Wheel Fun Rentals - Bike Rentals - Ventura

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With a number of locations in Ventura and Santa Barbara, Wheel Fun Rentals provides an assortment of bicycles, quads, coupes, surreys, tag-alongs and other two to four wheel human powered vehicles for rides along the beach. They also offer a wide assortment of water vehicles...boats, surfboards, boogie boards, etc.

Santa Barbara is my favorite nearby daytime destination with the kids as there are so many things to do that we all enjoy, one of them being riding bikes along the ocean.

Nearby locations as of September 2022 are:

Oxnard- Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road (805.984.1994)

Oxnard - Channel Islands Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd (805.910.7257)

Oxnard - Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge, 2101 W. Vineyard Avenue (805.278.2200)

Port Hueneme - Holiday Inn Express, 350 E. Port Hueneme Road (805.986.5353)

Ventura - Crowne Plaza, 450 E. Harbor Blvd (805.648.2100)

Ventura Pier 850 Harbor Blvd., Ventura (805.765.5795)

Ventura State Beach Picnic Area 901 San Pedro, Ventura (805.650.7770)

Santa Barbara - Hilton Beachfront Resort 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara - Near Stearns Wharf 24 E. Mason Street (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara Train Station 215 State Street (805.966.2282)

For more information visit www.wheelfunrentals.com or call 805.650.7770.

Camarillo Bike Path Next to Calleguas Creek

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Looking to take the kids on a nice, flat bike path unimpeded by cars? A great choice is the roughly 2 mile Calleguas Creek bike path from Pleasant Valley Fields at 100 Village at the Park Drive in Camarillo off the Dawson 101 exit up to the corner of Flynn and Upland Roads in Camarillo.

Look at how nice and flat this bike path adjacent to Calleguas Creek is!

Look at how nice and flat this bike path adjacent to Calleguas Creek is!

This is a nice, smooth and flat bike path that goes under several bridges, including the 101 freeway, so that you don't have to worry about cars! You can park your car at Pleasant Valley Fields and ride up and back down the path. This is a comfortable path to learn on as well as just enjoy.

At the north end of the path, you can detour off the path to Pitts Ranch Park at 1400 Flynn Road, just a short block northwest of the path, and enjoy lunch.

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Calleguas Creek

Calleguas Creek

Sapwi Bike Park in Thousand Oaks

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Beginners’ pump track at Sapwi Trails Community Park.

Beginners’ pump track at Sapwi Trails Community Park.

The Sapwi Bike Park project is a partnership between the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) and Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). The park is a free, public recreational bicycle skills park facility located in the heart of beautiful Sapwi Trails Community Park in Thousand Oaks.

The park also features several miles of multi-use trails, natural habitat preservation, and other activities such as disc golf, cross-country running, and a non-motorized glider flying area.

The Sapwi Trails Bike Park offers a wide range of trails and features to challenge all ages and skill levels. In addition to a pump track, the park features progressive drop and jump lines – varying in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Outside of the dedicated bike park area, there are several trail side feature areas and a hard-surface beginner level pump track.

This 145 acre Sapwi Trails Community Park is located in the open space between Erbes Road (at Scenicpark Street) on the west and Westlake Boulevard east, with Avenida de los Arboles on the north. There are three parking lots off of Erbes, Arboles and Westlake Boulevard.

Learn more about the Sapwi Bike Park at sapwibikepark.com.

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Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center in Newbury Park

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Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship manages the former Rocking K Horse Rentals and Boarding at 4790 Lynn Road in Newbury Park. The new facility is called the Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center.

The 20 acre facility adjacent to the Rancho Potrero Open Space is home to about 100 horses. Horseback riding is available on Fridays at 5pm, Saturdays at 9:30am and 11:30am and Sundays at 9am and 10:30am.

$65 per person for a one hour guided trail ride. Must be reserved and paid for in advance at www.ranchopotrerotrailrides.org.

More information at ranchopotrero.org or call 805-491-1230.

Sunday morning guided horse ride in Rancho Potrero on a mid-August Sunday morning 2022.

Surfer's Knoll Beach in Ventura

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Surfer's Knoll Beach is located in Ventura adjacent from Ventura Harbor Village and as its name implies, is geared towards surfers, as well as others looking to relax and explore. Riptides are common here so be careful if you're a novice swimmer. There are restrooms and showers available. Lifeguard service on weekends only in May until Memorial Day weekend, then daily through Labor Day weekend. There is a relatively small parking lot available at 1596 Spinnaker Drive; parking is free.

One great thing about this beach is that it is one of the few almost completely westbound facing beaches throughout the area, meaning...it is a great place to catch the sunset! And several of the Channel Islands - Anacapa and Santa Cruz.

Though this is a nice, sandy beach, a better beach for kids/families is just north up the road at Harbor Cove Beach, which is calmer water, protected by jetties. 

Surfer’s Knoll Beach, Harbor Cove Beach and South Beach is managed by the Ventura Port District at venturaharbor.com/beaches.

Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai

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The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts at 8585 Ojai Road in Ojai celebrates the life and work of Beatrice Wood while presenting exhibitions of contemporary art, workshops and events. The Center, housed in the Happy Valley homes once occupied by Beatrice Wood and her good friend Rosalind Rajagopal, features a permanent exhibition sharing Beatrice Wood's life story with memorabilia, her collection of folk art and wonderful examples of her ceramic art. Changing exhibitions feature work by contemporary artists.

