Hunt Olive Tree - Historical Landmark in Thousand Oaks

When Richard Orville Hunt and his wife Mary Jane Hunt planted trees in their orchard on the Salto Ranch (currently Lynn Ranch) over 130 years ago, they probably never contemplated that one of their trees would be thriving in the Circuit City (now Sprouts Farmers Market as of 5/12/10) parking lot. 

Well, that's where this beautiful old timer is.  I'm not exactly sure why the Hunt Olive Tree was moved here from its prior home in 1993, but she looks like she is doing o.k.  This tree near the entrance of the Sprouts parking lot at 600 West Hillcrest was designated a Ventura County Historical Landmark #64 on January 25, 1982. It is also Historical Landmark #4 in the City of Thousand Oaks.

Richard Hunt served as postmaster of the Newbury Park Post Office (which at the time was located at his ranch) for 18 years, beginning in 1891.

So go pay homage to this lovely link to our local history en route to buying some fresh fruits, veggies and other health foods at Sprouts!

The Hunt Olive Tree next to the old Circuit City sign. I'll keep it in here for nostalgia's sake.

Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons in Agoura Hills

Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons include 4,000 acres in the northernmost section of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, in the Simi Hills. Stroll to Sulphur Springs or hike to the top of Simi Peak for panoramic views of Oak Park, Agoura Hills and Simi Valley. The Chumash lived in these canyons for thousands of years. Many trails within the canyons may have originated with the Chumash and then were expanded by the ranchers who followed.

Cheeseboro Canyon has some of the best cycling and running trails in the area. The lower trailhead is accessed from Cheseboro Road and there is plenty of parking. (On a side note, no one has been able to explain to me why Cheseboro Road is spelled differently than Cheeseboro Canyon.)

Cheeseboro Canyon Trail (CCT) is a 4.6 mile, fairly easygoing main artery into the park, whereas the 4.4 mile Palo Comado Canyon Trail, which largely parallels the CCT, is much more challenging. The Cheeseboro Ridge Trail also parallels the CCT and seems to be favored by cyclists with its long, rolling hills, though distance runners also will enjoy this trail.  Take CCT up through Sulphur Springs and you'll be running through a small (usually) stream bed and a brief rotten egg smell. Then soon the trail becomes more desert-like as you make your way up to the Sheep Corral Trail and the Shepherds' Flat area. It is really beautiful up there though it can get pretty hot, so carry some water!

While there are plenty of steep hills in this area, this is also a great place for strollers, as many of the trails are quite wide and flat.

The only bathroom that I'm aware of in these trails is at the Cheseboro Road trailhead and is not particularly pleasurable to use...just a heads up.

Visit www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/cheeseboropalocomado.htm to learn more and to access a nice pdf trail map. The trailhead is located at 5792 Cheseboro Road. Contact the visitor center at 805.370.2301. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash at all times.

Mullin Automotive Museum

Opened in Spring 2010 and located at 1421 Emerson Avenue in Oxnard, the Mullin Automotive Museum is a 47,000 square foot facility with a collection of over 50 French Art Deco cars from the 1930s and 1940s, including Bugattis, Delages, Delahayes, Hispano Suizas, Talbot-Lagos and Voisins. Peter W. Mullin is the founder/owner of the Museum and the collection.

The Museum is open to the public generally only 1-2 days per month. Click here for more RSVP information. Visit www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com or call 805.385.5400 to learn more and to purchase tickets. As of January 2015, admission is $15 for adults, $10 for 65+, $8 for ages 3 through 11 and free for 2 and under. Active Military FREE with ID. Private visits also available for $40 per person.

Upcoming 2015 dates (as of 2/26/15) are as follow (you must buy tickets in advance to reserve a spot):

Sat, Feb 28, 2015 (The Art of Bugatti exhibit - entire museum)

Sat, Mar 14, 2015 (The Art of Bugatti exhibit - entire museum)

Sat, Mar 28, 2015 (The Art of Bugatti exhibit - entire museum)

Museum closed in April

Sat, May 9, 2015

Fri, May 22, 2015

Sat, Jun 13, 2015

Sat, Jun 27, 2015

Sat, Jul 11, 2015

Sat, Jul 25, 2015

Sat, Aug 8, 2015

Sat, Aug 22, 2015

Sat, Sep 12, 2015

Sat, Sep 26, 2015

Sat, Oct 10, 2015

Sat, Oct 24, 2015

Sat, Nov 7, 2015

Sat, Nov 21, 2015

Sat, Dec 12, 2015

This museum and its contents are STUNNING to say the least!! More photos at THIS LINK.

