The Twin Ponds Conservation Area in the Conejo Open Space is Protected Land

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The Twin Ponds Conservation Area in Dos Vientos is part of the open space lands of the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and is protected by a conservation easement to the California Department of Fish and Game.

July 2014

July 2014

January 2015

January 2015

May 2016

May 2016

The ponds were originally constructed in the 1920s as part of the irrigation system for agricultural and cattle ranching operations at Dos Vientos Ranch. Today they serve as important habitat for Two Striped Garter Snakes and larger animals such as deer, bobcat, coyote and mountain lions that depend on a reliable source of water. Migrating waterfowl are occasionally abundant, especially in winter.

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COSCA and Fish & Game ask that we enjoy this scenic area but protect the ponds for the future and ask that we do not enter the water or allow dogs/horses to enter the water, disturb or remove any animal or plant or place any plants or animals, including fish, into the ponds.

To explore the ponds, take the Vista Del Mar Trail from one of several access points in the Dos Vientos area, including the corner of Via Ricardo and Via Rincon and the corner of Rancho Dos Vientos and Via El Cerro. This is a fun little hike to take the kids on and the ponds are only about a mile from the Via Ricardo/Via Rincon trailhead.

Twin Ponds? What ponds? The ponds are completely dried up as of August/September 2016.

Twin Ponds? What ponds? The ponds are completely dried up as of August/September 2016.

January 2024

Late March 2024 - looking great!

U.S. National Park Service Free Entrance Days

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There are over 400 national parks covering over 84 million acres throughout the United States and its territories.  The majority of these parks do not charge entrance fees (though parking fees often apply). As for the roughly 110 national parks that do have entrance fees, there are a number of designated "fee free" days each year.

Here are the National Park Service Free Entrance Days in 2025:

  • January 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

  • April 19 (First Day of National Park Week)

  • June 19: (Juneteenth National Independence Day)

  • July 16 (Bureau of Land Management’s Birthday)

  • August 4 (Great American Outdoors Day)

  • September 27 (National Public Lands Day)

  • October 12 (First Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week)

  • November 11 (Veterans Day)

The parks that normally charge a fee that are free on the above dates are listed at www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm. California parks in this category include:

Plenty of other amazing national treasures are on this list, like Grand Canyon National Park.

And of course there are two national parks in Ventura County that are always worth exploring:

For more information about the National Park Service, visit www.nps.gov.

Ten Things To Do in the City of Moorpark

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The City of Moorpark has the distinction of being the youngest city in Ventura County,  incorporating July 1, 1983.

According to the Moorpark Historical Society, the city originated when land investor Robert W. Poindexter of Los Angeles and his wife Madeline purchased the plot of land that is now Moorpark after Southern Pacific Railroad announced plans to relocate its tracks Los Angeles to San Francisco route from the coast to Chatsworth.

For many years, Moorpark was mostly farmland, with dry land crops including apricots, hay and lima beans, then later, walnuts and citrus when irrigation systems were improved. Moorpark became known as the "apricot capital of the world" and held an annual apricot festival by the late 1920s

So where did the name Moorpark come from? Apparently, Poindexter named the community after the Moorpark Apricot. Simple as that. Heck, he could have named it Poindexter!

So in any case, Moorpark is now a full-fledged city of 12.8 square miles with a population of approximately 35,000. Here is a selection of over 10 things to do within the City of Moorpark.

For more things to do in Moorpark, visit the Do Something, Kid Fun and Fitness & Sports sections of the site. And of course the Events Calendar highlights daily goings on around the county.

A DOZEN FUN THINGS TO DO IN SIMI VALLEY

Birthday Party Places In and Around Ventura County

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Trying to figure out what to do for your kids' birthday parties in and around Ventura County? We've got you covered with this compilation of over 150 birthday party options in and around Ventura County, spanning from Ventura to Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Westlake Village, Newbury Park and surrounding areas. We have categorized venue by "type" as best we can.  Contact us if you have something to add!

Wine Tasting Options in Ventura County and Adjacent Areas

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According to the Wine Business Analytics, there were 11,654 wineries in the United States in January 2024, 42% of which were in California. These wineries produced 325 million cases of wine in 2023.

