Located between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Thousand Oaks is one of the most livable cities in the state of California.
This suburban area is the second-largest city in Ventura County, nestled against the scenic Santa Monica Mountains.
Its name accurately describes the city as it teems with thousands of gorgeous towering oak trees.
This city was incorporated in 1964.
Thousand Oaks takes pride in its designated open space offering 150 miles of impressive trails city visitors can enjoy.
The city was also recognized as one of the greenest cities in the US.
Aside from excellent natural sites, the city is a popular cultural art and entertainment destination, with the renowned Civic Arts Plaza in the downtown area.
You’ll also find plenty of family-oriented attractions in the city, like shopping malls, amusement spots, excellent parks, and much more.
Do you want to discover more?
Here are the best things to do with kids in Thousand Oaks, California.
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Wildwood Regional Park, in West Avenida de Los Arboles, is an excellent place for your family to enjoy the outdoors.
The fourteen trails spanning 17 miles are kid-friendly and perfect for family hikes, biking, horseback riding, or sightseeing.
Follow the trails to see the stunning 40-foot Paradise Falls!
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If you need to rest during your hike, you’ll quickly find benches throughout the park.
Three water fountains are also available so you can refill water bottles, though restrooms are only accessible at the bottom of the canyon.
Wildwood Regional Park also has barbecue grills, picnic areas, and tables you can use if you prefer a relaxing picnic.
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Thousand Oaks Community Park on North Moorpark Road is a 35.8-acre property acquired in 1970.
In 1974, the park’s 22-acre area was developed to include a gym, sports fields, courts, a community center, a picnic structure, and meeting rooms.
Play outdoor sports with your kids, whether it’s soccer, softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, or racquetball.
You can also enjoy a game of disc golf at the Rabbit Flats Disc Golf Course.
Little ones will also have fun running around and climbing the play area and ant hill.
Set up a family picnic and grill some barbecue on a warm day at the picnic areas of the Thousand Oaks Community Park.
Do you want your kids to have a thrilling wall-climbing experience?
Then take them toBoulderdash.
The indoor rock-climbing facility in Hampshire Road offers climbing workouts and fun, active recreation for all ages.
The climbing area is also airconditioned, with over a thousand square feet of built-in climbing surface.
They consistently change the routes, so there’s always something fun and challenging with each visit.
If your kids aged five-12 want to start rock climbing or have tried scaling a wall, you can sign up for Off the Deck to improve their climbing skills.
Older kids aged six-18 can join Team Boulderdash, which provides intensive training for two three-hour weekly sessions.
They’ll be encouraged to cultivate a strong work ethic and work with a team perspective.
Climb Time is designed for any age and novice wall climbers.
Experienced instructors will guide, belay, and supervise your climb.
Have a unique family recreation at Boulderdash.
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Across Thousand Oaks Boulevard, you’ll quickly spot theGardens of the World.
The 4.5-acre botanical park opened in 2001; Ed and Lynn Hogan, owners of Pleasant Holidays, donated the area to the city.
Walk through the themed gardens or bring your family for a picnic.
Likewise, you can go on a guided tour.
Stroll along the French Garden and get your kids to spot the butterfly and sun-shaped parterres.
Take pictures of the French Fountain designed like the ones in Versailles, France.
Visit the English Perennial and Rose Garden to see and smell the colorful roses; over 400 Bush and Climber rose bushes are also in the Gardens of the World.
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You’ll feel like you’re in Italy when you pass through the Italian Garden, lined with cypress trees in Italy’s famed gardens.
Check out the Venus de Milo statue on top of the fountain.
Your little tots will be delighted to see fish swimming in the Koi pond at the Japanese Garden.
Find the Dragon’s Gate Waterfall and streams that will keep you in a relaxing mood.
Finally, you’ll reach the Mission Courtyard, which features California’s mission trail.
See the statue of California Missions founder Junípero Serra and murals created by local artists Bridget Duffy and Mark Fenton in the courtyard.
Enjoy your visit to Gardens of the World!
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K1 Speed in Lawrence Drive is where the fun begins if your kids are in for a thrilling ride.
This amusement spot is open seven days a week and offers an excellent indoor karting experience with electric-powered European karts.
Race head-to-head and speed your way to the finish line.
Besides go-karts, K1 Speed has plenty of fantastic arcades and video games for kids of all ages.
Put your game face on and play at the Hockey FX tables, or challenge family members to some game of hoops.
Test your skills at the Connect 4 video arcade game or play the classic Space Invaders, this time with hands-on blasters and on an eight-foot LED screen.
Who can say no to instant prizes?
