El Parque de la Paz "The Peace Park" in Thousand Oaks

El Parque de la Paz "The Peace Park" is located at 2580 Pleasant Way in Thousand Oaks, tucked south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard behind Mouthful Eatery, Allen Motors, Harold's House of Omelettes and other businesses.

This five acre park dotted with oak trees was dedicated in 1990 by Thousand Oaks City Council.  Amenities include a Jungleland themed playground area, horseshoe pits, basketball court, picnic tables and restrooms. Learn more at www.crpd.org/park/el-parque-de-la-paz.

Jungleland themed drinking fountain.

Adjacent to the park is Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 109, the Crowley House.

Who has horseshoes to use at these horseshoe pits!? Looks fun!

Peace, Tranquility and Views at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks

Looking for a quick retreat in the center of Thousand Oaks? Visit the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, adjacent to Conejo Community Park at 400 W. Gainsborough Road.

The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is a 33 acre sanctuary on a hill that overlooks the Conejo Valley. You will be able to rewind in peace here while enjoying the views and solitude.

Signs throughout the gardens help visitors find their way around.

There are several miles of trails at CVBG that lead you to a variety of sections, including a Salvia Garden, Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Bird Habitat, Australian Garden, Desert Garden, Rare Fruit Orchard, Japanese Style Tranquility Garden, Oak Tree Grove, Trail of Trees and more.

Japanese Tranquility Garden is back here.

Beauty and color found in the Desert Garden.

Benches abound throughout the Conejo Valley Botanic Gardens.

The views from up here are nothing short of spectacular. Feeling stressed? Do the 10 minute walk up the hill, where you can watch civilization below. There are several dozen benches as well as a few picnic benches available.

Views beyond the surrounding chaparral. The sounds of the 101 freeway and civilization down below are actually relaxing from up here.

Interesting cactus display in the Desert Garden.

On Sundays (with the exception of some major holidays), the Kids Adventure Garden, adjacent to the Botanic Garden, is open to the public from 11am to 3pm. The Kids Adventure Garden features fun paths to follow, a tree house and more, as well as hiking and access to a creek. Fun place for young kids' birthday parties too!

The Kids Adventure Garden adjacent to CVBG is open only on Sundays from 11am to 3pm.

To learn more about the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, visit www.conejogarden.org. Open 7 days a week, sunrise to sunset; Closed Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Also closed when it is rainy, muddy and/or very windy.

CVBG is a 501(c)3 non-profit run entirely by volunteers. To maintain these gardens is a lot of work and costs are involved, so consider making a donation.

La Conchita Bike Path Between Mobil Pier Road in Ventura to Rincon Point

My choice for most awesome Class I Bike Path in Ventura County is the La Conchita Bike Path that runs from Mobil Pier Road in Ventura (southwest of Mussel Shoals) to Rincon Point. The path is directly adjacent to the southbound Highway 101.

Entry point to La Conchita Bike Path at Rincon Point Rd/Bates Rd (directly adjacent to the 101 onramp).

This distinct path premiered in September 2014 and provides for roughly 4 miles of unimpeded views of the Pacific Ocean on the west and is directly adjacent to the hustle and bustle of Highway 101 on the other side.

Do views from a bike path ever get any better than this!!??

Class I bike paths are great to bring the entire family on as they are completely separate from street traffic. My kids love this path because it is flat, in great condition and is just so beautiful that its hard not to ride this path without a smile.

This separates the path from southbound 101 traffic. Pretty amazing riding carefree adjacent to the 101.

We brought the bikes to Rincon Beach Park to start our journey on the north end of the path. (Alternatively, park at Rincon Point or on Rincon Pt Road.) You first get to see surfers at the world famous Rincon Point, then on to the La Conchita Beach area.

One of several beach access points to the La Conchita Beach area.

There are several beach access points along the path.  As part of this project, Caltrans built an undercrossing to enable folks to walk to the beach from La Conchita. 

After La Conchita you reach a stopping point at the small community of Mussel Shoals, where you can stop at the Cliff House Inn for a drink and check out the man-made Rincon Island.

A quick stop to view the man-made an inaccessible Rincon Island

Walk your bikes across the offramp to the next bike path entry point, on to the next section of path that half circles southeast to its endpoint at Mobil Pier Road.

You cross here (signs indicate you must walk bikes across) to the next access point.

