MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation in Santa Barbara

MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, is a one-of-a-kind museum for all ages designed to ignite learning through interactive experiences in science and creativity.  

The museum opened its doors to the public on February 25, 2017 at 125 State Street, Santa Barbara, adjacent to the Amtrak Station.

The museum's three floors are filled with 17,000 sq ft of hands-on exhibits that encourage open-ended discovery, analytical assessment, experimentation, play and just plain fun.

The interactive exhibits are organized around seven themes that all relate to science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

• Tech Track: Includes an Innovation Workshop, a makerspace area where you can imagine, design and test your own creations using a wide variety of technologies and tools

• Sound Track: In this largest exhibit area on the first floor is a Giant Guitar to learn about how your favorite guitar riffs begin, a Sound Machine, the Reactable (part DJ table, part musical instrument), Foley Studios sound studios and more.

• Fantastic Forces Courtyard: This space is dedicated to gravity, magnetism, propulsion, centripetal force and more. Conduct test flights in our Wind Column Workshop, launch an Air Rocket and discover the power of magnetic fields on our Magnetic Islands.

• Speed Track: Build your own race car and send it down the race track, play the game of Mindball, prototype designs for a marble roller coaster and more.

• Light Track: Explore lights, colors, shadows and more. Take the ultimate selfie at Mosaic Faces. Create a bold display of colored lights at Light Patterns. Control the Color Mixing Machine that hangs above the entryway and learn more about color and light waves.

• Interactive Media Track: Explore a wide range of digital interactive experiences designed in partnership with area artists, educators and scientists.

• Sky Garden: The exhibit-filled rooftop includes Whitewater, a fully interactive water feature including a giant Archimedes screw. Create a wind-, sun- and human-powered symphony with the Weather Orchestra. Step inside the Lookout Tower to see the city through the lenses of five different observation scopes. And walk across the glass Sky Deck for a unique view of the courtyard below.

MOXI is open daily, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $20 for ages 13+, $15 for ages 2 to 12 and free under age 2. The museum encourages the purchase of timed-entry tickets in advance at www.moxi.org or you can purchase tickets when you arrive.

MORE ON MOXI AT THIS LINK

Ambush Paintball and Airsoft Park in Moorpark

Ambush Paintball and Airsoft Park opened in April 2013 at 8643 Shekell Road in Moorpark, off of Grimes Canyon Road. There is a turfed arena field and six scenario fields. Full rental gear available. Open for walk-in play, private parties, corporate teambuilding events and birthday parties. Great for beginners through seasoned veterans. Airsoft currently available on Sundays.

Learn more at www.ambushairsoftpark.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Ambushpaintballpark.

The Ambush property used to be the 200+ acre Egg City, which at its peak housed 3.5 million chickens that laid 2 million eggs a day! Egg City closed in 1996 and the structures on the site were burned down in a fire in 2006.

Casitas Water Adventure in Ventura

Casitas Water Adventure is a water park at the Lake Casitas Recreation Area that is open throughout the summer, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (mid-Sept for weekend sessions).

There are two distinct areas. For younger children, there is an aquatic play structure designed for all ages, with two water buckets and five slides - two for kids and three for teens and adults.

The new Aquatic mega play unit Structure completed in 2023

The 1,200 foot long Lazy River offers a cool water ride on inner tubes along a scenic waterway featuring waterfalls, fog filled bridges and jet sprays. The inner tubes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but usually there are plenty of them on hand.

The 1,200 foot long lazy river at Casitas Water Adventure is my kids' favorite.

For the very youngest tots, a zero-depth pool sprays water from all angles, providing a safe, fun play area.

Shaded decks, lounge chairs, showers, restrooms and a snack bar are available, but food is not allowed inside the park (though you can bring bottled water). Certified lifeguards are on hand at all times and life jackets are available at no extra charge while supplies last. Locker rentals are available for a nominal fee.

Do take note that they don't heat the water here. It is a bit on the cold side for many, though on hot days this can be a good thing.

Lake Casitas Recreation Area is located at 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura. Take Highway 33 from Ventura towards Ojai, make a left turn on Santa Ana Blvd, then a right on Santa Ana Road 3 or 4 miles to the park entrance.

Weekend morning sessions 10:30 am to 2 pm and afternoon sessions 3 to 6:30 pm. Weekday hours are 11am to 6pm. The cost for the 2024 season is $20 per person on weekdays and $23 on weekends.

