Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History

The Natural History Museum (NHM) of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition Blvd. in Los Angeles, near USC. It is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm. It was the first dedicated museum building in Los Angeles, opening its doors in 1913. The NHM has amassed one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—with more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years. The Natural History Family of Museums includes the NHM, the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall.

Sections of the museum include African Mammals, North American Mammals, Insect Zoo, Gems and Minerals, California History, Birds and much more. In July 2011, the new 14,000 sq ft Dinosaur Hall opened, featuring over 300 fossils and 20 complete mounts of dinosaurs and sea creatures. It includes a Tyrannosaurus rex growth series, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, long-necked Mamenchisaurus and much more! It is extremely impressive!

My kids were particularly wowed by the Insect Hall, where they were treated to dozens of display of live insects from around the world. In fact, I think they would have spent the entire day in there if they could have.

Insect Hall

Museum admission (as of August 2022) for NHM members and children under 3 are free; children 3-12 are $7; youth 13-17 are $12, seniors 62 + are $12; and adults are $15. Visit www.nhm.org or call 213.763.DINO for more information.

Wheel Fun Rentals - Bike Rentals - Ventura

With a number of locations in Ventura and Santa Barbara, Wheel Fun Rentals provides an assortment of bicycles, quads, coupes, surreys, tag-alongs and other two to four wheel human powered vehicles for rides along the beach. They also offer a wide assortment of water vehicles...boats, surfboards, boogie boards, etc.

Santa Barbara is my favorite nearby daytime destination with the kids as there are so many things to do that we all enjoy, one of them being riding bikes along the ocean.

Nearby locations as of September 2022 are:

Oxnard- Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road (805.984.1994)

Oxnard - Channel Islands Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd (805.910.7257)

Oxnard - Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge, 2101 W. Vineyard Avenue (805.278.2200)

Port Hueneme - Holiday Inn Express, 350 E. Port Hueneme Road (805.986.5353)

Ventura - Crowne Plaza, 450 E. Harbor Blvd (805.648.2100)

Ventura Pier 850 Harbor Blvd., Ventura (805.765.5795)

Ventura State Beach Picnic Area 901 San Pedro, Ventura (805.650.7770)

Santa Barbara - Hilton Beachfront Resort 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara - Near Stearns Wharf 24 E. Mason Street (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara Train Station 215 State Street (805.966.2282)

For more information visit www.wheelfunrentals.com or call 805.650.7770.

Camarillo Bike Path Next to Calleguas Creek

Looking to take the kids on a nice, flat bike path unimpeded by cars? A great choice is the roughly 2 mile Calleguas Creek bike path from Pleasant Valley Fields at 100 Village at the Park Drive in Camarillo off the Dawson 101 exit up to the corner of Flynn and Upland Roads in Camarillo.

Look at how nice and flat this bike path adjacent to Calleguas Creek is!

This is a nice, smooth and flat bike path that goes under several bridges, including the 101 freeway, so that you don't have to worry about cars! You can park your car at Pleasant Valley Fields and ride up and back down the path. This is a comfortable path to learn on as well as just enjoy.

At the north end of the path, you can detour off the path to Pitts Ranch Park at 1400 Flynn Road, just a short block northwest of the path, and enjoy lunch.

Calleguas Creek

Reyes Adobe Historical Site - Agoura Hills

The Reyes Adobe Historical Site at 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura represents the first home built in Agoura Hills back in 1850.  The City of Agoura Hills purchased the site from Los Angeles County in 1983 and maintains the adobe structure as a museum and cultural center.  The home was built by Jose Paulino Reyes, son of Jose Jacinto Reyes, the second son of Juan Francisco Reyes, a Mexican soldier on the Portola expedition that was granted local land in 1837.

Check out the house, courtyard, barn and various artifacts preserved at the site by taking a tour.  And don't miss the annual Reyes Adobe Days celebration that takes place every fall (usually early October) at the site.

Adjacent to the site is Reyes Adobe Park.

