Hillcrest Brush Fire Historical Landmark Markers in the Conejo Open Space in Thousand Oaks

There are five historical landmark markers in the Hillcrest Open Space in Thousand Oaks in tribute to firefighter Angel Castro. On December 10, 1978, Castro was severely burned while fighting the Hillcrest Fire, which burned 100 acres in two hours on a windy day with erratic gusts up to 40 MPH. He was working as a "Dozer Swamper," hauling and unloading heavy equipment. As a result of his injuries, he recommended several modifications to operating procedures that VCFD implemented. Further down this path are four other markers with questions to help challenge and educate firefighters and civilians.

The Hillcrest Open Space Preserve trailhead is located on Hillcrest Drive, just west of Blue Mesa Street, about half a mile west of Westlake Boulevard.

LOCAL AREA TRAILS AND HIKES THROUGHOUT VENTURA COUNTY

Ventura County Area Listings in the National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America's historic and archaeological resources.

There are over 80,000 listings in the National Register in five general categories: building, structure, site, district and object.

To be considered eligible for the Register, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. This involves examining the property’s age (generally at least 50 years old), integrity and significance.

To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places and to search its database, visit www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm.

Now let's highlight Ventura County area properties listed in the Register as of November 2022. Most of these you can visit (links provided where applicable):

• Anacapa Island Archeological District (listed 9/12/1979)

• Anacapa Island Light Station (9/3/1991)

• Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital, 121 N. Fir St, Ventura (11/11/1977)

• Bardsdale Methodist Episcopal Church, 1418 Bardsdale Ave, Fillmore (8/28/1986)

• Berylwood (Estate of Thomas R. Bard family owned by U.S. Navy and located at U.S. Naval Station Battalion Center in Port Hueneme) (9/15/1977)

• Burro Flats Painted Cave, Bell Canyon (address restricted) (5/5/1976)

• Calleguas Creek Site, Oxnard (address restricted) (5/19/1976)

• Camarillo Ranch House (2/20/2003)

• Case Study House No. 28, 91 Inverness Road, Thousand Oaks (Case Study Houses were experiments in American residential architecture from 1945 to 1966). (7/24/2013)

• Colony House, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley (9/18/1978)

• Dudley House, 4085 Telegraph Road, Ventura (5/17/1977)

• Ebell Club of Santa Paula, 125 S. Seventh St (7/20/1989)

• George Washington Faulkner House, 14292 W. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula (4/25/1991)

• Feraud General Merchandise Store, 2 and 12 W. Main St, Ventura (1/23/1986)

• First Baptist Church of Ventura, 101 S. Laurel St (7/3/2009)

• Emmanuel Franz House, 31 N. Oak St, Ventura (6/25/1982)

• Glen Tavern Hotel, 134 N. Mill St, Santa Paula (7/26/1984)

• Thomas Gould, Jr. House, 402 Lynn Drive, Ventura (12/23/2005)

• Grand Union Hotel (now Stagecoach Inn Museum), 51 Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park (12/30/1975)

• Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village, 4595 Cochran St, Simi Valley (10/25/1996)

• Joel McCrea Ranch, 4500 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks (4/18/1997)

• Mission San Buenaventura, 211 E. Main St, Ventura (4/10/1975)

• Olivas Adobe in Ventura (7/24/1979)

• Carnegie Art Museum (formerly Oxnard Public Library), 424 S. C Street (7/27/1971)

• Henry T. Oxnard Historic District, F & G Streets, between Palm & 5th (2/5/1999)

• Charles M. Pratt House, 1330 Foothill Road, Ojai (6/14/2002)

• Rancho Camulos, 5164 E. Telegraph Road, Piru (11/1/1996)

• San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct, 234 Canada Larga Rd., Ventura (3/7/1975)

• San Miguel Chapel Site (address restricted), Ventura (7/20/1978)

• Santa Paula Hardware Company Block--Union Oil Company (now California Oil Museum) 1003 E. Main St. (8/14/1986)

• Saticoy Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 11220 Azahar Street, Saticoy (7/23/2018)

• Simi Adobe-Strathearn House,137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley (5/19/1978)

• SS Winfield Scott (Steamship shipwreck at Anacapa Island) (9/12/1988)

• St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel (now Ojai Valley Museum), 130 W. Ojai Ave, Ojai (6/29/1995)

• Thacher School Historic District, 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai Valley (4/4/2019)

• Ventura County Courthouse (now Ventura City Hall), 501 Poli St, Ventura (8/19/1971)

• Ventura Theater, 26 S. Chestnut, Ventura (12/29/1986)

• Women's Improvement Club of Hueneme, 239 E. Scott St (8/21/1989)

Other nearby historic places:

• Adamson House, 23200 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (10/28/1977)

• Humaliwo (address restricted) (9/1/1976)

• Saddle Rock Ranch Pictograph Site (address restricted) (2/12/1982)

• Stevens House, 23524 Malibu Colony Road, Malibu (10/9/2009)

• Leonis Adobe, 23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (5/29/1975)

Evolution of the Conejo Grade in Ventura County Over the Last 100 Years

Horseshoe shaped section of the Conejo Grade in the 1920s.

