Butterflies Alive! and Prehistoric Forest Open May 25 at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

On Saturday, May 25, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will unveil two spectacular summer exhibits: Butterflies Alive! and Prehistoric Forest.

Monarch (Photo by Gary Robinson)

This summer will mark the Museum’s first full run of Butterflies Alive! following $20 million renovations supported by its Centennial Campaign. Visitors will be guided through a beautiful garden while nearly 1,000 live butterflies flutter freely around them. The exhibit features a dazzling variety of butterflies, from local favorites like the Monarch and Queen to exotic tropical varieties like swallowtails, longwings, and White Peacocks. Various butterfly species will cycle through the pavilion throughout the summer, so no two visits will be the same. Visitors are invited to learn about the butterfly life cycle by checking out the emergence chamber in the Museum’s Santa Barbara Gallery. There, visitors will get to see how butterflies emerge from their chrysalides and dry their wings before being moved to the pavilion.

Triceratops

Visitors who cross the Museum’s wooden bridges over Mission Creek will enter Prehistoric Forest and take a stroll back in time to come face-to-face with dinosaurs in the wild. They’ll meet a Tyrannosaurus rex, the formidably armored Stegosaurus, high-crested Parasaurolophus, and Triceratops and Ankylosaurus mothers with their young. These handcrafted moving animatronics from Kokoro Exhibits spark the imaginations of dinosaur-lovers of all ages.

Both exhibits are open from Saturday, May 25 to Monday, September 2, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, and are included in Museum admission. www.sbnature.org

Laser Tag Places In and Around Ventura County

In 1982, a man named George Carter III started designing an arena-based, scored version of a game involving guns that emit infrared beams to "hit" members of other teams. The first laser tag arena was opened by Carter in Dallas on March 28, 1984. Laser tag at one point here in Ventura County consisted of just one venue - Lazerstar in Camarillo, which closed in March 2012. But in recent years has been on an upswing.

What I like about laser tag is that it is fun for all ages, gets you on your feet and is strategic. And it doesn't hurt when you're shot!

Well, we’re down to one laser tag option in Ventura County as of February 2023:

LazerTag Axtreme in the Wood Ranch Shopping Center in Simi Valley opened in July 2013. The facility is over 5,000 sq ft, with a multi-level arena, arcade and more.

This is the old LazerTag Extreme (formerly Lazerstar) back in August 2009 in Camarillo. This space is now a Fitness 19 gym.

Old Mission Santa Barbara is a Cultural and Historic Local Landmark

The Santa Barbara Mission was established on the Feast of Saint Barbara, December 4, 1786 and was the 10th of 21 California Missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. The Mission continues to be the chief cultural and historic landmark in the city of Santa Barbara. Home to a community of Franciscan friars, the Mission also has a retreat center with guest rooms, conference rooms, a fully equipped commercial kitchen and dining room, a beautiful church with a large and active parish, a museum and gift shop, a cemetery and mausoleum and ten acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

The Santa Barbara Mission in July 2013

Old Mission Church, Santa Barbara (1876), by Carleton Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons

Mission Santa Barbara is California Historical Landmark No. 309. According to the California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation website: Portions of five units of its extensive waterworks, built by Indian labor and preserved in this part, are a filter house, Spanish gristmill, sections of aqueducts, and two reservoirs, the larger of which, built in 1806, is used today as part of the city water system. The fountain and lavadero are nearby, in front of the mission, and a dam built in 1807 is located in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, one and one-half miles up Mission Canyon. Only ruins remain of the mission's pottery kiln, guard house, and tanning vats.

The Mission, located at 2201 Laguna Street, is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission for self-guided tours as of January 2019 is $9 for adults (18-64) $7 for seniors (65+) and active military (with ID) and $4 for youth ages 5-17. Parking is free.

Docent-led tours (approximately 60 minutes) on most Mondays through Fridays at 11 am and Saturdays at 10:30 am. Cost for docent-led tours is $13 adults, $11 seniors, active military and $8 for youth ages 5-17. Visit www.santabarbaramission.org or call 805.682.4713 to learn more.

The Tunnel Beneath Gainsborough Road in Thousand Oaks, Connecting Tarantula Hill to Conejo Community Park

It is just a tunnel, but this passageway underneath Gainsborough Road between Tarantula Hill on the north and Conejo Community Park on the south provides the connection for a fun-filled day.

Tarantula Hill is the tallest peak located within Thousand Oaks, at 1,057 feet. There's a bench at the top as you enjoy the view. There's also a small, fenced-in reservoir up there. No need for trail shoes getting to the peak, as it is almost entirely paved (with the exception of the vary top of the hill, leading to the bench). You can also take a trail to near the top, directly leading to the tunnel shown above.

Conejo Community Park has a nice play area, the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, plenty of grass and a creek that runs through the park as well as the Kids' Adventure Garden (open on Sundays only, from 11am to 3pm).