Docent led tours on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 1-4pm. Suggested donation is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for ages 5-12 and free for 4 and under. The site has been closed due to the pandemic; contact the city for updates.

More information at www.agourahillscity.org/our-city/visitors/reyes-adobe-historical-site or by calling 818-597-7366..

Ventura County Fairgrounds Swap Meet and Farmers Market on Wednesdays

There is a weekly Swap Meet and Farmers Market at Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Boulevard, every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free parking. Admission is $2. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Ventura-County-Fairgrounds-Swap-Meet-Farmers-Market-279401113415.

Sapwi Bike Park in Thousand Oaks

Beginners’ pump track at Sapwi Trails Community Park.

The Sapwi Bike Park project is a partnership between the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) and Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). The park is a free, public recreational bicycle skills park facility located in the heart of beautiful Sapwi Trails Community Park in Thousand Oaks.

The park also features several miles of multi-use trails, natural habitat preservation, and other activities such as disc golf, cross-country running, and a non-motorized glider flying area.

The Sapwi Trails Bike Park offers a wide range of trails and features to challenge all ages and skill levels. In addition to a pump track, the park features progressive drop and jump lines – varying in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Outside of the dedicated bike park area, there are several trail side feature areas and a hard-surface beginner level pump track.

This 145 acre Sapwi Trails Community Park is located in the open space between Erbes Road (at Scenicpark Street) on the west and Westlake Boulevard east, with Avenida de los Arboles on the north. There are three parking lots off of Erbes, Arboles and Westlake Boulevard.

Learn more about the Sapwi Bike Park at sapwibikepark.com.

Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center in Newbury Park

Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship manages the former Rocking K Horse Rentals and Boarding at 4790 Lynn Road in Newbury Park. The new facility is called the Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center.

The 20 acre facility adjacent to the Rancho Potrero Open Space is home to about 100 horses. Horseback riding is available on Fridays at 5pm, Saturdays at 9:30am and 11:30am and Sundays at 9am and 10:30am.

$65 per person for a one hour guided trail ride. Must be reserved and paid for in advance at www.ranchopotrerotrailrides.org.

More information at ranchopotrero.org or call 805-491-1230.

Sunday morning guided horse ride in Rancho Potrero on a mid-August Sunday morning 2022.

Surfer's Knoll Beach in Ventura

Surfer's Knoll Beach is located in Ventura adjacent from Ventura Harbor Village and as its name implies, is geared towards surfers, as well as others looking to relax and explore. Riptides are common here so be careful if you're a novice swimmer. There are restrooms and showers available. Lifeguard service on weekends only in May until Memorial Day weekend, then daily through Labor Day weekend. There is a relatively small parking lot available at 1596 Spinnaker Drive; parking is free.

One great thing about this beach is that it is one of the few almost completely westbound facing beaches throughout the area, meaning...it is a great place to catch the sunset! And several of the Channel Islands - Anacapa and Santa Cruz.

Though this is a nice, sandy beach, a better beach for kids/families is just north up the road at Harbor Cove Beach, which is calmer water, protected by jetties. 

Surfer’s Knoll Beach, Harbor Cove Beach and South Beach is managed by the Ventura Port District at venturaharbor.com/beaches.

DOZENS OF BEACHES STRETCHING FROM VENTURA TO CARPINTERIA

Western Plateau Trail Loop Hike From Newbury Park

If you're looking for a trail a bit off the beaten path, check out the Western Plateau Loop from Conejo Center Drive in Newbury Park.

The trailhead for this hike is adjacent to the City of Thousand Oaks Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2010 Conejo Center Drive, Newbury Park. You can park in the dirt lot next to the trailhead and head on your way.

The trailhead on Conejo Center Drive.

It is mostly downhill over the first half mile or so of this 5 mile round-trip hike until you get to the Hawk Canyon Trail turnoff.

You can either go straight from here and do a clockwise loop via the Western Plateau Trail or you can turn right on Hawk Canyon, which is a direct route to the Conejo Canyons Bridge.

