The Sycamore Canyon Nature Center is a small center located near the entrance to Sycamore Canyon Campground in Point Mugu State Park at 9000 Pacific Coast Highway. The center is open on Saturdays from noon to 3pm. Displays cover local wildlife, including specimens of a cougar, bobcat, birds of prey, and more. A volunteer is on hand to provide additional information.
Paint ceramics with your friends and family at Color Me Mine at 23641 Calabasas Road, Calabasas. Pick from hundreds of ceramic pieces for kids, the kitchen, bath, pets and more. Design and paint them any way you like.
More information at www.calabasas.colormemine.com or call 818.222.4922.
The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch (originally known as Paraiso at Dos Vientos Ranch), located at 350 Via Las Brisas, Thousand Oaks ("Dos Vientos" community of Newbury Park) is a 50,000 square foot community retail shopping center.
Tenants currently include The Local Table, Sushi2 Vientos, Honeycup Coffeehouse and Creamery, Fitness Together, Bubbles Dry Cleaners, Paraiso Family Dental, ETF Portfolio Management, Nati Boutique, Calvary Church and Village Trader Market and Deli.
No functional website as of December 2021.
Moby’s on Main opened in late May 2024 at 369 E. Main Street in Ventura, between North Palm Street and North Oak Street. Moby’s is Ventura’s first family-friendly arcade and bar, offering a collection of vintage arcade games, pinball machines, classic Thrifty ice cream, snacks and more. www.mobysonmain.com
Dave & Buster’s opened in the Janss Marketplace at 145 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks on March 4, 2019. This 40,000 square foot location offers a full lunch and dinner menu, large bar area with dozens of TVs, arcade games, virtual reality games, billiards, and more. Visit www.daveandbusters.com/us/en/about/locations/thousand-oaks for more information or call 805-857-7800.
Sycamore Cove Beach is located at 9000 Pacific Coast Highway in Point Mugu. This beach is one of the closest and easiest to get to from the Conejo Valley and Camarillo via Las Posas and PCH.
Sycamore Cove Beach in the background. Sycamore Canyon Campground entrance on left.
The beach is popular with families looking to barbecue and enjoy quick and easy access to the beach. There are also porta-johns and restrooms available. Very limited parking on PCH (read the signs carefully as you don't want to get ticketed) but plenty of paid parking available (generally $12 to $14 for the day).
Dogs on a leash are allowed in day use areas, campgrounds and beaches within Point Mugu State Park. Dogs are not allowed on backcountry trails or dirt roads.
A view of Sycamore Cove Beach from the south.
On the northwest end of the beach you can walk underneath PCH to the other side of PCH, where Sycamore Canyon Campground is located. From there, you can take Sycamore Canyon up to Newbury Park (about eight miles).
PCH is above. You can safely get from Sycamore Cove to Sycamore Canyon under this bridge (though at high tide can be a challenge). Beats risking your life crossing PCH!
Due north of Sycamore Cove Beach is Thornhill Broome Beach/Campground, which along with Sycamore Cove and Sycamore Canyon is part of Point Mugu State Park. Across from Thornhill Broome is the large sand dune that makes for some fun climbing.
The humongous sand dune walking distance from Sycamore Cove.
Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630 for more information.
The Oaks in Thousand Oaks is located between the 101 Freeway and Lynn Road at 350 West Hillcrest Avenue, running east to Wilbur Road. Originally constructed in 1978, the 1.3 million square foot shopping mall was renovated in 1993 and again in 2008. In total, there are over 170 stores and services at The Oaks.
Well known brands at The Oaks include Nordstrom, Macy’s, JCPenney, The Apple Store, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma and J.Crew.
Restaurants include The Cheesecake Factory, The Lazy Dog Café, Olive Garden, Urban Plates, Chipotle, Pedals & Pints Brewing Co., Bazille (inside Nordstroms), Wood Ranch BBQ, and coming soon, Plata Taqueria, as well as numerous options in the food court area.
The 2008 remodel brought a multi-level parking structure with over 1,300 parking spaces and digital signs that tell you how many spaces are available. There's a beautiful outdoor shops area on the east side of the mall that leads to AMC Thousand Oaks 14 and adjacent restaurants.
For more information, visit www.shoptheoaksmall.com or call 805.495.2032.
