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.

I've been on a kick this year to see more historic parks and landmarks in SoCal. Shout out to…read moreYelper All-Star Derek W. of Lakewood, CA for inspiring me with his awesome photos and experiences! The challenge I'm finding is parks being open through the week, when we (ahem) "more mature folks" like to enjoy less crowds. So when I saw Heritage Square in Oxnard was open, with possible docent tours, on a TUESDAY, I jumped on the opportunity to partake of some local history. We headed for the Square and saw some parking but, being a first timer, I decided to drive around the entire square and see the layout from the street. I decided to park on W Seventh St, to the north and take advantage of shade, and the close proximity to Heritage Coffee and Gifts(separate review), which I knew we would wander into before departing the area. Turns out W Seventh is the perfect place to start. We entered and immediately were taken with the beautiful architecture, landscaping, care and attention to detail this special area exudes. It was all pretty magical and I wasn't sure where to start. Luckily, it wasn't more than a few steps in that we spotted the water tower and visitor's center/gift shop/central hub. We stepped inside and were greeted warmly. I explained that I saw they had docent lead tours and we could sign up online, but I wasn't sure what time we would arrive, so I didn't make a reservation. Was it still possible to get a tour, or was there a self-guided walking tour info sheet? We were asked to wait a moment while the manager and lead docent was found to see if they were available. Gary was available and we began our tour. What a WONDERFUL storyteller! Weaving the families and their history with Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and bringing them to life in front of their very lovingly restored homes! He took us inside of some of the buildings, where operational businesses agree to have the public tours pop in for a moment of show and tell. Details about the original designs, room layouts, furnishings and use were all so amazing to see, touch and learn about. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. We paid $10/pp and it was well worth it! Just to hear the history of the on-site church alone was worth it! But to venture inside, see the details in the hand-made stained glass and the conversion of the oil lanterns to electric. To hear how it has changed denominations over the years and to view the photos inside, documenting the preparation of the Square, the moving process for the homes and the restoration was so intriguing. This is such a beautiful and unique area. I love that these beautiful homes were repurposed and are thriving with businesses! At the end of the tour, Gary encouraged us to check out the annual Holly Trolley Tours, Christmas Tree Lane Event and Gingerbread House Exhibit and tours. All sounded absolutely delightful!. I immediately signed up for their newsletter and I'm REALLY looking forward to returning durning the holiday season and posting more pics of festively dressed docents and delightful decorations. Cheers! "CC"

The tours are such a great way to learn more about Oxnard. Ms. Connie Korenstein and all the…read moredocents who volunteer are gems and so good at what they do. Make a visit soon and plan your trip by visiting their website to get tour schedules and info. Review the expectations before your visit and ensure the littles are able to follow instruction to not climb and explore on the historic grounds.

GETTING HERE:…read more Located in the Channel Islands Harbor at 3900 Bluefin Circle. It's deep into the Harbor and you will drive for a bit. I was exploring Oxnard recently and found it on Yelp. Thank you Yelp as always! REVIEW: https://www.cimmvc.org/ You had me at museum and water. Such a lovely hidden gem (to me) in the V.C. In full disclosure, I didn't know what to expect and I was floored! Ships galore, in model or art form. I was greeted at the front and gladly paid the ticket fee. I was told there was an option to have a docent provide me a tour, but I decided to explore on my own. I don't speak ships, so I don't have the correct terminology, but please come check it out for yourself. Spend the day out here and immerse yourself in the history that is at our fingertips. Such a great experience. Thankful to live so close to this and thankful to the volunteers who serve here. Very definitely highly recommend! **** Please note that I have several photos attached. They're not showing on the app but they do show on the yelp.com website.

This museum is beautifully located on the harbor and contains a large collection of paintings and…read moremodel ships. We were fortunate enough to have a tour led by one of the many docents that work at the museum. Admission is very low priced and you can also become a member. We learned a lot of fascinating stories of battles and how ships were built. Highly recommend.

Upon entering from W 5th, there was a photo op area to take pictures with Santa. The food stalls…read moreand trucks were also in the same section. In the grass area there were many vendors selling various items. There was also a stage for musical performances. There were a few food stalls that sold tamales exclusively but most seemed to have a variety of offerings on their menu. Several vendors listed the price of $6 per tamale, which is pretty steep. I only recognized The Original Tamale Co. as I've had their tamales before at the farmers market. Their tamales are big and yummy. There was also a stand that sold sweet tamales with different fruit fillings. As I arrived later in the afternoon the lines for food was short and it seemed a few of the vendors were already sold out because their booths looked zipped up. Most festival goers were relaxing on the grass enjoying the musical performances. Although coming later you can avoid the crowd and easier parking but it didn't seem like I got to enjoy the festival to the fullest so I plan to attend much earlier next year.

What does a gal do when she wants to go to a festival and has no one to go with? She goes by…read moreherself and has a great time!!!! I walked around and visited the different vendors. I also really enjoyed the live music. I stopped at The Canyon truck as last year I really liked the tamales tatemados! I got a red pork tamale. The gentleman even remembered my name ... like what!!!! That was over a year ago!! I got an agua de sandía for 10 bucks at another stand. Wow .. pricey . Festival foods are pricey though! The line for gourmet tamales was long but they're not from Oxnard or even Ventura County. Back in the day it was more local vendors. I wish it was more of that. I'd love to see more local Oxnard, Port Hueneme ... etc vendors. Maybe even a home cook competition!