 

Point Mugu State Park

Point Mugu State Park is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, stretching from Newbury Park on the north to five miles of ocean shoreline on the south. The park includes 14,000 acres of land with over 70 miles of trails popular with hikers, cyclists and runners.  It is truly an amazing place, with rocky peaks that include the prominent Boney Mountain State Wilderness that looks over the western Conejo Valley.

The sign in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park indicating you are entering State-managed Point Mugu State Park

You can actually hike, run or bike from Newbury Park, from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area managed by the National Park Service down to the ocean via Sycamore Canyon "Sycamore to the Sea," which is about an 8 mile trip one way. But do be aware - the initial 800 foot drop from Rancho Sierra Vista into the canyon via Big Sycamore Canyon Road is a bit more challenging coming back up.

The paved hill drop into the canyon via Sycamore Canyon Fire Road

There are four main canyons in Point Mugu State park. Sycamore Canyon is perhaps the most well known, stretching practically the entire north/south length of the park, where at the bottom of the canyon you'll find the 58 space Sycamore Canyon Campground at 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway (make reservations at ReserveAmerica.com at this link).

The Sycamore Canyon Campground connects to the Sycamore Canyon Fire Road, which is your access point to a day of fun and adventure in Point Mugu State Park trails.

The La Jolla Valley Natural Preserve is on the western side of the park, with a main access point near Thornhill Broome State Beach at the Ray Miller Trailhead to the La Jolla Canyon Trail which connects with the Loop Trail. Another access point to PMSP La Jolla Valley is the Chumash Trail trailhead, a rocky, steep trail across from Pt Mugu Beach. La Jolla Valley was purchased by the State of California in 1966 and was established as a Natural Preserve in 1972.

Wood Canyon is in the northwest section of the park, where you will find the north/south running Wood Canyon Fire Road, which connects to the Guadalasca Trail, among others.

Serrano Valley is accessible from the south off the Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road/Trail about a mile north of the beach. A beautiful, serene, area, with a connection to the Old Boney Trail that takes you to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

The main beach areas in Point Mugu State Park, running southeast to northwest, are Sycamore Cove, Thornehill Broome and Pt. Mugu. Sycamore Cove is a fun day-use park popular with families for gatherings with BBQ grills and picnic tables. Learn more about beaches in the Malibu area at this link.

This is the PCH overpass where on low tide you can walk underneath here to get from Sycamore Cove Beach to Sycamore Canyon Campgrounds and hiking in Pt Mugu State Park. In higher tides, this area can be dicey, so be careful.

If you are looking for beachfront camping, try Thornhill Broome Beach, with just over 60 spots available for RVs and tents. No hookups here and only porta-johns available, but can't beat the views! And across the street you can't miss the Giant Sand Dune!

Day use parking at the various sites is available for $12. There is very minimal street parking at Sycamore Cove but plenty of street parking adjacent to Thornhill Broome Beach.

Dogs on a leash are allowed in the Park's day use areas, campgrounds and beaches. Dogs are not allowed on the backcountry trails or dirt roads.

Keep driving northwest on PCH and you'll past the famous Mugu Rock and see Pt. Mugu Beach, which also has day use parking, with some parking on PCH. Learn more at the California State Parks website at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630.

Mugu Rock up ahead, driving north on PCH from Thornehill Broome.

Lastly, let's cover some of the highest peaks in Point Mugu State Park. The Boney Mountain Wilderness Area, ever so prominent from the Conejo Valley, is located in the Park. But Boney Peak itself, at 2828 feet, is actually in the Circle X Ranch area managed by the National Park Service, along with Sandstone Peak, the highest spot in the Santa Monica Mountains at 3111 feet.

Boney Mountain range overlooks the western Conejo Valley

Other peaks include Tri Peaks at 3010 feet, Laguna Peak (the peak which has equipment from Naval Base Ventura County below), La Jolla Peak and Mugu Peak. Perhaps we'll cover these other peaks in more detail at a later date.