So where can we imbibe here in Ventura County and adjacent areas? Here's a compilation.

(Note: Contact us for changes/additions. We have attempted to include only those places that currently offer wine tasting to the general public.)

Agoura Wine & Beer Co. in the Whizin Market Square, 28851 Agoura Road, offers 2 oz and 5 oz pours of all wines offered in the bar. The bar is open daily; hours vary. www.agourawine.com 818.337.8832

Alma Sol Winery wines are poured, on a limited, reservation only basis at Sunland Vintage Tasting Room, 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, #108, Thousand Oaks www.almasolwinery.com Schedule a tasting appointment on their website.

Back Patio Cellars is located at 930 Flynn Road, Suite F, Camarillo, offering mostly red wines such as Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and blends. Open Friday 4-7PM, Sat 1-5M and Sun 1-5PM. www.backpatiocellars.com 805-388-3457

Barrel 33 is a wine bar at 1067 E. Thompson Blvd in Ventura is a wine bar that also serves food. Due to space limitations, they ask that you call in advance at 805-652-1810 for reservations. barrel33.squarespace.com

Beckmen Vineyards is a working vineyard located at 2670 Ontiveros Road, Los Olivos. Wine tasting daily 11am to 5pm. www.beckmenvineyards.com 805.688.8664

Boccali Vineyards and Winery at 3277 E. Ojai Avenue in Ojai. Open for wine tasting weekends from 12-5PM. 805.669.8688. www.boccalivineyards.com

Buddy’s Wine Bar is located at 1786 E. Main Street in Ventura. Open for tastings Wed-Fri 3-10PM, Sat 1-10PM and Sun 1-8PM. www.buddyswinebar.com

Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard at 1500 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang is open daily 11am to 5pm. Children welcome, as are well-behaved, leashed dogs. 805.688.3032 www.buttonwoodwinery.com

Cantara Cellars has a tasting room at 126 Wood Road, Suite 104 in Camarillo that is open Thursdays 2-8pm, Fridays 2-9pm, Saturdays 1-9pm and Sundays 1-6pm. www.cantaracellars.com 805.484.9600

Cavaletti Vineyards is an artisan winery that produces authentic wines from hand farmed estate vineyards in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Cavaletti offers outdoor tastings by appointment on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6pm at 165 Poindexter Ave, Suite D, Moorpark. www.cavalettivineyards.com

Cork Dork Wine Bar at 1125 Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake Village offers a selection of high-end wine pours that usually are not available by the glass at restaurants, as well as a full menu of farm-to-table, locally sourced California cuisine and a curated selection of local beers. Open Mon-Sat 4:30-9;30PM. www.corkdorkwinebar.com 818.532.7284

Cornell Winery and Tasting Room is located at 29975 Mulholland Highway in Agoura www.cornellwinery.com. Its tasting room is open noon to 7pm Thursday through Sunday. 818.735.3542

Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room opened at Ventura Harbor Village, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 115, Ventura in September 2022. Siblings John, Gillian and Tom Conway’s Deep Sea and Conway wines can be enjoyed by-the-glass, by the bottle or in one of the Signature or Reserve Tasting Flights. Chocolate pairings and cheese and meat plates available. Learn more at conwayfamilywines.com or call 805-321-9463.

Feros Ferio Winery Tasting Room is located at 310 E. Ojai Ave in the heart of Ojai, featuring wines by the tasting, the glass and the bottle. Open Friday through Monday (as of April 2025). Check website for hours at ferosferiowine.com. 805-669-8707

Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard at 6200 Foxen Canyon Road in Santa Ynez www.fessparkerwines.com 805-688-1545

Firestone Vineyard, 5017 Zaca Station Road in Santa Ynez Open for walk-in tastings 11am-4pm Thursday through Monday. 805.688.3940. www.firestonewine.com

Four Brix Winery is a craft winery with a tasting room open 12-4pm Friday through Sunday at 2290 Eastman Ave, Suite 109, Ventura. 805-256-6006 fourbrixwine.com

