Easter Egg Hunts and Other Fun Easter Activities Around Ventura County

Here at Conejo Valley Guide we have a special place in our heart for Easter fun! The bunnies of the Conejo Valley and surrounding Ventura County areas are planning ahead to make this Easter memorable.

We have the Germans to thank for the Easter Bunny concept, which came about in the 1500s. Hares and bunnies are signs of fertility and eggs signify rebirth. The Germans brought Easter traditions to America and it wasn't until after the Civil War that Easter became widely celebrated.

Easter Sunday 2026 is April 5th! Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. As a result, Easter Sunday ranges from March 22nd to April 25th

Upcoming Easter season events and activities in and around Ventura County (list will be updated regularly; dates/time subject to change, so check with event organizers to be sure):

Sat, Mar 21: Easter Bunny Arrival, Egg Hunt at Simi Valley Town Center (11am-4pm)

March 21-22, 28-29 Spring Spectacular at America's Teaching Zoo in Moorpark

Fri, March 27: Flashlight Egg Hunt at 5 Locations in Thousand Oaks (6-9pm)

Sat, March 28: Springtime at the Adobe at Leonis Adobe Calabasas (1-4pm)

Sat, March 28: The Hunt Holiday Egg Hunt in Ventura (10am-3pm: RSVP required)

Sat, March 28: The Bunny Trail Junior Egg Hunt in Calabasas (9am-noon - Adv tickets reqd)

Sat, March 28: Breakfast with the Bunny at Reyes Adobe Park in Agoura (10am-noon; RSVP)

Sat, March 28: Easter Egg Hunt at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall in Thousand Oaks (9:45am)

Sun, March 29: Selfies with the Bunny at The Collection at Riverpark (Noon-3pm)

Thu, April 2: Easter Egg Hunt in Thousand Oaks (hosted by Century Academy and Shine Homeschool).

Sat, April 4: Egg Scramble Event at Rancho Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley (9am start)

Sat, April 4: Easter Eggstravaganza Event in Camarillo (10am-1pm)

Sat, April 4: City of Moorpark Easter Egg Hunt (10am-1pm; Purchase wristbands in advance beginning March 2nd)

Sat, April 4: Egg Scramble Event Mae Boyar Park in Oak Park (9:15-11am)

Sat, April 4: Bunnies & Baskets at the Stagecoach Inn Museum (1-4pm)

Sun, April 4: Meet & Greet with the Seaside Bunny at Ventura Harbor Village (12-3pm)

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Mar 21 to Apr 12; Springtime Easter Festival at Underwood Family Farms

Mar 13 to Apr 4: Photos with the Bunny at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura

Mar 20 to Apr 30: Spring Scavenger Hunt at The Collection at Riverpark

Mar 21 to Apr 4: Bunny Photos at the Simi Valley Town Center

Campgrounds and RV Facilities In Ventura County and Adjacent Areas

Looking to "rough it" locally in the vicinity of Ventura County and surrounding areas? Here's a compilation of local camping facilities run by federal, state and private organizations that may help you make that final push to get off of that sofa and start smelling the fresh air! As you can see, there are literally thousands of campsites available in and within a one hour radius of Ventura County.

There are a number of camping options in the local Santa Monica Mountains, including Leo Carrillo, Point Mugu State Park and Malibu Creek State Park.

Senior Citizen Discount at State Parks!

California state parks offer senior citizen discounts for those age 62 or older with proof of age. Discounts include $1 discount for vehicle day use (except for fees under $2) and $2 discount per night for most campgrounds. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23800


Leo Carrillo State Park is located at 35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. The Canyon Campground has 135 family sites, each with a table and fire ring. Restrooms, drinking water and coin-operated showers are available. "Hike and Bike" campsites are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The group campground at the back of the canyon can accommodate up to 50 people. Peak season is March 1 to November 30 and off-peak is the month of December. Campsite is steps away from 1 1/2 miles of beach with tidepools, coastal caves and reefs to explore. Maximum of 8 people per campsite. Fees as of March 2026 are $10/person for Hike and Bike sites, $45 to $60/night for canyon sites and $225/night for the group site, plus $7.99 reservation fee. Visit ReserveCalifornia.com and search for “Leo Carrillo SP” to make reservations. More information about Leo Carrillo State Park at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=616.

Camping at Leo Carrillo State Park is extremely popular. (This was photo was taken before the Woolsey Fire of November 2018.)

Camping at Leo Carrillo State Park is extremely popular. (This was photo was taken before the Woolsey Fire of November 2018.)

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Point Mugu State Park is located at 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, offering a variety of camping options described below.

The Sycamore Canyon Campground is north of PCH, offering 58 tent/RV spaces along with drinking water, restrooms, showers and fire rings. There is also 4 tent spaces available for "Hike and Bike" camper. Pets are allowed on leash in the campground. Fees as of March 2026 are $45/night and $10/night for Hike and Bike spots. Visit ReserveCalifornia.com and search for “Point Mugu SP” to make reservations.

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Thornhill Broome Family Camp offers 68 tent/RV spaces with no hookups, but you're talking literally on the beach camping. No flush toilets; just chemical toilets. Cold outside showers. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Pets are allowed on leash in the campground. Fees as of January 2026 are $35/night. Visit ReserveCalifornia.com and search for “Point Mugu SP” to make reservations.

Thornhill Broome RV Park as seen from across PCH.

Thornhill Broome RV Park as seen from across PCH.

La Jolla Valley Hike-In camping accommodates up to 3 tent spaces; no water, no fires. $10 per person, per night, payable at the La Jolla Valley/Ray Miller Trail parking area. There is also a group hike-in spot for 10 to 20 people.

There is also a reservable La Jolla Group tent camp for 9 to 50 people available near the entrance to the La Jolla Valley section of Point Mugu State Park that has drinking water, flush toilets, showers and a fire pit. Fees as of March 2026 are $225/night. This is a walk-in group camp for tents only with parking available for up to 12 vehicles, 25 yards from the campground. Located across from Thornhill Broome. Visit www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “Point Mugu SP” to reserve the group camp.

La Jolla Valley Group Camping Area

La Jolla Valley Group Camping Area

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The Danielson Group Multi-Use Area is located in Sycamore Canyon within Pt Mugu State Park and is available for groups of 10 to 50 people. There is drinking water, flush toilets, showers, tent spaces and fireplace. Pets allowed on leash in campground. Contact California State Parks to book the reservation at 800-444-7275 ($150/night).

The Sycamore Group Multi-Use Area accommodates 10 to 25 people and includes drinking water, chemical toilets, tent spaces and fire rings. Pets allowed on leash in campground. Contact California State Parks to book the reservation at 800-444-7275 ($100/night).

Malibu Creek State Park at 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas offers a family campground with 62 tent/RV spaces, drinking water, restrooms, showers and fire rings. Pets are allowed in the campground (but not in the back country trails). Fees $45/night + $7.99 reservation fee as of March 2025. There is also a group campground available for 10 to 60 people at $225/night. Reservations at ReserveCalifornia.com by searching for “Malibu Creek SP” or by calling 800-444-PARK.