Map of Point Mugu State Park courtesy of National Park Service

COMPILIATION OF ALL SORTS OF HIKE AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Strathearn Historical Park and Museum in Simi Valley

Strathearn Historical Park and Museum is located at 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley (off of Tierra Rejada Road, just east of Madera). The Park is operated jointly by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District and the Simi Valley Historical Society.

This is a six acre site that houses numerous historical Simi Valley area artifacts and structures. The namesake of the Park is Robert P. and Mary Gray Lamb Strathearn. Originally from Scotland, they purchased 15,000 acres of the old Spanish Rancho and built their Victorian-style farmhouse onto the front of the Simi Adobe. The Strathearns were cattle ranchers and raised seven children.

Stroll through history at the site, which includes the original Saint Rose of Lima Church built in 1902, the Simi Adobe, Strathearn House, Colony House (the first historic building to be relocated to Strathearn Park in 1970), the original Simi Library built in 1930 and used until a new library was built in 1962, two original Wood Ranch barns from the 1940s, the Simi Store gift shop, the Banaga Barbershop and more.

As of February 2015, the park is open 9 am to 3pm Monday through Friday and 1-4 pm Saturday/Sunday. Hour and a half long docent-led tours Wed through Sunday at 1pm for a $3 donation. For more information, visit www.simihistory.com or call 805.526.6543.

The Strathearn HouseThe precursor to Simi Valley Town Center :>El Rancho Simi rocks!

California Oil Museum in Santa Paula

The California Oil Museum at 1001 E. Main Street, Santa Paula (corner of Main and 10th) is the birthplace of Union Oil Company (aka Unocal and more recently acquired by Chevron in 2005). The building was completed on October 17, 1890. The museum was established in 1950, and the building was restored to its original appearance for its centennial celebration in 1990. Click here for an early picture of the building. The building is also a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum has one of the largest displays of vintage gas pumps in California. There is a turn of the century (20th century, that is) drilling rig. There are various displays, videos, working models and gas station memorabilia at the museum. There are also rotating exhibits about science, technology and transportation as well as other more local exhibits on hand.

As of February 2015, admission is free; donations are welcomed and appreciated. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.

More information at www.oilmuseum.net or 805.933.0076.

Left side of California Oil Museum on 10th Street

Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

The main entrance of 1,765 acre Wildwood Park is at the corner of Avenida de los Arboles and Big Sky Drive in Thousand Oaks. The Chumash Indians lived in Wildwood Park for nearly 8,000 years, until the early 19th Century, when the Spanish colonized California. Eventually the park became owned by the Janss Corporation, which sold it to the Conejo Recreation and Park District in 1967.

Main trailhead accessible from the parking lot at Ave de los Arboles and Big Sky

Wildwood Park is an extremely popular hiking and cycling spot and CRPD frequently hosts nature hikes there. The park has 14 trails covering 17 miles, including two year-round waterfalls, Paradise Falls and Little Falls.  Wildwood is known for its spring wildflower displays from January to June.

HIKE TO THE TEEPEE, INDIAN CAVE AND PARADISE FALLS IN WILDWOOD PARK

The park hosted a number of movie/TV productions in the 1930s to the 1960s, including Spartacus, Wuthering Heights, Wagon Train, The Rifleman and Gunsmoke.

LIZARD ROCK HIKE IN WILDWOOD PARK

Call the CRPD at 805.495.2163 for more information about the park. But for LOTS of detailed information about Wildwood Park, including trail maps and pictures, visit the Conejo Open Space Foundation website at www.cosf.org/website/html/wildwood.html.

SANTA ROSA TRAIL AND LOWER BUTTE TRAIL FROM WILDWOOD PARK TO CLU

Lizard Rock Hike in Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks

Lizard Rock is just over a mile from the main entrance to Wildwood Park at the east end of Avenida de los Arboles. Walk/run/hike over Mesa Trail towards Lizard Rock and you will be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding spaces where shows like Gunsmoke and The Rifleman were filmed.