EV charging at The Oaks: Available on the south side behind AMC Theaters and the outdoor shops area from EVgo. Additional EV charging available free of charge on north side near Macy’s Men’s & Home Store and on the west side near Macy’s Women’s Store. There are Tesla Urban Superchargers on the south side of the parking structure.
The Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum opened at the Simi Valley Town Center in December 2018. It is located directly across from the Vans store in the mall in a space of over 10,000 square feet.
The International Skateboarding Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Todd Huber. It was created to honor the passion, dedication and contributions to skateboarding history and culture by skateboarders and cultural icons through the decades.
The museum displays hundreds of skateboards and other skating artifacts spanning decades. There is also an art gallery, gift shop, theater/library (over 600 skating videos as well as skating magazines) and skate shop.
Also on site is s skate park with a fun wall ride available to local youth. Cost is $15 (as of March 2024).
Admission to the museum is free. Donations to the non-profit are always welcome.
Visit www.skateboardinghalloffame.org for more information. Hours as of March 2024 are Wed-Fri 2-8pm, Sat 11am-8pm and Sun noon-5pm.
There are hundreds of parks in Ventura County and surrounding areas. DOZENS of them are described in the Kid Fun section of CVG with pics and videos for you to check out!
But here is a compilation with links to all the various parks in the area.
Agoura Hills: www.agourahillscity.org/department/community-services-parks-recreation/parks-facilities/parks (6 parks)
Calabasas: www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-facilities (8 parks)
Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas
Camarillo: www.pvrpd.org/parks-list (28 active and passive use parks)
Malibu: www.malibucity.org/Facilities (6 parks)
Moorpark: www.moorparkca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/94 (18 parks)
Oak Park: rsrpd.org/parks/oak_park/parks/index.php (10 parks)
Ojai: www.ojairec.com/221/City-Parks (8 parks)
Oxnard: www.oxnard.org/city-department/public-works/parks (58 parks)
Port Hueneme: www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=553 (6 parks)
Santa Paula: spcity.org/300/Parks-Facilities (11 parks)
Simi Valley: rsrpd.org/parks/simi_valley/parks/index.php (37 parks)
Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park/Westlake Village) www.crpd.org/parks-reservations/parks (51 parks)
Thousand Oaks Community Park
Ventura: www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1952/City-Parks (24 parks)
County of Ventura Beach Front Parks: www.ventura.org/gsa/parks/beach-front-parks (3 parks)
County of Ventura Inland Parks: www.ventura.org/inland-parks (13 parks)
Westlake Village: www.wlv.org/city_services/parks-rec.asp (8 parks)
The Arroyo Simi Bike Path is a two lane bike path in Simi Valley that runs from Madera Road, just south of Easy Street on the west, ending at Cochran Avenue between Fig Street and Ralston Street on the east (more recently, the path has been extended east to Tapo Street).
Over seven miles in total. It is also referred to as the Arroyo Simi Greenway.
The Arroyo Simi is a waterway that begins at Corriganville Park in east Simi Valley and extends west all the way through Simi Valley until into merges into Arroyo Las Posas and Conejo Creek into Calleguas Creek. It is managed by the County of Ventura but the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District has access to the pathway for recreational use.
While this path is nowhere near as visually appealing as bike paths along Ventura Beach and such, the Arroyo Simi Bike Path is almost entirely flat and allows passageway along much of Simi Valley from east to west. You can really do a lot of exploration from this artery. We like to park at the East Street entry point and bike to Rancho Simi Community Park (2.2 miles one way), Rancho Santa Susana Park (6 miles one way) and various other areas.
Because this path is so long and flat (and not crowded), it is a nice destination for learning to ride. However, do be aware that there are a number of street crossings where you are asked to walk your bike across. They are protected by lights and signs, however.
Arroyo Simi bike path entry point at Easy Street and Madera.
Arroyo Simi Bike path may not be the most picturesque path but is nicely flat and goes a long way!
There are numerous entry points to the path, which largely parallels Los Angeles Avenue; this one is just east of Ralston off of Los Angeles Avenue.
More information at www.rsrpd.org/business_detail_T9_R7.php
Visit a fully restored Southern Pacific Railroad depot that was built in 1903 with both freight and passenger trains rushing by at the Santa Susana Depot Museum and Model Railroad. The depot served passengers and farmers in Simi Valley for over 60 years, with a classic passenger waiting room featuring a pot-belly stove, the depot was also headquarters for local freight shipments.