The Conejo Grade is the section of Highway 101 that connects the Conejo Valley with Camarillo. It is a four mile stretch of freeway with a significant 7% grade.

Going down the Conejo Grade from Newbury Park to Camarillo today.

At 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of May 1, 1937, a newly upgraded and realigned Conejo Grade premiered after a day of celebration commencing at the ranch of Adolfo Camarillo. Camarillo, the namesake of what in 1964 became the City of Camarillo, donated the right of way to enable the grade to be realigned. Actor Leo Carrillo entertained guests at Camarillo's ranch at the bottom of the grade.

Grand opening of the newly realigned Conejo Grade on May 1, 1937.

The old Conejo Grade was constructed by the California Highway Commission in 1914-1915. The previous route had 49 twists and turns, making it somewhat hazardous to drive (albeit somewhat less steep than the current grade). The newly aligned Conejo Grade cut the number of curves by 75%.

Another view of the Conejo Grade before it was realigned in 1937.

The new 1937 Conejo Grade cost a total of $570,000, which is less than the average cost of a house in the Conejo Valley today! Over a year and a half, the project employed about 100 workers who put in over 272,000 hours, excavating over 800,000 cubic yards of mostly hard rock. Talk about rock stars!

In the 1950s and 1960s, Caltrans further widened and improved Highway 101 over the Conejo Grade.

Several decades later, as Ventura County grew and the cities of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks incorporated in 1964, Caltrans continued to widen and improve the highway to what it is today.

Source for historical information: "California Highways and Public Works" (May 1937) - official journal of the State of California Division of Highways, Department of Public Works.

Special thanks to the Pleasant Valley Historical Society for providing historic photos.

Breakfast Eateries In and Around the Conejo Valley

Breakfast. Is it the most important meal of the day? Perhaps. But who cares, we’re just hungry and want to eat something delicious for breakfast right here in the Conejo Valley. And to that end, we’ve compiled a list, in no particular order, of eateries in the Conejo Valley that are known for their breakfast options.

(While hours of operation are listed, they are subject to change, so check with the eatery to confirm. Contact us with updates, addition and edits.)

Country Harvest is located at 3345 Kimber Drive in Newbury Park and has served the community since May 2002. Country Harvest opens at 7:30 a.m. daily for traditional breakfast options like Corned Beef Hash & Eggs, Three-Egg Omelets, eight different Benedict (open-faced English muffin) options, favorites like Chicken & Waffles, pancakes and more. They also have locations in Camarillo and Moorpark. countryharvest.restaurant (805) 375-4598.

Honey & Herb Belgian Waffle House (formerly The Waffle Experience; it changed in December 2023) is located in the Conejo Gateway Plaza at 765 Wendy Drive, Newbury Park Dr. Here you will find quite a unique array of savory and sweet waffle options. Open for breakfast and lunch Mon to Thu at 8 a.m. and Sat/Sun at 7:30 a.m. honey-and-herb.com (805) 375-9998

CiCi’s Cafe is located at 30990 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village, across the parking lot from Lure Fish House. CiCi’s, which originated in 2006 and opened this location in December 2016, is known for its incredible selection of unique pancakes, waffles, and crepes as well as savory breakfast and lunch items. The menu is over 30 pages long! Open at 7:30 a.m. daily. ciciscafe.com (818) 874-3391

Side Street Cafe is located at 996 Lawrence Drive, #103 in Newbury Park, tucked into an industrial park, but well worth going slightly out of your way for. Open Mon-Fri 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sat/Sun 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specializes in an all day breakfast menu featuring egg breakfasts, egg scramblers, egg benedicts, omelettes, waffles, pancakes, French toast and other specialties. sidestreetcafenp.com (805) 499-9323

Zooza Cafe is located in the Paseo Market Place at 3687 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks. Open 8am to 5pm daily with a breakfast menu that includes omelets, egg sandwiches, oatmeal and more. zoozacafe.com (805) 496-9669

