The Play Destination in Agoura Hills (Closed May 2020)

CLOSED IN MAY 2020

The Play Destination was a 5,000 sq ft indoor playground and birthday party center for children, with comfortable seating and modern decor for parents. The space offers children a clean, safe environment to play and is equipped with an indoor play structure, bounce house, interactive floor games, and other mentally and physically stimulating activities. Geared towards kids up to 7 years of age.

Located at 28501 Canwood Street, Suite 3E in Agoura Hills. Visit theplaydestination.com or call 818.292.8644 for more information.

Blank Canvas Art School in Thousand Oaks (Closed in 2020)

BLANK CANVAS HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS

Blank Canvas opened its doors in November 2011. Located at 1414 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, #113, Thousand Oaks, Blank Canvas provides after school art classes, canvas get-together events, custom birthday parties for ages 4 and up, summer enrichment camps and more. For more information, visit www.paintblankcanvas.com or call 805.497.1600.

Platinum Sports Center in Simi Valley (Closed in May 2020)

CLOSED IN MAY 2020

The 30,000 sq ft Platinum Sports Center facility at 160 W. Cochran Street in Simi Valley is a one stop location with elite level gymnastics equipment, parkour, trampoline park, sports training and more.

The facility also has a state of the art audio/visual system, pro shop, snack bar, viewing areas and free Wi-Fi. There's also Platinum Dance, Platinum Mixed Martial Arts, Platinum Urban and Platinum Fitness classes.

Open gym is a supervised, non-structured, open play time at Platinum, including full use of the trampoline courts, parkour zone, spring floors and foam pits. Hours (as of February 2019) are Fridays (7+) 8-10PM, Saturdays (6-12) 6-8PM and Saturdays (7+) 8-10PM. Members $10, non-members $15.

For more information, visit www.platinumsportscenterus.com or call 805.527.6662.

Saplings Indoor Playground in Simi Valley (Closed 2020)

SAPLINGS IS NOW CLOSED

Saplings Kids Indoor Playground opened in May 2016 at 1776 Erringer Road, Suite 100, Simi Valley. The playground is designed to foster creative, pretend, and imaginative play for children between the ages of newborn to eight. Upon entering Saplings you will discover four main imagination stations, as well as wall-to-wall murals of beautiful trees, blue skies, and friendly woodland animal friends.

• The Reading Nook – an inviting space filled with plushy kid-sized chairs and couches, moon chairs, a fluffy rug, cuddly stuffed animals, and a large collection of children’s books. In this space children are welcome to find a comfy spot, grab a book, and read under a canopy of branches and leaves.

• Seedling Meadow – a safe space designated for seedlings (children under the age of 2) to play, crawl, explore, and practice tummy time. Here you will find foam toys, climbers, activity mirrors, and an assortment of sensory toys to engage growing minds and bodies. This meadow is sectioned off from the main floor, which allows young children to play safely.

• The Art Room – a creative space stocked full of art supplies to inspire young artists. Inside you will find six stand-up easels, paint, brushes, rollers, drying racks, and paper. There are also three large work tables for coloring books, stencil work, and stamping. There is even a large chalk wall for children to draw and write right on the wall.

• The Main Floor – an indoor playground consisting of “imagination stations”: kid-sized toys that foster pretend and imaginative play. Stations include: a puppet theater, a baby care nursery, a fully stocked grocery store, an ice cream and bakery stand, a kitchen and restaurant, a campground, tool table, train table, transportation mats with vehicles, dress-up closet, a musical band stand to put on concerts, and so much more!

Open daily on weekdays for open play. Available for private parties on weekends. Learn more at www.simivalleysaplings.com or by calling 805.210.5372.

Pricing (as of January 2019): $10 per child. $9 per sibling thereafter. Free for adults and non-participating children. Monthly memberships available.

Sky High Sports - The Trampoline Place in Camarillo (CLOSED)

SKY HIGH SPORTS CAMARILLO CLOSED ITS DOORS IN SUMMER 2018

Sky High Sports - The Trampoline Place, opened at 166 Aviador Street, Camarillo in October 2010.  Located in a huge, 42,000 sq ft facility, there are half a dozen areas that have trampolines on the floors and walls. 

Also offered at Sky High are the following:

• Dodgeball

• Sky High Dunk Courts

• Rope Swing and Foam Pit

• Newest attraction: "Reball" paint-less paintball center - So Cal Tactical Adventures - nearly 10,000 sq ft (minimum age is 10 years old).

There is quite a large area of trampolines on the floors and walls. There is a separate section geared towards kids too.

On one side of Sky High is an arcade with skill-based games and on the other side is this kids game area where you earn tickets and cash them in for prizes.