Beatrice Wood was an important contemporary artist, craftperson and writer. Her life ran the course of the 20th century and included many of the figures that shaped it. Ultimately, her genius was in the marriage of wide-ranging influences in her work. The spirit of Dadaism, impact of Modernism, embrace of Eastern philosophy, influence of folk art and even the ornament of ethnic jewelry were all combined in her ceramics. Her work reveals a mastery of form, combined with a preference for the naïveté of folk art. Ultimately, it is impossible to separate her life experiences from the work she created, as she truly mastered the art of a life.  More bio on Beatrice here.

The Center is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. Visit www.beatricewood.com or call (805) 646-3381 for more information.

Hike to the Cross in the Hills Above Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks

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Views of Santa Rosa Valley from the hills above CLU.

Views of Santa Rosa Valley from the hills above CLU.

For a quick local hike and a calorie burner, try hiking to the cross in the hills above Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

You can park in the CLU lot near the community pool at 100 Overton Court, Thousand Oaks. Then head in the direction of the adjacent baseball fields. Take the path just west of the fields towards the hills. After crossing the bridge, I veer right on the trail.

The hike itself is not particularly picturesque until you get to the top of the hill. On the east end of the hilltop is the prominent cross, along with several benches for enjoying the fruits of your uphill labor. Views extend towards the Santa Rosa Valley on the north and Thousand Oaks on the south.

You can continue your way west up the hill if you’d like. In total, the hike is about a mile to a mile and a half round-trip.

The trails are usually well maintained, though you can slip on the dirt if you don’t have decent traction on your shoes. Couldn’t hurt to bring a walking stick for the steeper, slippery parts of the hill towards the top.

So if you’re really feeling energetic, there’s a trail that takes you to Wildwood Park from these trails. See THIS LINK.

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As you make your way towards the hill after passing by the baseball fields, you’ll see this sign.

As you make your way towards the hill after passing by the baseball fields, you’ll see this sign.

Harbor Village Gallery and Buenaventura Art Association

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Located at Ventura Harbor Village, the Harbor Village Gallery and Artisan Store is an exhibiting art space of the Buenaventura Art Association (BAA). BAA was established in 1954 to give Ventura visual artists a place to exhibit and sell their art work. The Harbor Village Gallery rotates group and solo shows and provides visitors and locals the opportunity to support the talented local arts scene. Harbor Village Gallery is currently open seven days per week 11 a.m. - 6p.m.. For more information please visit www.harborvillagegallery.com or call (805) 644-2750.

Universal Studios Hollywood

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Universal Studios Hollywood includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour, the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event venue.

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The theme park features such groundbreaking attractions as "Revenge of the Mummy The Ride," "Shrek 4-D™," "Jurassic Park® The Ride" and the world-renowned Studio Tour, which takes guests behind-the-scenes of such landmark TV and movie locations and sets as Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds."

There is an upper and lower lot at Universal Studios. The upper lot is where to catch the Studio Tour, Simpsons Ride, Special Effects Stage, WaterWorld, Animal Actors, House of Horrors and more. The lower lot is a long series of escalators down to the Jurassic Park water ride and Revenge of the Mummy ride.

Universal Studios is great. However, I will say that my 5 and 8 year olds seemed to get antsy here quickly, even with characters like Shrek, Spongebob, Curious George, The Simpsons and Scooby Doo in abundance. The rides are not particularly geared towards young kids. And while the Studio Tour is awesome, but even with the fun sights and narration (and of course Jaws, King Kong, earthquake and othe spectacular effects), at 45 minutes, the ride for some little ones may be a bit long. Just wanted to get that out there...not that you'll necessarily have the same experience as me!

Universal CityWalk features many entertainment-themed restaurants, nightclubs, shops and dynamic entertainment options. CityWalk alone is plenty of entertainment for the better part of a day. There are 19 theaters, including an 8-story IMAX®. There's indoor skydiving with iFLY Hollywood, Jillian's Hi Life Lanes (bowling and games), Jon Lovitz Comedy Club and more.

One thing we did was to purchase a 2 day pass, which allowed us to stay half a day at the park and then hang out on Citywalk. One other word of caution. We visited on December 31, 2010. Big M-I-S-T-A-K-E! It was horrendously crowded and the lines were crazy and packed with out of towners here for the Rose Bowl. So I'd advice against that if you are a local. But our return trip in April was perfectly fine. Lines were not bad at all :> Visit www.universalstudioshollywood.com for more information.

The Simpsons' Krustyland Virtual Coaster Ride and The Flintstones BBQ. One of many long escalators from lower to upper lot. Getting a bit wet at the end of the Jurassic Park ride.

The Simpsons Family as popular as ever!

National Park Service Visitor Center in Thousand Oaks (Moved to Calabasas in 2012)

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IN JUNE 2012, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VISITOR CENTER MOVED TO THE ANTHONY C. BEILENSON VISITOR CENTER IN CALABASAS. CLICK THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION

The National Park Service Visitor Center, located at 401 West Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks, is an outstanding place to learn more about the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SSMNRA). SSMNRA is over 154,000 square acres, which makes it the largest urban national park in the United States.

The National Park Service controls 21,500 of those acres and the best place to learn more about the SMM is this Visitor Center! There is always has someone on duty to answer questions about trails, maps, habitat, plants, hiking, camping, etc. Additionally, the Center has informational displays, maps and brochures, books and educational items for the kids for sale.

Visit the NPS website at www.nps.gov/samo for more information or call the Center at 805.370.2301.

Scandinavian Center at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks

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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.