Kids will be excited to try the different prize machines to bag candies, plush toys, and Nintendo Switches.
Show your pool table skills and play 8-ball with your friends.
If your kids suddenly get hungry, K1 Speed’s Paddock Lounge offers a variety of food choices, from mouthwatering burgers to pizzas, chicken wings, quesadillas, and much more.
Grab quick snacks like chips, fries, cookies, and Churro Bites with cold drinks.
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For shopping, dining, and entertainment,the Oaks is the place to go.
The mall is on West Hillcrest Drive and features open-air and enclosed shops and establishments.
The shopping center’s contemporary Spanish design and notable amenities offer an appealing environment as you shop at your favorite premier brands.
Choose from lines of restaurants at the mall like Chipotle, Urban Plates, Olive Garden, and much more.
You can also catch a good movie while eating in the comfort of a heated recliner at AMC Dine-In.
The Oaks also has something for little ones at Jumpify, an indoor soft play children’s playground.
Little kidsshould have lots of giggles and fun at Hideout.
This indoor playground is on Lindero Canyon Road and offers something for you and your kids.
It was founded by Sherry Ehya, who wanted to provide a play space that’s clean and safe for little tots.
Even with the new ownership, the playground still makes this a top priority.
Hideout provides a modern facility with a spacious lounge for parents, including a large-screen TV, free WiFi access, and many more.
The lounge also overlooks the play area.
Let your kids run around the custom-made tree house, enjoy the small slides, role-play and bring out their artistic talent.
The play facility also offers fun activities each month, so check their calendar on the website.
Are you celebrating your kid’s birthday?
Hideout offers different packages to meet your needs and give your kid a unique birthday party.
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One of the city’s hidden gems,Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, on Gainsborough Road, is another lovely attraction in Thousand Oaks.
This 33-acre natural terrain welcomes visitors for free and features a dazzling view from the garden’s peak, several specialty gardens, and a hiking trail along a riparian stream.
See the Australian Garden, where native Australian plants like the Knifeleaf acacia grow.
Drop by the hilltop Desert Garden featuring various succulents, cacti, and desert trees with a splendid view of Conejo Valley.
Otherwise, check out the Herb Garden to view an extensive collection of beneficial herbs, and stop by the Salvia Garden, where you’ll find different salvia varieties.
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Take your kids to spot local and migratory birds at the arbor and see if you can name some of them.
Otherwise, head off to the Butterfly Garden to see these colorful creatures.
The Kids’ Adventure Garden is a fun place where your little ones can run around, play, and discover the wonders of nature.
They’ll enjoy climbing the tree house and viewing the zoo garden.
You can also visit the Rare Fruit Orchard at Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, with over 99 fruit-bearing trees, and the Trail of Trees, where local volunteers and groups planted tree varieties to replace mustard weeds.
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Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center sits on downtown Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
This entertainment venue was planned by the City Council and was opened to the public in 1994.
The City Hall and the Mary and Richard Carpenter Plaza Park are nearby.
Your family can watch great shows, concerts, and performances throughout the year.
Check their website for featured and upcoming exhibitions and time slots.
After enjoying the shows, you can drop by the Lakes at Thousand Oaks, next to the Arts Center.
Then, grab tasty meals from California Pizza Kitchen and PF Chang’s China Bistro.
Many restaurants are nearby if your kids are looking for other food options.
Likewise, shopping centers like The Oaks, Janss Marketplace and the Promenade at Westlake are also a few minutes away.
Enjoy the entertainment at Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center.
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A tour of theChumash Indian Museum will be an enriching experience for your kids.
Situated on Lang Ranch Parkway, the museum features the lives of the Chumash Indians, one of the country’s oldest native tribes.
The site was discovered in the 1980s during the planned development of the Lang Ranch Specific Plan, with a portion of the land preserved as Oakbrook Park.
Let your kids discover the history, culture, and modern-day influence of the Chumash people and the significance of the historic museum site.
Your family can join a guided hike tour in the park’s area.
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See the exhibits, take part in museum events, or join educational programs offered by the museum.
You can also drop by the gift shop to purchase decorative pieces, educational materials, and artistic creations that reflect the Chumash culture.
Take your kids on the oak woodlands and see the Chumash demonstration village and some remains of their local homestead.
You can also enjoy a picnic under the shady oak trees of the Chumash Indian Museum property.
If you’re in the city during spring, you can catch the festive celebrations at Conejo Valley Days.
This annual five-day celebration is held at Conejo Creek Park South on East Janss Road.
It highlights the region’s rich cultural heritage and community spirit.
From a community gathering in the late 1940s, the Conejo Valley Days became an official event in 1956.
