simple Best-Ever Classic Stuffing. With a good amount of turkey broth and butter, this fluffy side dish turns into a delicacy side dish that will leave your guests impressed and content. Mashed Potatoes When deciding on your Thanksgiving dinner menu, you can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes. Whether you’re making m or opting for a classic recipe, this comforting dish is always a hit. If you’re on the hunt for something traditional, check out these delicious Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, a recipe from one of our Owners, chef Patty Mastracco! Pair with gravy made from your turkey pan drippings, and you’ll be all set. Green Beans There are so many ways go with Thanksgiving green beans. What was once thought of as a simple side dish in the past, has gotten way more creative. Bon Appétit is stealing the green bean show with these 21 Thanksgiving Green Bean Recipes That Are Actually Exciting. From slow-cooked to caramelized with harissa and cumin to green bean casserole with fried onions, the delicious choice is yours. Corn Sometimes there’s nothing as sentimental as an easy canned corn recipe that’s reminiscent of Thanksgivings past. But don’t be afraid to think outside the box and start a new tradition. This Creamy Confetti Corn with Bacon is as tasty as it is festive and fun—and perhaps the best part? It only takes 15 minutes to throw together. Cranberry Sauce If you’re feeling ambitious, try making cranberry sauce from scratch this year. One of the most quintessential Thanksgiving items, cranberry sauce is easy to make and pairs perfectly with every other item on your dinner plate. Check out this recipe that puts a delicious twist on traditional cranberry sauce, also from Owner Patty Mastracco. Or customize your sauce with pecans, orange zest, currants, and nutmeg. Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin pie is synonymous with Thanksgiving. If you’re crafting one from scratch, check out this simple yet delicious The Great Pumpkin Pie that calls for ingredients like freshly-grated nutmeg along with heavy cream. Pumpkin puree plus a homemade pie crust brings this decadent dessert together. You can also make this pie in advance, freeze it, then thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. At Mandalay Shores Resort, we believe that some of the best experiences worth sharing tend to happen over good food. Wherever you find yourself this Thanksgiving, we hope you have a wonderful day spent in the places you love with the people that make you grateful....
Read More
(Save) The Bee’s Knees!November 17, 2021Did you know that bees are a vital part of our environment? Those striped little buzzers are responsible for plant pollination, which in turn provides all of us with food. Unfortunately, bee populations have been dwindling for years. While we may not miss getting stung by them, we still need them to fuel our food supply. Our management company, Grand Pacific Resorts, has partnered with Bee Leaf USA, an organization committed to safely rescuing any bee colonies residing on our properties then safely relocating them to sanctuaries where experienced beekeepers help them thrive once again. Now that’s a cause worth buzzing about!...
Read More
How to Plan the Perfect VacationOctober 25, 2021Your Ideal Vacation Guide So you’ve picked a destination and booked the accommodations, now comes the fun part of deciding what you’ll do once you’re on vacation. While planning your trip, pinpointing your vacation style will help you choose which activities will most likely appeal to you. If you’re unsure, check out the guide below to help you determine what kind of traveler you are and plan your ideal vacay! Adventurous If the thrill of whitewater rafting or hiking 10 miles sounds more appealing to you than sitting by the pool with a book—and if you often need another vacation to recover from your vacation—then you’re an adventurous traveler and should seek out adrenaline-pumping fun. Cultural For many travelers, cultural activities are the gateway to discovery, and an opportunity to learn about new places and people. Ask your concierge or visit the local tourism board website to find experiences that are unique to the place you’re visiting. Historic From museums and exhibitions to monuments and landmarks, visiting historical sites ranks high for the history buff traveler. Once you nail down the places you have your heart set on seeing, arrange any necessary tickets and plan the best time to go. Culinary Instead of viewing food as the thing that fuels other activities, food is the activity in itself for the culinary-minded traveler. If you’re into the idea of a culinary vacation, check out review sites for restaurants and possible food tours to get a taste of the local flavor. Romantic If you’re partnered up, a trip to the spa for a couples massage is a great way to unwind and reconnect with your partner. Or head out on a drive to a charming town and enjoy a picnic or beautiful sunset hike to fuel those romantic vibes. Entertaining For some, concerts, theater, and