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The National Park Service maintains the Circle X Ranch Group Campground is located at 12896 Yerba Buena Road, Malibu. There is only one group campsite located here for tent camping only. Pets on leash are allowed. Drinking water and pit toilets available, along with picnic benches and grills. No electricity. Room for 10 to 75 people. Reserve a spot at www.Recreation.gov. Cost as of Summer 2019 was $35/night for 10-25 people, $75/night for 26-50 and $125/night for 51-75. Open year-round. Enjoy hiking Sandstone Peak and the Grotto Trail from Circle X Ranch! (NOTE: CIRCLE X RANCH GROUP CAMPGROUND CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO DAMAGE FROM WOOLSEY FIRE. CHECK FOR UPDATES AT RECREATION.GOV.)

Tent camping is available year round on all five islands in Channel Islands National Park in National Park Service-managed campgrounds. Some of them have water. All have tables and vault toilets. There are a total of approximately 70 campsites. Campgrounds on each island are as follows:

  • Anacapa Island: Year-round camping. No water. 7 sites.

  • Santa Cruz Island East - Scorpion Anchorage Campground open year-round about 1/4 mile from the beach. Water is available here. 25 campsites and 6 group sites.

  • Santa Cruz Island Mid - Del Norte Campground at Prisoners Harbor open year-round. Backcountry camp four miles from the harbor. No water. 4 sites.

  • San Miguel Island - Above Cuyler Harbor is back country camping open May through October. No water. 9 sites.

  • Santa Rosa Island - At Water Canyon March through November. 15 sites. Water available.

  • Santa Barbara Island - Above the Landing Cove April through October. No water. 10 sites.

Advance reservations required by calling 877.444.6777 or through Recreation.gov. Currently $15/night fee as of March 2026 for individual campsites. No fires permitted; you can only use enclosed gas stoves.  More information at www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/camping.htm.

Scorpion Anchorage campground on Santa Cruz Island (Channel Islands National Park)

Scorpion Anchorage campground on Santa Cruz Island (Channel Islands National Park)

The 1.75 million acre Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) stretches across almost 220 miles from Monterey County through San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties. The Ojai Ranger District of LPNF includes the Matilija Wilderness and part of the Sespe Wilderness. There are five campgrounds in the Ojai portion of LPNF, including reservable Wheeler Gorge Campground and first-come, first-served campgrounds, Middle Lion, Pine Mountain, Reyes Peak and Rose Valley.

Wheeler Gorge Campground in Ojai is open year-round with dozens of available spots for tents and RVs. Parking spurs are paved and vary in length, accommodating RVs up to 35 feet. At the top of the campground is the Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail. Rangers at nearby Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center provide informative tours during summer/fall months. The campground is adjacent to Matilija Creek and is bordered by oak and sycamore trees and evergreen shrubbery. Most sites are shaded and summer temperatures reach up to 95 degrees.  Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets are provided, but drinking water is not available. Visitors must bring their own water and remove their trash from the campground. Make reservations on Recreation.gov at THIS LINK.

Photo Credit: Tom Alexander

Photo Credit: Tom Alexander

Rose Valley Campground in Ojai is located at an elevation of 3,450 feet. It is open year-round. There are nine campsites located in a single loop, each with tables, BBQ grills, and/or fire rings. There is one vault toilet in the campground and another across from the lake. Drinking water is not available, so be sure to bring your own. An Adventure Pass is required to be displayed on car ($5/day or $30/year). Half a mile hike gets you to the Rose Valley Falls. Directions: Take Highway 33 north from Ojai 14.7 miles to mile marker 25.84.  Turn right at the Rose Valley Road turnoff and follow the paved road for 3.1 miles. Turn right again at the Rose Valley sign and drive 0.6 miles into the campground.

Reservations for 6 of the 9 campsites are available at www.recreation.gov at THIS LINK or by calling 1-877-444-6777. The remaining 3 sites are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Middle Lion Campground is surrounded by chaparral covered mountains, shaded by cottonwood trees and is next to a peaceful stream. It has eight first-come, first-served campsites located along a single loop. Tables, barbecue grills and/or fire rings are provided at each site. There is a vault toilet. No drinking water on site; you must bring your own. Follow Highway 33 north of Ojai for 14.7 miles to the Rose Valley Road turnoff. Turn right and follow the paved road 4.8 miles. Turn right and go 0.8 miles to the campground.

Pine Mountain Campground is nestled in a small valley along the top of Pine Mountain and consists of six campsites in a circle with a large open area in the middle. Opens May 1st. There are tables, BBQ grills and/or fire rings, and one pit toilet at this campground.  Water is not available so be sure to bring your own.  The campground is surrounded by moderate hills and is a quiet place for relaxing. At an elevation of 6,650 feet, it offers cooler temperatures on hot summer days. The campground is closed during winter months, through April. Follow Highway 33 to the turnoff at Pine Mountain Summit (mile marker 42.50).  Turn right and follow partially paved road another 4.7 miles. Campground will be on the right. Reserve a spot at www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273843.

One mile further up from Pine Mountain Campground, at an elevation of 7,000 feet is Reyes Peak Campground. It is situated along the southwest side of a ridge and consists of six campsites, each with a table, BBQ grill and a fire ring. There is one pit toilet located near the first few campsites. No water is available, so be sure to bring your own. Panoramic views! You can see the Cuyama Badlands on one side and the ocean from the other side. Reserve a spot at www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273844.

The Lake Casitas Recreation Area located at 11311 Santa Ana Road in Ventura offers over 600 campsites. Sites can accommodate tents, tent trailers, campers and RVs, all with picnic tables and fire rings and some with playgrounds nearby. Book early as campgrounds sell out on weekends from mid-March through September. Casitas Water Adventure is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Make reservations at reservations.casitaswater.org.. Sites are limited to six campers. Lake Casitas is a drinking water supply, so swimming is not allowed in it. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash no longer than six feet long and are not allowed within 50 feet of the lake. Boating on the lake is allowed.

The 60 acre Lake Piru Recreation Area is located on the western shore of Lake Piru, a reservoir in the Los Padres National Forest. Lake Piru offers 238 tree-shaded campsites, coin-operated hot showers and a store. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and grill top. The dam is owned and operated by the United Water Conservation District of Santa Paula and a third party operates the campsite; visit explorelakepiru.com/#reservations for more information and to make reservations. Boat rentals and fishing available. Fees vary and are listed on the website. Or call 805.521.1500.

Other nearby California State Parks with camping are at McGrath State Beach, Emma Wood State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, Gaviota State Park and Refugio State Beach as described below.

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The McGrath State Beach Campground has 174 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, and restrooms with coin-operated hot showers. A group campsite and a hike-and-bike site are also available. Reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “McGrath SB” or by calling 800-444-7275. Dogs allowed on leash but not on the beach. The beach is five miles south of Ventura off Highway 101 via Harbor Boulevard. Available March through December. (NOTE: MCGRATH CAMPING AREAS STILL CLOSED - LAST UPDATE JANUARY 2026.) www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=607

Emma Wood State Beach** offers camping for self-contained vehicles (e.g. RVs) only (tents not permitted). No water, restrooms, electricity, fire rings, phones or dump stations are available.  There are 90 spaces, with a maximum vehicle length of 40 feet, due to small turnaround areas. Camping at Emma Wood State Beach is reservation only from mid-May through Labor Day. Pricing as of January 2026 is $40/night and $280/week at www.reservecalifornia.com by searching for “Emma Wood SB.” www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=604

** Emma Wood State Beach - North Beach Campground will be closed for camping and day use from 8/25/25 through May 2026. See below.