Friendly Noise Wines & Ciders is an independent winery with a tasting room at 111 Poindexter Avenue, Suite D, Moorpark. It opened in November 2024. Currently open 4-9pm Friday and noon to 7pm Saturday/Sunday. friendlynoise.com

Gainey Vineyard at 3950 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez Open daily 11am to 5pm. 805.688.0558 www.gaineyvineyard.com

Giessinger Winery & Tasting Room in Fillmore at 365 Santa Clara Street (open Wednesday through Sunday; closed Tuesday; hours vary) 805.524.5000 and 3059 Willow Lane, Westlake Village (open Wed/Sun 2-6PM, Fri/Sat 2-7PM) (805.405.5557) giessingerwinery.com

Happy Accidents is a small batch winery from Santa Barbara with a tasting room located at 607 E. Main Street in Ventura that opened in late 2023. Open 5-8PM Wed, 5-9PM Thu-Fri and 1-9PM Sat/Sun. 805-628-3947 happyaccidents.co

Herzog Wine Cellars at 3201 Camino Del Sol in Oxnard offers tastings daily, except Saturday, herzogwine.com. 805.983.1560

Labyrinth Winery and Tasting Room is located at 607 East Main Street in Ventura www.LabyrinthWinery.com Open Wednesday through Sunday; hours vary. 805.585.2238

Lester Family Cellars Winery and Tasting Room is located at 6650 Crescent Street, #8, Ventura. Open weekends from 1-6PM or by appointment. lesterfc.com 562.714.9465

Lucas Sellers Winery operates a tasting room at The Alley in Moorpark at 330 Zachary St #108. Open Tue-Fri 4-9pm, Sat noon-10pm and Sun noon-7pm. Live music on Sat night. www.facebook.com/LucasSellersWine

Magnavino Cellars is located at 961 N. Rice Avenue, Suite 5, Oxnard and its tasting room is open Fri 5-8pm, Sat 12-6pm and Sun 12-6pm. Visit www.magnavino.com or call 805.276.1353

Majestic Oak Vineyard is located at 321 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai. Their tasting room is open daily from noon to 6 pm. No reservations required. Visit majesticoakvineyard.com or call 805.794.0272 for more information.

Mizel Estate Wines is located in Hidden Valley in Thousand Oaks. Mizel offers wine tasting in its stunning vineyard on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Reserved seatings at 1pm and 2:30pm. Call 805-795-2506 or email info@mizelestate.com to reserve your spot. www.mizelestate.com

NABU Wines offers tastings at 2649 Townsgate Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village and is open for wine tasting daily 12-6PM, Fri/Sat 12PM-11PM with music 8-11PM. Visit nabuwines.com or call 805.778.1100 or 818.835.3704.

Nectar of the Dogs Wine is a Simi Valley based boutique wine company with a tasting room at 791 Chambers Lane, Suite 110 in Simi Valley. Open 3-7pm Thursday, 4-9pm Friday and 12-6pm Saturday/Sunday. www.nectarofthedogswine.com. Visitors must be 21+. No children allowed. Only well-behaved, leashed, service dogs are permitted inside the tasting room.

Oak Creek Ranch Winery is located at 10024 Old Creek Road, Ventura. Located on an 850 acre cattle ranch in the Ojai Valley. oldcreekranch.com 805-649-4132

The Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room is located at 109 S. Montgomery Street, Ojai. Open 7 days a week. Visit ojaivineyard.com or call 805.798.3947.

Pantess Cellars Tasting Room is located at 537 Constitution Avenue, Suite D, Camarillo pantesscellars.com. Tasting room open Fri 6-9pm, Sat/Sun 1-6pm. 805.388.3279

Plan B Wine Cellars is a working winery located at 3520 Arundell Circle, #107, Ventura Open for tastings on weekends from 1-5PM. 805-233-1453

Rancho Ventavo Cellars is at 741 South A Street in Downtown Oxnard 805.483.8084

Roblar Winery is at 3010 Roblar Avenue in Santa Ynez www.roblarwinery.com 805.686.2603

The Naturalist (previously Casa Barranca Organic Winery) is located at 208 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai Tasting room hours are 12-5PM Sun-Thurs and 12-6PM Fri/Sat. www.naturalistwine.com 805.640.1255.

