Casitas Water Adventure in Ventura

Casitas Water Adventure is a water park at the Lake Casitas Recreation Area that is open throughout the summer, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (mid-Sept for weekend sessions).

There are two distinct areas. For younger children, there is an aquatic play structure designed for all ages, with two water buckets and five slides - two for kids and three for teens and adults.

The new Aquatic mega play unit Structure completed in 2023

The 1,200 foot long Lazy River offers a cool water ride on inner tubes along a scenic waterway featuring waterfalls, fog filled bridges and jet sprays. The inner tubes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but usually there are plenty of them on hand.

The 1,200 foot long lazy river at Casitas Water Adventure is my kids' favorite.

For the very youngest tots, a zero-depth pool sprays water from all angles, providing a safe, fun play area.

Shaded decks, lounge chairs, showers, restrooms and a snack bar are available, but food is not allowed inside the park (though you can bring bottled water). Certified lifeguards are on hand at all times and life jackets are available at no extra charge while supplies last. Locker rentals are available for a nominal fee.

Do take note that they don't heat the water here. It is a bit on the cold side for many, though on hot days this can be a good thing.

Lake Casitas Recreation Area is located at 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura. Take Highway 33 from Ventura towards Ojai, make a left turn on Santa Ana Blvd, then a right on Santa Ana Road 3 or 4 miles to the park entrance.

Weekend morning sessions 10:30 am to 2 pm and afternoon sessions 3 to 6:30 pm. Weekday hours are 11am to 6pm. The cost for the 2024 season is $20 per person on weekdays and $23 on weekends.

Visit www.casitaswater.org/casitas-water-adventure for details.

Parking inside Lake Casitas is $20 on weekends/holidays and $10 on weekdays. There is parking available on Santa Ana Road if you don't mind walking.

This is the “old” (Pre-2023) aquatic Play Structure (for historical purposes)

Gold Coast Gymnastics in Ventura

Gold Coast Gymnastics, a 5,000 square foot facility located at 4005 E. Main Street in Ventura, offers classes for boys & girls 15 months to adult. Recreational through competitive gymnastics including open gym (Fridays 8-9:30PM), tumbling and trampoline, birthday parties, day camps, summer camps, field trips and more. 

Visit www.goldcoastgymnasticsclub.com or call 805.658.2825 for more information.

Chuck E. Cheese's - Thousand Oaks and Ventura

The kids absolutely love it at Chuck E. Cheese's, there's plenty of things to do, and I am a fan of the grilled chicken sandwich, fries and, yes, a nice cold beer to wash them down.  And the kids ALWAYS wolf down the pizza there.  Chuck E. Cheese's is geared towards kids ages 2 to 12. www.chuckecheese.com

New Chuck E. Cheese’s facade in Thousand Oaks in 2024

Chuck E. Cheese's Thousand Oaks location front entry (before the 2024 remodel)

On the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, my 5 year old and I spent some fun time together at the Thousand Oaks Chuck E. Cheese's. You know what...adults can have just as much fun there as kids. Plenty of fun 1 token games. Colorful and noisy. My kid likes the pizza.

Here is a quick walkthrough of Chuck E. Cheese's in Thousand Oaks to give a flavor as to all the fun stuff they have in there. It's actually pretty fun when it no't too crowded. Plus, they serve BEER there and ice cream bars are a bargain at only $1 apiece!

Chuck E. Cheese's is at 130 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks (805.497.2522) locations.chuckecheese.com/us/ca/thousand-oaks/130-w.-hillcrest-dr. and 4714 Telephone Road in Ventura (805.644.9777) locations.chuckecheese.com/us/ca/ventura/4714-telephone-rd.

We stopped by Chuck E. Cheese in Ventura today to burn off some steam on a rainy day. This is a large location packed full of games and a stage area for parties. This location uses token cards instead of actual tokens, which is more convenient but not quite as fun for my 5 year old.

Delano Athletica Junior Gymnastics in Ventura

Delano Athletica is a junior gymnastics program for kids ages 3+. Classes are tailored to build confidence and coordination in young people.