The depot is a museum filled with hundreds of items having both railroad and local historical significance. The depot is owned and managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, which took it over from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1973. The depot was moved to its current location and after 10 years of neglect was restored to its current state by 1996. The depot was restored to what it looked like in 1938.
Also at the depot is the Santa Susana Model Railroad Club’s large operating HO scale model railroad. Located inside the depot's freight room, the layout of the railroad portrays Simi Valley during the mid 1950s. Trains run each weekend, with Sundays being the best day to see several trains operating simultaneously.
The depot is located on the grounds of Simi Valley’s beautiful Oak Knolls Park. For you rail fans, the depot is adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad’s busy “Coast Line,” which is also utilized by both Amtrak and Metrolink passenger trains. You will standing in close proximity to passing trains, so get ready to wave!
The depot is located at 6503 Katherine Road in Simi Valley. For more information and a map to the depot/parking, visit www.santasusanapacific.org or call 805.581.3462. The depot is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Ventura Harbor Village at 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura is home to 33 acres of harborside activities, shopping and restaurants. The weather is always so cool over there it makes for a nice retreat.
Go for a walk along the boardwalk or at the beach or enjoy activities like kayaking, sailing, pedal boats, sport-fishing and cruises. Ventura Harbor Village hosts events and activities year-round, including music performances, kids' activities, themed events, festivals and more.
Eateries at Ventura Harbor Village include Andria's Seafood Restaurant, Baja Bay Surf N' Taco, Boatyard Pub, Brophy Bros. Clam Bar & Restaurant, Coastal Cone Ice Cream, Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room, Le Petit Cafe, Bakery & Restaurant, Margarita Villa Mexican Restaurant, On The Alley, Sugar Lab Bake Shop, The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood and The Parlor. You won't go hungry here.
The Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center is located adjacent to Ventura Harbor Village. Free admission and an awesome resource for learning more about the Channel Islands and its protected habitat.
Island Packers at the Harbor has numerous boat rides and is the only authorized concessionaire to transport folks to Channel Islands National Park.
Ventura Boat Rentals rents out electric boats, paddle boats, kayaks, power boats and charters cruises in the Ventura Harbor. So much fun to be had!
Across the street from Ventura Harbor Village is beach access at Harbor Cove Beach (a safe beach protected by jetties) and Surfer's Knoll Beach. Local area beaches at THIS LINK.
More information at www.venturaharborvillage.com or call 805.642.8538 (or 877.89.HARBOR).
The Spring Canyon Trail is a short, fairly easy hike in the Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks section of the Los Robles Trail system that is great family fun.
Although a good portion of the Spring Canyon Trail is flat like this, there definitely are some moderately hilly sections.
This one mile trail runs east from the vicinity of Lynn Oaks Park, 359 Capitan Street, Newbury Park as well from the eastern terminus of Hemlock Lane, at Heavenly Valley Road in Newbury Park (in the Ventu Park community) to a juncture where you can either continue straight ahead for about a half a mile towards the Los Robles Trail access point at South Moorpark Road and Greenmeadow Avenue in Thousand Oaks or veer up "Space Mountain" on the right. (The views at the top of Space Mountain are awesome but this is a bit of a climb and is very popular with mountain bikers...probably not the best direction with little ones).
The path that takes you from Lynn Oaks Park to the Spring Canyon Trail.
Sign above Lynn Oaks Park that tells you that to the left is Los Robles Trail and to the right is the Hemlock Lane gate in Ventu Park.
Out and back you can make this a 2 to 3 mile moderate hike or more if you add in the Oak Creek Canyon Loop or Los Robles Nature Walk.
Sign at the east terminus of Spring Canyon Trail indicating Moorpark Road is half a mile away. Behind me is the trail toward "Space Mountain" and Los Robles Trail going east towards Newbury Park.
You can also park your car at the Moorpark Road/Greenmeadow trailhead and make your way west towards the Spring Canyon Trail and perhaps eat lunch or snack at Lynn Oaks Park (which by the way also has a nice playground area, basketball court and more...but no restroom however).
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide® covers thousands of events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County, California and surrounding areas.
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