Santa Paula Cellars is a small batch wine tasting room at 926 E. Main Street in Santa Paula that opened in summer 2025. Open Friday to Sunday. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576292717600 805.625.4517

The Stonehaus at 32039 Agoura Road, Westlake Village is open 7 days a week (hours vary) for wine tasting. the-stonehaus.com/wine 818.483.1152

Strey Cellars is located at 951 N. Rice Avenue, Oxnard and is open weekends from noon to 5PM. Visit www.StreyCellars.com or call 805.988.1087.

Sunland Vintage Winery and Tasting Room in Thousand Oaks www.SunlandVintageWinery.com is open Thursdays/Fridays 6-9PM, Saturdays 1-6PM and Sundays 1-5PM. 805.379.2250

Sunstone Winery at 125 North Refugio Road, Santa Ynez is open for walk-in tastings 11 am to 5pm daily, with the last seating at 4PM..www.sunstonewinery.com 805.688.9463

The Barn at Cielo Farms at 31424 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu offers wine tasting Wed through Mon. Reservations required at woodstockmalibu.com/the-barn-tasting-room 424-234-7242

Ventura Wine Co. "The Cave" wine tasting at 4435 McGrath St #301, Ventura thecaveventura.com 

Wades Wines Wine Tasting at 30961 Agoura Road, Ste 321 Westlake Village www.wadeswines.com open Thursday to Sunday.

We Vino Restaurant and Wine Lounge opens April 15, 2025 at 31149 Via Colinas #601 in Westlake Village (Lindero Oaks, across the street from the Four Seasons Westlake), offering fine dining and a selection of over 5,000 wines in its cellar. Updates at www.we-vino.com.

West Tasting Room is located at 1867 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours vary. Showcases wineries from the California, Oregon and Washington. Learn more at www.westtastingroom.com.

Art and Wine Sipping Options

Painting With a Twist in Camarillo

Ventura Spirits at 3891 N. Ventura Ave, #B2A, Ventura has a tasting room that is open for drop-in tastings Mon to Fri 12-5pm; reserved tastings available Fri-Sun.. venturaspirits.com 805.232.4313

HOW ABOUT A BEER!? LOCAL AREA FRESH BREWED BEERS

Wine No More

Gone West Cellars at 5963 Olivas Park Drive, Ste A, Ventura closed in December 2016.

We Olive & Wine Bar Tasting at The Oaks Mall closed permanently in August 2018.

The Tasting Room at River Ridge at River Ridge Golf Club (closed 10/6/17)

SIP Malibu Grapes in Agoura Hills www.sipmalibugrapes.com (SIP was destroyed by the Woolsey Fire of November 2018; but stay tuned at their website for possible rebuilding plans)

VinTura Tasting Room & Wine Rack at 14 S. California Street in Ventura (closed February 2019)

DeLiese Cellars opened a tasting room at 1850 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks in late December 2016. but closed in March 2021.

The Topa Mountain Winery property in Ojai was acquired by the Ojai Valley Inn but they continue operating online at www.topamountainwinery.com

Boar Dough Tasting Room at 5015 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills closed December 2023.

The Painted Cabernet in Oxnard closed its doors on March 18, 2024.

Very sad to report that the Rosenthal Winery and Tasting Room at 18741 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu was destroyed by the Palisades Fire in January 2025 Check for updates for future rebuilding plans at www.rosenthalestatewines.com.

Lion’s Peak Winery Tasting Room in the Northstar Plaza at 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks closed in late January 2025 but will continue selling wines online at lionspeakwine.com.

Forty-Seven Things to Do In Thousand Oaks

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The City of Thousand Oaks was incorporated on September 29, 1964. Most of Newbury Park was annexed by the city in the 1960s/1970s. Casa Conejo, Newbury Park's first planned community built in the early 1960s and the Lynn Ranch area of Thousand Oaks are unincorporated areas of Ventura County that technically are not annexed into the City of Thousand Oaks. The City of Thousand Oaks also annexed the Ventura County portions of Westlake Village in 1968 and 1972. That said, this list also includes a few things to do in the City of Westlake Village.