comedy shows are the type of entertainment that vacations are all about. If this sounds like your kind of fun, check out which shows will be in town while you’re visiting and purchase any tickets ahead of time. Other Vacation Planning Tips Whenever you’re planning a vacation, check out a few ways that will help make the process stress-free and fun: Give Yourself a Free Day Packing your days with endless activities can be tempting, but it’s important to give yourself some down time since vacation is all about unwinding and relaxing. A great way to do this is to spend a day simply enjoying your accommodations with a meal on the patio or a chill pool day. Leave Room for Spontaneity This tip goes hand-in-hand with the above. While deciding all your activities ahead of time can add ease and efficiency to a vacation, don’t plan so much that you forget to leave room for spontaneity. Sometimes the best part of visiting a new place is what you simply stumble upon. Weather and Local Guidelines A simple yet essential tip when planning a vacation: always check the weather and local health guidelines ahead of time since both change often and will directly influence your vacation activities. Knowing the situation beforehand will help you plan accordingly and also prevent any disappointment later. Whether you’re sailing through trees on a zipline or getting your funny fix at a comedy show, vacation activities are what help make lasting memories. Whatever your travel style is, you’re sure to enjoy your ideal vacation with Mandalay Shores Resort. ...
Read More
Tips For Taking Your Own Family Fall Photos While on VacationSeptember 20, 2021It might be hard to believe, but fall is right around the corner, and now is the time when people start thinking about their holiday photos. Whether you’re in the vineyards of Napa or on the beaches of Carlsbad, fall is the ideal season for taking family pictures—the weather has cooled, and the colors have warmed, providing you with the perfect backdrop for beautiful photos. While hiring a professional photographer is always your best bet, there are a few tips for capturing your own photos in a way you’ll actually feel good about showcasing on a greeting card this year. Smart Phones are So…Smart! Smartphones all come equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of taking amazing photos. If you plan on using your phone to take pictures, consider investing in a couple accessories like a tripod or photo editing app that will help you easily enhance your pictures. Location, Location, Location You’ve heard it said about real estate, but choosing the perfect location applies to photography just as much. The spot you choose as your photo backdrop should not only be eye-catching, but should also serve as a reflection of who you are as a family. Flattering Lighting Soft, natural lighting is always best for maximizing each person’s assets while also helping eliminate any pesky shadows. The best time of day to take stunning outdoor photos is either early in the morning or at sunset (aka the famed golden hour)! Keep It Natural While props certainly aren’t necessary for beautiful photos, they can add a fun element to pictures when chosen wisely. Natural poses are typically best for real-looking photos, and some of the best pictures tend to be the completely candid outtakes that weren’t planned at all. Outfit Coordination Color coordinating everyone’s outfits rather than outright matching is the best way to go for photos. You’ll also want to avoid wearing too many busy prints, which can take the focus away from faces. Instead, stick with solid colors along with layers to add depth to your photos. Don’t Stress About Perfection Family photo sessions are about capturing your loved ones and their unique personalities, not about perfection. Cell phones conveniently allow for immediate viewing with the option to delete whichever ones you don’t like. Start with the Most Difficult Photos Start with what you feel will be the most challenging shots first. This allows you the freedom to work with any young children while you have their short-lived attention. You can move onto easier poses and adult-only shots later in the session. Take a Million Photos Taking good pictures ultimately boils down to a numbers game. It’s always better to have too many photos to choose from rather than too few. If you take way more than you think you’ll ever want or need, you’ll be hard pressed not to find at least one that you like. Family photos are an important part of capturing lasting memories either while on vacation or at home. With a little bit of upfront knowledge, you’re sure to get some gorgeous family photos this fall! ...
Read More

Explore our blog

Explore

Activities

See what's happening at the resort during your stay.
Learn about activities
Amenities

Browse our spacious rooms and suites, all equipped with modern amenities.
Browse the amenities
Giving

We make a donation every quarter because what matters to you, matters to us.
Learn about our giving program

MANDALAY SHORES RESORT

Need Help?