The Royal Egg Cafe at 30815 E Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Westlake Village (in the North Ranch Gateway Plaza) offers a variety of organic breakfast items, including savory favorites, avocado toasts, breakfast burritos and much more . Opens daily at 8 a.m. theroyaleggcafe.com (818) 532-7710

Mikey’s Restaurant opened in the former home of The Nook Restaurant at 579 Ventu Park Road, Suite D, Newbury Park in mid-January 2024. Similar menu to The Nook, with a wide range of breakfast specialties. Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. www.mikeysrestaurantca.com

Pickles Deli & Restaurant originally opened in 2006 at 1940 Newbury Road in Newbury Park. Open daily at 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., this traditional Jewish deli serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their breakfast menu is served all day includes egg dishes, lox, omelettes, Mexican specialties, French toast, pancakes and much more. picklesdeli.com (805) 480-4800

Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant at 2799 Townsgate Road in Westlake Village offers a large number of breakfast items - pancakes, French toast, fish plates, omelets, benedicts, egg specialties and more. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. brentsdeli.com (805) 557-1882

Agoura’s Famous Deli is located at 5915 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills in the Agoura Hills City Mall. You’re in luck for breakfast - pancakes, egg dishes, omelettes, waffles and more are offered . Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. agourasfamousdeli.com (818) 889-9113

Eggs ‘n’ Things in the Ralphs’s shopping center at 1542 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks is one of four Eggs ‘n’ Things in Ventura County. Their extensive breakfast menu includes omelettes, French toast, pancakes, their special Swedish Pancakes, scrambles, benedicts and more. Open for breakfast at 6 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends. eggsnthings.net (805) 497-1711

Jinky’s Cafe is located at 1724 E. Avenida De Los Árboles, Thousand Oaks (805) 493-8809 Opens at 8 a.m. daily, offering pancakes, French toast, waffles, crepes, breakfast specialties like Yucatan Quesadilla, Huevos Rancheros, breakfast burritos and more. jinkys.com

Corner Bakery Cafe is located at 111 S. Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Open daily at 7:30 a.m., Corner Bakery offers pancakes, scramblers, egg bowls, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast wraps, oatmeal, yogurt and more. cornerbakerycafe.com/location/thousand-oaks (805) 496-6993

Denny’s is located at 2830 Camino Del Rios in Newbury Park, serving breakfast 24/7. Who doesn’t love a Grand Slam? And of course pancakes, crepes, omelettes and classic breakfast that Denny’s offers. (805) 498-4440 dennys.com

IHOP is located at 5031 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills (open 24/7) (818) 991-4957 IHOP offers, if you can believe it, pancakes! Plus omelettes, crepes, Belgian waffles, French toast and breakfast combos. The chain’s name was officially shortened from International House of Pancakes to IHOP in 1979. restaurants.ihop.com

JOi Cafe, located at 2855 Agoura Road in Westlake Village in the Westlake Commons, is a fantastic plant-based eatery that’s open for breakfast daily at 7 a.m. You’ll find unique choices on their breakfast menu, such as Superfood Pancakes, The JOi Scramble (no eggs involved), JOi Breakfast Burrito and more. www.joicafe.com

JOiBIRDS Cafe opened at 299 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks in November 2023, offering a variety of breakfast items and goodies. www.joibirds.com

Sunrose California Eatery opened on October 24, 2023 in the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills. Their breakfast and brunch is served all day, featuring a variety of options including toasts, burrito, omelet, pancake, egg dishes and more. Opens for breakfast at 8 a.m. daily. www.thesunroseca.com

Marmalade Cafe at The Promenade at Westlake, opens daily at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. You know, I’ve eaten there dozens of times, but never for breakfast, but their menu looks great! Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles, Chorizo & Eggs, frittatas, benedicts, pancakes, combos and much more. I’ll have to check it out. marmaladecafe.com/locations/westlake-village/breakfast-menu (805) 370-1331

Justine’s Cafe is located in the Westlake Village Industrial Park, 31356 Via Colinas #103 in Westlake Village. Open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Justine’s offers a full breakfast menu that includes egg dishes, omelets, breakfast burritos, french toast and more. www.justinescafe.com (818) 879-8786

Bo’s House of Omelettes & Waffles (formerly the iconic Harold’s House of Omelettes), has served the Conejo Valley since 1961. Located at 2440 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks and open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Bo’s serves Belgian Waffles, Omelettes (well duh), Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, scrambles, pancakes, combos and more. houseofomelettesto.com (805) 906-2138