I had the pleasure of visiting both the Hermitage Museum and the botanical sculpture gardens…read more It's unbelievable that all of this is on one man's property in the hills of Santa Barbara. The museum is filled with fun pieces of art, some of it interactive. The giant sculptures on the property are remarkable, with the sheer quantity of them amazing. I loved the themed areas like the zoo. The vegetation is also a wonder, especially seeing rare specimens, some of them hundreds of years old. I can't wait to go back and spend more time appreciating all the detail that went into the place!

One of the most interesting and numerous place to visit. Vigorous walking up and down the hillside.read more

I had did some research before I stepped into this creative expression of fun collections. This…read moremuseum is definitely an art experience worth visiting with iconic figures and street art that paints Mr. Brainwash's (Thierry Guetta) main mantra for the museum, "Life Is Beautiful" which is dedicated to honoring imagination, joy, creativity and inspiration. It's his own work that is displayed but he also references artists work such as the famous Banksy and other artists. A friend told me that the documentary, Exit through the Gift Shop, is connected to this museum. I have yet to watch but will do so to gain more understanding. Apparently, it was free museum day because there were hosts at the door greeting and letting visitors in. That was nice. It wasn't too busy but a good crowd to where I had to wait for my turn to take photos. It's three levels including the rooftop where more artwork is held and a view overlooking Beverly Hills. They also have a gift shop with unique items for purchase. I bought a cutesy pen with an engraved quote on it. To add, I was instantly moved by the creativity and effort they put into this museum. It brought a lot of inspiration. The art work gave me ideas of how I would want a part of my home to look like. It was a fun visit and would recommend for anyone wanting to dig into their imagination and enjoys art. I am also a sucker for anything that brings out the inner child in me and this place fed it well. Thank you, Mr. Brainwash and staff. Ps. The museum might be closed now. Unsure if it's temporary or permanently but still wanted to share my experience. I visited it in January of this year.

Wow! Had a wonderful experience coming here before the museum officially CLOSES this Sunday! (Jan…read more18). All of the work of one artist, Mr. Brainwash, is showcased in this whimsical three story building located across from a parking garage that offers free 2 hour parking. The art pieces were like none other I've seen before from other art museums, yet at the same time, poke fun/homage to all types of classic art. There is a big focus on pop culture icons such as Kobe, Tupac, cartoon characters, and especially Disney characters. Their Disney collaboration is at the rooftop and overall the museum is a great spot for some unique photos and videos. It is truly a shame this museum is closing so soon (it will literally be demolished after all the art here is moved out!) but I'm so thankful my boyfriend and I were able to experience this before the museum closes. - restrooms located on every floor, well-maintained and clean - art pieces come in a variety of mediums, well-decorated space full of so many masterpieces - Qr codes next to some paintings that are available for purchase - free admission, you don't even need any tickets to walk in

What a fun little add on to a trip with kiddos to Santa Barbara. Enough places for learning but…read morealso for the kiddos to get some play in the day as well. I have a 4.5 yo and 22 month old and they both had lots of fun. Random but I do wish the gift shop was a bit more stroller friendly.

History Machine A…read moremuseum that traces its origins back to 1916 when a group of people got together to try and preserve some of the history of the area. They've been in their current location since 1923, and the location itself, to me anyway, is part of the draw. Not only is it a museum, but it's also a nature preserve, rescue aviary, and dinosaur theme park. :) The Good: * Fairly inexpensive to visit at $20/adult and $15/child * If you buy a membership ($115-450) to the museum, it also includes a membership to their sister aquarium (also in Santa Barbara), the Sea Center. * Wonderful little area in the back with some short trails, a creek, and dinosaurs for kids to explore. * If you love geology, then you'll love their geology exhibit; they have so many amazing rocks and gems on display. * Aviary with injured and rehabbing raptors * Nature art gallery was beautiful * Friendly staff * Tours available * Lots of info on animals and insects of the area The Meh: * Some of the exhibit rooms are a bit cramped, so they can get full fast even without many visitors. The Ugly: * They have a butterfly garden, but it's closed during the winter months, which just happened to coincide with our visit. :( Conclusion: Terrific museum for both young and old.

We just happen to be driving to Ventura for the day and found parking right in front. While paying…read morefor parking the music they had playing drew my attention. It so happens the day we went it was free admission. We come to the area every now and then from the valley (near studio city ) but never really noticed this place. I enjoyed seeing different artists woks. They had some parts where you had to guess which image is Ai out of three pictures. It was fun trying to figure it out. I could see myself coming back again.

We have been coming to this museum in downtown for the last couple of years. We had recently…read moreenjoyed their free admission which was a lot of fun and my children looked forward to coming at least once a week. We came in today and found out that starting February 1st this museum won't be free anymore! But they have memberships and honestly they are super affordable and it helps keep the museum open for families here in Ventura and those who are visiting! They change their exhibits few months. It's fun to come and learn new things plus they have a beautiful garden where children have space to play and explore