Emma Wood

Four developed group campsites with room for 30 campers are available at Ventura River Group Camp, located two miles south of Emma Wood. Reservations required year-round. There is also primitive RV camping for groups up to 50 people and 20 vehicles.  The maximum length for RV is 45 feet. Railroad tracks and Highway 101 are adjacent to the campground and can be noisy. Dogs on leash are allowed on campground but not on the beach. Chemical toilets available, as are cold showers. Reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “Emma Wood SB”.

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Carpinteria State Beach is a mile long beach that is great for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. Dogs are allowed only at the picnic area. Four campground areas with 216 family campsites and seven group campsites available.  Exit the 101 at Casitas Pass Road, go west to Carpinteria Avenue, make a right at the signal; then turn left on Palm.  The beach is at the end of Palm Avenue near 4th Street. Call 805.968.1033 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=599. Reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “Carpinteria SB.” Family campsites are $45/night as of March 2026 plus reservation fee. There are also some “Hike and Bike” campsites available on a first come, first serve basis for $10 per person, per night, with a two night consecutive limit.

El Capitán State Beach is located off Highway 101, 17 miles west of Santa Barbara at Exit 117. A sandy beach, rocky tide pools, and stands of sycamore and oaks along El Capitán Creek. It’s a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, surfing, picnicking and camping. A 132-site campground is open year-round. A short walk takes you to the beach. Each site has a picnic table and stove or fire ring; restrooms with hot showers are nearby. Several sites are paved for RVs only. Some sites accommodate trailers and RVs up to 42 feet in length. Five group campsites, accommodating 40-100 people, are available. Hike and bike campsites are also available. Dogs allowed on leash but not on the beach. Reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “El Capitan SB.” Family campsites $45/night as of January 2026. More on El Capitan at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=601. (2/13/25: EL CAPITAN CLOSED TO VEHICLES AND CAMPING FOR ENTRANCE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.; UPDATES AT www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=601.

Gaviota State Park is located about 33 miles west of Santa Barbara on Gaviota Beach Road. Gaviota is popular for swimming, picnicking and surf fishing. This section of the coast was first called "gaviota" (seagull) by soldiers of the Portola Expedition in 1769. A pier on the west end of the beach is used by divers and surfers. A six mile trek up to Gaviota Peak offers a view of the coast and the Channel Islands. There are 41 developed, first-come, first-served campsites available at Gaviota that can accommodate tents, trailers up to 25 feet and RVs up to 27 feet. Campground closed between October 1 and March 31, the campground is open Friday through Sunday only. Dogs on leash allowed, but not on the beach. Reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “Gaviota SP.” Family sites $45/night plus reservation fee as of March 2026.

Refugio State Beach is located at 10 Refugio Beach Road in Goleta, about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara. Refugio offers coastal fishing, trails, picnic sites. and palm trees. There are over 60 campsites with an eight camper maximum per campsite. Dogs on leash allowed, but not on the beach. Reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com and search for “Refugio SB.” Campsites $45/night plus reservation fee as of March 2026. More information on Refugio State Beach at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603.

The County of Ventura maintains campsites at Camp Comfort and Dennison Park in Ojai, Foster Park in Ventura, Kenney Grove Park in Fillmore, Oak Park in Simi Valley, Steckel Park in Santa Paula, Tapo Canyon, Simi Valley and Toland Park, Santa Paula. To make reservations, visit www.venturaparks.org or call 805.654.3951 for more information. Maximum stay in Ventura County parks is 14 nights per ordinance.

Camp Comfort is located about a mile from Downtown Ojai at 11969 North Creek Road, Ojai. Hwy 33, S.E. on Hermosa Road. San Antonio Creek runs through this tree-lined park. Individual and group campsites are available at www.ventura.org/parks-department/inland-parks/camp-comfort-ojai. There are 15 campsites. There are restrooms, drinking water, a playground, picnic tables, BBQs and fire rings. Showers, full hook-ups and laundry available. Dogs are allowed on up to 6 foot leash for a $1/night fee (2 dog maximum). Sites $50 per night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

Dennison Park is located at 7250 Santa Paula-Ojai Road in Ojai, on Hwy 150, south of Nordhoff Road. This is a quiet park with views of the Ojai Valley, offering a feeling of seclusion. There are covered family/group barbecue areas near the entrance of the park available by reservation only. Fees are $28 per night plus a $10 reservation fee as of March 2026. There are 31 campsites. RV camping in lower portion of park only with 35 foot maximum length; no hook ups. Dogs allowed on leash for $1/night fee (2 dog maximum). Individual and group campsites are available at www.ventura.org/parks-department/inland-parks/dennison-park-ojai.

Foster Park is located at 438 Casitas Vista Road, Ventura, off of Highway 33. The park is lush with plenty of trees and two separate campgrounds, Residence Campground (14 campsites) and Red Mountain Campground (23 campsites). The Ojai Valley Trail runs through the park, which is great for cycling, walking and running. Maximum of 6 campers per site. Dogs allowed on leash for $1/night fee (2 dog maximum). Individual and group campsites are available at www.venturaparks.org. $28 or $49/night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

Kenney Grove Park at 823 North Oak Avenue, Fillmore is a developed RV campground with over 50 campsites for RVs and tents. It is owned by the county but is leased to a private party that manages the campground. Most sites have water and electrical hookups and some have fire rings and tables. Park use is by reservation only. There is a playground, restrooms, softball field, horseshoe pits, hot showers and other amenities. Dogs allowed on 6 foot leash in campground only ($1/night fee, 2 dog maximum). Ten full hookups available. Call 805-524-0750 for information. Make reservations at www.venturaparks.org.$41/night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

Oak Park Campground in Simi Valley is just off of the 118 freeway at 901 Quimsa Drive. There are approximately 30 campsites in this rustic, 100.5 acre open space park. Available for $41/night plus $10 reservation fee (as of March 2026). There are two playgrounds, amphitheater area, fire pits, restrooms and more. Maximum of 6 campers per site. Dogs allowed on leash for $1/night fee (2 dog maximum). Individual and group campsites are available at www.venturaparks.org.

There's a county-run 50 site campground at Steckel Park, 8080 Mistletoe Road, Santa Paula. Santa Paula Creek runs through this campground surrounded by rolling hills, mountains and trees. There's a playground, horseshoe pits, picnic tables, restrooms, etc. $28 or $50 per night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026. Dogs allowed on a 6 foot leash. Individual and group campsites are available at www.venturaparks.org.