Visit www.casitaswater.org/casitas-water-adventure for details.

Parking inside Lake Casitas is $20 on weekends/holidays and $10 on weekdays. There is parking available on Santa Ana Road if you don't mind walking.

This is the “old” (Pre-2023) aquatic Play Structure (for historical purposes)

Coach Patty's School of Gymnastics in Camarillo

Coach Patty’s School of Gymnastics is located near Old Town Camarillo at 300 S. Lewis Road, Suite E.  The school has programs for recreational artistic gymnastics, preschool gymnastics, competitive team gymnastics for boys and girls, tumbling & trampoline programs for both children and adults.

The facility is over 16,000 sq ft and is loaded with state of the art equipment, including 60’ Tumble Trak, trampolines, double Mini Trampoline, high bars, balance beams spring floors, vault systems and a 84 foot fiberglass rod floor for power tumbling and a ring tower.  Just for kids preschool equipment.

Coach Patty’s also offers fun-filled gymnastic birthday parties, gymnastic camps, and more.

For more information, visit www.coachpattyusa.com or call 805.383.9460.

Gold Coast Gymnastics in Ventura

Gold Coast Gymnastics, a 5,000 square foot facility located at 4005 E. Main Street in Ventura, offers classes for boys & girls 15 months to adult. Recreational through competitive gymnastics including open gym (Fridays 8-9:30PM), tumbling and trampoline, birthday parties, day camps, summer camps, field trips and more. 

Visit www.goldcoastgymnasticsclub.com or call 805.658.2825 for more information.

All Stars Athletics Indoor Batting Cages and Sports Training Facility in Newbury Park

All Stars Athletics, located at 711 Rancho Conejo Boulevard, Newbury Park, is a 14,000 sq. ft. indoor sports facility established in 2010 that provides training and instructional opportunities in baseball, softball, soccer and more.

There are seven Iron Mike pitching machines with speeds ranging from 35 mph to 80 mph, a 3,500 sq. ft. multi-sport astro turf training area, a team room area that seats up to 15 people, waiting area with wifi access and more. All Stars also offers party and corporate event packages with fully supervised and customized games and optional access to batting machines.

Visit www.allstarsathletics.com or call 805.498.6200 for more information.

'ololkoy Beach Park (Oxnard Beach Park)

The ‘ololkoy Beach Park* (formerly Oxnard Beach Park) is located on South Harbor Boulevard, South of Wooley Road and next to the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort in Oxnard.  The park has a large pirate-themed play area. There is a larger structure for 5 to 12 year olds and a smaller one for younger kids.

*Renamed after the Chumash word for dolphin in 2023.

This park is just a short walk to the beach, where you and the kids can spend time digging holes, building sand castles and running from the waves. The park is also in close vicinity to Channel Islands Harbor. 

The park has a large grassy area, restrooms, BBQ grills, bike paths, etc.  There is a parking fee at this park; just $1/hour or $5/day.

For more information, visit visitoxnard.com/directory/oxnard-beach-park.

The Arterie Art Studio in Thousand Oaks

The Arterie Art Studio at 2219 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 105, Thousand Oaks is an art studio for both kids and adults that offers art classes, camps, birthday parties and more.

Visit www.thearterie.org or call 805.379.1426 for more information.

Big Z Family Fun Center in Simi Valley

Big Z Family Fun Center and Restaurant at 2428 Stearns Street, Simi Valley has homemade pizzas, appetizers, salads, pasta and more! Big Z's is over 5,000 feet and has over 50 arcade games, many of which you can win tickets to cash in for prizes (a la Chuck E Cheese). Great place to throw birthday parties, team parties, etc.  More information at www.bigzsimi.com or 805.526.3000.

Big Z is 20 to 25 miles from the Conejo Valley as it is located in the eastern-most part of Simi Valley.

Rancho Simi Community Pool in Simi Valley

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District maintains the massive Rancho Simi Community Pool, located at 1765 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley.

The pool is available year round for lap swimming, recreational swimming, swimming lessons, birthday parties, periodic events and more.

Hours vary for recreational swimming, so check website below for schedules. Admission (as of July 2024) is $4 for ages 2 to 49 and $2 for ages 50+.

To learn more, visit www.rsrpd.org/recreation/aquatics.php.