Weekly 1-hour lessons are held at 3036 Seaborg Ave., Unit D, Ventura.  First class is free. Recreational gymnastics and movement classes also offered for children with special needs. Call 805/889-8031 or visit delanoathletica.com.

Skating Plus - Ventura

Skating Plus is an indoor skating rink that has been around since 1984, offering public roller skating, food, lessons, clinics, birthday parties, etc. 

Since the Roller Dome in Thousand Oaks closed in October 2010, this has been the only indoor roller skating rink in Ventura County.

Open skate time frames vary and are posted at www.skatingplus.com/?page_id=16.

Skating Plus is off of the 101 Freeway near Victoria at 1720 Mesa Verde Avenue, Ventura, in close proximity to Golf N' Stuff and Buena Lanes (sits to the left of Buena Lanes).

Visit www.skatingplus.com or call 805.644.5515 for more information.

My Gym Children's Fitness Center - Thousand Oaks, Ventura

Since its inception in 1983, My Gym Children’s Fitness Center© has been at the cutting edge of the child fitness industry. My Gym Children’s Fitness Center© has combined innovative, early physical education/pre-gymnastics classes with state-of-the-art facilities to empower children - ages 6 weeks through 13 years - by helping them acquire the skills, confidence and positive self-image needed to become healthy young adults through weekly classes.

Located at 2701 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (805.494.4154) and 4255 E. Main St, Suite 1, Ventura (805.644.4600).  Visit www.mygym.com for details.

My Gym Ventura website is www.mygym.com/ventura. My Gym Ventura has "free play" times currently available on designated hours on M/T/W/F - check their website or call for specific times and details.

My Gym Thousand Oaks website is www.mygym.com/thousandoaks.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Ventura

Sky Zone Trampoline Park opened at 2825 Johnson Drive, Ventura in mid-January 2016. Sky Zone offers wall to wall trampolines with open jump sessions, "SkySlam" court, SkyRobics fitness classes, dodgeball, and more. Pricing as of December 2023 is $22 for 60 min, $27 for 90 min, $30 for 120 minutes and $34 for all day jumping. Sky Socks required.

Learn more at www.skyzone.com/ventura or call 805.804.9555.

Delano Athletica Junior Gymnastics in Ventura

Delano Athletica provides a junior gymnastics program that is safety-certified by USA Gymnastics and tailored to kids ages 3 and up.  Delano is located in a 13,200 sq ft space at 3036 Seaborg Avenue, Ventura.

Delano teaches a wide variety of positive, safe and age-appropriate classes that help build confidence and coordination in our young people. Students experience growth, fun and instruction on the balance beam, climbing rope, pull-up bar, floor mats, trampoline & tumble track.

There is also an adult workout area at Delano Athletica available per workout, by the hour or by the month. www.delanoathletica.com/index.php/parent-workout-hours

Visit www.delanoathletica.com or call 805.850.0491 for more information.

Ventura Youth Basketball Association

The Ventura Youth Basketball Association offers a low-cost, education and sportsmanship-oriented basketball league for Ventura boys and girls in grades 2-8. Registration in October. More details at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/VYBA.

Newbury Park Track Club and Other Ventura County Youth Track Clubs

The Newbury Park Track Club (NPTC) is a youth recreational sports program in track and field. Founded in 1968, the NPTC is the oldest continuously running youth sports organization in the Conejo Valley.

Registration takes place in December/January (for spring track season) and early summer (for fall cross country season) each year. Age groups range from 7 to 16 years. Teams are as follows:

• Gremlins: Ages 7-8

• Bantams: Ages 9-10

• Midgets: Ages 11-12

• Youth: Ages 13-14

• Intermediate: Ages 15-16

Each team is coached by at least one coach, with additional support from parents and specialty coaches as needed.  Athletes compete fairly and equally.  All athletes are eligible to compete an equal amount, and all have an equal chance to earn first place awards.

For more information, visit www.nptrackclub.org.

NPTC is a member of the Ventura County Youth Track Conference, a non-profit, tax-exempt California corporation.

Other clubs currently in the conference include: Camarillo Cosmos, Heritage Valley Blazers, Moorpark Striders, Ojai Roadrunners, Oxnard Stars, Thousand Oaks Flyers , Gold Coast Spartans and Ventura Tigres.