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 Play Structure completed for the 2023 season!

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 2023 season is $20 per person on weekdays and $23 on weekends.

Visit www.casitaswater.org/recreation/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)

Oak Canyon Community Park in Oak Park

Oak Canyon Community Park is located at 5600 Hollytree Drive in Oak Park at Kanan. This is a nicely appointed park with a children's splash pad, playgrounds, lagoon/pond with ducks, dog park and plenty of open space.

More information on the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District website at www.rsrpd.org/business_detail_T9_R30.php.

The Oak Park Dog Park at Oak Canyon Community Park opened in May 2010. It is open from 7am to dusk every day (closed 7am to 10am for maintenance on Fridays). For more information, visit www.rsrpd.org/oak_park/parks/oak_canyon_dog_park.php.

Oak Canyon Dog Park on a non-busy day.

Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio

Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio is a non-profit organization dedicated to challenge, inspire, educate and entertain children and families in the Ojai Valley through the experience of quality theatre, dance and music. Classes, camps, live performances and more are offered to all ages.

The studio is located at 907 El Centro Street, Ojai. Visit www.ojaiyes.org or call 805.646.4300 for more information.

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.

Sky Zone Thousand Oaks at Janss Marketplace

Sky Zone Thousand Oaks (formerly Defy Extreme Air Sports and formerly DojoBoom) opened at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks on November 3, 2017. (and became Defy in late 2019 and Sky Zone in late July 2022).

Offering over 50,000 sq. feet of fun, including walll to wall trampolines, free style jump, skyslam, ultimate dodgeball, foam zone, skyhoops, rock wall, and much more.

Open 9am to 9pm.

Birthday party packages available. 

Learn more at www.skyzone.com/thousandoaks call 805.410.4690.

Starlight Dance Academy in Ojai

Located at 407b Bryant Circle in Ojai, Starlight Dance Academy provides dance classes to children and adults. Current classes include jazz, ballet, tap, Zumba and hip hop as well as Pilates, yoga and mommy and me sessions. Also a great place for children's birthday parties! For more information, visit www.ojaistarlightdance.com or call 805.646.3732.

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.

Marina Park in Ventura

Marina Park is located at 2950 Pierpont Boulevard in Ventura (near the intersection of Pierpont and Coral Street). It is a 15 acre park that has over a third of a mile of oceanfront adjacent to Ventura Harbor, giving it plenty of beachfront, flat sand to play in.

There is also a kids play area (geared toward younger kids), plenty of grass, restrooms and more. There is also a water taxi and a fishing dock. Fun destination park in the Ventura Keys. We never go wrong bringing the kids here. More info at www.cityofventura.net/parks.

The zip line attached to the "San Salvador" ship was taken down in 2016. The city indicates there is a possibility it will be replaced if a safe alternative can be identified.

Newer pirate-themed play area at Marina Park (re-done in 2012).

Nice, protected beachfront area at Marina Park

The popular San Salvador at Marina Park.

This popular zip line was taken down in 2016; the city indicates the possibility of identifying a new, safe zip line possibility but as of September 2019 no specific timing available.

Oxnard Beach Park

The 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 an awesome, large pirate-themed play area. There is a larger structure for 5 to 12 year olds and a smaller one for younger kids.

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.

Retter's Academy of Dance in Agoura Hills

Retter's Academy of Dance at 5341-A Derry Avenue in Agoura Hills offers dance classes and workshops in classical ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and other styles for ages 2 to adult.

Retter's has been in business since 1991! Visit www.retterworld.com or call 818.889.5774 for more information.