The entrance area and dirt parking lot at the Wildwood Park main trailhead.Lizard Rock in the distanceTaking in the surrounding sceneryAlmost thereI guess it does kind of look like a LizardView from on top of the lizard

Trail sign south of Lizard Rock indicating Lizard Rock Trail to Wildwood Canyon TrailYou can make this hike a 4 1/2 mile loop past Paradise Falls and the Indian Creek Trail by reviewing the map on the Conejo Open Space Foundation website at www.cosf.org/website/html/lizard-waterfall-creek.html.

Over 150 Movie Theater Screens Around Ventura County

Here's a handy list of 18 movie theaters with over 150 screens throughout Ventura County and  adjacent areas. Click the links for theater websites and/or showtimes.

Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura

Regency Janss Marketplace 9, 255 North Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (805.374.9656). This Regency theater offers up birthday party packages ranging from $20 to $25 per child. Packages include movie, party room for an hour, lunch or snack and arcade tokens. CLICK HERE for more information.

Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas at The Promenade at Westlake (100 Promenade Way, Westlake Village) opened in September 2012 (8 screens)

Muvico Thousand Oaks 14, 166 West Hillcrest Drive. Muvico was purchased by Carmike Cinemas in November 2013 but continues to operate as Muvico. Tickets available at www.carmike.com/ShowTimes/Theater/320 or call 805.494.4702.

Regency Agoura Hills 8, 29045 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills (818.707.9966)

Regency Westlake Village Twin, 4711 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village (818.889.8061)

Camarillo/Oxnard/Ventura

Century Downtown 10, 555 East Main Street, Ventura (800.326.3264)

Click to read more ...

Laugh Out Loud Comedy Night

Join Jason Love as he hosts Laugh Out Loud Comedy Night at locations in Ventura County, bringing top notch comedians out from Hollywood to entertain us surburbanites. Each show features two headliners with national TV credits from The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, America’s Got Talented, etc. Jason Love has performed on HBO and Last Comic Standing.

As of February 2015, there are two monthly shows:

The first Wednesday night of each month at the Westlake Village Twin, 4711 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village. 818.889.8061 Advance tickets at www.regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=1  or buy tickets at the door.

The third Wednesday night of each month at Paseo Camarillo Cinemas, 390 N. Lantana Street, Camarillo. 805.383.2267 Advance tickets at www.regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=3 or buy tickets at the door.

Shows start at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are usually $15.

Borchard Park Labyrinth in Newbury Park

Borchard Park Labyrinth & Fitness Equipment Area

The Conejo Recreation & Park District opened the 60 foot diameter Borchard Park Labyrinth and Fitness Equipment Area in September 2010. Borchard Park is located at 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park. The labyrinth, located in the southeast area of the park, is said to help strengthen memory and concentration and bring clarity by balancing the right brain/left brain.

There are also 3 pieces of outdoor fitness equipment which include a 2 person pull-down, 4 person waist-twist and 4 person leg press.

More information at crpd.org/parkfac/borchard/labyrinth_n_outdoor_fitness.asp.

Paradise Falls Hike - Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

Perhaps the most popular destination in Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks is Paradise Falls. There are a variety of trails and ways to get to Paradise Falls. Here's a quick and easy 1 mile route.

Park in the main trailhead at the west end of Avenida de los Arboles. Take the Mesa Trail about a 3rd of a mile until you see the sign below, where you'll turn left.

Another third of a mile and you're at the teepee, where you'll find another clearly marked sign pointing you in the direction of Paradise Falls.

You turn right down the hill and take a short walk to the following sign.

Hike down some switchbacks and stairs and you're almost there.

And wallah! You're at the following sign, where you'll be reminded that these year-round falls are partially fed by urban run-off, making them something you may not want to jump into.

But Paradise Falls is fun to get to and see. A full-on roughly 40 foot waterfall a mile away from civilization in Thousand Oaks.

You can walk back the way you came or hike back up the trail above the Falls and loop back up to the teepee via the Wildwood Canyon Trail.

Medea Creek Natural Park in Oak Park

Medea Creek Natural Park has hiking, biking and fitness trails that stretch from Calle Rio Vista and Oaks Hills Drive in Oak Park on the north, then south past Medea Creek Lane and Conifer Street to a cul de sac entrance to the park at the west terminus of Tamarind Street.

