There is just something to be said about being in the outdoors that I simply just can't get enough…read moreof. Maybe it's the sound of the free flowing water, the birds chirping or just watching wildlife do its thing. Maybe it's the sun beaming down on my skin, which truly makes me feel alive. or maybe, Just maybe, it's just being one with Nature and simply feeling the gratitude for all it has to offer. Hey, maybe it's all of the above! Whatever is it is.... I. Love. It. And for me, one of the best parts of living where I live; I am always amazed on how close nature is right in my own backyard or within just a short drive from my home. Well this past April, my wife's friend introduced us to yet another great destination right here in Ventura County and it was the perfect start to our Spring Break. ----------------------- Welcome to Foster Park located in Ventura right off the California 33. The morning of, we packed a picnic style lunch, snacks for the kids, our water bottles, our bathing suits, some sunscreen and off we went to Ventura to meet our friend with her two little kids. Upon our arrival, we parked in a small dirt lot under the 33 freeway overpass adjacent to Foster Park and loaded all of our stuff onto our stroller and off we went. A paved bike path with bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and families, were all making their way into the park. Of course, our friend who is a Foster Park regular showed us the way and guided us to her normal spot which happens to be right on the creek side water front. Yes, we made our way down the short path to the water which is perfect for all ages, but especially if you have littles (our youngest who is 2 had a blast). It's an area with water that's flowing in parts, but still an area for the kids to go ankle to knee deep to play. We did find tadpoles, frogs, and dragonflies. There are areas to plop down next to the water, set up an umbrella or find a spot under some shade and watch your kids have fun or eat your picnic lunch you packed. The park also has areas to visit that are historical to the region; we will definitely check those out next visit. The one thing I forgot, but will not forget again are some water shoes. There are lots of rocks on the water that can be tender to your feet as well as some mossy rocks that are slippery... I found out the hard way and let's just say I took a little unexpected dip into the water. Hey it cooled me off! Haha. There is a campground here so definitely look into that if you are traveling or want to book some camping with the fam. So.... Who is ready to put that phone down, power off that iPad, and get outdoors and escape some screen time! I guarantee this place will refresh your heart, your soul and your mind. Now, get outdoors & Enjoy!

It's been awhile since we have been to foster park... since it closed... it was such an awesome…read morepark but just before closing people started throwing trash and it started to look bad... to be honest this is why I thought they closed it!!! I hope they open it soon so we can enjoy it once again...but if they do and if I see anyone throwing trash and leaving their mess there...I definitely will make sure they know that it is our park and they damn well better respect it!!! Citations/ fines given out might help to STOP these vagrants from on trashing this beautiful park.. and ALL others also!!!!

Great place Sites really close together though…read moreClean facilities Nice food shack No beach at high tide Mellow waves Fun to boogie board Great for beginning surfers Enjoyed it

There's nothing special at all about this place. The showers are coin operated so if you don't have…read morecoins you're screwed because of the shack is never open either. I just checked and it's closed on the only day I'm here with no signage saying so. I had to find out the hard way so now I'm stuck with no shower or food and I can't even ask them for change

Kevin and I stayed at Kenny Grove Campground over the Fourth of July weekend arriving on July 3rd…read moreand checking out on July 5th, and we had such a relaxing and enjoyable camping trip. It ended up being the perfect little getaway close to home. One of the things we appreciated most was how spacious the campsites felt. They're especially great if you're camping with one or two tents or have a smaller trailer. While you can still see your neighboring campers, you don't feel like you're right on top of each other which made the campground feel comfortable and peaceful. Each campsite includes a picnic table, and a fire ring, making it easy to enjoy meals outside and relax around a campfire in the evening. The campground also provides trash cans, which was a huge convenience since we didn't have to pack all of our trash back home with us. The campground has showers, water faucets, and the restrooms include flush toilets and sinks which we really appreciated. One thing to note is that the restroom stall doors don't lock, so that's something to keep in mind if you're planning a stay. There is also a small playground making it a nice option for families with younger children. The camp hosts were incredibly kind and welcoming. They took the time to chat with campers answered questions and helped create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout the campground. One of our favorite parts of the trip was simply enjoying the scenery. The sunrises and sunsets were absolutely beautiful, and once the sun went down, the stars were incredible. It was such a peaceful place to unwind and enjoy nature. Since we camped over the Fourth of July, temperatures reached around 85°F during the day, so it was definitely warm. If you don't mind the summer heat, though, it's a wonderful place to camp. Another bonus is that you're only about a 5-10 minute drive from town, so it's easy to grab anything you may have forgotten or pick up extra supplies and you do have cell service at the campground. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and will absolutely be back. Kenny Grove is a quiet, well maintained campground that's perfect for a relaxing weekend away. Another simple camping trip that turned into a sweet little memory for us.

I had family in town and I recommended Kenny grove park, they had a big truck with 5th wheel rv…read more They loved the park, beautiful and quiet. I went there with my nephew and the spit they had was beautiful.

This has got to be one of the best hikes in Ojai during the summer before it gets too hot because…read morethe river gets low enough to cross over to the canyons where the hiking is so beautiful. There are quite a few few trail options once you get across the river. I like to take the 5 mile loop up rice Canyon and over to will's Canyon. There are Meadows and Fern grotto's and Oak shaded trails along the creek. It's a nice gradual uphill climb and then steady downhill on the way back to the river. I actually was able to jog the entire trail at a nice slow pace and the ground is so forgiving that it's not hard on your knees or your back. If you feel like getting some elevation, you can climb to Kennedy Ridge and there's other options as well which I have done before. But it was too hot at this time of the year to be out on the open trails. I always enjoy the river crossing and I wear a river shoes so I can just walk across and wait in the river and enjoy cooling off on the way home. Parking can get scarce in the summertime so be prepared.