Tapo Canyon Regional Park is located in the midst of the rolling hills and canyons of the Santa Susana Mountains north of Simi Valley at 4651 Tapo Canyon Road. Hikers, equestrian riders, and mountain bikers enjoy this rugged and rural park, which features picnic areas, an equestrian arena and a RV campground with 16 full hook ups. Dogs allowed on a 6 foot leash. Individual and group campsites are available at www.venturaparks.org. $50 per night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

Rincon Parkway is located between Faria Beach Park and Hobson Beach Park on Highway 1 off the Ventura Freeway. 127 RV use only parking spaces are available. Tent camping is not allowed. All RVs must be fully self-contained, as there are no electrical hook ups, dump stations, shower/bathroom facilities or water onsite, although there are a handful of porta-johns. There is a 5 day parking limit from April 1 to October 31 and a 14 day limit from November 1 to March 31. Dogs allowed on 6 foot leash. There is a $1 charge per dog. Book a spot at venturaparks.org/rincon/camping. Prices are $49 per night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

(There is no day use at Rincon Parkway.)

Hobson Beach Park at 5210 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura is north of Faria Beach Park and the Rincon Parkway. Similar to Faria Park, Hobson Park is wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the base of the Santa Ynez mountains along Highway 1 off the Ventura Freeway. There are 31 first come, first served sites available, 10 with hookups and the rest without. The beach is steps away and there are showers and a concession stand. Dogs allowed on a 6 foot leash ($1/night fee; 2 dog maximum). Book sites at THIS LINK. Sites range from $49 to $68 peak season plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

Faria Beach Park at 4350 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura is south of Hobson Beach Park. Another popular beachfront spot with 42 spaces available on a first come, first served basis. Tent and RV camping available. There are showers and a concession stand. Dogs allowed on a 6 foot leash ($1/night fee; 2 dog maximum). Book sites at THIS LINK. Fees range from $43 to $68 per night plus $10 reservation fee as of March 2026.

Mount Pinos in the Los Padres National Forest is the tallest peak in Ventura County, located about 1 hour, 45 minutes away from the heart of Thousand Oaks, adjacent to Kern County.

Directions to Mount Pinos: From I-5, take Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go west approximately 6 miles. The road name changes to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on it up Mt. Pinos. The road name changes to Mt. Pinos Highway.

The County of Santa Barbara runs two popular camping parks, Cachuma Lake and Jalama Beach. Both accept online reservations, but 40 sites at Cachuma and 20 sites at Jalama are first come, first served for walk-in customers. 

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is located at 2225 Highway 154, Santa Barbara, midway between the beach and the town of Solvang. Tent sites, hookups, cabins, yurts and group area available. As Cachuma Lake is a domestic water supply, swimming, water skiing, windsurfing, or any other body contact with the water is prohibited. Fishing is allowed. Detailed list of fees at www.countyofsb.org/788/Cabins.

Jalama Beach County Park is located at 9999 Jalama Road in Lompoc, an hour drive from Santa Barbara. Named after what used to be a Chumash Indian settlement named Halama. ARCO donated 23.5 acres of land to the County of Santa Barbara in 1943. There are 109 campsites, all overlooking the ocean or beachfront, each with a picnic table and BBQ pit, with hot showers, restrooms and water nearby. 31 sites offer electrical hookups and dump stations are available. Detailed list of fees at www.countyofsb.org/788/Cabins.

Privately Operated Campgrounds In the Area

Ventura Oaks RV Park is located at 255 Burnham Road in Oak View, offering 60 full hookup sites just two miles from Lake Casitas. Park-like setting with picnic tables, fully furnished laundry area, picnic tables and WiFi throughout. Long-term rentals available. Visit www.venturaoaks.com for more information.

Santa Barbara RV Park is located at 516 S. Salinas Street. It is adjacent to the highway, so there will be some noise, but it is also located within a couple miles of the beach, the Santa Barbara Zoo and downtown area. There are 30 sites. Site has bathrooms, showers and a laundry room.  Free WiFi. Dogs allowed. Visit www.santabarbararv.com.

Ventura Beach RV Resort is located at 800 West Main Street in Ventura. The 14 acre park has 180 spots and is just a short walk to the ocean. Amenities include a pool, hot tub, recreation room, small playground, onsite general store, and half basketball court. Visit www.vbrvresort.com for more information.

Prospector Ranch in Westlake Village is nestled in the hills of the Santa Monica Mountains, offering camping options here in the Conejo Valley, including a luxury safari tent, an Airstream or bring your own RV. www.prospectorranch.com/glamping

Rancho Oso Resort is located at 3750 Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, 8 miles east of Cachuma Lake. Accommodations include RV camping, horse camping, covered wagons, resort cabins and Tipi camping. rvonthego.com/california/rancho-oso-rv-camping-resort.

El Capitan Canyon Resort is located at 11560 Calle Real, Goleta, adjacent to El Capitan State Beach. This is luxury camping, with nicely appointed cedar cabins with beds, kitchens and restroom, as well as yurts that are spacious with bedding and nearby restroom/shower facilities. There’s also picnic tables, fire pits, and a store with all the stuff you need to "rough it." Activities include a pool, small playground, bike rentals, hiking, of course the nearby beach. www.elcapitancanyon.com.

Next door to El Capitan Canyon Resort is Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara (formerly Ocean Mesa RV Resort), at 100 El Capitan Terrace Lane, Goleta. This resort has 20 tent camping sites and 80 RV sites. Amenities include heated pool and spa, wife, TV, convenience store, hiking, snack bar, horseback riding and more. Rates start at $90 per night. www.sunoutdoors.com/california/sun-outdoors-santa-barbara

How cool is this...a llama farm is walking distance from El Capitan Canyon Resort.

How cool is this...a llama farm is walking distance from El Capitan Canyon Resort.

Evergreen RV Park at 2135 N. Oxnard Blvd in Oxnard has 94 full hookup RV spaces. Facility includes restrooms, showers, free WiFi, laundry room, BBQs, picnic tables and more. Visit www.evergreenrvpark.com.

Flying Flags RV Resort and Campground is located at 180 Ave Of The Flags in Buellton, just an hour and a half northwest of Thousand Oaks. Here you’ll find vintage trailer and airstream rentals, cottages, luxury tents or your own RV or tent camping. Amenities include pool, playground, WiFi and more. And less than half a mile away from Pea Soup Andersen’s! flyingflags.com

Malibu Beach RV Park is located at 25801 Pacific Coast Highway, just east of Malibu Seafood. The park has 142 RV spots and up to 35 tent sites, all with a view of the Pacific. Open 365 days a year. Amenities include store, game room, restrooms with heated showers, laundry and more. Visit www.maliburv.com.

Ventura Ranch KOA Holiday is located at 7400 Pine Grove Road in Santa Paula. This 76 acre campground is located at the foot of the Topa Topa mountains, offering tent sites, RV sites, teepees, Conestoga Wagons, safari tents and cabins. Amenities include trails, climbing wall, ropes course, labyrinth, zip line, and more. koa.com/campgrounds/ventura-ranch

Something noteworthy to add or correct? Contact us!

Summer Camps and Programs In and Around Ventura County

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Looking for a summer camp within range of Ventura County? Here's a list of summer day camps and residential camps and programs in the area.