Nicely paved Medea Creek Trail north towards Kanan/Oak Park Library

The paved Medea Creek Trail, great for walks as well as casual bicycling, has a northern entry point at Kanan Road across from Deerhill Road (adjacent to the Oak Park Library). It crosses Sunnycrest Drive, where there is street parking, so you do need to be careful with kids when you cross.

Medea Creek runs through suburbia via this wash, where you will see some neat bird activity.

The nature loop trail is about 1.5 miles. You will likely see ducks and perhaps other birds enjoying the creek as you choose between the paved and dirt paths. There's also a fitness circuit. It is kind of interesting as you'll see multiple layers of trails; some dirt, some paved, some grassy, some in the creek.

Multiple paths and areas to explore at Medea Creek

Medea Creek Natural Park is managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District www.rsrpd.org/park/medeacreeknaturalpark/medeacreeknaturalpark.html.

Sign at east end terminus of Tamarind StreetFitness course signs along 1.5 mile path

Arroyo Conejo Trail in Thousand Oaks

The Arroyo Conejo Open Space is 302 acres bounded by Wildwood Park and Conejo Canyons on the north, Lynnmere Open Space on the east and the Rancho Conejo residential homes development on the west. If you're looking to hike in this area, park your car at Rancho Conejo Playfield at 950 N. Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park.

The Arroyo Conejo Trail trailhead is on the far right/east section of the parking lot facing the park's restrooms and tennis courts.

Arroyo Conejo Trailhead is on the right side of the parking lot.

The trail veers to the left (if you go down the initial trail to the right, you will see this is not open to the public). After passing the park, you will see that the canyons below are mighty steep and you will hear the creek down below.

After you get to a gate (see below), the downhill is pretty significant and you may see a mini-waterfall on your way down to the creek, where you will immediately come to a crossing that, the last time I was there, had several wooden pallet crossings.

The gate that signals you are about to head downhill into the canyon.

The first stream at the bottom of the hill had these nicely placed wooden planks to alleviate the problem of wet shoes.

If you continue on straight, you will come across four more creek crossings. Often you will find large rocks or wood planks to walk across, but sometimes you won't find one, so be prepared for the possibility of wet feet if your plan is to reach the Hill Canyon Water Treatment Plant. If you do get that far, then turn back, you'll have done about 5 miles round trip.

Some of the stream crossing are a bit dicier getting across, that is if you don't want to get wet.You've reached your destination but probably don't want to be jumping in these wetlands.

If you're looking to extend the hike into something more strenuous, after the first stream crossing, if you look on your right you'll find a steep trail that gets you to the Lynnmere Trail.

Learn more and see a map on the Conejo Open Space Foundation website at www.cosf.org/website/html/arroyo-conejo-to-hill-cyn.html.

Lynnmere Trail in Thousand Oaks

The Lynnmere Open Space includes 114 acres in the area south of Wildwood Park and west of Lynn Road.  There is roughly 4 to 5 miles of ridgeline trails in this space, providing awesome views of Wildwood Park, Mount Clef Ridge and the Conejo Canyons Open Space.

Views from Lynnmere Trail looking north towards Wildwood Park and Mount Clef Ridge

As you can see in the map below (provide courtesy of the Conejo Open Space Foundation), you can actually hike a nice loop on the Lynnmere Trail and connect to other trails in the area.

There are a number of places where you can enter the Lynnmere Trail, including:

• Northwest terminus of Calle Yucca, just north of Calle Salto
• Northern terminus of Camino Magenta
• Lynn Road between Janss and Ave de Las Flores
• Several trails from Wildwood Park connect to Lynnmere Trail, including Wildwood Canyon Trail and Tepee Trail

The hike outlined in the image above is the fairly strenuous, seven mile Arroyo Conejo/Lynnmere Loop hike described at www.cosf.org/website/html/arroyo-conejo-lynnmere.html. Park at the Rancho Conejo Playfield at 950 N. Ventu Park Road and the Arroyo Conejo trailhead is on the right. Take the trail

After about a mile and a half of rolling hills, there's a descent into the canyon. You'll come across the creek at the bottom, where you'll find a foot path. Soon after crossing the path, you'll find a sharp right (unmarked to my knowledge) turn up the barranca to the Lynnmere Trail, and you're on your way.

You may come across this bench at the peak of the southern section of Lynnmere TrailAfter the winter rains it greens up nicely here and other Conejo Valley trails.