Took the kids here today and it was 100% worth the 1.5 hour drive from LA. MOXI is super hands-on…read moreand perfect for kids to just explore and play without getting bored. Every exhibit actually keeps them engaged not just looking, but doing. The interactive tables (like the spinning drum and dice games) were a hit. My kids didn't want to leave and kept going back to the same stations. It's also really clean, organized, and easy to navigate even with little ones. Pricing was reasonable for what you get abbout $25 for adults, $20 for kids, and under 2 is free, which is nice. Staff was friendly and everything felt well-maintained. You can tell they designed this place with kids in mind but adults still have fun too. Definitely a solid family day trip spot from LA. Would come back again

Pros: Close to the train stop…read more Lots of interactive activities Sensory cave to help battle overstimulation Cons: Not good for infants and toddlers. The lactation pod was super loud and not a great place to pump, luckily had the sensory cave. Their infant and toddler room is for walkers only because they don't close it off and make people take their shoes off so definitely not okay for babies like they claim who need a clean environment. Also very little toys. Better if you can already climb and walk. Expensive! They have a 90 mile rule for using reciprocal kids museums and Pasadena's Kidspace is 89 miles away. $25 an adult is not worth it for the parents of a non crawler.

We were so fortunate to visit the Gardens during their wonderful hummer exhibition. Hummingbirds…read moreand informative displays are located throughout the Garden. There are new paths to explore, interesting displays to enjoy and of course, the amazing views when you get to the top. Benches are strategically placed throughout the Garden for rest if needed, shade if desired and simply to enjoy the moment. Bring water as you'll be glad you did on these warm days. Remember to wear your sunscreen and enjoy. Ample free parking in the lot out front.

Heads up to local seniors who may want to build up their aerobic fitness in the foothills above…read moreVentura Harbor with a perfectly maintained path, gentle rise, and fabulous scenery. For a $45/year membership you can train all year on a 2.5 mile loop through the plants native to Chili, South Africa, Mediterranean, Australia and CA with blooms that change through the seasons. There's no gym that can provide the meditative immersion in nature that the botanical garden gives you. The path's surface is amenable to walkers. There's only an outhouse -so that may be a problem. Coming from out of town? Got children? Perfect place to take them for breathtaking views of the harbor, fun exhibits (like the one on hummingbirds going on now) and a place to eat your bagged lunch. Kids under 18 free. Adults $7 without a membership.

Great visitor center with lots of knowledgeable staff onsite to answer questions…read more A really comprehensive gift shop and I picked up a book on the history of Channel Islands, a towel, a sunshirt, some postcards, and some earrings. Theres also a small outdoor garden to explore and also an overlook area at top of the building. Also, a ranger program was happening when I came here discussing the sea kelp that exist here. Bathrooms also available. Worth a stop in to learn more about the islands!

As far as visitor centers go, this one is one of the best we've been to. Located in the Ventura…read moreHarbor about a short 0.25 mile walk from Island Packers, you'll not only find a small little bookshop but a cute little display on water life with the history of the area. Great for everyone, but I'd imagine small kids would love it. A volunteer greeted us when we got there and provided us with some information about Channel Islands National Park. Very friendly and very helpful. They have a beautiful garden outside to explore. You can also go to the 3rd floor and there's a tiny overlook that, on a clear day, you can see Santa Cruz in the distance. They said there's a theatre, but we didn't have time to visit it. All in all, a wonderful visitor center that is worth a stop during your Channel Islands adventures.

We stumbled upon Mission Basilica San Buenaventura by chance and didn't even realize it was right…read morein downtown Ventura! Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see the whole place, but we did get to step inside the church, and it was absolutely beautiful -- peaceful, historic, and full of charm. We're definitely planning to come back to tour the entire mission next time. A lovely hidden gem in the heart of Ventura!

First time actually checking out VTA properly and had to make a stop at the Mission, which is…read moreprobably the most OG thing in the city. It is a bit whitewashed (real talk: The Chumash were not as happy as portrayed) but regardless, it is a part of California history, and I respect that. I visit cathedrals/churches/missions whenever I travel internationally (Mexico, China, and Italy already this year), and would place the historical significance of the Missions near the top of any global list. $8 at the door, and worth it, if for nothing else, the peacefulness and tranquility...