Hawk Canyon Trail is a fairly narrow, mostly single-track trail.

The Hawk Canyon Trail is a fun, narrow trail surrounding by trees and other vegetation, like you're in the middle of nowhere. There's an old car in a crevice as you approach the Conejo Canyons towards Santa Rosa Valley.

Odd to see this old car out in the middle of nowhere. steep embankment makes it somewhat challenging reaching it.

Bring a snack and sit at a picnic table in the middle of what feels to be nowhere. Then either head back the way you came or find your way to the Western Plateau Trail and loop back counter-clockwise back towards where you parked.

See the Conejo Open Space Foundation's map of this trail at cosf.org/trails/conejo-canyons/conejo-canyons-moderate-hike-western-plateau-loop-from-conejo-center-dr

It can get a bit overgrown in the spring as seen here on the Hawk Canyon Trail but quite beautiful nonetheless!

Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai

The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts at 8585 Ojai Road in Ojai celebrates the life and work of Beatrice Wood while presenting exhibitions of contemporary art, workshops and events. The Center, housed in the Happy Valley homes once occupied by Beatrice Wood and her good friend Rosalind Rajagopal, features a permanent exhibition sharing Beatrice Wood's life story with memorabilia, her collection of folk art and wonderful examples of her ceramic art. Changing exhibitions feature work by contemporary artists.

Beatrice Wood was an important contemporary artist, craftperson and writer. Her life ran the course of the 20th century and included many of the figures that shaped it. Ultimately, her genius was in the marriage of wide-ranging influences in her work. The spirit of Dadaism, impact of Modernism, embrace of Eastern philosophy, influence of folk art and even the ornament of ethnic jewelry were all combined in her ceramics. Her work reveals a mastery of form, combined with a preference for the naïveté of folk art. Ultimately, it is impossible to separate her life experiences from the work she created, as she truly mastered the art of a life.  More bio on Beatrice here.

The Center is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. Visit www.beatricewood.com or call (805) 646-3381 for more information.

Hike to the Cross in the Hills Above Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks

Views of Santa Rosa Valley from the hills above CLU.

For a quick local hike and a calorie burner, try hiking to the cross in the hills above Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

You can park in the CLU lot near the community pool at 100 Overton Court, Thousand Oaks. Then head in the direction of the adjacent baseball fields. Take the path just west of the fields towards the hills. After crossing the bridge, I veer right on the trail.

The hike itself is not particularly picturesque until you get to the top of the hill. On the east end of the hilltop is the prominent cross, along with several benches for enjoying the fruits of your uphill labor. Views extend towards the Santa Rosa Valley on the north and Thousand Oaks on the south.

You can continue your way west up the hill if you’d like. In total, the hike is about a mile to a mile and a half round-trip.

The trails are usually well maintained, though you can slip on the dirt if you don’t have decent traction on your shoes. Couldn’t hurt to bring a walking stick for the steeper, slippery parts of the hill towards the top.

So if you’re really feeling energetic, there’s a trail that takes you to Wildwood Park from these trails. See THIS LINK.

As you make your way towards the hill after passing by the baseball fields, you’ll see this sign.

Santa Paula Theater Center

Santa Paula Theater Center is located at 125 South Seventh Street, Santa Paula. The theater offers live theater year round in this historical venue. Visit www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or call 805.525.4645 for upcoming events, tickets and more information.

Harbor Village Gallery and Buenaventura Art Association

Located at Ventura Harbor Village, the Harbor Village Gallery and Artisan Store is an exhibiting art space of the Buenaventura Art Association (BAA). BAA was established in 1954 to give Ventura visual artists a place to exhibit and sell their art work. The Harbor Village Gallery rotates group and solo shows and provides visitors and locals the opportunity to support the talented local arts scene. Harbor Village Gallery is currently open seven days per week 11 a.m. - 6p.m.. For more information please visit www.harborvillagegallery.com or call (805) 644-2750.