The Breakfast Cafe, believe it or not, serves breakfast, of all things, daily, starting at 7 a.m., at 686 Lindero Canyon Road in Oak Park. You will find all of the standard breakfast favorites here…pancakes, French toast, waffles, omelettes, breakfast burritos, egg combos and more. www.breakfastcafe.online (818) 865-8807

P & L Burgers is located at 2000-A East Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks in the Oakbrook Plaza. So what is a place named after burgers on this breakfast eateries list? Because they serve a great breakfast daily starting at 7 a.m. - egg dishes, omelettes, pancakes, French toast and more. pandlburgers.com/BreakfastMenu.html (805) 493-5336

There is a separate list of COFFEE SHOPS IN THE CONEJO VALLEY and all of these coffee shops serve some form of breakfast - Five07 Coffee Bar and Eatery, Honeycup Coffeehouse, Longevity Coffee, Caffe Aroma, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, Conejo Coffee, Cafe Sapientia, and others are on this list.

Novo Cafe in The Shoppes at Westlake Village has a nice breakfast menu that includes all your favorites - benedicts, French toast, egg dishes, omelettes and more. But geared towards late sleepers - they open at 11 a.m. Tue-Sat and 10:30 a.m.Sun. www.novocafe.com/westlake (818) 318-1466 (updated 12/14/23)

There is a separate list of BAKERIES IN THE CONEJO VALLEY, many of which offer up more than pastries for breakfast -Village Bakery & Cafe in Agoura Hills, Le Pain Quotidien in Westlake Village, Emil’s Bake House in Agoura Hills, Historia Bakery Cafe in Thousand Oaks, La Cereza Bakery and Cafe, Furn Saj Bakery in Calabasas, Cafe Ficelle (opened 4/10/24) and others.

Agoura Village Bakery (formerly called Village Bakery & Cafe) is located in the Twin Oaks Shopping Center at 5839 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills. In addition to a fantastic array of decadent pastries and other baked goods, they offer omelettes, scrambles, French toast, pancakes, protein shakes and more. Opens at 8 a.m. daily. www.agouravillagebakery.com (818) 736-9898

You may not be aware that Cronies Sports Grill is open daily for breakfast at 9 a.m. Mon-Fri and 8 a.m. Sat/Sun at 1620 Newbury Road in Newbury Park (805) 498-7888 and 8 a.m. Mon-Fri and 7 a.m. Sat/Sun at 5687 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills (818) 889-0889. Cronies’ breakfast menu includes pancakes, waffles, eggs, breakfast sandwiches, omelets and more. cronies.com/breakfast-food

Panera Bread’s Conejo Valley locations in Thousand Oaks (Janss Marketplace) (opens at 7 a.m. daily) and Westlake Village (5784 Lindero Canyon Road) (opens at 7 a.m. Mon-Sat and 8 a.m. Sun) serves breakfast sandwiches, baked egg soufflés, oatmeal and more. www.panerabread.com

Chef Burger at 1771 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks opens at 7;30 a.m. daily and offers breakfast burritos, omelettes, egg dishes, pancakes and more. This is a little, let me say, hole in the wall place - let’s just say, it is not a fancy, sit down place. (805) 495-0524

Rise Southern Biscuits Righteous Chicken opened in the summer of 2022 in the Conejo Valley Plaza at 1408 N Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Rise specializes in chicken, biscuits, donuts and other southern specialties. Very limited outdoor seating. Open 7 am - 2 pm risebiscuitschicken.com/locations/thousand-oaks (805) 291-4274

On a side note, something I’ve found interesting in compiling this list is that most eateries offer omelettes, while a few offer omelets. According to Grammarly.com, omelet is the American English spelling whereas omelette is the British English spelling. Thus, I regret to inform you that most Conejo Valley breakfast eateries are not using proper American English. But I guess as long as the omelette is delicious, we’ll give them a pass.

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Breakfast No More

Chocolatine French Cafe was located at 2955 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, but closed its doors in August 2023.

The Newbury Park IHOP closed its doors on November 19, 2023.)

Jinky’s Kanan Cafe at 29001 Canwood St in Agoura Hills closed its doors on 12/12/23 but they indicate that they plan to reopen elsewhere in Agoura Hills.)

Stella’s Gourmet Restaurant at 2385 Michael Drive, Newbury Park, which served the local community, since 1981, closed its doors in December 2023.

The Nook Restaurant in Newbury Park closed in December 2023 but reopened under new ownership as Mikey’s Restaurant in mid-January 2024. It originally opened in September 2019.

Eateries in the Conejo Valley Where You Can Eat Past 9:30PM

You’re hungry. It’s past 9pm. Driving through the Conejo Valley - the communities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills and Oak Park - and you can’t seem to find a place to grab a bite to eat. Well, we can help you out with this list of eateries in the Conejo Valley that serve food on some or all nights until 10pm and beyond.