Enough history for now! Let's look at the future...like tomorrow or this coming weekend. Here are 47* things to do in the City of Thousand Oaks in random order.

*It started out as 47 things to do but we've lost count since originally posting this.

View of Boney Mountain from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area.

View of Boney Mountain from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area.

Older version of City of Thousand Oaks sign.

Older version of City of Thousand Oaks sign.

What Happens When You Turn 18 in the State of California?

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Age 18 in the United States is considered the "age of majority" and is a major milestone.

Age 18 has been the age of majority since the 26th Amendment, signed into law by President Nixon in July 1971. Historically the age of majority was 21, but when Franklin D. Roosevelt lowered the military draft age to 18 during World War II, there was a push to align the voting age with the military draft age.

So what changes when you turn 18? The State Bar of California previously published a nice guide for teenagers to help better understand how their rights and responsibilities change at age 18.

Here's a summary of these rights and responsibilities, excerpted from the California Lawyers Foundation booklet (updated in 2021), “When You Turn 18 - A Legal Survival Guide” (pdf file) (Spanish language version):

  1. Enter into binding contracts - for example, leases, opening bank accounts and applying for loans (of course, to obtain the loan, you may still need a co-signer).

  2. Buy or sell property, such as real estate and stock.

  3. Marry without written consent of parents or guardian.

  4. Sue or be sued.

  5. Compromise, settle or arbitrate a claim.

  6. Make or revoke a will.

  7. Inherit property outright.

  8. Vote in federal, state and local elections. (Since 2016, 16 and 17 year olds may pre-register to vote at age 18.)

  9. Consent to all types of medical treatment.

  10. Join the military without parental consent. Male U.S. citizens or immigrants living in the U.S. generally must register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of turning 18. (Females are not currently not required to register for the draft.)

  11. Get a job without a special work permit.

  12. Serve jury duty.

  13. Be subject to more serious consequences for breaking the law.

  14. Prior to June 9, 2016, you could buy tobacco products. The law changed, however, and now you have to wait until you are age 21. This also includes e-cigarettes and vaping products.

  15. At age 18 you can give blood without parental consent in California (written parental consent is required for 16 and 17 year olds).

  16. At age 18 you may become an organ donor without parental consent. www.organdonor.gov/about/donors/child-infant.html

  17. Apply for credit in your own name, though you will likely need to show proof of income or have a co-signer.

  18. You can get a tattoo at age 18 and can do so without parental consent. You cannot get a tattoo under the age of 18. It is a misdemeanor to give or even offer to give a tattoo to someone under the age of 18 in California. (PC 653)

  19. You can get a piercing without parental consent at age 18.

  20. You can file a petition to change your name at age 18.

  21. You can play the Lottery at age 18 in most states (except Iowa and Louisiana - party poopers).

  22. In California and most states (except Arizona, Iowa, Nevada and Texas), you can bet on horse races (e.g. pari-mutuel betting).

  23. You can play charity bingo at age 18 in California.

What you still cannot do:

  1. Purchase tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping products (mentioned above). You must be age 21. In fact, federal law changed in December 2019 to require all states to change the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21.

  2. Purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. The minimum age for drinking in all states is 21.

    Some states have minor (so to speak) exceptions to the age 21 requirement. In Kansas, under 21 may drink “cereal malt beverages” under parental supervision on their own property. What is a cereal malt beverage? A beverage with no more than 3.2% alcohol by weight produced by fermentation, not by distillation. Coors Light has 4.2% alcohol as a comparison. The states of Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Ohio and Wisconsin have exceptions that allow individuals under age 21 to drink when parents or guardians are present. If you are 18 and really want to drink, the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands allow legal drinking, unencumbered by the presence of parents, at age 18.

  3. You cannot sell or serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on-premises until you are age 21. However, it is allowable for someone 18 to 21 to serve alcoholic beverages to consumers in a restaurant along with food for consumption on premises.

For more information about the “When You Turn 18: A Legal Survival Guide” publication and/or to request physical copies of the booklet at calawyersfoundation.org/our-work.