Peace, Tranquility and Views at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks

Looking for a quick retreat in the center of Thousand Oaks? Visit the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, adjacent to Conejo Community Park at 400 W. Gainsborough Road.

The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is a 33 acre sanctuary on a hill that overlooks the Conejo Valley. You will be able to rewind in peace here while enjoying the views and solitude.

Signs throughout the gardens help visitors find their way around.

There are several miles of trails at CVBG that lead you to a variety of sections, including a Salvia Garden, Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Bird Habitat, Australian Garden, Desert Garden, Rare Fruit Orchard, Japanese Style Tranquility Garden, Oak Tree Grove, Trail of Trees and more.

Japanese Tranquility Garden is back here.

Beauty and color found in the Desert Garden.

Benches abound throughout the Conejo Valley Botanic Gardens.

The views from up here are nothing short of spectacular. Feeling stressed? Do the 10 minute walk up the hill, where you can watch civilization below. There are several dozen benches as well as a few picnic benches available.

Views beyond the surrounding chaparral. The sounds of the 101 freeway and civilization down below are actually relaxing from up here.

Interesting cactus display in the Desert Garden.

On Sundays (with the exception of some major holidays), the Kids Adventure Garden, adjacent to the Botanic Garden, is open to the public from 11am to 3pm. The Kids Adventure Garden features fun paths to follow, a tree house and more, as well as hiking and access to a creek. Fun place for young kids' birthday parties too!

The Kids Adventure Garden adjacent to CVBG is open only on Sundays from 11am to 3pm.

To learn more about the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, visit www.conejogarden.org. Open 7 days a week, sunrise to sunset; Closed Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Also closed when it is rainy, muddy and/or very windy.

CVBG is a 501(c)3 non-profit run entirely by volunteers. To maintain these gardens is a lot of work and costs are involved, so consider making a donation.

The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard is a Ventura County Crown Jewel (Closing Its Doors February 10, 2024)

On January 17, 2024, the Mullin Automotive Museum announced it will be closing its doors on Saturday, February 10th, in light of the passing of Peter Mullin in September 2023. More information at THIS LINK.

The 46,000 square foot Mullin Automotive Museum in Downtown Oxnard is spectacular!

Open only a few days a month to the general public, this is one museum that is a MUST SEE. The autos, made by Bugatti, Voisin, Delahaye, Delage, Talbot-Labo, Hispano-Suiza, Renault, Peugeot and others, are works of art from the 1930s and 1940s, when autos were more than transportation. In addition to the autos, there are representative furnishings and works of art from the era on display.

Visit www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com and reserve a visit. The photos and video footage below are great but don't come anywhere close to a visit in person!

The museum will be reopening on November 6, 2020 after closure due to the pandemic.

The California True Colors Garden and Learning Center in Thousand Oaks

The California True Colors Garden and Learning Center in front of the Goebel Senior Adult Center in Thousand Oaks is a cooperative project with the University of California Master Gardener Program, Calleguas Muncipal Water District, Conejo Recreation and Park District and the City of Thousand Oaks.

The Garden, located at 1385 East Janss Road in Thousand Oaks, is adjacent to the Thousand Oaks Library and surrounded by plenty of parking. It was established in 2011 to provide the public with examples of plants and practices to conserve water, reduce maintenance and pollution, while offering beauty and a habitat for wildlife.

The mission of the University of California Master Gardener Program is “To extend research based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California and be guided by our core values and strategic initiatives." Learn more about the Ventura County Master Gardeners Program at ucanr.edu/sites/VCMG.

The Garden contains plenty of California "all star" plants that are well suited to our dry environment. You will find truly "water-wise" plants, grasses and trees here. It is also a training ground for the Master Gardener program. Go check it out next time you're over there!

The Historic Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building in Downtown Ventura

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building in Downtown Ventura is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building is located at Fir and Poli Streets in Ventura. Built in 1901, it operated as the Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital for 30 years. This building, listed as a Ventura Historic Landmark and added to the coveted National Register of Historic Places in 1977, is a Mission Revival structure featuring covered terraces and a covered porch with a three-story bell tower at the southeast corner.

In 1932 the building was sold to the County of Ventura and was used as county offices and as a detention facility. Eventually it fell into disrepair and was sold to private investors in 1982, after which it was extensively renovated...but the external facades were preserved.

Now it is home to a variety of businesses. Yours truly worked in this building for about a year many years ago. Great location! Close to the Ventura Botantical Gardens Trail, which is making a comeback from the Thomas Fire of 2017.