Since then, it has now grown to welcome thousands of visitors yearly.
Your family will enjoy attractions like carnival rides, shows, live music, food, and more.
Watch the games, check out lines of local vendors, see the arts and crafts displays, and try different food specialties.
Your kids will have all the fun with spectacular rides like the Gondola Ferris Wheel, Cliffhanger, and Hyper Loop bump cars, or let them try the Orient and Pirate’s super kids rides.
The carnival also has major rides like the Tornado Express, Mardi Gras Island, and Airplane.
Likewise, your little ones will be happy riding the Carousel, Bear Affair, Super Slide, and Rio Grande Train.
If your kids want more thrill, try the Zipper, YoYo, and Scooter extreme rides.
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Just 13 minutes from Thousand Oaks, you can tour theRonald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
This attraction is on Presidential Drive in Simi Valley, California.
Your kids will know about the life of America’s 40th President, Ronald Reagan, and also grasp important lessons on freedom and democracy.
They’ll surely marvel at the displays like the F-117 Nighthawk and F14 jets and the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank.
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Drop by the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, built to honor men and women who gave their lives in military service.
See the extensive collection of artifacts and interactive displays that feature the president’s life, accomplishments, and influence on the global community.
Stroll the replicas of the White House’s Rose Garden and South Lawn, enjoy a family picnic lunch, or watch the scenic sunset from the Library’s hilltop area.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum also features the President’s hologram with three scenarios shown during the week.
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Underwood Family Farms is tucked between the rolling hills of Moorpark, California, just 14 minutes north of Thousand Oaks.
This 200-acre farmland offers numerous fun activities you can do with your kids.
Let your kids enjoy petting and feeding the farm animals, get them to watch live animal shows, and climb the haystacks.
Otherwise, they can play at the tunnels and slides, ride the tractors and tricycles, and jump around the cow-shaped bounce house.
Sign up for Educational Farm Tours and let them experience picking fresh vegetables, pumpkins, and strawberries.
They can also join the Animal Ed-Venture Tour featuring animal presentations and feeding.
You can also let your kids participate in educational craft projects and showcase their works during Open Barn.
Bring them to the farms and let them meet and play farm games with other kids.
Ride the tractor-drawn wagon, enjoy touring the fields, visit the Farm Animal Center, and have a picnic under the shaded areas to complete your trip.
Have a fun day at Underwood Family Farms!
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Bring your kids for a historical tour at Stagecoach Inn Museum, a state landmark on Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park, California, nine minutes from Thousand Oaks.
Step back into the 1800s and let your kids revisit the Wild West and meet the pioneers who settled there.
Your family will be welcomed by docents dressed in Victorian costumes who will guide you on a tour while sharing the history and legends of the old times.
Step inside to see the various Victorian antiques and furnishings and take a peek at the Innkeepers’ rooms and dining area.
Head to Anderson Hall to browse the vast collection of original and replicated artifacts of the Chumash natives, like tools, baskets, household items, and fossils.
You can also read books about Conejo Valley’s history.
Likewise, see the Kilbourne Collection and show your kids how music was recorded during the early days with Gramophones, Phonographs, Graphophones, and more.
Check out the Forget Me Knot collections of hair locks and ornamental hair works.
Observe the pioneer women doing daily chores like laundry and ironing at Women’s Work and discover the developments of household technology over time.
Other attractions around the museum include the Timber School, the Carriage House, Blacksmith Shop, the Carriage House, and the Tri-Village Exhibit.
Relax and enjoy nature surrounding the Stagecoach Inn Museum, like the Rose Garden, the Runaway Stage and Farm Trails, and the Heritage Oak Grove.
Experience hours of fun family leisure atKid’s World, located at Lindero Canyo Road in Oak Park, California, nine minutes from Thousand Oaks.
This 20,000-square-foot indoor attraction offers an array of amusement activities so you can bond with your kids.
Older kids and adults can enjoy Ballocity with obstacle courses, foam ball launchers, and slides.
There are plenty of games to try at the giant arcade area, like video games, kiddie rides, skill games, and cranes, with prizes up for grabs.
Challenge family members to some basketball hoops or have a friendly game of laser tag at Blast City.
Little tots will have fun playtime in the toddler area.
They can jump in the shallow ball pit, read in the book corner, and climb the soft block structures.
Thousand Oaks offers endless opportunities for family fun and enjoyment.
From historical tours to lovely parks and amusement centers, your kids will never run out of things to do in the city.
Plan your trip to see the city for an unforgettable family trip that your little ones will surely enjoy.
Enjoy the best things to do with kids in Thousand Oaks, California!
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