Compilation of Pizza Places in the Conejo Valley

The first pizzeria in the United States opened in Little Italy, New York City, in 1905. Lombardi’s is recognized as that first pizzeria, specializing in Neapolitan pizza, which is made with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Margherita pizza is a typical Neapolitan pizza with tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, fresh basil and extra-virgin olive oil.

Other varieties of pizza include New York thin-crust style, Chicago style (deep dish, thick crust), Detroit style (rectangular, thick crust, sauce on top) and Sicilian (square cut) and others.

But without further ado, here’s a compilation of pizza places in and around the Conejo Valley (including Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Agoura Hills and portions of Calabasas).

This list includes places primarily known for pizza, and thus excludes eateries where pizza is on the menu, but not the primary offering. Listed in reverse alphabetical order.

Winners Pizza, 1805 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. winnerspizza.com (805) 379-4212. Regular pizza, heart shaped pizza, gluten-free option, cauliflower crust option.

Valentino’s Pizza, 2072 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks. www.valentinosgourmet.com (805) 380-4969. Valentino’s offers freshly-made “take-n-bake” pizzas as well as pizzas baked on site. Gluten free crust available.

Two Doughs Pizza Co. is located in the Whizin Market Square at 28860 Roadside Road, Agoura Hills. www.twodoughs.com (818) 707-2121 Specializes in thin crust sourdough pizzas and Sicilian thick crust pizzas. Gluten-free options available.

Toppers Pizza Place is located at 1416 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. topperspizzaplace.com (805) 495-4444. Toppers is a Ventura County based success story, founded by the Jonkers in 1990 and growing to 10 locations.

Tony’s New York Pizza, 3333 Kimber Drive, Newbury Park. (805) 499-0365 www.tonysnewyorkpizzamenu.com Tony’s has served the Newbury Park community for decades in the Kimber Plaza.

The Original Pizza Cookery, 75 West Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. www.pizzacookery.com (818) 887-4770. Offers traditional pizzas, Margherita and whole wheat crust options. Gluten-free options available.

Slice House by Tony Gemignani at 3297 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. www.slicehouse.com Slice House offers New York, Sicilian, Detroit and Grandma style pizzas.

Prince St. Pizza opened on July 10, 2025 at the Shoppes at Westlake Village, 30770 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village. They offer Sicilian squares and original Neapolitan pizzas by the slice or whole pie. www.princestreetpizza.com.

Pizza Hut has locations at 2705 Teller Road, Newbury Park (Pizza Hut Express inside Target) and 75 S. Rancho Road, Thousand Oaks (805) 371-3700. www.pizzahut.com. Offering various options, including Udi’s Gluten-Free Crust.

Pizza Nosh, 3013 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills. (818) 991-3000 www.pizzanosh.com. Pizza Nosh is the only vegetarian, kosher pizza place in the Conejo Valley.

Prime Pizza is coming to Thousand Oaks in 2026 at 215 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, across the street from Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. They offer NY style pies in both round and square shapes. Learn more at primepizza.la.

Marco’s Pizza is now open at 30651 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Agoura Hills, in the space formerly occupied by Ma Dukes Artisan Pizzas. Marco’s offers pizza, pizzoli (pizza roll), pizza bowls, calzones, subs, and more. www.marcos.com (818) 887-1500

Magma Pizzeria opens in the Conejo Gateway Plaza in Newbury Park (711 Wendy Drive) on September 8, 2026. Their house favorite pizzas include the Queen Margherita Pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, parmigiano), Lucifer Pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, chili flakes, spicy salami), and The Mischievous Girl Pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, artichokes, cooked ham, black olives). www.magmapizzeriamenu.com

Greco’s New York Pizzeria is located at Janss Marketplace, near the movie theater. www.grecosnewyorkpizzeriamenu.com (805) 601-8185 They offer various New York style pizzas, including a jumbo 28” party pizza.

Fresh Brothers at The Promenade at Westlake (805) 777-8448 www.freshbrothers.com/locations/westlake-village Offering traditional pizzas on various crusts - original, skinny, cauliflower, deep dish, gluten-free and keto.

Freda’s Pizza is located at 3835 East Thousand Oaks Blvd, Suite A2, Westlake Village (805) 852-5260. https://fredaspizza.com Freda’s offers New York style and brick oven pizzas. Also located in Old Town Camarillo.

Domino’s Pizza has locations at 723 East Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks (805) 435-8399), 2220 N. Moorpark Road, #104, Thousand Oaks (across from TOHS) (805) 496-6221, 2409 Michael Drive, Newbury Park (805) 499-0681 and 30867 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village (818) 735-5400. www.dominos.com Domino’s offers hand-tossed, handmade pan, thin crust, gluten-free crust and Brooklyn style options.

D’Amore’s Pizza, 2869 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks www.damoresthousandoaks.com (805) 496-0030. Offers traditional New York style pizzas. Gluten-free and cauliflower crust is available.

California Pizza Kitchen at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. www.cpk.com (805) 777-1778 Offers a variety of 10” specialty pizzas. Gluten-free cauliflower crust available.

Butler’s Pizza opened in October 2015 at 1655 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. www.butlersnypizza.com (805) 379-1121 Butler’s serves New York style pizza, including gluten-free options.

Boney Mountain Pizza Company, 722 Wendy Drive, Newbury Park www.boneymountainpizzaco.com (805) 498-6511. Boney Mountain is a sports bar with a particular focus on California style pizza.

Ameci Pizza and Pasta has locations at 1724 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks (805) 493-2914, 1560 Newbury Road, Newbury Park (805) 499-8300 and 5776 Lindero Canyon Road, Ste C, Westlake Village (818) 889-7722 www.amecipizzaandpasta.com Offers New York style pizza at 40 California locations. They do have gluten-free options.

Allegro Pizza, 427 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks (805) 492-3571 www.allegropizzaca.com. Traditional pizza, including a gluten-free option.

Pizza Partings

Lamppost Pizza Newbury Park closed its doors on December 4, 2011.

Urban Pizza operated in Thousand Oaks from April 2015 to September 2017.

Pitfire Pizza in Westlake Village closed in 2020.

PizzaRev operated in Thousand Oaks from summer 2016 to June 2020.

Blaze Pizza operated in Thousand Oaks from July 2017 to October 2022.

MOD Pizza Newbury Park closed its doors in May 2024.

Barone’s Pizza Thousand Oaks closed its doors on May 28, 2024.

Lamppost Pizza Westlake Village closed its doors in September 2024 after 33 years serving the local community.

Ma Dukes in Agoura Hills, which offered unique, artisan flatbread pizzas, closed its doors on September 22, 2024 to refocus on its growing catering business.

Michael’s Pizza Agoura Hills closed in the fall of 2024 but continues operating its Calabasas location. michaelspizzapasta.com

Pieology Pizzeria at Janss Marketplace closed in late September 2025.

Denino’s Pizzeria & Cafe, 1710 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks closed in early 2025.

Round Table Pizza in the Oakbrook Plaza, 2060 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks. closed as of August 2025.

Parma Pizzeria Napoletana, 796 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. parmaspizzeria.com (805) 370-1370 (CLOSED AS OF 10.5.25)

Parma’s Pizzeria, 5649 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills. parmaspizzeria.com (818) 318-1079. (CLOSED AS OF 10.5.25)

Pizza Twist opened in June 2023 at the Conejo Gateway Plaza in Newbury Park and closed on December 31, 2025.

19th Annual Waves of Flags Display at Pepperdine University September 5-18, 2026

wavesofflags2018.JPG

For the 19th consecutive year, Pepperdine University will commemorate the lives lost in the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, with the Waves of Flags display at Alumni Park on the Malibu campus.

Waves of Flags commemorates the 2,977 lives lost in the September 11 terror attacks and features a vast display of American flags for each American life lost as well as international flags representing the home countries of those from abroad. Made possible through the support of donors and volunteers, the installation will be on display at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road from Saturday, September 5 to Friday, September 18, 2026.

In addition to the Waves of Flags installation, Pepperdine is the permanent home of the Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Heroes Garden, a place to honor all those who live heroic lives, including Pepperdine alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. (MBA ’95), a passenger on United Flight 93, whose life was cut short in the September 11 attacks. The garden's plaque reads: “Dedicated to freedom's heroes of September 11, 2001, and the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, among them Pepperdine alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., who sacrificed their lives to overcome terrorists’ intent on destroying American lives and landmarks in our nation's capital. We shall never forget.” Heroes Garden is currently closed to the public, along with the rest of the Pepperdine campus.

A 25th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will take place at 9AM on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Alumni Park. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to find seating and to allow the ceremony to begin promptly. Attendees and members of the public are also invited to visit the Reflection Station to write messages of reflection and remembrance on the provided cards and attach them to any flagpole.

Learn more and register for the Remembrance Ceremony at www.pepperdine.edu/waves-of-flags.

wavesofflags2018_2.JPG

Labor Day Weekend Events In Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

LaborDay.jpeg

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The second Labor Day holiday was on September 5, 1883. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday.

Oregon was the first state to officially enact Labor Day as a holiday by law on February 21, 1887, followed that year by Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Since then, all 50 states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

2026 Labor Day weekend events around Ventura County and nearby areas:

Thu-Mon, Sep 3-7: Simi End of Summer Carnival at the Simi Valley Town Center

Fri-Sun, Sep 4-6: The Carnival for Las Virgenes Schools in Agoura Hills

Fri-Mon, Sep 4-7: Malibu Chili Cook-Off and Carnival

Sat, Sep 5: Ventura Nationals at Ventura County Fairgrounds (9AM-5PM)

Sat, Sep 5: Live Music at Harbor View Park at Channel Islands Harbor (4-6PM)

Sat, Sep 5: Free Concert at the Plaza in Simi Valley - Ticket to Ride (6-9PM)

Sat/Sun, Sep 5-6: Aloha Beach Festival in Ventura

Sat/Sun, Sep 5-6: C-Street Classic Surf Contest in Ventura

Mon, Sep 7: Santa Paula Labor Day Parade (10AM)

Mon, Sep 7: Labor Day Tractor Fair at Santa Paula Agriculture Museum (11AM-2PM)

Mon, Sep 7: CRPD Concert in the Park - 90’s Rock Show - Iconic Sounds of the 1990s (5PM)

LOCAL AREA BEACHES IN VENTURA COUNTY, MALIBU AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Sushi Bars and Fish Eateries In and Around the Conejo Valley

Some of our favorite sushi rolls at Cho Cho San in Thousand Oaks

According to the Michelin Guide, although sushi existed in American in the early 1900s, the first “real” sushi restaurant, Kawafuku, opened in Los Angeles in 1966. Since then, according to market research firm IBISWorld, there were nearly 17,000 sushi restaurants in the U.S. in 2024.

Separately, approximately 4-5% of the U.S. adult population identifies as pescatarian. A pescatarian diet is a vegetarian whose diet also includes fish and seafood ad the only source of meat. Pescetarian is a portmanteau of the Italian word “pesce” (fish) and the English word “vegetarian” that was coined in the U.K. in the late 1980s.

That aside, if you’re looking for a sushi bar or eatery that specializes in fish dishes in the Conejo Valley areas encompassing Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, and Calabasas west of the grade, you’ve come to the right place!

(Note: Information below is subject to change at any time. Contact the eateries directly for the most updated info regarding days/times open, etc.)

Sushi Bars In and Around the Conejo Valley

(in alphabetical order, starting with S, for, well, you know)

Seabutter opened in May 2022 at The Promenade at Westlake, 180 Promenade Way, Westlake Village. Open daily for lunch and dinner. seabuttersushi.com 805-221-6096

Shibuya Sushi has plans to open a 2nd Calabasas location, on Las Virgenes Road, about a mile north of the 101. Updates at www.instagram.com/shibuya_calabasas

Sumo Japanese Restaurant is located at 1714 Newbury Road, Suite C, Newbury Park. Open daily at 11:30am for lunch and dinner. Happy hour from 3-6pm and “reverse” happy hour from 8:30pm to close daily. www.sumojapaneserestaurants.com 805-499-9977

Sushi & Wasabi is located in the Agoura Hills City Mall at 5895 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Open daily. Hours vary. https://www.sushi-wasabi.com 818-889-9334

Sushi Oaks is located at 2160 Newbury Road, Suite D, Newbury Park. This popular sushi bar has operated since 1990, recently changing ownership in September 2025 with the retirement of the original owner. No website. Call 805-498-3357.

Sushi Planet is located at 951 S. Westlake Blvd.,#114 in Westlake Village, offering both indoor and outdoor seating seven days a week. Open from noon to 2pm daily for lunch and back at 4pm for dinner. www.sushiplanetwestlake.com 805-379-9844

Sushi Raku is located at 5190 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Raku means “heaven in mouth” in Japanese. (See, you learned something new here!) sushi-raku.com 818-707-2765

Sushi Su Modern Japanese Kitchen is currently located inside the Chili & Lime Thai restaurant at 2705 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks, but has plans to move into its own location at a date TBA. www.sushisurestaurant.com 818-865-8622

The Landing Grill & Sushi Bar is located at The Landing at Westlake Lake at 32123 W. Lindero Canyon Road, #109, Westlake Village. Offering both indoor and plenty of outdoor seating with a view of the lake, next to sister restaurant, Boccaccio’s. Open daily from 11am to 9pm. www.thelandinggrillandsushibar.com 818-706-8887

Tomodachi Sushi has two locations in the Conejo Valley - 2779 Agoura Road in Westlake Village (805-777-7578) and 771 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park (805-499-8889). It has operated in Westlake Village since 1997. www.tomodachisushi.com

Whole Foods Market at 740 North Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks has a fresh sushi counter, with made-to-order rolls and plant-based options. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/thousandoaks 805-777-4730

Cho Cho San has been a Thousand Oaks mainstay since 1988 at 400 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, offering both a sushi bar and teppanyaki grill (you know - where they cook the food on a large grill in front of you). www.chochosan.com 805-379-9300

E+Mon Sushi opened in late 2020 in the Westlake Commons at 2805 Agoura Road in Thousand Oaks. A small spot offering delicious sushi at tables indoors and outdoors. https://www.eplusmon.com 805-371-3693

Gelson’s Thousand Oaks (1736 E. Avenida De Los Arboles) (805-493-4301) and Westlake Village (2734 Townsgate Road) (805-495-0353) stores offer fresh made sushi. www.gelsons.com

Go Fish Sushi opened at 299 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Suite 6, Thousand Oaks (across the street from Tarantula Hill Brewing) in November 2024. Open for lunch and dinner daily at 11am. to.gofishsushibar.com 805-418-7117

Rainbow roll at Go Fish Sushi in Thousand Oaks

Hanami Sushi at 26527 Agoura Road, Suite 116, Calabasas opened in 2002 and is open daily for lunch and dinner. www.hanamisushiusa.com 818-880-0073

Hikari Sushi Westlake Village opened in the former Sushi Ai at 5790 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 2A, in October 2022. Open daily at 11:30am for lunch and dinner. The first Hikari location is in the little town of Montrose. www.ushikarisushi.com 818-707-9064

Isaki Sushi opened in the former Sushi Yusho location at 2365 Michael Drive, Newbury Park in 2024. Open Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday. www.isakisushi.com 805-375-2269

Kanda Sushi is located at 3637 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks at the Paseo Market Place, near Stonefire Grill. Kanda was named after the Kanda River in Japan. It opened its doors on November 22, 2009. No website. 805-230-0101

Kaze Omakase opened in January 2026 at 1610 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Suite B, Thousand Oaks, just west of Erbes. Kaze offers a 19 course omakase in two 12 guest seatings per night on Wed-Sun. Learn more and reserve a spot at www.exploretock.com/kazethousandoaks.

Love Sushi opened at the former Yomama Sushi location in the Lincoln Oaks Plaza, 140 W. Hillcrest Drive #118, Thousand Oaks, in November 2017. It is open daily for lunch and dinner. lovesushito2go.com 805-496-9102

Mahina Sushi opened at 771 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park in late August 2026 . www.mahinasushi.com 805-499-8889

Ma-Kin Vegan Sushi opened in the Plaza Reyes Adobe at 30313 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills, in July 2021. We’re including this in this list of sushi eateries, although truth be told, their sushi is 100% plant-based. Worth a try if you’re looking for something different. Open daily. Hours vary. makinvegan.com 818-699-6716

Minato Sushi at 1688 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks opens daily from 11:30am to 9pm for lunch and dinner. This popular eatery opened in 2003. iloveminato.com 805-557-0758

Muzen Sushi in the North Ranch Gateway at 30819 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Suite A, Westlake Village, is open Monday to Saturday for lunch and daily for dinner. It rolled its first roll in 2017. muzensushi.restaurant 818-706-7772

Nori Japanese Grill at 2871 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, has offered sushi among its other Japanese items since opening in 2005. Open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 8pm. www.nori805.com 805-497-3277

Onyx Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village at 2 Dole Drive is a high-end Japanese eatery offering fresh sushi and sashimi Wednesday through Saturday for dinner. www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/dining/restaurants/onyx_restaurant 818-575-3000

Poke Land Thousand Oaks is located in the Conejo Valley Plaza at 1396 N. Moorpark Road, where it opened in January 2017. It was not the first poke place to open in Thousand Oaks, but it is now the oldest poke eatery (others like Honeyfish Poke, Big Fish Poke, and Poke Tike, came and went). gopokeland.com 805-777-8898

Pokitomik in the Paseo Market Place at 3679 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks has been offering poke bowls and poke and tempura burritos since opening in November 2021. www.pokitomik.com 805-852-5150

Q Sushi and Kieu Hoang Wine Lounge opened at The Shoppes at Westlake Village, 30770 Russell Ranch Road, in April 2016. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Beautiful, upscale environment. www.qsushi.com 818-540-3231

Roast and Rice Kitchen - Asian Fusion has operated at 30990 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village since February 2022. Offers a full sushi bar menu, among other Asian favorites. roastandrice.com 818-699-6369

<

Fish Restaurants In and Around the Conejo Valley

(in alphabetical order, starting with F, aren’t we clever?)

Fishbone Seafood premiered in the Palm Plaza in Thousand Oaks at 2709 Thousand Oaks Boulevard on August 16, 2025, offering southern style seafood specialties, grilled or fried. www.fishboneseafood.com 805-906-2000

Lure Fish House Westlake Village opened on March 7, 2013 at 30970 Russell Ranch Road, immediately becoming one of the most popular fish eateries in the Conejo Valley. Open daily for lunch and dinner at 11:30am. www.lurefishhouse.com 818-651-6611

Pacific Fresh Seafood Grill is a family-owned eatery located in the Oakbrook Plaza at 2060 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Suite #E, in Thousand Oaks, serving fresh, delicious fish dishes since 1992. Opens for dinner daily at 4pm. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. www.pacificfreshseafoodgrill.com 805-493-0104

Shrimp vs Chef opened in the Northstar Plaza at 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks in late summer 2024. It’s menu includes a number of items that contain shrimp and fish. www.shrimpvschef.com 805-660-4992

Cajun Crab Shack opened in the North Oaks Plaza at 1074 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks in October 2018, offering fresh seafood with a Cajun twist. They specialize in seafood boils with crab, lobster tail, shrimp, clams, and more, as well as seafood baskets. www.cajuncrabshackto.com 805-241-3600

California Fish Grill opened at Janss Marketplace in the east parking lot (Moorpark Road) on July 26, 2021, offering a variety of fish dishes in a casual, fast-serve setting. www.cafishgrill.com 805-510-7877

No More Fishing

Crazy King Kong Sushi, which opened in the former Akio’s Sushi at Janss Marketplace in October 2012, closed its doors in November 2025.

Tomodachi Sushi at 771 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park became Mahina Sushi in September 2026.

Public Beaches In and Around Santa Barbara

We've compiled highlights of public beaches ranging from Malibu to Carpinteria. so how about if we stretch the boundaries of that list further west a bit to include some of the popular beaches of Santa Barbara.

The City of Santa Barbara maintains four miles of beaches, including East Beach, West Beach, Leadbetter Beach, Shoreline Park and the Mesa neighborhood. The city offers a number of parking lots along the waterfront. Dogs not allowed on city beaches from East Beach to Leadbetter.

East Beach stretches from Stearns Wharf on the west to roughly across the street from the Santa Barbara Zoo. There are over a dozen volleyball courts, a play area, the full service East Beach Grill and picnic facilities. The Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse at 1118 East Cabrillo Boulevard is open M-F from 8am to 5pm and has showers, lockers, a weight room, beach wheelchairs and volleyball rental.

West side of East Beach looking towards Stearns Wharf.

West side of East Beach looking towards Stearns Wharf.

There's a also a fun bike path stretching from here to West Beach and Leadbetter. Bring your bikes or rent them across the street on Cabrillo Boulevard near State Street. And on Sundays year-round is the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show.

West Beach is located on the west side of Stearns Wharf to the Santa Barbara Harbor. Good for sunbathing, swimming, picnics, kayaking, volleyball and other fun. West Beach is easily accessible and family-friendly, with a wide walkway/bike path. There's also a wading pool, playground and the Los Baños Pool nearby. The beach is adjacent to the Santa Barbara Harbor, where among other things you'll find the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

SBHarbor.JPG
It definitely doesn't suck to be at the beach next to the Santa Barbara Harbor at sunset!

It definitely doesn't suck to be at the beach next to the Santa Barbara Harbor at sunset!

Leadbetter Beach and park is between the Santa Barbara Harbor and Shoreline Park, across from Santa Barbara City College. The area has reservable picnic and barbecue sites, outdoor showers, restrooms and a grassy lawn. Popular for beginning surfers and sailboats, as well as sunbathers and fitness enthusiasts.

LeadbetterBeachpark.JPG

Shoreline Park is a 14.6-acre coastal bluff park west of Leadbetter Beach that has a playground, restrooms, picnic tables, barbeques, a group picnic area, benches and beach access stairs.  The park has sweeping views of the coastline, city, and Santa Ynez Mountains. The Torii Gate at the center of the park takes you to a staircase down the bluff to the beach below, where you'll find a narrow and rocky beach area.

View from Shoreline Park looking east towards Leadbetter Beach.

View from Shoreline Park looking east towards Leadbetter Beach.

ShorelineParkSign.JPG

The Mesa beach area between Shoreline Park on the west and Arroyo Burro Beach is accessible via the Mesa Lane Steps near the corner of Mesa Lane and Edgewater Way. This is a residential area where primarily locals access the relatively narrow and rocky beach area below. About a mile away on the east is another beach access point at the eastern end of Camino Al Mar.

Arroyo Burro Beach is a beach park managed by the County of Santa Barbara. It is also referred to as Hendry's Beach, as the Boathouse at Hendry's Beach is located here at 2981 Cliff Drive. Decent sized parking lot with restaurant serving up moderately priced meals and drinks indoors/outdoors, seven days a week from 7:30am to 9pm. Arroyo Burro Beach is a sandy beach, good for surfing, boogie boarding and fishing, with an adjoining park with grassy areas and picnic tables. Restrooms available. From the 101 take Las Positas Road south to Cliff Drive. Turn right and travel 1/2 mile to the park entrance.

Arroyo Burro Beach also welcomes dogs! Dogs must be leashed but the Douglas Family Preserve next door at 2551 Medcliff Road allows dogs to be off leash.

Arroyo Burro Beach

Arroyo Burro Beach

Goleta Beach Park is a 29 acre Santa Barbara County park known for its 1,500 foot fishing pier and sunbathing beaches. Great destination for bicyclists on the area's paved trail system. There are also BBQ picnic areas, volleyball, horseshoes and children's playgrounds as well as the Beachside Bar Cafe. Find your way to Sandspit Road and you're there. Learn more at www.countyofsb.org/parks/parks02.aspx?id=7682.

For beachside parks in Isla Vista, including beach access points at Camino Pescadero Park, El Embarcadero, Camino Corto, Escondido Pass and Camino Majorca, visit www.ivparks.org/parks/descriptions.

El Capitan State Beach is located in Goleta, 17 miles west of Santa Barbara, Exit 117 off of Highway 101. south and you'll see the entrance to the park. A great place for camping, hiking, surfing, picnicking and beach walking. There are rocky tidepools and fun hikes galore here. There's also a 132 site campground open year-round with easy walking access to the beach. Restrooms and showers are nearby. For those into "glamping" (e.g. luxury camping), nearby El Capitan Canyon offers awesome cabins decked out with bedding, kitchenettes and bathrooms as well as deluxe canvas tents and yurts. Visit www.elcapitancanyon.com for more information. Learn more about El Capitan State Beach at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=601.

El Capitan State Beach at sundown.

El Capitan State Beach at sundown.

Tree lined trails in El Capitan State Beach Park.

Tree lined trails in El Capitan State Beach Park.

Refugio State Beach is located at 10 Refugio Beach Road in Goleta, about 2 1/2 miles west of El Capitan State Beach. Refugio offers great fishing,  trails and picnic sites. Palm trees planted near Refugio Creek give a distinctive look to the beach and camping area. There are 61 campsites available. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603 for more information.

Jalama Beach County Park is an hour drive from Santa Barbara and a 45-minute drive from Lompoc at 9999 Jalama Road.  It is maintained by the County of Santa Barbara. Have fun at the beach with surfing, whale watching, fishing, horseshoes, picnic areas and more. There's also a popular camping area with over 100 sites as well as seven cabins available. Visit www.countyofsb.org/parks/parks06.aspx?id=9186 or call 805.736.6316.

Butterfly Beach is on the east side of town in Montecito, accessible off of Channel Drive near, of course, Butterfly Lane, across from the Four Seasons Biltmore. No amenities but nice sand, a few benches and dog access. You'll most likely have to find a parking spot on the street. Mainly geared towards locals. You can catch a beautiful sunset from here.

Butterfly Beach in Montecito

Butterfly Beach in Montecito

Lookout Park is a County of Santa Barbara managed park located on four acres on the cliffs of Summerland. Take the Summerland exit off Highway 101 and turn south into the park. Dogs are allowed on leash at this park. There access to a decent strip of beach, Summerland Beach. Also a small playground, restrooms, picnic areas, BBQ grills and more. Visit www.countyofsb.org/parks/parks02.aspx?id=7946 for more info.

Carpinteria area beaches, including Carpinteria State Beach, Tar Pits Park, Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve and Rincon Beach Park, are highlighted at this link.

Compilation of Public Beaches Spanning From Oxnard to Hueneme to Malibu

In a separate post, we highlighted beaches ranging from Carpinteria down south to the beaches at the Ventura Harbor. This is the 2nd installment of local area beaches that stretch from McGrath State Beach on down to the beaches gracing Malibu. We hope these compilations prove useful in guiding you to all the oceanfront fun Ventura County and adjacent areas have to offer!

Additionally, here's a compilation of beaches in the Santa Barbara area (excluding Carpinteria).

McGrath State Beach has been closed due to flooding issues since 2019. Visit parks.ca.gov/?page_id=607 or call 805.968.1033 for more information.  McGrath has 2 1/2 miles of beach available. Swimming, surfing, and water sports are discouraged because of rip currents. McGrath is 5 miles south of Ventura off the 101 freeway via Harbor Boulevard.

Mandalay State Beach is 94 acres of undeveloped beachfront land located south of Reliant Energy's Mandalay Generating Station. The natural sand dunes and the wetlands ecosystem are recognized for their important natural value and houses several threatened bird species. This is a passive, natural open space park with no support facilities. The sandy ocean beach and adjacent coastal dunes are available for public day use only. The beach is managed by the County of Ventura on behalf of the California State Parks Department. Located at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and 5th Street in Oxnard. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=609. No dogs allowed.

‘ololkoy Beach Park (formerly Oxnard Beach Park) has one of the best kids play areas around town, restrooms, lots of grass, and easy access to miles and miles of beach. The park is located at 1601 S. Harbor Boulevard. visitoxnard.com/directory/oxnard-beach-park

Oxnard Beach Park looking towards the beach.

Oxnard Beach Park looking towards the beach.

Hollywood Beach is a great spot for swimming, sunning and viewing the Channel Islands. Free public beach volleyball courts, public restrooms on the north end of the beach, on-street parking and lifeguards on duty between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Located right next to Channel Islands Harbor off of Harbor Boulevard. Dogs are allowed at Hollywood Beach on leash before 9am and after 5pm. West-facing beach means it’s great for catching the sunset!

Hollywood Beach

Hollywood Beach

Silver Strand Beach is a 1 mile long beach near Channel Islands Harbor, about 150 yards in width. It is capped by north and south jetties, both of which have small parking lots; one next to San Nicholas Avenue (at Ocean Drive), the other next to Sawtelle Avenue. Free parking from sunrise to sunset with limited restroom facilities. This is a sandy bottom beach break which may have rip tides and an undertow, so be careful. Dogs on leash allowed before 9am and after 5pm. Lifeguards on duty daily during summer months. Accessed via S. Victoria Avenue. Visit visitoxnard.com/things-to-do/beaches/silver-strand-beach for more information.

There's a Kiddie Beach Park off of S. Victoria Avenue at Sunset Drive with available parking, restrooms and benches. It is a small sliver of sand that fronts the south end of Channel Islands Harbor and thus does not face ocean waves.

Hueneme Beach Park is a 50 acre area with picnic tables, barbecue pits, walking paths, a fishing pier, sand volleyball courts, Surfside Seafood snack bar, lifeguards and restrooms. Beach parking lots and Surfside Drive parking available for a fee. No dogs allowed. Visit www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=926 for more information. Located at 550 E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme

Ormond Beach is a 1,500 acre area composed of agriculture, industry and wetlands. A two mile long beach extends from Port Hueneme on the north to Naval Base Ventura County on the south. This is one of the few areas in southern California with an intact dune transition zone marsh system, hosting over 200 migratory bird species. The California Coastal Conservancy is restoring these wetlands. A bit off the beaten path, it is probably more geared towards bird watchers and hikers. Get there via Hueneme Road, going south on either Perkins Road on the north and Arnold Road on the south.

Naval Base Ventura County occupies roughly 6 miles of oceanfront space between Ormond Beach on the north and Point Mugu State Park on the south. This space is not accessible by the general public. However, there are periodic opportunities for civilians to catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean from NBVC during organized events open to the public.

Mugu Beach is the first publicly accessible beach area south of Naval Base Ventura County off of PCH, located adjacent to the prominent Mugu Rock. For the most part this is the most quickly accessible beach to Camarillo and Conejo Valley residents. There is paid parking ($12 last time I was there) as well as parking available on PCH. Popular with fisherman. One thing to be aware of here is that there is a significant undertow. If you bring the little ones, best to stay out of the water or just be extra careful.

South of Mugu Rock there is also some beach that is accessible with plenty of parking on PCH. No facilities and not a lot of beach, but beautiful views and a quick place to explore.

ThornhillBroome.JPG

Thornhill Broome Campground and Beach is also part of Point Mugu State Park, located a mile or two south of Mugu Beach. This is a campground right on the beach with a capacity for about 60 or so RVs. But of course you can visit for the day for a parking fee. Plenty of parking also available on PCH. Porta-potties available. Dogs are allowed around here as long as they are on a leash (and paleeeze...pick up after them).

Across the street on PCH is a gigantic, steep sand dune that I've always found to be interesting. Learn more about that sand dune here.

Unusually large sand dune on the east side of PCH across from Thornhill Broome Campground

Unusually large sand dune on the east side of PCH across from Thornhill Broome Campground

Sycamore Cove is at the southernmost beachfront portion of Point Mugu State Park. Point Mugu State Park features 3.6 miles of ocean shoreline (Sycamore Cove to Mugu Beach), with rocky bluffs, beaches, sand dunes, rugged hills and uplands, two major river canyons and wide grassy valleys dotted native trees.

Sycamore Canyon Campground across PCH from Sycamore Cove has 58 campsites. For a challenge, ride or hike down through Sycamore Canyon from Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park. You'll most likely have to pay to park here (most recently $12 for day use) as there are not many spots on PCH available on the south side...watch out...there are no parking signs all over the place.

SycamoreCove_sign.JPG

Sycamore Cove Beach has a number of picnic benches shaded by trees and is thus a popular spot on summer weekends for the BBQ crowd as well as with the campers from the campground on the other side of PCH. Located at 9000 Pacific Coast Highway. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630.

Trees shade the picnic tables at Sycamore Cove Beach

Trees shade the picnic tables at Sycamore Cove Beach

In the 3.3 mile stretch of PCH between Sycamore Cove Beach and County Line Beach (below) there are three or four places where you can park on PCH and access the beach.

One of these beaches I refer to as Call Box 1-35 Beach, about a mile southeast of Sycamore Cove Beach. This is not the official name of this beach in the unincorporated section of Ventura County northwest of Malibu city limits. But since the dilapidated staircase leading down to the beach is next to this call box, it seems appropriate. The address is approximately 9649 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (yes, technically not Malibu, yet in Google maps the address says Malibu).

About half a mile southeast of Call Box 1-35 is Call Box 1-27 Beach, which I also refer to as 26 Steps Beach. 26 Steps Beach is approximately 1.9 miles northeast of County Line Beach (see below) and 1.5 miles southwest of Sycamore Cove Beach (see above), at approximately 9999 PCH, just west of Deer Creek Road. I made up the name 26 Steps Beach because there is a well-worn, tagged up staircase that leads you from your parked car on PCH near the 1-27 Call Box sign to the beach. This is not a bad little section of beach that rarely has many people. No restrooms. Parking is free on PCH.