While the building is not open to the general public (unless you are visiting one of the businesses located in it), it is worth admiring this beautiful and historic part of Ventura County.

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital in 1910.

Point Mugu Missile Park in Port Hueneme

Naval Base Ventura County hosts "Missile Park" at the juncture of Wood Road and Naval Air Road in Port Hueneme. It is roughly 20 miles from central Thousand Oaks. Take the 101 west to Lewis Road south, then left on Wood Road until it ends at Missile Park. You can't miss it!

While it is called a park, Missile Park is primarily an interesting display of various aircraft and missiles that have been tested at the Naval Base since World War II.

Aircraft on display include an F-14 Tomcat and an F-4 Phantom II. The Phantom II was a two seat, tandem, twin-engine, all weather, long range supersonic jet interceptor fighter that was in service from 1960 to 1996. The Tomcat is a supersonic, two seat, twin-engine fighter craft. The F-14A on display was the 24th F-14 Tomcat manufactured by Grumman Aerospace Corporation and was last flown in January 1993. It belongs to the National Museum of Naval Aviation and is on permanent display at Missile Park.

There is quite a wide array missiles on display at the park, including an AMRAAM missile, Regulus submarine-launched missile, Sidewinder missile, the Loon missile (an American copy of the German V-1), the BQM-34S "Firebee" Aerial Target, the Polaris ballistic missile, Petrel torpedo, Harpoon missile, Phoenix air-to-air missile, Bullpup air-to-surface missile and others.

There is a small parking area at Missile Park, a picnic bench, trash receptacles, but nothing else, other than the displays. No restrooms. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. 

Encounter with Three Deer in Thousand Oaks in August

Had a brief, peaceful encounter recently with these three deer in the Rancho Sierra Vista open space in Newbury Park this morning. I would stand there and stare back for hours if I could, but I had to move along. Hoping for their continued survival as we forged our way through an extreme mid-August heatwave during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's the little things like this that help keep my spirits up through these challenging times.

La Conchita Bike Path Between Mobil Pier Road in Ventura to Rincon Point

My choice for most awesome Class I Bike Path in Ventura County is the La Conchita Bike Path that runs from Mobil Pier Road in Ventura (southwest of Mussel Shoals) to Rincon Point. The path is directly adjacent to the southbound Highway 101.

Entry point to La Conchita Bike Path at Rincon Point Rd/Bates Rd (directly adjacent to the 101 onramp).

This distinct path premiered in September 2014 and provides for roughly 4 miles of unimpeded views of the Pacific Ocean on the west and is directly adjacent to the hustle and bustle of Highway 101 on the other side.

Do views from a bike path ever get any better than this!!??

Class I bike paths are great to bring the entire family on as they are completely separate from street traffic. My kids love this path because it is flat, in great condition and is just so beautiful that its hard not to ride this path without a smile.

This separates the path from southbound 101 traffic. Pretty amazing riding carefree adjacent to the 101.

We brought the bikes to Rincon Beach Park to start our journey on the north end of the path. (Alternatively, park at Rincon Point or on Rincon Pt Road.) You first get to see surfers at the world famous Rincon Point, then on to the La Conchita Beach area.

One of several beach access points to the La Conchita Beach area.

There are several beach access points along the path.  As part of this project, Caltrans built an undercrossing to enable folks to walk to the beach from La Conchita. 

After La Conchita you reach a stopping point at the small community of Mussel Shoals, where you can stop at the Cliff House Inn for a drink and check out the man-made Rincon Island.

A quick stop to view the man-made an inaccessible Rincon Island

Walk your bikes across the offramp to the next bike path entry point, on to the next section of path that half circles southeast to its endpoint at Mobil Pier Road.

You cross here (signs indicate you must walk bikes across) to the next access point.

You will see beach area here referred to as Oil Piers Beach. There used to be piers here but they were taken down in 1998.  There is parking on Mobil Pier Road for beach/bike path access; you can park here and ride the path the opposite direction.

The beauty continues (except for the graffiti) as you ride towards Mobil Pier Road.

Mobil Pier Road is the endpoint of this Class I path, but, you can continue south if you'd like by taking the Mobil Pier Road underpass below the 101 to Pacific Coast Highway going south, past Hobson Beach Park, Rincon Parkway, Faria Beach Park and so on. This section is not Class I path but I've taken my kids here and we enjoy it.

Great stuff! A Ventura County "Bucket List" item that all of you have to try!

FAMILY FRIENDLY BIKE PATHS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY