Seven Fun Activities With the Kids in Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

There are thousands of things to do in and around Ventura County with or without the kids. Here are some of my family's favorites. For more options, visit the Kid Fun and Do Something sections of CVG!

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is a nice getaway up north because in addition to the permanent exhibits, there's usually a great temporary exhibit that is educational and fun. My kids love the outdoor "backyard" area of the museum, with its trails, rocks, stream, tadpoles and more.

Backyard of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum

Malibu beach areas along PCH, including Leo Carrillo and Malibu Lagoon State Beach are great places to explore tidepools and play around. The Malibu Lagoon area is also close to the Malibu Pier, Malibu Country Mart and Legacy Park, providing a variety of things to do in close proximity to one another.

As a reward for good behavior we frequent local frozen treateries (Is that a word?). There are over 90 places focused on selling ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato and other frozen treats around Ventura County. One of my kids is a big Baskin Robbins fan, another is a Tutti Frutti connoisseur. Leone’s Italian Ices are fantastic. Coaches Ice Cream in Newbury Park is a fun, family place.

Golf N' Stuff, unmistakably adjacent to the 101 freeway off Victoria in Ventura, has a diverse assortment of fun activities and is open literally 365 days a year. After playing one of the two 18-hole, well maintained courses, we blow off steam in the large arcade, knock into each other in the bumper boats and bumper cars and partake in other fun. And even in the heat of the summer, it stays cool here!

It's always fun to see a movie at a local movie theater with the kids, and here's a list of over 150 movie screens in 17 theaters around Ventura County. Not only is it a great way to beat the heat, but it's great for temporarily getting them to stop beating on each other! And you can't beat the experience of seeing a movie on the large screen.

You can't go wrong with Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks for many reasons...it is quite large and flat, great for riding bikes and scooters and playing on the grass, it has several play areas geared towards younger/older kids, the ponds and creek that run through the park are awesome and the ducks are quite entertaining. And the park is adjacent to the Thousand Oaks Library, Teen Center and Senior Center, linking it with so many other activities and things to do.

I am not ashamed to admit that I'm OK with going to Chuck E. Cheese's in Thousand Oaks and Ventura. The kids love CEC for the obvious...games...win tickets and cash them in for junk they'll never use. I get that. It's fun, loud and exciting in there. I don't mind so much because a) I can order a beer and a chicken sandwich and I'm pretty content, b) some of the games...skeeball, basketball, football toss...I myself enjoy playing and c) if I want to read the paper or mess around on my iPad, I can do so and not worry too much about the kids.

Of course, across the street is Dave and Buster’s, which your kids will gravitate when they are in their teens.

Moreton Bay Fig Tree at Plaza Park in Downtown Ventura Planted in 1874

Moreton Bay Fig Tree at Plaza Park in Ventura

If you're ever out and about in Downtown Ventura, you may want to stop by Plaza Park and admire the historic Moreton Bay Fig Tree thriving at the northwest corner of the park at E. Santa Clara Street and S. Chestnut Street - just one block down from Main Street, near The Majestic Ventura Theater.

This tree, formally called Ficus macrophylla, was planted by someone in 1874 and now stands at over 73.5 feet tall, with a branch spread of 139 feet and root spread of 87 feet. That is one heck of a tree, only slightly smaller than its slightly younger and more famous brother in Santa Paula.

For other things to do in Ventura, visit THIS PAGE.

Live Stream of Anacapa Islands Cove in Channel Islands National Park

Explore.org is the largest live nature cam network on the earth. In partnership with the National Park Service and Ventura County Office of Education, Explore has a local cam in place on Anacapa Island here in Ventura County off the coast of Port Hueneme.

There are several views from this webcam located within the landing cove on the east islet of Anacapa. There is a view north towards the mainland, a view east towards Arch Rock, a view southeast towards the historic Anacapa Island lighthouse, a view east towards a seabird rookery and a view downward towards the landing cove.

Anacapa has the unique distinction as being the only Channel Island that does not have a Spanish-derived name. Anacapa is derived from a Chumash word for "mirage island." The island is composed of narrow islets stretching six miles. 

There are actually eight Channel Islands, five of which are part of Channel Islands National Park. Anacapa is the second smallest of the eight islands at only 1.14 square miles. Santa Barbara is the smallest, at 1.02 square miles.

Visit Anacapa Island through Island Packers.

More on Channel Islands National Park at THIS LINK.

On a clear day you can see Anacapa Island from Newbury Park at the Rancho Potrero Open Space and other locations.

The Highly Interactive MOXI Museum in Santa Barbara

The MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation opened in a beautiful building adjacent to the Santa Barbara Amtrak Station on State Street in February 2017.

I took several pre-teen kids to the museum and the key word of this museum is --- INTERACTIVE! Every exhibit is made to be touched and experimented with. If you have kids, this is a local area must-do.

The moment you walk into the first floor of MOXI you are drawn to a gigantic handprint globe, gigantic guitar, magnet exhibit, sound studio and more.

The handprint globe exhibit near the entrance to the Museum.

Then outside in the first floor courtyard are some really fun activities involving wind propulsion, spinning devices, magnetic fields and a massive collection of see-through tunnels. Very fun!

But the fun just gets started on the first floor as the second floor of MOXI immediately brings back memories of Pinewood Derby - build a car and race it down a high tech track. Or do a jump shot, build a marble roller coaster, use your mind and compete in a game of Mindball and more.

You'll find light-driven exhibits on the other side of the second floor, with a gigantic "Lite Bright" type exhibit, a color mixing machine, light waves and more.

On the top of the building after picking up your jaw that just dropped at the panoramic views towards the ocean, State Street, adjacent Amtrak Station and mountains, there's even more to experience.  The "Whitewater" exhibit allows everyone to help move water down the line. Make music with the Weather Orchestra. Try the five observation scopes. And more!

Tickets can be purchased online for $25 (ages 13+) and $20 (ages 3-12) (as of July 2025); 2 and under are free. Or if you plan to visit several times a year, consider a family membership. More information at moxi.org.

To get there from Ventura County, take the 101 to the Garden Street exit (96B) and turn left. Take a right on Yanonali Street to State Street and you'll see MOXI. You can park in the train station parking lot or any local lot. 

Another idea to consider to make your visit more of an adventure is to take the Pacific Surfliner Amtrak train from Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark or Simi Valley to the Santa Barbara Station adjacent to MOXI and the Reagan Ranch Center Exhibit Galleries. Fun!

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers' Favorite Coronavirus Stay at Home Order Games

In a recent drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we asked folks to tell us their favorite games to play while quarantined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. Let’s take a look at the most frequently mentioned choices. Perhaps this will give all of us some ideas for new games to try out.

Games mentioned at least 4 times:

• Uno - 18

• Monopoly - 15

• Yahtzee - 7

• LCR - 5

• Scrabble - 5

• Ticket to Ride - 5

• Cards Against Humanity - 4

• Apples to Apples - 4

• Candyland - 4

• Mexican Train Dominoes -4

• Phase 10 - 4

• Rummikub - 4

• Sorry - 4

Games mentioned 2 or 3 times:

• Charades - 2

• Clue - 3

• Hedbanz - 2

• Jenga - 3

• Life - 2

• Loteria - 2

• Mario Party - 2

• Nerf Gun Wars - 2

• Pictionary - 3

• Poker - 2

• Puzzles - 2

• Quite Game - 3

• Scattergories - 3

• Trouble - 2

• War - 3

• What Do You Meme? - 2

Other games mentioned:

• Authors Card Game

• Bananagrams

• Beat the Parents

• Blokus

• BS

• Bunco

• Chutes & Ladders

• Code Names

• Colorku

• Connect 4

• Crazy Lego

• Cribbage

• Dominoes

• Don’t Step In It

• Family Feud

• Farkle

• Five Crowns

• Go Fish

• Guess Who

• Hi Ho Cherry O

• Hide and Seek

• Jackbox

• Kings in the Corner

• Mafia

• Mancala

• Memory Game

• Ninja Turtle Monopoly

• Old Maid

• Outburst

• Parcheesi

• Pop the Pig

• Race to the Treasure

• Rummy Tile

• Shifty Eyes Spies

• Ship Captain Crew

• Snoopy Monopoly

• Taboo

• Texas Holdem

• Upwords

• Words with Friends

• Zingo

Yahtzee is one of our personal favorites.

Ten Popular Local Things To Do Based on Traffic Here on Conejo Valley Guide

With over 50,000 monthly visitors to Conejo Valley Guide, we have the opportunity to see some of the most popular things to do around Ventura County. Here are 10 of the most perennially popular things to do around town based on traffic activity.

MB2 Raceway Indoor Go-Kart Facility in Newbury Park has been popular ever since opening in September 2008. We've been to plenty of birthday parties here and the kids love it. 

Farmers' Markets throughout Ventura County are popular year-round thanks to our great weather. In addition to over 15 local farmers' markets, there are numerous organic produce stores and local delivery programs available.

Sky High Sports - The Trampoline Place in Camarillo opened in October 2010 but closed in summer 2018. Sky Zone Trampoline Park opened in east Ventura in January 2016 and Defy (formerly DojoBoom) Extreme Air Sports at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks in November 2017.