County Line Beach is located across the street from the iconic Neptune's Net, 3 miles south of Sycamore Cove at 42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Lots of surfers and places to explore. Park on PCH. Watch out for bikers...there can be hundreds of them hanging out here on many a weekend. There are outer reefs for scuba diving that have an abundance of sea life. Activities include diving, surfing, and tide pools. No lifeguards on duty. There are a few porta-johns here. Technically, County Line Beach is located in Solromar, an unincorporated community in Ventura County - but they use the Malibu zip code so hey, it’s ok to say it is in Malibu.

NeptunesNet.JPG

Before the main Leo Carrillo State Beach area while heading south on PCH is the Leo Carrillo State Park Staircase Beach area. There’s a California State Parks parking lot at 40000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Parking is available for approximately 50 cars. There’s a moderately narrow trail that takes you down to the beach, which is also a fairly narrow beach with lots of rocks. You can also walk to this beach from the main Leo Carrillo Beach. Dogs allowed on leash.

Leo Carrillo State Park Staircase Beach parking lot.

Leo Carrillo State Park Staircase Beach parking lot.

Leo Carrillo State Park consists of 1 1/2 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beach combing; one of our favorites for exploring sea caves, rocks and tidepools. Located at 35000 West Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, Leo Carrillo is about 1 1/2 miles south of County Line Beach. On the north side of PCH, there are 135 campsites in over 2,500 acres. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=616 or call 805.488.1827. Dogs on a leash are allowed in day use areas, campground and north beach (north of lifeguard tower 3). Dogs are not allowed on back country trails or south beach (south of lifeguard tower 3). Park on PCH or in the state lot ($12) and take the tunnel under PCH to the beach. More details on how to get to Leo Carrillo from the 101 freeway at this link.

NicholasCanyon.JPG

Nicholas Canyon County Beach is one mile east of Leo Carrillo at 33850 Pacific Coast Highway. Great beach where you can hang out, fish, picnic, surf and more. About 150 parking spaces available. Generally $10 to park on summer weekends, or park on PCH. More info at beaches.lacounty.gov/nicholas-canyon-beach. Restrooms available.

A view of Nicholas Canyon County Beach, just a mile east of Leo Carrillo.

A view of Nicholas Canyon County Beach, just a mile east of Leo Carrillo.

Located between Leo Carrillo and Point Dume State Beaches, Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach is made up of a number of cove or cliff-foot strands known as "pocket beaches" along the west end of Malibu, including El Pescador, La Piedra and El Matadorwww.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=633 Dogs are not allowed on state beaches.

El Pescador State Beach is 1.4 miles east of Nicholas Canyon at 32900 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Steep, uneven stairs lead to about 10 acres of narrow, sandy beach. It is just east of Decker Canyon, the curvy, steep road that takes you up to Hidden Valley/Westlake Village. Dogs are not allowed on state beaches. Limited parking is available (fees vary) or park on PCH. Small, secluded beach. When the tide is not too high, you can trek you way east towards La Piedra Beach and back.

Porta-potty available. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=633.

Sign on PCH east of Decker Canyon Road, prior to El Pescador State Beach to the west of it.

Sign on PCH east of Decker Canyon Road, prior to El Pescador State Beach to the west of it.

La Piedra State Beach is .3 miles east of El Pescador at 32700 Pacific Coast Highway. A fairly long hiking path (may be a bit challenging for those lugging a lot of stuff) leads to 9 acres of narrow, sandy beach. Dogs are not allowed on state beaches. Limited parking available for a fee (which vary) or park on PCH. Porta potty available. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=633.

El Matador State Beach is .3 miles east of La Piedra at 32350 Pacific Coast Highway, just east of where Encinal Canyon Road intersects with PCH. A dirt path, then dozens of stairs, leads to 18 acres of narrow, sandy beach with stunning, rock formations and caves.

Dogs are not allowed on state beaches.  There is a parking lot with room for 25 or so cars where you can pay $3/hour or $10 for all day (as of June 2025).  You can also park on PCH, but on the north side...for whatever reason parking is prohibited on the south side of PCH. This means you have to cross PCH, which can be a challenge. There are porta-potties available. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=633

Stunning rock formations at El Matador State Beach.

Stunning rock formations at El Matador State Beach.

Lechuza Beach in Malibu, a mile east of El Matador State Beach, is maintained by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. It is a small, sandy beach with beautiful rock formations and views up the coast. Accessible via the northeast end of Broad Beach Road.  More information and specific access points at mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/lechuza-beach. Dogs not allowed on the beach.

Zuma Beach is located at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway about 3.5 miles east of El Matador. With 1.8 miles of beach, Zuma is one of the largest and most popular beaches in Los Angeles County, Zuma is known for its long, wide sands and excellent surf. Plenty of facilities, including several food stands, restrooms, showers, volleyball, etc. Plenty of street parking on PCH and over 2,000 parking spaces (currently $8 weekdays and $15 weekends). Visit beaches.lacounty.gov/zuma-beach for more information. Zuma is known for riptides, so do be careful out there.

NOTE: Fires, including BBQs, are not allowed on any beach in Malibu; the exception is that fires may be allowed in designated spots at some state beaches. Dogs not allowed on the beach also.