So if you’re looking for something FREE, close by and fun to do with the kids here in Thousand Oaks, this is a viable option for you.

"That's From Disneyland!" Pop-Up Exhibit in Sherman Oaks through August 24th

The 20,000 square foot "That's From Disneyland!" free pop-up exhibit at a former Sports Authority store in Sherman Oaks is worth going out of your way for!

It is located at 13730 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks (directly next to the Westfield Fashion Square Mall - cross-street is Woodman). Just 25 miles from the Conejo Valley.

This wonderful display allows Disney fans to experience artifacts from Disneyland from a private collection going back to the beginning of the amusement park. The artifacts are from the collection of Richard Kraft, who after 25 years of collecting them is auctioning them off on August 25-26.

Some of the numerous items on display include:

• It's a Small World figures.
• 15 Disneyland ride vehicles, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan's Flight Ship, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Car, Haunted Mansion "Doom Buggy," Fantasyland Skyway Bucket, Tomorrowland People Mover, Matterhorn Bobsled, Space Mountain Vehicle, Disneyland Ticket Booth and many more.
• Haunted Mansion Stretching Room paintings.
• Enchanted Tiki Room bird and signage.
• King Arthur Carrousel items.
• Massive Submarine Voyage Sea Serpent that closed in 1998 (after operating for nearly 30 years).
• Miniature Disneyland Model by Robert Olszewski with a replica of Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A. between 2002 and 2012.
• Frontierland posters and artifacts.
• New Orleans Square items.
• Lots of poster, artwork and maps of the park going back to the early 1960s.

This pop-up exhibit will be on display Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 8pm through August 24th. Over 900 lots from the collection will subsequently be auctioned off. on August 25-26. Learn more at www.thatsfromdisneyland.com.

Scenes From the Conejo Recreation & Park District Fishing Frenzy Event in Thousand Oaks

The Conejo Recreation and Park District in conjunction with the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club hosted its annual Fishing Frenzy event at Conejo Creek North Park (behind Thousand Oaks Library) on Saturday, August 4, 2018. Hundreds of magnetic fish are released into the creek and children were given magnetic poles to catch them. The event has taken place for many years and is quite popular with the young set.

One Dozen Physical Fitness Activities in the Conejo Valley That Cost Nothing

Conejo Valley Guide highlights thousands of things to do in the Conejo Valley, Greater Ventura County and surrounding areas, including carnivals, festivals, fairs, free concerts and movies and all sorts of places and things to see and do. Let's zero in on things to do that will help keep you fit right here in the Conejo Valley, at a total cost of $0.

The Conejo Recreation & Park District maintains the Rabbit Flats Disc Golf Course at Thousand Oaks Community Park. This 9 acre, 18 basket course has rolling hills and will keep you moving. The only cost to you is your flying disc!

Rabbit Flats Disc Golf Course in Thousand Oaks

The Conejo Group Sierra Club and other local hiking groups often host hikes in the area.

There are several dozen free tennis courts open to the public available throughout the Conejo Valley.

The 33 acre Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is a peaceful, beautiful respite from the daily grind...and makes for a nice hike with panaromic views of the Conejo Valley as your reward.

Local hiking surrounds us. Check out Oakbrook Regional Park and dozens of other local Conejo Valley trails at Wildwood Park, Los Robles Trail, Dos Vientos such as the Conejo Mountain/Edison Road trail.

We love stopping by the Borchard Park Labyrinth and Fitness Equipment Area in Newbury Park from time to time and moving our way through the entire labyrinth (my kids still call it a maze).

Borchard Park Labyrinth in Newbury Park

The Oaks Mall at 1.3 million square feet is so huge that you can get a great workout in just walking from end to end or around the perimeter...though you may be tempted to consume the calories you burned off at some of the great eateries inside.

Roadrunner Sports in Newbury Park hosts Thursday Adventure Runs on the 3rd Thursday of each month in March through November! Sign up, show up, run and have fun.

There are over 4 dozen Thousand Oaks parks maintained by the Conejo Recreation and Park District and another 11 in Agoura/Westlake Village.

Try the Fitness Trail at Pepper Tree Park in Newbury Park; a .83 mile trail with fitness activities every 1/8th of a mile.

Westlake Lake is a great venue for walking, running and cycling year-round. There is roughly a 4 to 5 mile scenic loop around the lake and surrounding areas that you and your family will enjoy.

Gardens of the World Thousand Oaks

Gardens of the World across from the Civic Arts Plaza is 4 1/2 acres of immaculate, serene gardens to walk through and enjoy Tuesday through Sunday. Perhaps not the place for a "power" walk and definitely not a run. You will enjoy it, regardless.

Last but not least, the National Park Service brings us over 154,000 acres of open space in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, including local Conejo Valley open space at Paramount Ranch, Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons in Agoura, Rancho Sierra Vista/Point Mugu State Park and more.