(The information below can change at any time. Links to websites and phone numbers are provided so you can confirm directly with the eatery. This compilation does not indicate the other nights of the week these eateries are open as we’re focusing on late night options only.)

Eateries Open Past 9:30pm 3 or More Nights a Week

Anarbagh Westlake Village at 30853 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. is open nightly until 10pm. www.anarbaghwestlakevillage.com (818) 991-2128

Angry Chickz at 593 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks is open until 11pm nightly. www.angrychickz.com/locations/thousand-oaks-ca (805) 373-0037

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse at 3955 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Westlake Village is open until midnight nightly. www.bjsrestaurants.com/locations/ca/westlake-village (805) 497-9393

Boney Mountain Pizza Co. at 722 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park is open until 10pm Tuesday through Saturday. www.boneymountainpizzaco.com (805) 498-6511

Buca di Beppo at Janss Marketplace is open until 10pm on Thurs and 11pm on Fri/Sat nights. locations.bucadibeppo.com/us/ca/thousand-oaks/205-n-moorpark-rd (805) 449-3688

Cafe Rio at 595 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm nightly. www.caferio.com/locations/thousand-oaks (805) 329-4111

Chili’s at 1700 Newbury Road, Newbury Park, is open until 10pm Sun through Thur and 11pm Fri/Sat. www.chilis.com/locations/us/california/thousand-oaks/newbury-park (805) 214-9947

Crawford’s Social in the Westlake Plaza at the corner of Westlake Blvd and Agoura Road, a new lounge and eatery that opened in December 2023, is open until 11pm Monday through Thursday, midnight Friday/Saturday and 10pm Sunday. www.crawfordssocial.com (805) 510-0105

Cronies locations, including Agoura Hills and Newbury Park, are all open until 10pm seven nights a week. cronies.com/locations

Crown and Anchor at 2891 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard is open until 11pm Mon-Wed, midnight on Thu, 1:30am on Fri/Sat and 10pm Sun. crownnanchor.com (805) 497-0070

Crumbl Cookies in Newbury Park is open until 10pm Mon-Sat and Westlake Village is open until 10pm Mon-Thu and midnight Fri/Sat for late night cookie cravings. crumblcookies.com

Dave & Buster’s at Janss Marketplace has a kitchen that is open until 11:10pm nightly. www.daveandbusters.com/us/en/about/locations/thousand-oaks (805) 857-7800

Farfalla Trattoria at The Promenade at Westlake Village is open until 10pm nightly. www.trattoriafarfalla.com/location/westlake-village (805) 497-2283

Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express at 650 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks is open until 2am Thurs-Sat nights. locations.fatburger.com (805) 370-8220

Finney’s Crafthouse at 982 S. Westlake Blvd, Westlake Village is open until 10pm nightly. www.finneyscrafthouse.com/westlake-village (805) 230-9950

Fresh Brothers Pizza at The Promenade at Westlake is open until 10pm Thu-Sun. www.freshbrothers.com/locations/westlake-village (805) 777-8448

Hot Motha Clucker Thousand Oaks at 1610 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd is open until midnight Mon-Sat. www.yelp.com/biz/hot-motha-clucker-thousand-oaks (805) 371-6888

IHOP is open until 10pm Sun-Thu and 3am Fri/Sat at its Agoura Hills location on Kanan Road at the 101. restaurants.ihop.com/en-us/ca/agoura/breakfast-5031-kanan-rd-735 (818) 991-4957

Janchi Korean BBQ at Janss Marketplace is open until 10pm Monday through Thursday through Saturday. janchibbq.com (805) 370-1777

La Esquina Mexican Grill next to Slice House at 3297 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. is open until 10pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. thecornermexicangrill.com (805) 371-5333

Lal Mirch Indian Restaurant at 5146 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills is open daily until 10pm. lalmirchagourahills.com (818) 532-7532

Lazy Dog Cafe at The Oaks mall is open until 11pm Sun through Thu and midnight Fri/Sat. www.lazydogrestaurants.com/locations/thousand-oaks-ca (805) 449-5206

Mastro’s at 2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm nightly. www.mastrosrestaurants.com/location/mastros-steakhouse-thousand-oaks (805) 418-1811

Mod Pizza Newbury Park at 1015 Broadbeck Drive is open until 10pm Sun-Thu and 11pm Fri/Sat. locations.modpizza.com/usa/ca/thousand-oaks/1015-broadbeck-dr (805) 214-7010