Zuma Beach

Zuma Beach

Point Dume State Beach is a 63 acre promontory that juts out into the Pacific and features headlands, cliffs, rocky coves and vast beach access for swimming, surfing, scuba diving and fishing. Westward Beach borders Zuma Beach at Zuma's south side. There is plenty of parking on Westward Beach Road, which parallels Westward Beach. To the southeast of Westward Beach is a small 300 foot or so beachfront area called Pirate's Cove Beach (which due to its seclusion was once used as a nude beach).

PointDumeSign.jpg

At the end of Westward Beach Road (WBR), access to the protected 34-acre Point Dume Natural Preserve begins from the cul-de-sac. A gradual ascending trail leads to an ancient coastal bluff sand dune with spectacular views...we've seen whales, seals and dolphins over here. A stairway from the east side of the bluff-top preserve allows access to a more isolated beach and tidepools (look but don't touch). Location/Directions: Take Kanan south to PCH and turn right. WBR is over the rise, at the foot of the hill. Park free on WBR or pay a fee at Westward Beach lot. No restrooms at the Preserve but some can be found on WBR. Call 310.457.8143 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=623 for more information.

NOTE: Dogs are not allowed on trails in the Point Dume Natural Preserve or on the beach.

Looking down on the beach at Point Dume

Looking down on the beach at Point Dume

Paradise Cove Beach is located at 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, accessed via Paradise Cove Road. Parking (as of June 2026) is $10 weekdays ($15 weekends/holidays) for if you spend up to 4 hours at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe (and spend at least $30 there) or $45/$65/day (weekdays/weekends) if you park there just for the beach. Or, you can park on PCH and walk there. There are restrooms, cabanas, lounge chairs and chairs for rent, and a small pier. Visit www.paradisecovemalibu.com.

Escondido Beach is a short, narrow strip of beach accessible just west of Geoffrey's Malibu via a long stairway at 27420 PCH or near the corner of Escondido Beach Road and Malibu Cove Colony Drive. Look for access signs. No dogs allowed. No facilities.

Dan Blocker Beach is located at 26000 Pacific Coast Highway (between Solstice Canyon and Corral Canyon Roads. A sandy, narrow beach that draws surfers and scuba divers. Limited free roadside parking. Restrooms are available. Corral Canyon (trail map HERE) is located across the street at 25623 PCH. The trailhead is on the north side of PCH next to Malibu Seafood restaurant. The beach can be accessed via a seasonal trail under PCH. 310.305.9546

On June 14, 2016, a new beach stairway access was completed at 24038 Malibu Road. Very little parking available there and no facilities at the beach.

Malibu Beach is a 167 acre beach at 23050 and 23200 Pacific Coast Highway that includes Malibu Lagoon, Malibu Lagoon Museum and the Malibu Pier. Malibu Surfrider Beach next to the pier is quite popular with local surfers. Parking available for a fee, or park on streets surrounding Malibu Country Mart and walk across PCH at the signaled crosswalk at Cross Creek Road.

Malibu Surfrider Beach viewed from the Malibu Sportfishing Pier

Malibu Surfrider Beach viewed from the Malibu Sportfishing Pier

Perhaps the most expensive strip of beach in the world is Carbon Beach, which stretches about a mile and a half between the Malibu Pier and just east of Carbon Canyon Road. This wide beach is a beautiful strip of sand, but public access points can be challenging to find and parking can be a challenge. Learn specifics at THIS LINK but specifically, the public accessway points are at 22670 PCH, 22466 PCH and 22126 PCH. No restrooms and no dogs allowed at this beach.

Las Tunas Beach is located at 19444 Pacific Coast Highway, about 4 1/2 miles east of the Malibu Pier. It is a narrow beach beneath the bluffs that holds a special attraction to surf casters. Free parking lot. Located between Tuna Canyon and Las Flores Canyon Roads.

CoastalAccess2.JPG

And there's more...the California Coastal Commission Shoreline Public Access Program helps maximize public access to the beach along the California coast. When you see one of those "Coastal Access" signs, that means you can get to the beach. More on the program at www.coastal.ca.gov/access/accndx.html. The L.A. County Dept of Beaches and Harbors has published Malibu beach accessways at file.lacounty.gov/dbh/cms1_151453.jpg, including 11 accessways on PCH, Malibu Road and Broad Beach Road. But if you do check them out, be mindful of those who live there!

Upcoming 5K, 10K and Other Ventura County Area Running and Fitness Events

runners.JPG

Start training for upcoming 5K, 10K, half marathon and other Ventura County running and fitness events! We've made it easy for you to find a local race by tracking local events right here. So go on, get moving, lace up those shoes and start training!

Training for a marathon? Check out 26.2 Training Tips for Your First Marathon!

Running Clubs in the Local Area

Ventura Running Club www.venturarunningclub.com Sunday beach runs at the Ventura Pier, Wednesday track workouts and social event.

Inside Track Running Club has been training in Ventura since 1976. Saturday long runs, Tuesday intervals, Thursday hills and Sunday easy runs. runsignup.com/Club/CA/Ventura/InsideTrackRunningClub

Thousand Oaks Pacers www.runpacers.org/thousandoaks/about Running club founded in 2014.

Future Track Running Pack futuretrackrunningpack.org Founded in 1988 in Agoura Hills. Tuesday night track workouts at Oak Park High School and more.

The Pacific Coast Track Club hosts training sessions on Sunday mornings at the Camarillo High School track and Ojai community track. Individual training sessions also available. Email mgenebyme@gmail.com for more information or visit www.facebook.com/genebyrne101.

Conejo Valley Run Club was established in 2024 for all levels of runners, meeting for local are runs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. www.instagram.com/conejovalleyrunclub

Newbury Park Elite Endurance offers personalized coaching an training plans. Visit www.newburyparkendurance.com to learn more.

RunningShoeRack.jpg

For great running shoes from local businesses that know a lot about them, try the following: