El Parque de la Paz "The Peace Park" in Thousand Oaks

El Parque de la Paz "The Peace Park" is located at 2580 Pleasant Way in Thousand Oaks, tucked south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard behind Mouthful Eatery, Allen Motors, Harold's House of Omelettes and other businesses.

This five acre park dotted with oak trees was dedicated in 1990 by Thousand Oaks City Council.  Amenities include a Jungleland themed playground area, horseshoe pits, basketball court, picnic tables and restrooms. Learn more at www.crpd.org/park/el-parque-de-la-paz.

Jungleland themed drinking fountain.

Adjacent to the park is Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 109, the Crowley House.

Who has horseshoes to use at these horseshoe pits!? Looks fun!

Tortilla Flats Mural in Ventura

The Tortilla Flats Mural is located at the Figueroa Street underpass at the 101 freeway in Ventura. Created in 2008 by artists MB Hanrahan and Moses Mora, this public art project commemorates the community that lived here in and around westside Ventura in the 1920s to the 1950s, when it was displaced by the 101.

Earlier the Tortilla Flats area was known as Tiger Town, Spanish Town and/or Indian Town. The indigenous Chumash named the area "Shisholop."

(The Shisholop Village site at the south end of Figueroa Street - directly on the beach - was named City of Ventura Historic Landmark No. 18 in December 1975. Believed to have been a Chumash provincial capital, Shisholop was first settled shortly after A.D. 1000 and was visited in 1542 by Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo while on an exploratory expedition for Spain.)

The mural depicts a series of narratives of historically significant or interesting buildings and pictures of the varied cultural backgrounds in the area - Chumash, Mexican, Spanish, Asian, African American and European - which evolved into Ventura that we now know.

The images were selected from old photographs and were inspired by interviews with former residents.

The underpass is located next to Harbor Boulevard, where just across the street is Seaside Park and the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

More information at www.publicartinpublicplaces.info/public-art-tortilla-flats-2008-by-mb-hanrahan-and-moses-mora.

Hike to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness

One of the more popular and challenging hikes in the local area takes you from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Recreation Area in Newbury Park to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness (Point Mugu State Park). 

It is about 5.5 miles round trip and has a net elevation gain of about 600 feet. The Monument is close to 1,500 feet in elevation This is a fairly challenging trail as roughly two thirds of the hike you are going up and down fairly substantial hills. That said, I've seen hundreds of folks on these trails of all fitness levels and ages doing it at their own pace.

Entrance into Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa at Lynn Road and Via Goleta in Newbury Park

Starting at the Satwiwa Native American Culture Center, make your way to the Danielson Road trail by either taking the Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road (paved) south for roughly .3 mile and then a left on Danielson Road (trail) or take the Satwiwa Loop Trail that runs diagonally southeast until you reach a fork on the trail.

(Note: You can also park at the trailhead at Wendy and Potrero Roads and add another few miles to your trek.)

Sycamore Canyon Road southbound towards Point Mugu State Park from Satwiwa Center

Veer right (south) at the juncture of the Danielson Road and Satwiwa Loop trails towards a bench that overlooks Sycamore Canyon. This is called the Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook.

The bench at the Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook in Rancho Sierra Vista

The short, rocky trail eastbound from there (behind the bench) takes you to another fork, where you can either veer left to the Hidden Valley Overlook trail (part of Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa) or right into the Boney Mountain Wilderness. (Note that dogs and bikes are not allowed in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.)

Entering the Boney Mountain Wilderness

After a steady descent of about another .4 mile, you'll see another sign. Continue towards the left. On the right is the Upper Sycamore Canyon Trail, kind of a fun, winding trail at the bottom of the canyon. Save that for another day.

In non-drought years, there is often a creek you may need to walk through as you continue on Danielson Road. It has been years since the stream was of any significance but it was back in February 2017 after recent rainstorms. But it is generally easy to get across.

After navigating the narrowest portion of trail, you will see a juncture. The unmarked "Waterfall Trail" is straight ahead (only about 120 steps to the "Waterfall" when there's not a severe drought). You can check it out as it is such a short distance. But to get to the Monument, veer sharply right, continuing up Danielson Road.

Juncture of Waterfall (straight ahead) and Danielson Road (to the right)

This is a long, grinding, uphill trail of about a mile until you get to a juncture where you can make a right-hand turn to the Old Boney Trail. As you make your way up, you'll be treated to great views from Sycamore Canyon to Newbury Park and beyond.

This is a bit of a dried out view from Upper Danielson Road looking down from where we came from in 2015.

You're almost there once you see this Old Boney trail sign - just .3 mile to go

Continue straight on Danielson Road. There are some areas coming up that periodically get overgrown. Watch out for poison oak particularly in these areas, continuing on to the Monument. In .3 mile, you're reached your destination.

The Danielson Monument is a tribute to Richard Ely Danielson, Junior who lived on the 7,800 acre Rancho Sierra Vista after purchasing the land from the estate of Carl H. Beal in 1947 for roughly $500,000. Danielson lived on the ranch for over three decades with his family. He donated 5,585 acres of the ranch to the State of California, which became part of Point Mugu State Park, and sold 850 acres, including the horse ranch, to the National Park Service in 1980.  He passed away on December 27, 1988. 

Ranching in the area dates back to the early 1800s, when Spanish soldiers were granted 48,672 acres of land, "Rancho El Conejo," which through the years was subdivided and sold to other landowners. One of these ranchers was Carl Beal, who in 1937 named the area Rancho Sierra Vista "Mountain View Ranch." 

The Monument is in a peaceful setting, surrounded by trees. And it stays fairly green up here. A good place to eat lunch or sit and relax. Adjacent to the Monument is a remnant of Danielson's cabin - the chimney. If you continue up this path to the right, you can get to the top of Boney Mountain.

Remnant of Danielson's cabin adjacent to the monument - a chimney.

One thing I've never seen in my decades on this particular trail are strollers. I think strollers would be a bit of a challenge for many due to rocky and narrow sections, periodic overgrowth and poison oak on the sides of a small portion of the trail and, when we're not in a drought, a stream crossing. 

COMPILATION OF TRAILS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Neptune's Net and County Line Beach in Malibu are Local-Area "Must Do's"

Neptune's Net is a Malibu icon, located across from County Line Beach in Malibu at 42505 Pacific Coast Highway. Everyone who lives in the local area just has to experience this favorite eatery overlooking the Pacific. 

Originally built in 1956, the location of the fryer and grill have not changed. However, it was originally a gas station, real estate office and restaurant called "Panorama Pacific at Solimar" but locals called it Jake's Diner (after Eastman "Jake" Jacobs, its owner). In 1974 it was sold and the new owners renamed it Neptune's Net. The current owners purchased it in 1991.

Some of our favorites at Neptune's Net are everything fried (fish & chips, shrimp, scallops, clam strips and calamari), fresh seafood (lobster, crab, shrimp and oysters), burgers and more. Quite a popular biker hangout but at the same time, family friendly.

If you're newbie, check out the menu and then find the back of the ordering line, which often stretches back to the refrigerated drinks area. Grab your drink first as you wait in line. Order. Grab a seat, either in the front patio overlooking PCH, the side patio adjacent to the parking lot or the indoor seating area. Learn more at neptunesnet.com.

After (or before) you've dined, park or re-park (it's nice to clear your spot at Neptune's Net for other folks) your car across the street at County Line Beach, a casual, perhaps 1/3 mile stretch of beach surrounded by residences on each side.

There are no facilities at this beach other than three porta-johns in the parking area. No parking fees. 

County Line Beach is popular with surfers and folks generally hanging out and jumping into the water. There are some rocks to explore on the west side of the beach too. And well-behaved dogs can often be seen at this beach.

Rocks about on the west side of the beach, which stretches around to residences.

MORE LOCAL AREA BEACHES AT THIS LINK

Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock and Balanced Rock at Circle X Ranch in Malibu

One of my favorite hikes with the kids is Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock at Circle X Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu. 

The first challenge to this excursion is getting there. We are spoiled in the Conejo Valley, with trailheads into the Conejo Open Space pretty much within a mile of anywhere you live. Getting to Circle X Ranch is a bit more time consuming, taking upwards of 30 minutes for the 12 to 13 mile drive from Thousand Oaks via Decker Canyon. But we love it.

The Mishe Mokwa trailhead is the first parking lot off of Yerba Buena Road/Little Sycamore Canyon Road from Mulholland Drive, roughly five miles of twisty, turny roads. There are dirt lots on both sides of Yerba Buena.

(If you drive another .6 miles west/southwest on Yerba Buena Drive, you'll get to the Sandstone Peak trailhead parking area...another must do hike in the Santa Monica Mountains.)

Park and head to the clearly marked trailhead and start your 3 1/2 mile round trip journey to Split Rock. The trail itself is fairly moderate but wear good hiking shoes as there's plenty of rocks you'll be stopping on and over on this hike.

Springtime is my favorite time to hike this trail, when it is still on the cooler side and there's plenty of green surrounding you on the trails. 

About .4 mile into the hike, you'll come to this sign. Continue towards Split Rock. Or you can take this short trail to the Backbone Trail and the more direct path to Sandstone Peak.

You will soon start seeing the Echo Cliffs area and Balanced Rock. The closer you get to Split Rock, the better the view.  Shout out and you will see how Echo Cliffs got its name. And there's no question as to how Balanced Rock received its moniker.

Echo Cliffs and the well known Balance Rock as you head west on the Mishe Mokwa trail.

There are a few areas where you have to do some low-key rock climbing as you get closer to Split Rock, but they are generally of moderate difficulty.

Split Rock you will clearly see is named after a very large rock that is split in several places, including one crack that is large enough to walk through. There is a picnic table at this shady area and a nearby creek for a peaceful area to take a break.

Split Rock

You can head back at Split Rock or continue onward towards the Backbone Trail and Sandstone Peak for a full six mile hike. For something a bit more daring, you can side track back to Balanced Rock via a trail that is not maintained by the National Park Service.

We took this trail roughly about a third of a mile to Balance Rock and it does get a bit challenging, between dealing with overgrown areas and finding the right trail (there seems to be multiple trails) and some challenging sections. Not for everyone but certainly do-able. And once you get to this wonderful geologically unusual formation, any frustration with the trail seems worth it.

Balanced Rock is amazing to see from all angles, from both far away and up close.

Once you reach Balanced Rock, you'll be amazed not only by its size but by the amount of shade it renders. We also discovered a "sign in" box in a crevice below the rock.

Learn more about Circle X Ranch at www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm.

Great Views at the Ventura Botanical Gardens Demonstration Trail in Grant Park

The Ventura Botanical Gardens Demonstration Trail is a 1 mile trail between Ventura City Hall and Grant Park, offering awesome views of downtown Ventura and the coastline. The six foot wide trail with a decomposed granite surface is accessible behind Ventura City Hall at 567 South Poli Street

Access to the trail is on the right (east) side of Ventura City Hall. There's a parking area at the bottom of the trail.

Parking area behind Ventura City Hall

The Demonstration Trail is a first step as the Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG), a 501(c)3 non-profit, raises funds to expand upon it. VBG began planting its Chilean Gardens in February 2014, featuring hundreds of plants, including giant terrestrial bromeliads called Puyas, Acacia caven trees and an array of succulents and cacti. When complete, the Chilean garden will be the largest garden of Chilean plants outside of Chile.

Learn more about VBG and its efforts and upcoming charity events at www.venturabotanicalgardens.com.

The trail is decorated with pretty wildflowers and other California native plants

There are some neat rock walls on sections of the trail

A short walk will get you some pretty views!