Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa in Newbury Park

We are fortunate to have such great trails and views of Boney Peak from in Newbury Park. At Wendy and Potrero is the Western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains where Sycamore Canyon cuts through Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Point Mugu State Park.

Roughly a mile easy hike from Wendy/Potrero gets you to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center where you can explore some native Chumash items and educational information and chat with rangers. This is a nice little hike to take the kids on. There are restrooms and water at the center, which is open from 9 to 5 on weekends.

Learn more about hiking in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa at THIS LINK.

You can get easier access to the center by parking in the adjacent National Park Service parking lot via Lynn Road to the access road at Via Goleta in Newbury Park.

Another mile and a half of hiking gets you to a small waterfall, which is fun to check out with the kids but somewhat more strenuous of a hike. Note that in recent years (2012-2015), the waterfall has barely flowed due to low rainfall.

Here is more information about the Boney Mountain Trail, leading up to Hidden Valley Overlook, the waterfall and Danielson Monument.

Visit www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/rsvsatwiwa.htm for a map and site information on the National Park Service website.

Trailhead at the corner of Wendy Drive and Potrero Road in Newbury Park. Park on the dirt on the south side of Potrero or on the street on Wendy.

Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newbury Park

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The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center is located at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa in Newbury Park. Sycamore Canyon, which cuts through Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Point Mugu State Park, was part of a Chumash trade route. Satwiwa, which means "the bluffs," was the name of a nearby Chumash village.

View of the Satwiwa area with the Center on the right and an Indian village area on the left.

In the Center is a variety of native Chumash items. Native American workshops, programs and art shows occur throughout the year. The Center is open 9 am to 4 pm on weekends, with rangers on hand to answer questions. There's a small gift shop in the Center too, as well as restrooms and a water fountain.

There is a Chumash house, or 'ap, on the grounds of the Center. It is made with willow trees and tule.

Inside the Culture Center. The table contains items that children are encourage to touch.

Small but nicely appointment gift shop in the Center has something for everyone.

Park in the adjacent National Park Service parking lot via Lynn Road to the access road at Via Goleta in Newbury Park.

Visit www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/satwiwa-native-american-indian-culture-center.htm for more information.

Access point to the Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa area in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area off of Lynn Road in Newbury Park.

Chumash Indian Museum / Oakbrook Regional Park

Located in Lang Ranch at the top of Westlake Boulevard near Avenida de los Arboles at 3290 Lang Ranch Parkway, Thousand Oaks, the Chumash Interpretative Center / Chumash Indian Museum contains Chumash artifacts and historical items, nature walks and tours of the beautiful local Oakbrook Regional Park area.  The museum is open Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children under 12 (as of March 2023).

There is no charge to walk the trails in the park, which is open from sunrise to sunset daily. No dogs, except service animals, are allowed on museum grounds or trails.

The Chumash Indian Museum is located on a historical Chumash village site and contains a large collection of Chumash artifacts.

Stroll around the 436 acre Oakbrook Regional Park, a Ventura County historical landmark #90 (designated in 1983). More on Oakbrook Regional Park at www.crpd.org/park/oakbrook-regional-park.

Contact the Center for more information about these and other events, field trips, weddings and birthday parties at www.chumashmuseum.org or 805.492.8076.

To protect the wildlife, dogs are not allowed here.

Examples of the Chumash Home - called an ‘ap (not to be confused with app). more on ‘aps at THIS LINK.

Beautiful canopied oak tree configuration at Oakbrook Regional Park, behind the Chumash Indian Museum.

Scandinavian Center at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks

The public is invited to share in the many activities and services of the Scandinavian American Cultural & Historical Foundation (SACHF) that take place at Cal Lutheran University, including many functions at the Scandinavian Center. The Center is open to the public for scheduled events and special functions.

The Aina Abrahamson Library at the Center includes thousands of Scandinavian-related books, publications, documents and audio/visual materials. Visitors can review books while at the Center, but only SACHF may check out the books from the library.

As a museum, the Center offers a wide assortment of artifacts, costumes, early and contemporary art, musical instruments, a Norwegian ship model and a ship plaque from Sweden, and examples depicting industry of yesterday and today.

Other offerings and events include genealogy research, classes, brown-bag lunch series, the annual Scandinavian Festival in April, the annual Nordic Spirit Symposium and Scandinavian Lecture Series.

The Center is located at 60 W. Olsen Road at CLU. The Center is located at the southeastern corner of the campus, at Faculty Road and Mountclef Boulevard.

Visit www.ScandinavianCenter.org or call (805) 241-0391 for more information.

Elverhøj Museum of History & Art in Solvang

Located in Solvang at 1624 Elverhoy Way, the Elverhøj Museum is the former residence of one of Solvang’s most artistic families and is now a community museum devoted to the history of Solvang, the Danish-American pioneer spirit, the colorful heritage of Denmark and the arts.. Elverhøj (pronounced "Elverhoy") is one of the few museums outside of Denmark devoted to the Danish culture and the Danish-American experience.

Solvang means "sunny field" in English. It was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators looking to preserve their culture while assimilating into America. And Solvang was incorporated as a city in Satna Barbara County on May 1, 1985. Solvang is just 90 miles, or about 1 1/2 hours away from Thousand Oaks.

The museum is open from 11am to 5pm Thursday through Monday. Admission is free of charge; suggested donation is $5 for ages 13+.

More information at www.elverhoj.org.