Quite popular with the younger set. Bounce off the walls into a humongous pile of foam cubes.

Another extremely popular activity at Sky High is the dodgeball area, open to players of all ages.

Sky High Sports also has a separate "sanity" room for adults with a number of TVs, as well as a huge projection TV, as well as free WiFi. The Sky High Cafe offers up a variety of delicious pizzas, subs, paninis, wraps, salads and other goodies.

Sky High is open 7 days a week. Current hours (as of July 2018) are 11am to 9pm Sunday, 3pm to 9pm Monday through Thursday, 3pm to 11pm Friday and 11am to 11pm Saturday.

Visit cam.jumpskyhigh.com or call 805.484.6300 for more information. Current pricing (updated July 2018) is $15 for 1 hour, $20 for 1 1/2 hours and $25 for 2 hours.  Children under age 2 admitted free of charge.

Pump It Up (Inflatable Party Zone) - Ventura (CLOSED)

NOTE: Pump it Up Ventura closed its doors in September 2019 after 15 years in business. Sorry to see them go! We went to many a birthday party here, including one of my sons.

Pump It Up is a large indoor play facility located at 5120 Ralston Street, Ventura (one mile west of Victoria, just around the corner from Golf N' Stuff and Buena Lanes).  Get ready for some wild, fun and crazy birthday parties at Pump It Up, chock full of oversized inflatables.

In addition to parties, there are Pop-In Playtime for ages six and under (currently Monday and Thursday mornings) and Family Jump Time for older kids on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. More information at www.pumpitupparty.com/ventura-ca or call 805.339.9669. Open only for private parties on weekends.

Sycamore BMX in Simi Valley (CLOSED)

CLOSED FEBRUARY 2019. There are now apartments there www.apartments.com/the-landing-at-arroyo-simi-valley-ca/09pqnd2/

Located at 1692 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley, Sycamore BMX is a popular BMX track and home to riders at all levels.  Riders must become member of the American Bicycle Association to ride on the track (can be purchased at the track).  The track hosts classes, races, practices and birthday parties.  Visit www.sycamorebmx.org or call 805.583.BMX7 for more information.

Rocking K Horse Rentals in Newbury Park (CLOSED)

Rocking K is no longer in operation as of around July 2019. A new operator is taking over and trail rides will be coming back in the October 2019 time frame. See http://ranchopotrero.org for more information.

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Looking to ride a horse on a guided tour? Rocking K Horse Rentals, located at 4790 West Lynn Road in Newbury Park, is open 7 days a week.  Horses are available for rent, guided tours, birthday parties, etc.  Visit www.rockingkhorserentals.com or call 805.499.9512 for more information.

Do note that Rocking K accepts cash only still as of January 2018. Children must be at least six years of age and 44 inches tall to ride. Maximum weight is 260 lbs. Pregnant women are not allowed to ride.

They recommend wearing jeans and close toed shoes. Open 8am to 6pm (e.g. last 1 hour ride leaves at 6pm) during spring/summer months and until 5pm on other months.

As of January 2018, prices are $40 for a 1 hour trail ride, $50 for a 1 1/2 hours and $60 for a 2 hour ride.

Scooter's Jungle Simi Valley (CLOSED)

Scooter’s Jungle Simi Valley announced it has closed permanently in 2020.

Scooter’s Jungle Simi Valley is a 12,000 square foot facility located at 2250 Union Place, Unit B with huge, custom-made inflatable jumpers and permanent structures that include the tallest and longest indoor inflatable slide. The play equipment is right-sized for kids and parents to play. The facility opened its doors in December 2012.

Features both open play and private events, including birthday parties, fundraisers and team gatherings. Free table games and a DJ‑quality music system also in place.

"All ages" two-hour open play events are $10 per child, which includes on adult. Additional adults $5 each (as of May 2019).

Visit www.scootersjungle.com/location/simi-valley or call 805.203.9200 for more information, or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ScootersJungleSimiValley.

We visited Scooter's Jungle for the first time in February 2013 during an "open play" session. There are 3 slides, one of which I tried, and it was quite fast! There are 4 different bounce houses, including 2 with mini-obstacles and a fun mini zip line, and a 4th, larger bouncer with basketball hoops in it. There is also an extra large climbing play area and two ping pong tables. 

One of 3 massive indoor slides at Scooter's Jungle Simi Valley.

Fun on the zip line

The massive climbing play area (this photo does not do it justice...it's huge).

MVP Baseball and Softball Academy in Newbury Park (CLOSED)

MVP Baseball and Softball Academy was located at 3653 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park. Offers batting cages and pitching machines to the public. Bullpen area, camps/clinics, private instruction, pro shop, etc.  More information at www.mvp-academy.com or call 805.498.4687.