Another obvious benefit to living in Ventura County is our direct access to nearby beaches. This compiliation of beaches stretching north from Carpinteria, across Ventura County, down through Malibu, is a popular destination on CVG.

The Kids' World indoor play facility in Oak Park is a regular popular destination for kids ages 2 to 12.

This compilation of Seven Flat, Stroller and Family Friendly Hikes in the Conejo Valley sees plenty of eyeballs from local families looking for a nice, easy hike with the kids.

The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard opened in early 2010 and has one of the finest collections of French art deco cars in the world. These cars are so pristine I would eat my dinner off of them.

For years, my kids begged me to go to Chuck E Cheese's in Thousand Oaks (also in Ventura). Now I'm more interested in going there as I know they will be entertained while I hang out, enjoy a sandwich and a beer, shoot a few hoops and catch up on my newspapers.

There are 19 movie theaters in Ventura County, including 2012 additions, Century Riverpark 16 in Oxnard and Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas in Westlake Village, 2015 addition Studio Movie Grill in Simi Valley and the newly remodeled in Regal Janss Marketplace in 2016.

Rounding out the top 10 is the Ventura Flea Market at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This R.G. Canning event is nowhere near the size of the popular Rose Bowl Flea Market, but with over 500 vendors, is a popular destination for CVG visitors about 6 times per year.

This is just a small fraction of the thousands of things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas. And of course, the Events Calendar and Local Events and Community Messages sections of the site highlight events that are organized throughout the year. Now go have some fun!

Solstice Canyon in Malibu Has a Perennial Waterfall and Much More

Solstice Canyon is a worthy local hiking destination, located at the intersection of Corral Canyon and Solstice Canyon Roads in Malibu. It is home to one of the only year-round waterfalls in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The main trail is the Solstice Canyon Trail, a fairly easy, not too steep, 2.1 mile round trip hike, largely paved, to the stone and brick ruins of the Fred and Florence Roberts ranch house. This house is referred to as the Tropical Terrace. 

Missouri native Fred Roberts founded Roberts Public Market, a chain of grocery and liquor stores, in the late 1920s. He sold the chain in 1949, while in the meantime amassing nearly 1,000 acres in Solstice Canyon.

A large portion of the Solstice Canyon Trail is paved.

In 1952, Roberts hired renowned African-American architect Paul R. Williams to design the home, which featured beautiful architectural designs that blended into the serene environment and incorporated fire protection features using pumps, pipes and water collection pools. Roberts passed away in 1976. In 1982, the Dayton Canyon Fire burned the site to the ground.

Remains of the home of Fred and Florence Roberts at the top of Solstice Canyon.

Today you can see the foundation, fireplaces, steps and other interesting features, then explore the shaded rock pool area, where you'll see the waterfall (which in drought years can be quite small, but perennial nonetheless).

Waterfall access is the right (east) of the Roberts home.

Naturally canopied rock pool area where the waterfall can be seen and explored.

On the way to the Roberts House, you will see a sign, "Built of Stone and Tin." Read about the wood cabin purchased by Henry Keller in 1901 that was destroyed by a fire two years later. Keller, who enjoyed hunting and fishing in Solstice Canyon, rebuilt the one room hunting lodge in stone and tin to withstand future fires. Over the years, wood porches were added. The structure was scorched in the Corral Fire of 2007.  But the stone walls are still there today...and are considered to be the oldest still-existing in Malibu today.

You can walk fairly close to the Keller House ruins.

Other trails include the:

• Dry Canyon Trail - 1.2 mile easy round trip canyon trail that in the winter brings a 150 foot waterfall and stream.

• TRW Loop Trail - 1.5 mile round trip loop that is fairly easy.

• Rising Sun Trail - 1.5 mile moderate trail on the eastern ridgeline of the canyon that connects at the top to the Solstice Canyon Trail near the waterfall.

• Sostomo Trail/Deer Valley Trail - Moderate to strenuous extension from near the top of the Solstice Canyon Trail of roughly 4 miles.

There is a small amphitheater at the main parking area, public restrooms and several picnic areas here. A great place to bring the kids! Dog friendly too (except not dogs in the waterfall area), as long as they are on leash.

Solstice Canyon was opened as a public park by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy in 1988 and today is managed by the National Park Service. More information at www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/solsticecanyon.htm.

One way to get to Solstice Canyon from Thousand Oaks is to take the 101 south to Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road, south to PCH, where you'll turn right (west). Turn right on Solstice Canyon Road (a light) and your first left is Solstice Canyon. There is limited parking at the entrance, but the main parking lot is about 1/4 mile up the hill.