Walked this hike with my sister and it had a beautiful view of the mountain side. If you have…read moreissues with any hard incline, this is the place for you. Most of the trail was flat lands. Very peaceful but can also get pretty dusty. So for all of you allergy buddies out there, bring your meds. There are many trails to choose from and could spend quite a while here. Don't forget to bring your shades and water since it could get pretty hot out. The trails are also pretty easy, you can bring your kids here. Overall it was nice and would go again.

Film festival 2023 was horrible, off-topic, too much virtue signaling and preaching, too political…read more... signals management's lack of respect for the organization's original purpose. I will no longer support or recommend it.

We love our nature preserves! Have NOT been liking all the out of towners coming in and trashing it…read morelately though! Don't come to our valley if you're going to leave your dog shit on the tails, trash, & tagging on rocks! Stay in the city

An amazing place!! Just got married here in the back 2 picnic areas and it was beautiful! If you…read morelooking to stay within a budget and want to be outside for a wedding this is the place to go! Such an open area and with the bbq, tables, sink area and bathrooms all in the general area it makes it so easy! We had our caterer pull around back and they had more than enough room To serve the food!

Beautiful park with sprawling grass and lots of picnic areas. The pickleball courts are awesome…read moreand the players are very friendly. There's a dog park, playground, horseshoe pits and plenty of restrooms. $2 per vehicle on weekdays, $5 on weekends/holidays.

Came here on dry New Year's eve 2 years ago. Wasn't Sespe hot springs, but still a nice experience…read moreon the way to them; nice half way point too.

So a friend emailed me last week saying he was planning an overnight backpacking trip in the Sespe…read moreWilderness to Willett Hot Springs and asked if I wanted to join on the trek. Heck yes! I had a week to research and read up about the area, and I was poking around online I felt there was no detailed directions of the trail to the hot springs, just a few nondescript write ups and summaries here and there. So this review, I hope will help others find the hot spring easier since we got lost for over an hour in rain.... Backpacked 11/2/15-11/3/15 Miles: 20 miles out and back Time took: 30 hours (we overnighted it) elevation gain: less than 400 ft Adventure Pass needed Water: there were 2-3 spots to filter water Directions: on Google maps, type in Piedra Blanca Trailhead. Piedra Blanca Trailhead and Sespe River Trail start at the same parking lot, so it pulls up and you can use the app when you loose cell service. We came from LA, so we ended up taking the 33N to Rose Valley Rd, this area is considered Ventura County Trailhead: Adventure pass is needed to park here. There are pit toilets, when I went they also had toilet paper and weren't too dirty. There's some informational sign around here talking about the local animals you can find, a trail map, and some shaded picnic benches where you can have a nice picnic. The hike: we started at 9:45 AM Monday morning, the first 2-3 miles in the trail was dry with no sight on water. Do not be discouraged, right around 2-3 miles, we didn't spot it right away, but when we hiked further up, we spotted a pool of water off the trail. So if it had been necessary, we would have gone off trail to that water source. But at 3 miles in, I heard running water. We hiked off trail and found the source and actually filtered at this spot. It's a nondescript spot, you just have to keep alert of the sound of running water. Going to this spot was unnecessary though, if you know the trail well, you know that Bear Canyon Campground is right around the corner at 3.5 miles in and there is a spring fed pond here with moving water that is easier to filter at. We talked to a guy here and he said there seems to always be water here and it's a good swimming hole. The trail is decently well beaten and well marked. About 8 miles in you will come upon a big metal trail sign. It's faded and kind of hard to read, but points you in the direction of Ladybug Campground and Hines Peak. Scratched into the sign it says Willett and tell you to stay on the trail you are at. Shortly after that sign, keep a look out for the trail sign on the right. We actually got lost here and walked past it. If you walked past it and come to a camp spot with a fire circle and shovel, you've come too far. We scrambled in the river wash for a while here having lost the trail. Back track and find that small trail sign, it makes you cross the river wash here. Once you cross the river wash, the trail keeps going. look for a fork in the trail and go left. It's a pretty small fork, we put up cairns here the other day, but it is easy to miss. We got lost here too and had to keep backtracking. You cross a swampy area right here. Right when you cross and get to the other side, you will shortly come across the house/shack/a fenced area. Woohoo! You are almost there! Go past that house. With the house behind you, you will see a stone stack/chimney, take the trail above and to the right of it. From there, it's an upward climb, but you're only a few hundred yards away from the Willett Hot Spring tub. You will first come across a small camp spot here. There was a fire ring here the other day. Go past that, and into the foresty area and go up. There you will find the tub, wedged into the crevice of the mountain. Tips: bring a water filter. Depending on time of year, be prepared for rain. Bring sandals if you don't want to go barefoot in the tub, and a towel to dry off. Don't give up. We soaked in the hot spring for a good hour Tuesday morning and had the place all to ourselves. Temp we would guess was around 108 degrees. There are scrubs left there to scrub some of the sliminess. I didn't care, I got right in. Good luck!

Very pretty park by the harbor! Lots of grass so our little dog loves to run around here! The…read morepeople are always nice as it's just an awesome community! We live nearby and appreciate the locals!

Never a dull moment at the park…read more The bathrooms are generally pretty clean unless an erratic homeless person has gone by and destroyed them. The grass is usually well kept other than occasional giant holes from people that allow their dogs to dig and do not do anything about it. Parking lot is generally well patrolled by hotel security as well as hueneme officials and occasionally Oxnard police. They have tons of space for picnicking or otherwise hanging out, as well as an old and kind of run down play area for kids. The tennis courts are well maintained and used regularly. They hold alcoholics anonymous meetings both outside in the grass during certain hours of the day, and predominantly upstairs in the meeting space mornings, afternoons and evenings.