We've categorized the camps into three main groups; Traditional/Learning, Sports and Music/Arts, though many camps cover numerous fun activities all in one.

Know of more? Submit them here!

No doubt there will be some typos/errors on this list, so let us know if you find one.

Traditional Day Camps, Overnight Camps and Other Camps

Sports Camps

Music/Arts/Science Camps

Craft Breweries with Onsite Tasting Rooms In and Around Ventura County and Adjacent Areas

According to the Brewers Association, there were 9,761 craft breweries operating at the end of 2023 in the U.S., which is over five times the total in 2010. As of December 2023, there were 2,092 microbreweries, 3,511 brewpubs, 3,771 taprooms, and 261 regional craft breweries in the U.S.

A craft brewer is defined as being small (annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less), independent and traditional (flavors derived mostly from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients).

We've seen and experienced this growth in and around Ventura County, so how about if we summarize them right here! This list includes local craft breweries with onsite tasting rooms ranging from the Conejo Valley out just past Ventura County into Carpinteria.

Conejo Valley (Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills)

14 Cannons Brewery and Showroom opened at 31125 Via Colinas, Suite 907 in Westlake Village in September 2017, featuring a handful of freshly brewed craft beers as well as an actual brewery showroom. www.14cannons.com 818.652.6971

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company opened its Westlake Village taproom at The Shoppes at Westlake, 30770 Russell Ranch Road, in December 2015. Offers craft beers brewed onsite as well as at other locations in Santa Barbara. Also a full-service restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating. Open daily. www.figmtnbrew.com 818.874.1305

Tarantula Hill Brewing Company opened in July 2019 at 244 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. They offer numerous brews on tap, along with several ciders and wine. Fantastic outdoor patio, wood-fired, organic pizzas, sandwiches, salads, tacos, appetizers, fresh ice cream and more. tarantulahillbrewingco.com 805.538.1191

Pedals & Pints Brewing Company is located in The Oaks mall east parking lot, between Olive Garden and Bank of America. Along with fresh brewed beer, Pedals & Pints offers artisan pizzas, delicious crispy baked tater tots loaded with flavor, wings and other small plates. www.pedalsandpintsbrewing.com

Naughty Pine Brewing Co. opened its doors on September 25, 2021 at 767 Lakefield Road, Unit A in Westlake Village. This 2,200 sq ft microbrewery and tasting room offers classic and contemporary beers. They also offer live entertainment and trivia nights. www.naughtypinebrewingco.com

Malibu Brewing Company is slated to open its second location at the former Tavern Tomoko & Ladyface Brewing at at 29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills in the spring of 2026. Stay tuned for updates at www.brewmalibu.com.

Naughty pine brewing co. on lakeview drive, just east of hampshire road in westlake village

Ventura

Topa Topa Brewing Company is a microbrewery with taprooms at its headquarters location at 4880 Colt Street in Ventura (805.535.4366) (also a nice outdoor beer garden area with tables, cornhole and food trucks) and at 104 E. Thompson Boulevard in Ventura. www.topatopa.beer 805.628.9255

Poseidon Brewing Company opened its tasting room on August 11, 2014 at 5777 Olivas Park Drive, Unit Q, Ventura and is open Tuesday through Sunday.www.poseidonbrewingco.com 805.477.0239 Also a dog-friendly tasting room.

MadeWest Brewing Company opened in January 2016 and is located at 1744 Donlon Street, Ventura, offering a variety of craft beers, plenty of indoor/outdoor seating, food trucks and more. www.madewest.com 805.947.5002 MadeWest also operates a taproom on the Ventura Pier.

Ventura Coast Brewing Co. is at 76 S. Oak Street in Downtown Ventura. Offers indoor/outdoor patio seating, flights, 4 and 16 ounce pours of its creations. Open 7 days a week. www.vcbc.beer

Ventura Coast Brewing1.jpg

Leashless Brewing opened in July 2017 at 585 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura, offering organic, Belgian style ales. Over 10 beers on tap. www.leashlessbrewing.com. Open Mon-Thu 4-10pm, Fri 3-11pm, Sat noon to 11pm and Sun noon to 9pm. 805.628.9474

Transmission Brewery and Tasting Room opened in January 2020 at 1098 East Front Street, Ventura, offering 15 different beers on tap. transmissionbrewing.com

Seaward Brewing is open at 1920 Goodyear Ave., Suite D, Ventura. Seaward is a microbrewery offering craft beer brewed onsite with 10 rotating taps. Food trucks available on weekends. Food can be brought in. Family and pet friendly! Hours are Tue-Thu 3-9pm, Fri 3-10pm, Sat Noon-10pm and Sun noon-7pm. www.seawardbrewing.com

Rincon Brewery is located at 4100 Telegraph Road, Ventura. rinconbrewery.com. 805.676.0020

Bellringer Brewing Co. premiered on February 18, 2023 at 472 E. Main Street, Ventura (formerly Anacapa Brewing Co.), offering its own selection of brews and guest beers from other local breweries. They also offer a menu that includes burgers, tacos, hot dogs, salads and more. Open M/W/Th noon to 8pm, Fri noon to 10pm, Sat 11am to 10pm and Sun 11am to 8pm. 805-643-2337 bellringerbrewco.com

Bright Spark Brewing opened in November 2022 and is located at 4561 Market Street, Ventura in the space previously occupied by Concrete Brewing and Surf Brewing. Offers a selection of 10 of its own brews plus some guest taps. Their menu includes salads, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and more. 805-322-8884 www.brightsparkbrewing.com

Camarillo, Oxnard

Institution Ale Company is a microbrewery and tasting room at 3841 Mission Oaks Boulevard in Camarillo. Food offered includes artisan flatbread pizzas and soft baked pretzels. Indoor seating with 7 TVs, game room and outdoor patio area with fire pit. institutionales.com 805.482.3777

instit ale co.JPG

Red Tandem Brewery is a nanobrewery featuring 7 high quality ales brewed onsite to customers at its tasting room at 109 Harbor Boulevard, Oxnard Shores at Channel Islands Harbor. Founded in September 2014 and opened in May 2016. Open Wednesday through Sunday. www.redtandembrewery.com 805.236.2105

Twisted Oak Tavern opened at 2433 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo in the historic J.F. Lewis & Sons - 1916” building) on Monday, June 15, 2020. www.twistedoaktavern.pub

Flat Fish Brewing is a brewery co-owned and located with Cantara Cellars at 126 N. Wood Road, #104 in Camarillo. Taproom offers both beers (9 of them at last count) and wines. Currently open Wednesday through Sunday. flatfishbrewing.com 805.484.9600

Topa Topa Brewing Company also has a tasting room in Old Town Camarillo at 2024 Ventura Blvd, just east of Cedar. www.topatopa.beer 805.702.4091 Open daily.

