Marina Park in Ventura

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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, providing plenty of beachfront, flat sand to play in.

There is also a kids play area, including a tot lot and a larger play structure with swings, see-saw, climbing nets, 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.ca.gov/1952/City-Parks.

New playground at marina Park premiered in June 2025.

Nice, protected beachfront area at Marina Park

Nice, protected beachfront area at Marina Park

The popular San Salvador at Marina Park.

The “San Salvador” at Marina Park used to be popular with its zip line, but the zip line was removed in 2016 due to safety reasons.

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.

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.

GymKidZ Gymnastics & Ninja Center in Oxnard

GymKidZ is a premier gymnastics and Ninja training recreation center that opened in 2025 at 3120 Paseo Mercado #107-108 in Oxnard (near Costco). Whether your little one is just starting their athletic journey or ready to flip and tumble with confidence, GymKidz offers something for every skill level for ages 0 to 11.

There is a free Social Mommy & Me class that welcomes babies 4-12 months old for gentle movement exploration while moms connect and build friendships with other new parents in the community. As children grow, energetic preschool gymnastics classes introduce the fundamentals through play, while dynamic recreational gymnastics programs build strength and flexibility. Ninja training classes let kids climb, swing, and conquer obstacles like their favorite action heroes, and tumbling sessions perfect those cartwheels, rolls, and flips.

Learn more at www.gymkidz.us.

Reign & Shine Play Lab in Oak Park

Reign & Shine Play Lab in Oak Park is a modern, immersive indoor play space designed for children ages 6 months to 10 years, with a special focus on imaginative, sensory-friendly experiences. The facility features sensory-based interactive play areas, including an interactive swing wall, a live draw wall, interactive ball wall and floor, and an interactive slide.

Kids can also explore an interactive moon sand table, themed pretend play stations (such as the Cosmic Clinic, Astro Market, and Intergalactic Salon), and a cozy reading nook. Many of the interactive games incorporate STEAM-inspired learning elements, blending fun with educational value. A parent lounge and co-working area complete the experience, making it a place where both kids and parents can enjoy their time.

Learn more at reignandshineplaylab.com or call 747-289-4141. Reign & Shine is located at 706 Lindero Canyon Road, #746, Oak Park.

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.

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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.

YMCA of Southeast Ventura County - 2 Locations

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YMCA of Southeast Ventura County serves the areas of Agoura, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. General information at www.sevymca.org.

Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village opened to the public in late April 2019 at 31105 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, at Westlake Village Community Park. This brand new 60,000 sq ft facility features a fitness center, eight lane indoor lap pool, warm water pool, gym, group exercise classes, and more. The Kids’ Zone is massive. Visit www.yarrowymca.org or call 818.707-9622.

Simi Valley YMCA is at 3200 Cochran Street (805.583.5338). Open 7 days a week. 25 yard swimming pool, fitness center, indoor cycling, child care, camps, classes, sports, etc. www.triunfoymca.org/SimiValley

'ololkoy Beach Park (Oxnard Beach Park)

The ‘ololkoy Beach Park* (formerly Oxnard Beach Park) is located at 1601 South Harbor Boulevard, south of Wooley Road 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.

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. As of July 2025, admission is $25 for ages 13+, $2 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.

Art Trek in Newbury Park

Art Trek, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to bring visual, performing and literary arts to people of all ages. Art Trek provides art training to parents and teachers, after school programs, teen programs, summer camps, studio workshops and more. It has been active since 1992 and was established as a not-for-profit in 2006.

Birthday parties, corporate events and more. arttrek.org/schedule-event

Art Trek is located at 1144 Tourmaline Drive, Newbury Park (NEW LOCATION IN 2025) Visit www.arttrek.org for more information.