If you have a little time to spare, check out this small museum in downtown Ojai. The kids love…read moremuseums, so thought this was perfect for them to explore. It is free to enter, but a donation is suggested to maintain the museum. Very charming surroundings with history of Ojai, gorgeous paintings, a tiny gift shop, and nature exhibit. My daughter was so fascinated by the old school typewriter. She had questions on how to utilize one. They allowed her to try it out with blank paper, but ink was completely faded. We spent about 30 mins tops taking pictures and exploring the museum. Good spot to check out while visiting Ojai.

When in Ojai and looking for things to do, this is a quick 20-30 minute walk through. It is free to…read moreenter even though they would like a $10 donation. They have a lot of art that is for sale but they also have some need Chumash displays and the little wildlife section is kind of neat. The staff was friendly and there is a little gift shop too.

I had a blast chilling with the Alpacas! Though the day was pretty warm, there was enough to shade…read moreto make the tour enjoyable. No parking lot is no problem, plenty of parking along the small pavement road. The only thing you got to watch for is that right before reaching into the farm destination, there is a tight bottleneck where the road gets a bit tight. But it is the only exit and entrance, used by two opposing traffic. So it can get kind of tight and one car has to steer off the road just a bit to make room so both car can pass along. For one hour tour, there was surprisingly a lot! First segment is interacting with a small herd of Alpacas in the outer farm. The second half is where you head into the inner portion of the farms where you'll be given food to feed the alpacas. There is a llama as well with the herd during the second half of the tour. Then afterwards, you get to go to the little shop on second floor of the farmhouse, where a cat name Charlie could be seen.

I went to visit the alpacas for my birthday on Valentine's Day, and I can honestly say it was one…read moreof the best experiences ever. From the moment we arrived, everything felt so peaceful and welcoming. Getting to see the alpacas up close, feed them, and just spend time around them was absolutely magical. They are the sweetest, most gentle little fluff balls I literally fell in love. Each one has its own personality, and being able to interact with them made the whole experience feel so special and personal. It was such a unique way to celebrate my birthday, and it made Valentine's Day even more memorable. I truly had the best time and left with the biggest smile on my face. They completely stole my heart... so now I guess I'll just have to go back and get it! I already can't wait to visit again. If you're thinking about going do it. You won't regret it!

We stopped into Murphy Auto Museum on our way home from vacation. Tucked into an industrial park,…read morewe parked, paid our $10 per person admission and explored this small but interesting museum. Sadly, we were told at the front that within a month it will be permanently closed. They have some interesting cars, really cool vintage travel trailers, a room with an HO Scale train setup and a very cool slot car track. We spent about an hour and while there a man with his two boys came in, and the boys were enthralled with the slot car track. One of the employees was so kind and let the boys race cars as long as he could stand there. They were having a ball. What a fun museum, and great for kids. So sad that it is closing. If you are going, you better make it soon.

Dear Hubby once had a VW camper van, and has a thing for retro campers. When he saw an…read moreannouncement for the annual vintage camper show, it was game on. What a fun, kitschy, time machine experience! The campers ranged from micro-mini teardrop -style, to a Greyhound bus which had been converted to a High-60's museum vibe. In the latter, I was transported back to the days of go-go boots and 45 records. The owner had the bus stocked with toys, games, furnishings and accessories of the era. Fabulous! Most of the owners dressed in period garb, and invited guests to tour their trailers. Color schemes and fantastic themes livened up the show. A DJ playing tunes from the 50s and 60s added to a party feeling. We grabbed a hot dog and listened to the music, people watching and taking it all in. The event was in full swing in the noon hour. Inside the car museum itself, there was a mix of classic cars, along with some muscle cars, and a few more campers. They've added mannequins sporting clothing from decades past, adding to the historic atmosphere. The model train layout is new since the last time we visited the Murphy. Quite extensive with great miniature scenery of a bygone era in Americana. Glad we checked it out today!

It says this place was open until 5 today but when I walked up no evidence of other people or being…read moreopen... no closed sign just empty. It is a beautiful old building and I hope it's going to stay that way and do something... Just know if you come here it may say open online and not be.

This placed is closed. Not art. Not open…read more When you get close to the place you can tell how run down and dilapidated it is. A real shame that this town has chosen other priorities (can't really tell what those priorities are cuz the whole of Oxnard is just a mess) over preserving a nice landmark such as this. Way to make Andrew proud, Oxnard.