You will see beach area here referred to as Oil Piers Beach. There used to be piers here but they were taken down in 1998.  There is parking on Mobil Pier Road for beach/bike path access; you can park here and ride the path the opposite direction.

The beauty continues (except for the graffiti) as you ride towards Mobil Pier Road.

Mobil Pier Road is the endpoint of this Class I path, but, you can continue south if you'd like by taking the Mobil Pier Road underpass below the 101 to Pacific Coast Highway going south, past Hobson Beach Park, Rincon Parkway, Faria Beach Park and so on. This section is not Class I path but I've taken my kids here and we enjoy it.

Great stuff! A Ventura County "Bucket List" item that all of you have to try!

FAMILY FRIENDLY BIKE PATHS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks is a Perennial Family Favorite

Conejo Creek Park North is one of the nicest, widest appealing parks throughout Ventura County. You get almost everything at this park. This 44 acre park has two ponds with a stream connecting them, two separate play areas, beach-style volleyball courts, a NEOS game, multiple large, shaded picnic areas. a fitness trail about 2/3rds of a mile that circles the park, plenty of shade trees and multiple large, grassy areas. Something for everyone.

Topping it off is the fact that the park is adjacent to the beautiful Grant R. Brimhall Library, Goebel Senior Center and Thousand Oaks Teen Center. We often park at the library, check out some books, then walk, scooter or ride across a bridge to the park. It is a great way to spend the day.

Conejo Creek Park North is extremely popular for larger events on the upper grass area adjacent to the largest picnic structure. There is plenty of parking available. And in the middle of the park is a jungle-like trail area that I enjoy exploring with the kids. We also see birthday party celebrations all the time.

To learn more about Conejo Creek Park North, visit the Conejo Recreation and Park District website at www.crpd.org. To learn about other parks we enjoy in and around Ventura County, click THIS LINK.

Seven Fun Activities With the Kids in Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

There are thousands of things to do in and around Ventura County with or without the kids. Here are some of my family's favorites. For more options, visit the Kid Fun and Do Something sections of CVG!

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is a nice getaway up north because in addition to the permanent exhibits, there's usually a great temporary exhibit that is educational and fun. My kids love the outdoor "backyard" area of the museum, with its trails, rocks, stream, tadpoles and more.

Backyard of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum

Malibu beach areas along PCH, including Leo Carrillo and Malibu Lagoon State Beach are great places to explore tidepools and play around. The Malibu Lagoon area is also close to the Malibu Pier, Malibu Country Mart and Legacy Park, providing a variety of things to do in close proximity to one another.

As a reward for good behavior we frequent local frozen treateries (Is that a word?). There are over 90 places focused on selling ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato and other frozen treats around Ventura County. One of my kids is a big Baskin Robbins fan, another is a Tutti Frutti connoisseur. Leone’s Italian Ices are fantastic. Coaches Ice Cream in Newbury Park is a fun, family place.

Golf N' Stuff, unmistakably adjacent to the 101 freeway off Victoria in Ventura, has a diverse assortment of fun activities and is open literally 365 days a year. After playing one of the two 18-hole, well maintained courses, we blow off steam in the large arcade, knock into each other in the bumper boats and bumper cars and partake in other fun. And even in the heat of the summer, it stays cool here!

It's always fun to see a movie at a local movie theater with the kids, and here's a list of over 150 movie screens in 17 theaters around Ventura County. Not only is it a great way to beat the heat, but it's great for temporarily getting them to stop beating on each other! And you can't beat the experience of seeing a movie on the large screen.

You can't go wrong with Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks for many reasons...it is quite large and flat, great for riding bikes and scooters and playing on the grass, it has several play areas geared towards younger/older kids, the ponds and creek that run through the park are awesome and the ducks are quite entertaining. And the park is adjacent to the Thousand Oaks Library, Teen Center and Senior Center, linking it with so many other activities and things to do.

I am not ashamed to admit that I'm OK with going to Chuck E. Cheese's in Thousand Oaks and Ventura. The kids love CEC for the obvious...games...win tickets and cash them in for junk they'll never use. I get that. It's fun, loud and exciting in there. I don't mind so much because a) I can order a beer and a chicken sandwich and I'm pretty content, b) some of the games...skeeball, basketball, football toss...I myself enjoy playing and c) if I want to read the paper or mess around on my iPad, I can do so and not worry too much about the kids.