Wagon Wheel Brewing Company opened May 4, 2023 at 2601 Wagon Wheel Road, Suite 15 in Oxnard. Wagon Wheel offers nine exclusive brews and another 11 collaborative and guest beers from other local breweries. They have a full menu, including burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. www.wagonwheelbrewingcompany.com 805.351.0449

Moorpark, Simi Valley

Enegren Brewing Company opened in July 2011 in Moorpark and is now located at 444 Zachary Street, #120 at The Alley where they operate up to a dozen taps.  www.enegrenbrewing.com 805.552.0602

Other Local Cities

The Ojai Valley Brewery and Tap Room is located at 307 Bryant Street in Ojai. The taproom is open daily. ojaivalleybrewery.com 805.798.9282

Rincon Brewery at 5065 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria is a craft brewery and restaurant open 7 days a week. rinconbrewery.com 805.684.6044

Institution Ale Company in Camarillo brewery/taproom has a 2nd taproom at 516 State Street, Santa Barbara. Open 7 days a week. Food offered includes artisan flatbread pizzas and soft baked pretzels. Indoor seating with 10 TVs, outdoor patio area and extended back room area. institutionales.com 805.482.3777

Island Brewing Company has been brewing in Carpinteria since July 2001 at 5049 Sixth Street (Linden at the railroad tracks). Its open redwood beam tasting room was originally built as a packing house for lemons and citrus. Open 7 days a week. www.islandbrewingcompany.com 805.745.8272

BrewLAB is an artisanal nano-brewery located at 4191-8 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria. Tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday. www.brewlabcraft.com 949.922.9152

Topa Topa Brewing Company in Ventura also has a tasting room in Ojai at 345 E. Ojai Ave. www.topatopa.beer 805.798.9079 Open daily.

Red Engine Brewing Company is now open at 803 Ventura Street (Hwy 126) in Fillmore. This is a firefighter-owned, family operated brewery that will offer handcrafted beer, artisan pizzas and (soon) charcuterie boards. redenginebrewing.com 805.823.5479

Malibu Brewing Company Taproom & Eatery is located at Trancas Country Market, 30745 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. They offer 22 taps, with a selection of lagers and ales, food, wine, and more. Open daily at 11 a.m. www.brewmalibu.com 310.684.2408

Other Options on Tap

(Some additional craft beer tasting options in the area are highlighted below. These establishments serve local craft beers on tap from other breweries and/or produce the beer elsewhere. We have included on this list bars/taverns serving at least a dozen craft beers on tap.)

Conejo Valley

Bottle & Pint is a specialty craft beer store and taproom at 1714 Newbury Road, Suite G, Newbury Park. Open seven days a week, they have a revolving list with 20 beers on tap. Bring your own food or have it delivered. 805.480.9500 www.instagram.com/bottleandpint

The Crown and Anchor at 2891 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks has 17 draft beers and ciders on tap, serves food, lots of TVs and periodic live entertainment. www.crownnanchor.com 805.497.0070

Boney Mountain Pizza Co., located at 722 N. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park, has 25 beers on tap, including a variety of craft beers. www.facebook.com/BoneyMountainPizzaCo 805.498.6511

Finney's Crafthouse & Kitchen is located at the Westlake Plaza, 982 S. Westlake Boulevard, Westlake Village. They serve 30 craft beers on tap. www.finneyscrafthouse.com 805.230-9950

Wades Wines at 30961 Agoura Road, Suite 321, Westlake Village offers over 50 beers on tap, wine tasting and thousands of other spirits for sale and tasting. Retail store is open daily. Tasting is open Thursday through Sunday. www.wadeswines.com 818.597.9463

Other Local Cities

Bottle & Pint has a 2nd location at The Annex, a cool food "court" area within The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard.

Barrelhouse 101 at 545 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura has an insane number of craft and micro beers on tap...over 100. Open daily with full menu. www.barrelhouse101.com 805.643.0906

Finney's Crafthouse is also located at 494 E. Main Street in Ventura, They serve 30 local craft beers on tap. www.finneyscrafthouse.com 805.628.3312 Their newest location at The Promenade section of the Camarillo Premium Outlets opened in January 2023. 805.702.0010

The Golden Nugget Pub at 4435 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, offers 30 beers on tap at this dive bar established in 1964. www.goldennuggetpub.com (805) 583-9715

The Local Beer & Wine Bar is located at 795 Camarillo Springs Road in Camarillo, Suite E. It is open daily at noon (11am on Sundays). 16 rotating taps are offered. thelocalcamarillo.com

The Dugout Sports Grill serves about 22 taps of beer along with cocktails, food and 32 TVs at 109 W. Cochran Street, Simi Valleywww.thedugoutsimi.com 805.955.9200

Winchesters Grill & Saloon at 632 East Main Street in Ventura has over 30 beers on tap, mostly craft types. They also have a full menu and full bar. www.winchestersgrill.com 805.653.7446

Yard House at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard has well over 100 beers on tap of all varieties.  www.yardhouse.com/locations/ca/oxnard/oxnard-the-collection-at-riverpark/8349 805.981.8707

Two Trees Restaurant and Taps is located at 7822 Telegraph Road in Ventura, serving up 28 beers on tap along with full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. www.twotreesrestaurantandtaps.com 805.659.3365

Fluid State Beer Garden, located at 692 E. Main Street, Ventura, offers craft beers, sourdough pizzas and more. www.fluidstatebeer.com 805.628.3107

LOOKING FOR WINE? CLICK HERE FOR LOCAL WINE TASTING OPTIONS

NIGHTLIFE OPTIONS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Beer No More

Darryl's Couch was a craft beer bar located at 795 Camarillo Springs Road in Camarillo.  www.darrylscouch.com They closed on Sunday, March 11, 2018, after operating for 5 1/2 years. Now located there is The Local Beer & Wine Bar.

Surf Brewery was the first packaging craft brewery in Ventura County when it opened in June 2011. It closed in early 2018. Now operating at this location is Concrete Jungle Brewing.

Westlake Brewing Company opened its small volume brewery in early 2016 at 31111 Via Colinas #200, Westlake Village. The taproom closed its doors in June 2019.

The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room opened at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks on July 15, 2016 and closed March 1, 2020 to refocus efforts on other locations.

Tap’d Ventura operated at 546 E. Main St, serving 43 taps of craft beer. Closed in the Fall of 2019.

Concrete Jungle Brewing was located at 4561 Market Street in Ventura in the former Surf Brewing location. Closed in mid-2020.

Cask Alehouse was located at 5952 Telegraph Road in Ventura (at Victoria), and offered a rotating selection of 32 beers on draft. Established in December 2016. Closed in 2020.

McGregor's Craft Beer and Wine was a tasting room/bottle shop at 144 W. Los Angeles Avenue #105 in Moorpark, with 16 rotating taps. Established in 2016. Closed in September 2020.

Draughts Restaurant & Bar at 398 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks closed in mid-August 2021.

Twisted Oak Tavern opened in 2015 at 30105 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, offering a full gastropub experience with a full lunch/dinner menu and over 30 craft beers on tap made onsite. It closed on January 16, 2022 but its newer Camarillo location remains open.

Five Threads Brewing Company at 31133 Via Colinas, Suite 109, Westlake Village opened in October 2015. Offers fresh brewed craft beers in its tasting room seven days a week. www.fivethreadsbrewing.com 805.457.5990 FIVE THREADS’ LAST DAY OPEN WAS 1/30/22.