Olive Garden at The Oaks mall is open until 10pm Sun-Thu and 11pm Fri/Sat. www.olivegarden.com/locations/ca/thousand-oaks/thousand-oaks/4402 (805) 777-1744

Pedals & Pints Brewing Co. at The Oaks mall is open until 10pm Tue-Thu, 11pm Fri and midnight on Sat. www.pedalsandpintsbrewing.com (805) 551-0547

Phil’s at 3316 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks is open until 11pm nightly. www.phils1000oaks.com (805) 371-7773

Pieology Thousand Oaks at Janss Marketplace is open until 11pm Sun to Thurs and midnight Friday/Saturday. pieology.com/pizza-near-me/?rest_id=pieology-thousand-oaks (805) 660-4527

Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Lounge in the Janss Marketplace at 235 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks is open until 2am nightly. sunsetterracerestaurant.com (805) 497-4847

Tarantula Hill Brewing Company at 244 Thousand Oaks Blvd is open until 10pm Monday to Wednesday, 11pm Thursday, and 1am Friday/Saturday. www.tarantulahillbrewingco.com

The Cheesecake Factory at The Oaks mall is open until 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm Friday/Saturday. locations.thecheesecakefactory.com/ca/thousand-oaks-29.html (805) 371-9705

The Tipsy Goat at 159 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks is open until 2am nightly. tipsygoat.com (805) 494-9996

Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery at 1345 Thousand Oaks Blvd is open until 11pm Monday/Tuesday and midnight Wednesday through Sunday nights. tiltedkilt.com/locations (805) 777-7418

Toppers Pizza Place at 1416 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm Sun-Thurs and 11pm Fri/Sat. www.topperspizzaplace.com (805) 495-4444

Twisted Meats, which opened in the Walmart Neighborhood Market center at 520 N. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park, is open until midnight Monday through Saturday nights. www.twisted-meats.com (805) 558-7674

Ubatuba Acai at 1655 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm nightly. www.ubatubaacai.com/locations (805) 444-9525

Winners Pizza at 1805 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd is open until 9:30pm Sunday, 11pm Monday through Thursday, 11:30pm Friday and 11pm Saturday. winnerspizza.com (805) 379-4212

Eateries Open Past 9:30pm Only Friday/Saturday Nights

Bad Ass Street Tacos at 2951 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.badassstreettacos.com (805) 370-8226

Basta Restaurant at the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.bastaagoura.com (818) 865-2019

California Pizza Kitchen at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat. www.cpk.com/locations/california-pizza-kitchen-lakes-at-thousand-oaks (805) 777-1778

Denino’s Pizzeria at 1710 Thousand Oaks Blvd is open until 10pm Fri/Sat nights. www.deninosthousandoaks.com (805) 371-7105

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co at 30770 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.figmtnbrew.com/westlake-village (818) 874-1305

Freda’s Pizza at 3835 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Westlake Village is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.fredaspizza.com (805) 852-5260

Islands Restaurant Newbury Park at 935 Broadbeck Drive is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.islandsrestaurants.com/locations/newbury-park (805) 498-7481

Made in Italy Bistro at 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.madeinitalybistro.com (805) 370-8667

Modern Kitchen at 30768 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. modernkitchenwlv.com (818) 318-1424

Nick the Greek at 39558 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.nickthegreek.com/westlakethousandoaks (805) 551-0162

OR Authentic Thai Cuisine at The Oaks mall is open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. www.orauthenticthaicuisine.com (805) 267-1788

Paul Martin’s American Grill at The Promenade at Westlake is open Fri/Sat nights until 10pm. paulmartinsamericangrill.com/locations/westlake-village-restaurant (805) 373-9300

Plata Taqueria & Cantina at the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.platacantina.com (818) 735-9982

Shake Shack at The Promenade at Westlake is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. shakeshack.com/location/westlake-village-ca (805) 309-5941

Slice House Thousand Oaks at 3297 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd is open until 10pm Fri/Sat nights. slicehouse.com/thousandoaks (805) 888-8780

Spumoni Italian Cafe at 1714 Newbury Road, Newbury Park is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.spumoninewburypark.com (805) 499-6200

Sushi Su Agoura Hills at 5015 Cornell Road is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. sushisuagoura.com (818) 865-8622

Tavern 101 Grill & Tap House at 28434 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills is open until 10pm Fri/Sat nights. www.tavern101agoura.com/location/tavern-101-grill (818) 991-7227

Tavern Tomoko & Ladyface Brewery at 29281 Agoura Road is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.taverntomoko.com (818) 477-4566

