Gates Canyon Park / Brandon's Village - Calabasas

The 7 acre Gates Canyon Park at 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Calabasas includes picnic areas with barbeques, fitness course, children's play area, basketball court, tennis courts and plenty of open grass area.  The park is north of the 101 freeway and east of Las Virgenes.

Brandon’s Village at Gates Canyon Park originally opened in October 2006 as a universally accessible playground. It was completely renovated in 2024 with a million dollar upgrade and the theme “Above the Tree Line.” This 15,000 sq ft all-inclusive playground has play structures for ages 2-5 and 5-12. There is also a new sand area and trike zone for creative play.

Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-facilities for more information.

Photo of a portion of the original Brandon’s Village play structure that was remodeled in 2024.

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.

Freedom Park BMX Raceway in Camarillo

Developed through the generous support of the Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District, Freedom Park BMX Raceway is a bicycle motocross facility offering year-round recreational riding and competitive racing opportunities. Sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association - FP BMX provides a healthy, positive cycling environment for participants of all ages.

Freedom Park, at 528 Freedom Park Drive, Camarillo, is a 30 acre park featuring sports facilities of six soccer fields, three lighted softball fields, RC racetrack, BMX track and inline-hockey rink. Located at the Camarillo Airport, it also has a community center, playground and a 24-table group picnic shelter with barbecue grills.

For more information, visit www.freedomparkbmx.com or call 805.824.7854.

Kids Fun Zone and Outdoor Play Area at Janss Marketplace

Janss Marketplace announces the themes for the 2024 FREE Kids Fun Zone, held from 12 – 2 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month from April through October. Each month children, ages 12 and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, are invited to enjoy free shows, crafts, music and dance at the Kids Fun Zone at Janss Marketplace, located at 275 North Moorpark Road East in Thousand Oaks, just off the 101 Freeway at Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive. Register NOW for one, or all Kids Fun Zone events at eventbrite.com.  

Kids Fun Zone upcoming dates and themes:

• April 27th: Bunnies in Spring

• May 25th: Totally Turtles & Tortoises

• June 29th: Musical Puppet Show & Balloons

• July 27th: Bubbles, Puppets & Balloons

• August 31st: Summer Music Jam

• September 28th: Friendly Frogs & Cheerful Bugs

• October 26th: Character Dress-up Fun

Visit janssmarketplace.com for more information about the monthly Kids Fun Zone and other free community events.

The playground area at Janss Marketplace.

Kids' Adventure Garden in Thousand Oaks

The Kids' Adventure Garden (KAG) at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is open every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The KAG is a fun place for children to learn about nature and gardening.  The garden features a tree house, pirate's cave, zoo garden, hydroponic pod and much more. Free admission (though donations are welcome). Enter at W. Gainsborough Road at Jeaunine Drive. between Lynn Road and Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks.

Kids love running around the KAG and exploring the nearby trails and stream.  Additionally, Conejo Community Park is next to the garden, with a nice playground area, expansive grass and picnic areas.

Visit www.conejovalleybotanicgarden.com/collections for more information and pictures. Additionally, a Native Plant Nursery is open at this location on Sundays.

Alameda Park in Santa Barbara

Ranking high up on the list of parks with cool play areas around town is Alameda Park, located at the corner of Garden Street and E. Micheltorena Street in Santa Barbara. Alameda Park has an 8,000 sq ft mostly wooden play structure that was built by local residents.

Your kids will fall in love with the nooks, crannies, steps, bridges and places to hide in this play structure. There are also swings and things to climb on. The park itself is 2 blocks long and one of the oldest parks in Santa Barbara. It is next door to the beautiful Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Plenty of grass, spectacular, large shade trees and much more make this a perfect picnic lunch stop when you're in town.

More information at www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/parks/features/horticulture/alameda.asp.

Free Airplane Rides for Kids in Camarillo and Santa Paula

Each month, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 723 offers free flights to youth ages 8 through 17, weather permitting.

The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give young people the opportunity to fly in a general aviation airplane. EAA volunteers will explain what you will see and do pre-flight, then take you on a 15 to 20 minute flight. After the flight, your pilot will present you with your own Young Eagles logbook, along with an entry for the flight.

In Camarillo, flights take place from the EAA Hangar Area at 501 Aviation Drive at the Camarillo Airport on the first Saturday of the month. Look for signs; it is next to Commemorative Air Force, CAF Museum, and near the Animal Shelter. Please park on the street, Aviation Way. DO NOT PARK in the CAF Parking Lot.

In Santa Paula, flights are from Santa Paula Airport and take place on the first Sunday of each month. Look for signs.

Visit chapters.eaa.org/eaa723/young-eagles/eagles-flights for more information.

Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara

Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara is a huge park that sandwiches East Cabrillo Boulevard.  On the ocean side of Cabrillo the park consists of a palm-lined, narrow strip of park adjacent to East Beach with an oceanfront bike path and walkway from Stearns Wharf to East Beach.  This side of the park is host to Sunday/holiday arts and crafts shows.  The 14,600 square foot Skater's Point skate park is also located on this side of the park.

Call 805.564.5418 for more information or visit www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/parks/features/playgrounds/chase.asp.

On the other side of Cabrillo is a huge 10 acre parcel that features fountains, creeks, a lagoon, carousel, snack bar and a shipwreck playground modeled after an ocean schooner from the turn of the century.

The park is walking distance to Stearns Wharf, the beach, bike rentals, State Street, etc.

From 1999 to 2017, the park was home to a vintage 1916 40 foot in diamater carousel, The carousel was relocated to Fort Hood, Oregon to a museum.

Bike Paths In and Around Ventura County

Click the image below for a link to finding Class I (bicycle only...no cars) bike paths in the Conejo Valley and throughout Greater Ventura County! And yes, those are scooters in the picture! Bikes, scooters, roller skates, it's all good!

Bob Kildee Community Park in Camarillo

Bob Kildee Community Park is located at 1030 Temple Avenue (at Ponderosa) in Camarillo. This 13 acre park has newer play equipment and restrooms, 6 lighted tennis courts, pickleball courts, handball courts, horseshoe pits, soccer fields, picnic shelters and BBQ pits, 3 lighted baseball fields, the Pleasant Valley Skate Park, and Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center. More information at www.pvrpd.org/bob-kildee-community-park.

The park is named after the Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District's first Chairman of the Board from 1962-1966 and again in 1968.

As you can see from the photos below, the play area has some pretty cool and unique equipment!