Anacapa Brewing Company opened its doors in 2000 with a seasonal rotation of over 25 beers in this full service restaurant/brewery in the heart of Downtown Ventura. Their last day open was Sunday, October 30, 2022 after 20 years in business.

Tavern Tomoko and Ladyface Brewery (formerly Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie), the Conejo Valley's first microbrewery and brewpub, opened in November 2009 at 29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills. Sadly, they closed their doors on 12/22/24.

Eureka Brewing Company tasting room at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks closed its doors in January 2025.

Angry Ferret Brewing opened in mid-2021 at 11990 Hertz Street in Moorpark, specializing in English, Irish, Scottish beers. It closed in the summer of 2024. www.angryferretbrewing.com

Casa Agria Specialty Ales is a small brewery located at 701 N. Del Norte Boulevard, Suite 310 in Oxnard, brewing up a handful of specialty beers since February 2015. Its final day of service is February 14, 2026.

Live Music and Other Nightlife Options In and Around Ventura County

Guitar Player

Are you a night owl looking for something to do around town? Here's a list of places in and around Ventura County that have things to do during nighttime hours, including live music, concerts, dancing, darts, comedy, trivia and other activities scheduled on a regular basis.

This compilation includes restaurants as well as some bars. TVs are great, but don't count as "something to do" for the purposes of this compilation.

Are we missing something? Let us know!

For other nighttime fun, check out these compilations of Ventura County area movie theaters, comedy shows and entertainment venues. Or bowling. Perhaps wine tasting.

Local area craft breweries with taprooms!

(Information is subject to change, so contact the business to confirm.)

Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village)

Azar's Sports Bar at 2215 Michael Drive, Newbury Park has Tuesday and Friday night karaoke and live music on Saturday nights. 805.498.2365 azarsportsbar.com

Breakers Sports Bar & Grill in the Best Buy Plaza at 398 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks hosts comedy night on Thursdays (8-9:30pm), live music on Fridays (9pm-close) and live band/karaoke on Saturdays (8:30-11:30pm). www.instagram.com/breakerssportsbarandgrill (805) 494-8454

Crown and Anchor at 2891 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks is a British restaurant and pub, offering authentic British dishes along with American fare. Live music on the patio Fri/Sat nights and Sun afternoons. 805.497.0070 crownnanchor.com

14 Cannons Brewery at 31125 Via Colinas, Suite 907 in Westlake Village offers trivia nights, open mic nights and comedy nights 818.652.6971 www.14cannons.com

Mikey’s Restaurant at 579 N. Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park offers karaoke, live music and comedy on select nights. Contact them for more information. mikeysrestaurants.com

Naughty Pine Brewing Co. at 766 Lakefield Dr., Ste A in Westake Villlage offers live music and trivia nights most nights as well as food trucks. 808.269.7975 www.naughtypinebrewingco.com

Pedals & Pints Brewing Company is located at The Oaks mall east parking lot, offering freshly brewed beer, artisan pizzas, baked tater tots, wings and other small plates…and live music every Saturday night, trivia nights at 7pm on Wednesday nights, and periodic special events on Friday nights. 805-551-0547 www.pedalsandpintsbrewing.com

PJ’s Sports Pub at 417 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks offers pool tables, darts, karaoke nights and live music. 805-590-6210 pjs-sports-pub.res-menu.com

Sunland Vintage Winery Tasting Room at 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard #108 hosts live music on Thursday and Friday nights as well as other events. 805-379-2250 www.sunlandvintagewinery.com/events

Sunset Terrace Restaurant and Lounge at Janss Marketplace has live music, dancing, three pool tables, shuffleboard, four lanes of bowling and more. 805.497.4847 www.sunsetterracerestaurant.com

Tarantula Hill Brewing Company at 244 Thousand Oaks Boulevard offers live music and other events - check their events calendar at www.tarantulahillbrewingco.com for details.

The Mighty Axe at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks offers the ultimate in nighttime excitement…axe throwing and beer! And you can order food from eateries at Janss. themightyaxe.com

The Original Pizza Cookery at 75 West Thousand Oaks Blvd offers live music most Friday/Saturday nights. See www.pizzacookery.com/entertainment for details.

The Tipsy Goat at 159 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks has karaoke, pool tables, a dartboard, ping pong, shuffleboard, video games, trivia and more. tipsygoat.com 805-494-9996

Louie’s (formerly Bogies) at the Westlake Village Inn at 32001 Agoura Road, Westlake Village is a bar/nightclub open Wednesday through Saturday nights. 818.889.2394 www.clublouies.com/calendar

Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu

The Canyon club at Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills is a hot spot for live music of all types, from original rock bands to cover bands, tribute bands, comedy and more. 888.645.5006 wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com

Sagebrush Cantina at 23527 Calabasas Road hosts karaoke on Thursday nights, live music and dancing on Fri/Sat nights and music on Sun afternoons. 818.222.6062 sagebrushcantina.com

Ventura

Bombay Bar & Grill, located at 143 S. California Street in Ventura has a DJ and dancing on weekends. 805.643.4404 bombayventura.com

Margarita Villa Mexican Restaurant at Ventura Harbor Village, 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura hosts live music Friday through Sunday - check for times and schedule at margaritavillaventura.com/music.html 805-654-7906

The Garage is a dive bar located at 1091 Scandia Avenue, Ventura with live music on Fri/Sat nights. 805.814.2234 www.facebook.com/TheGarageBarVTA

Gibson’s Neighborhood Bar (formerly The Twist on Main) at 454 E. Main Street in Ventura offers live music, open mic, karaoke and DJs. 805.641.0053 www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574570391205

The Greek at the Harbor at Ventura Harbor Village offers belly dancing starting at 6:30pm on Fri/Sat nights and 6pm on Sundays. Greek dance shows Fri/Sat at 7pm. 805.650.5350 www.thegreekventura.com

Keynote Lounge at 10245 Telephone Road in Ventura is a bar with live music on Fri/Sat nights. 805.647.9390 www.keynotelounge.com

Leashless Brewing at 585 East Thompson Blvd., Ventura is a tasting room that hosts live music most Thursdays through Sundays. Check their events calendar at www.leashlessbrewing.com/event-calendar. 805.628.9474

O'Leary's Tavern at 6555 Telephone Road, Suite 7 in Ventura has a pool table, shuffleboard, air hockey, dartboard machine, karaoke and live music. 805.644.4619 www.facebook.com/olearysventura

Paddy's Bar & Lounge at 2 W. Main St, Ventura is a LGBT owned/operated nightclub bar offering pool, darts, karaoke on Wed nights and more. 805.652.1071 paddysventura.com

Prime Steakhouse at 2009 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura offers "Frank Sinatra" Tuesdays and other music nights. 805.652.1055 www.primesteakhouseventura.com

The Saloon at 456 E. Main St in Ventura has live music. 805.667.8550 www.thesaloonvta.com

The Grape House of Jazz & Spirits is a winery and jazz club with a full menu at 2351 E. Main Street in Ventura, offering live jazz Tues through Sun nights. Ages 21+ only. 805.643.7300 thegrapeventura.com

Ventura Music Hall is located at 1888 E. Thompson Boulevard in Ventura. Live music from local talent and touring musicians, along with food from local eateries and drinks at several bars throughout the venue. Learn more at www.venturamusichall.com.