The Cliffdiver at 720 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.facebook.com/cliffdivermalibu (805) 370-1585

The Latigo Kid at 5617 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills is open until 10:30pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.facebook.com/TheLatigoKidMexicanRestaurant (818) 889-1195

The Stand Westlake Village at 966 S. Westlake Blvd is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. www.thestand.com/location/westlake-village (805) 277-2772

The Stonehaus at 32039 Agoura Road, Westlake Village is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. the-stonehaus.com

Tiki Taco at 398 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm on Fri/Sat nights. tikirestaurantbeachbar.com (805) 494-8454

101 North Eatery & Bar at 30760 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village is open until 10pm Fri/Sat nights. www.101northeateryandbar.com (805) 852-1588

Fast Food Places in the Conejo Valley Open Past 9:30pm

Chick-fil-A locations are open until 10pm Mon-Sat in Westlake Village and 11pm Mon-Sat in Thousand Oaks. www.chick-fil-a.com/locations

Del Taco Newbury Park at 591 N. Ventu Park Road is open 24 hours locations.deltaco.com/us/ca/newbury-park/591-n-ventu-park-rd

Domino’s locations in Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks (2), Westlake Village and Calabasas are open until 10pm and beyond daily. www.dominos.com

El Pollo Loco is open until 11pm nightly in Thousand Oaks, 10pm nightly in Newbury Park, and 10pm Monday to Saturday in Agoura Hills. restaurants.elpolloloco.com/ca

Farmer Boys Newbury Park at 1057 Academy Drive is open until 10pm Sun-Thu and 11pm Fri/Sat. www.farmerboys.com/locations/thousand-oaks-academy-dr

In-N-Out Burger Newbury Park at 1550 Newbury Road is open until 1am daily (1:30am Fri/Sat). locations.in-n-out.com/58-Newbury-Park

In-N-Out Burger Westlake Village at 30780 Russell Ranch Road is open until midnight daily (12:30am Fri/Sat). locations.in-n-out.com/297-Westlake-Village

Jack in the Box - it’s what’s for a very late snack in Thousand Oaks (open until 3am Tue-Sat and 2am Sun/Mon), Newbury Park (open until 12:30am Mon-Thu, 2:30am Fri/Sat and midnight Sun) and Agoura Hills (24 hours). locations.jackinthebox.com

Kentucky Fried Chicken at 3605 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm nightly. locations.kfc.com/ca/thousand-oaks/3605-e-thousand-oaks-blvd (805) 495-0553

Little Caesars Pizza at 1744 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks is open until 10pm Sun-Thu and 11pm Fri/Sat. littlecaesars.com/en-us/store/9070 (805) 230-2181

McDonald’s drive-thrus in Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks (2) are open until 11:30am, Newbury Park until midnight and Agoura Hills until 1am (4am Thu, 24 hrs Fri). www.mcdonalds.com

Pizza Hut at 75 S. Rancho Road in Thousand Oaks is open until midnight Sun-Thu and 1am Fri/Sat. www.pizzahut.com (805) 371-3700

Taco Bell locations in Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks (2) and Agoura Hills are open until 1am daily. www.tacobell.com/locations

Wendy’s locations in Newbury Park (2790 W. Hillcrest Drive) and Westlake Village (5788 Lindero Canyon Road) are open until midnight daily. www.wendys.com

Wingstop at Janss Marketplace is open until 1am nightly for your chicken wing pleasure. https://www.wingstop.com (909) 762-0058

CONTACT US for additions, updates or corrections.

Hike to the Teepee, Paradise Falls and Little Cave at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

One hiking experience that everyone in the Conejo Valley and neighboring areas has to experience is Wildwood Park. With 14 trails covering 17 miles in the nearly 1,800 acre park managed by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, there is plenty to see and do in Wildwood Park.

One particularly fun and fairly easy family hike at Wildwood takes you from the main parking lot at the west end of Avenida de los Arboles to the Teepee, Paradise Falls and Little Cave (formerly Indian Cave**). Take the Mesa Trail about a 3rd of a mile until you see the sign below, then take a left.

Another third of a mile and you're at the teepee, where you'll find another clearly marked sign pointing you in the direction of Paradise Falls.

Hike down some switchbacks and stairs and you'll see be at the beautiful Paradise Falls. Always a fun place to take the kids, though we're warned not to go into the water, which is largely urban runoff.

But it is sure popular and enjoyable to sit back and enjoy this year-round waterfall that is so nicely hidden yet so close to hustle and bustle of suburban Thousand Oaks.

The Little Cave is roughly half a mile east of Paradise Falls and can be accessed from the trail directly above the falls or by hiking back up to the teepee and going the other direction.