Of course, across the street is Dave and Buster’s, which your kids will gravitate when they are in their teens.

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers' Favorite Coronavirus Stay at Home Order Games

In a recent drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we asked folks to tell us their favorite games to play while quarantined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. Let’s take a look at the most frequently mentioned choices. Perhaps this will give all of us some ideas for new games to try out.

Games mentioned at least 4 times:

• Uno - 18

• Monopoly - 15

• Yahtzee - 7

• LCR - 5

• Scrabble - 5

• Ticket to Ride - 5

• Cards Against Humanity - 4

• Apples to Apples - 4

• Candyland - 4

• Mexican Train Dominoes -4

• Phase 10 - 4

• Rummikub - 4

• Sorry - 4

Games mentioned 2 or 3 times:

• Charades - 2

• Clue - 3

• Hedbanz - 2

• Jenga - 3

• Life - 2

• Loteria - 2

• Mario Party - 2

• Nerf Gun Wars - 2

• Pictionary - 3

• Poker - 2

• Puzzles - 2

• Quite Game - 3

• Scattergories - 3

• Trouble - 2

• War - 3

• What Do You Meme? - 2

Other games mentioned:

• Authors Card Game

• Bananagrams

• Beat the Parents

• Blokus

• BS

• Bunco

• Chutes & Ladders

• Code Names

• Colorku

• Connect 4

• Crazy Lego

• Cribbage

• Dominoes

• Don’t Step In It

• Family Feud

• Farkle

• Five Crowns

• Go Fish

• Guess Who

• Hi Ho Cherry O

• Hide and Seek

• Jackbox

• Kings in the Corner

• Mafia

• Mancala

• Memory Game

• Ninja Turtle Monopoly

• Old Maid

• Outburst

• Parcheesi

• Pop the Pig

• Race to the Treasure

• Rummy Tile

• Shifty Eyes Spies

• Ship Captain Crew

• Snoopy Monopoly

• Taboo

• Texas Holdem

• Upwords

• Words with Friends

• Zingo

Yahtzee is one of our personal favorites.

Ten Popular Local Things To Do Based on Traffic Here on Conejo Valley Guide

With over 50,000 monthly visitors to Conejo Valley Guide, we have the opportunity to see some of the most popular things to do around Ventura County. Here are 10 of the most perennially popular things to do around town based on traffic activity.

MB2 Raceway Indoor Go-Kart Facility in Newbury Park has been popular ever since opening in September 2008. We've been to plenty of birthday parties here and the kids love it. 

Farmers' Markets throughout Ventura County are popular year-round thanks to our great weather. In addition to over 15 local farmers' markets, there are numerous organic produce stores and local delivery programs available.

Sky High Sports - The Trampoline Place in Camarillo opened in October 2010 but closed in summer 2018. Sky Zone Trampoline Park opened in east Ventura in January 2016 and Defy (formerly DojoBoom) Extreme Air Sports at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks in November 2017.

Another obvious benefit to living in Ventura County is our direct access to nearby beaches. This compiliation of beaches stretching north from Carpinteria, across Ventura County, down through Malibu, is a popular destination on CVG.

The Kids' World indoor play facility in Oak Park is a regular popular destination for kids ages 2 to 12.

This compilation of Seven Flat, Stroller and Family Friendly Hikes in the Conejo Valley sees plenty of eyeballs from local families looking for a nice, easy hike with the kids.

The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard opened in early 2010 and has one of the finest collections of French art deco cars in the world. These cars are so pristine I would eat my dinner off of them.

For years, my kids begged me to go to Chuck E Cheese's in Thousand Oaks (also in Ventura). Now I'm more interested in going there as I know they will be entertained while I hang out, enjoy a sandwich and a beer, shoot a few hoops and catch up on my newspapers.

There are 19 movie theaters in Ventura County, including 2012 additions, Century Riverpark 16 in Oxnard and Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas in Westlake Village, 2015 addition Studio Movie Grill in Simi Valley and the newly remodeled in Regal Janss Marketplace in 2016.

Rounding out the top 10 is the Ventura Flea Market at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This R.G. Canning event is nowhere near the size of the popular Rose Bowl Flea Market, but with over 500 vendors, is a popular destination for CVG visitors about 6 times per year.

This is just a small fraction of the thousands of things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas. And of course, the Events Calendar and Local Events and Community Messages sections of the site highlight events that are organized throughout the year. Now go have some fun!