Victoria Pub & Grill at 1413 Victoria Avenue, Suite F, Ventura has pool tables and darts. 805.650.0060 www.victoriapubandgrill.com

Winchester’s Grill & Saloon hosts live music Saturdays and Sundays from 2-5pm and other events. www.winchestersgrill.com 805-653-7446

Simi Valley/Moorpark/Heritage Valley (Fillmore, Santa Paula)

Arena Sports Grill at the Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley has live music, dancing, pool tables, dartboards, video games, 20 TVs and more. 805.583.2000 arenasimi.com

Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Simi West at 1397 E. Los Angeles Avenue hosts live music various nights 805.582.4897 chuysbajagrill.com/events

Enzo's Italian Restaurant at the historic Glen Tavern Inn at 134 N. Mill St, Santa Paula offers live entertainment on weekends. 805.933.5550 www.glentavern.com/dining.aspx

The Golden Nugget Pub and Tavern at 4435 Cochran St, Simi Valley is the oldest bar in Simi, established in 1964. Trivia on Monday and Wednesday nights. 805.583.9715 www.goldennuggetpub.com

Lucas Sellers Winery at 330 Zachary Street in Moorpark (at The Alley in Moorpark) hosts live music most Saturday nights from 6-9pm. www.facebook.com/LucasSellersWine

Lucky Fool's Pub at 75 E. High Street in Moorpark offers Sunday night trivia games, a pool table and dart board, not to mention live music several nights a week. 805.532.1500 www.luckyfoolspub.com

Rock & Roll Pizza at Harley’s Valley Bowl, 5255 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, offers live music on Friday/Saturday, Reggae on Sundays, Karaoke Night 9-12 on Tuesdays and Live Comedy on many Wed nights. Details at www.harleysbowl.com/rocknrollpizzabar 805-584-2695

Other West Ventura County (Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ojai)

Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard opened in September 2016, with live music on Saturday nights and more. 805.457.5551 www.copperblueslive.com/oxnard

Corner Pocket Billiards on 7th & A Street in Oxnard is a billiards, arcade, lounge, restaurant and sports bar for the whole family. 805.844.7266 www.facebook.com/cornerpocketoxnard

The El Rey Cantina at 2302 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo has occasional live music. 805.484.4433 www.instagram.com/elreycantinacam

Four Brix Winery at 2290 Eastman Ave, Ste 109, Ventura offers live music every Saturday and Sunday from 1-3:30pm. www.fourbrixwine.com

Harley’s Camarillo Bowl offers live music most Saturday nights and select other nights. Check their events calendar at www.harleysbowl.com/camarillo-events 805-482-0747

The Lamplighter is dive bar at 1936 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo that has three pool tables, foosball and darts for your nighttime activities. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064177201671 805-484-2113

The Lookout Bar & Grill at Channel Islands Harbor (2800 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard) offers Tuesday night trivia and live music on designated days. Open mic night on Mon nights. 805.985.9300 www.facebook.com/TheLookoutBar

The Manhattan of Camarillo at 5800 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 140 offers live music and dancing Thursday through Sunday nights. Also Trivia Night on Thursday nights. 805.388.5550 www.themanhattanofcamarillo.com

The Ojai Deer Lodge at 2261 Maricopa Highway showcases live local entertainers up to 5 nights a week. 805.646.4256 deerlodgeojai.com

Q Club Oxnard at 2362 N. Oxnard Blvd is a sports lounge with 25 TVs and 15 pool tables, karaoke, games, DJ and more 805.278.1231 www.facebook.com/qcluboxnard

Onyx Bistro at 2390 Las Posas Road (at Arneill) offers live music from 5;30-8:30pm on Friday/Saturday nights. 805.991.7356 onyxbistrocamarillo.com

Ric's Restaurant at 2500 Las Posas Road, Camarillo offers live music on Sunday afternoons and other time frames. www.ricsrestaurant.com/entertainment 805.389.9919

The Shores Restaurant at 1031 S. Harbor Blvd in Oxnard has karaoke on Thursdays and live music on weekends. 805.984.5533 www.facebook.com/theshoresoxnard

Sam’s Place at 308 E. Ojai Avenue offers live music Wednesday thru Sunday from 8-10 PM www.facebook.com/The-Vine-1471139523136821 805.646.1555

Beerly departed:

Bowling Alleys in Ventura County and Nearby Areas

Archaeologists found ancient bowling balls and bowling pins in an Egyptian gravesite in the 1930s that date back to 3200 B.C., thus making bowling the world's oldest documented sport.  The first indoor bowling alley was Knickerbockers of New York City in 1840.

Bowling’s peak in popularity was in the 1960s, when there were over 12,000 bowling establishments in the United States. In 2024, there were approximately 2,600 bowling alleys in the U.S. But bowling seems to be growing in popularity, with companies like Bowlero expanding the market.

bowlingball_small.jpg

Here’s a compilation of local bowling alleys in Ventura County and adjacent areas.

Bowling in the Conejo Valley!? The four-lane Sunset Lanes opened in mid-January 2024 at the Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Lounge in Thousand Oaks. Prior to this, the last time we had bowling in Thousand Oaks was 1995, when the 40 lane Conejo Village Bowl closed. It was located where Borders was until January 2010 and various county medical services now reside. Conejo Village Bowl opened in July 1960, as did the short-lived Acorn Bowl, which was located at 3089 Ventura Boulevard (subsequently renamed Thousand Oaks Boulevard).

Acorn Bowl Thousand Oaks in the early 1960s (Photo Credit: City of Thousand Oaks Library, Pat Allen Slide Collection - Thousand Oaks Boulevard Survey)

Acorn Bowl Thousand Oaks in the early 1960s (Photo Credit: City of Thousand Oaks Library, Pat Allen Slide Collection - Thousand Oaks Boulevard Survey)

Bowled Over:

Kids Bowl Free at local area bowling alleys

Many years ago existed the Ojai Bowling Lanes at 345 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai. This was a four lane establishment that operated in the 1940s-1950s. The Topa Topa Brewing Co. now operates at that address.

The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society Meets Monthly and is Open to the Public

The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society is a group of classical guitar enthusiasts that meets the last Wednesday of the month at Studio Channel Islands Art Center, 2222 E. Ventura Blvd, Camarillo.

Each session is free to attend and open to the public. There are no fees or dues. Doors open at 6PM. Members of the group as well as guests perform for the group starting at 7PM (guest performers start at 8PM). Donations are accepted for guest performers.

So if you're up for an enjoyable evening of live classical guitar, visit www.vccgs.com and check out upcoming performances.

Upcoming planned performances:

  • 2/25/26: Jack Sanders

  • 3/25/26: Carlos Bedoya

  • 4/29/26: Jennifer Kim

  • 5/27/26: Folias Duo