Trail adjacent to Paradise Falls that takes you towards little Cave.

A quarter of a mile or so and you'll see the sign below.

Little Cave (Formerly Indian Cave) sign

Formerly called indian cave

Another 100 yards or so and you've reached the staircase that will take you up to the Cave.

Large enough to actually hang out in, though the last time we walked in there were signs of rodents.

You can literally climb through the cave to an exit at the top and hike your way up to a connector trail that will lead you back towards the parking lot. My kids love this and so do I!

** The change in name was approved by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) in May 2022. COSCA received a request to change the Indian Creek Trail name earlier that year. On its own, the work "Indian" refers to individuals from India, rather than Native Americans, and thus did not accurately reflect the origin of the people to whom it refers.

The Indian Cave and Indian Cave Trail were renamed Little Cave as it was unclear if the cave was naturally formed and/or historically used by Native Americans.

The Indian Creek Trail in Wildwood Park was renamed Two Springs Trail as two natural springs contribute to the stream flow in this portion of the channel.

Seven Flat, Stroller and Family Friendly Hikes in the Conejo Valley

There is a ring of about 15,000 acres of open space with 140 miles of trails for public use surrounding the Conejo Valley. All too often on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page we hear requests for which trails are "stroller friendly" and/or suitable for young children. Here is a sampling of some of the more popular ones in the area.

Wildwood Park to many is the single greatest spot for family hikes and stroller-friendly trails. With 14 trails covering 17 miles, including the popular hike to Paradise Falls and the teepee as well as some wide, relatively flat sections along the Mesa Trail towards Lizard Rock.

It takes a bit of driving via the Norwegian Grade and Santa Rosa Road to get there, but the Conejo Canyons Open Space in the Western Plateau section of the Conejo Open Space leads to several miles of nice, flat, well-maintained family-friendly trails leading to tree-canopied picnic areas. The Hill Canyon Trail and Hawk Canyon Trail are very easy to navigate.

Shaded picnic area off the Hawk Canyon Trail from the Conejo Canyons Bridge.

The one mile Spring Canyon Trail is a mostly flat trail that runs from Lynn Oaks Park, 359 Capitan Street, Newbury Park to the Los Robles Trail.  There are some moderate hills but with the park nearby, this makes for a fun little excursion with the little ones. (No restrooms, however.)

The main access point to the Los Robles Trail at the southern endpoint of Moorpark Road at Greenmeadow Ave starts out with a reasonably flat section that is a nice, easy family stroll.

Speaking of the Los Robles Trail, another great little hike to take with the kids is the Oak Creek Canyon Loop Trail. The first 4/10th of a mile of the trail, accessible off of Greenmeadow Avenue in Thousand Oaks, is the Oak Creek Canyon Whole Access Interpretive Trail. This is a nice, shady, flat trail with benches and picnic benches along the path. The remainder of the loop is not quite as stroller friendly, with a couple moderately steep sections that can be navigated on foot.

Picnic trails and shade abound at the Oak Creek Canyon Interpretative Trail.

The Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area managed by the National Park Service in Newbury Park has several miles of trails to explore, most of which are flat and stroller-friendly. The Satwiwa Loop Trail takes you around the area and the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center makes for a fun stop with the family when open on weekends.

The Chumash home, or “‘Ap,” in the background. The one pictured has since been replaced.

Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons offer great family hiking opportunities. While there's definitely hills surrounding these canyons, try the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail, the 4 to 5 mile main artery into the park. Flat and kid/stroller friendly it is. Also try the Doubletree Trailhead connector to the Palo Comado Trail. Flat, fun and scenic.

The Los Padres Trail in Thousand Oaks is a short trail, half of which is pretty flat and tree lined, if you’re looking for a short excursion with a toddler. A seasonal creek makes it even more interesting as you may hear froggies in the spring.

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Although you will encounter pretty significant hills in the Lang Ranch/Woodridge Open Space in Thousand Oaks, it is worth checking out with the kids for its wide open trails and interesting sandstone rock formations. If you are really strong, strollers are possible here, but do know that you will encounter some hills like the hill shown in the image below.

This hill in the Lang Ranch/Woodridge Open Space at the Autumn Ridge Trail is a bit daunting but worth the climb.

We're going to throw a bonus trail into the mix. The several miles of hiking trails in the Oakbrook Regional Park Archaeological Area in Thousand Oaks is an outstanding place for a flat, picturesque and oak-tree canopied place for a short hike with the kids.

For a more comprehensive compilation of trails in the Conejo Valley and throughout Ventura County, visit THIS LINK.