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!!!!

This is a small park where Ocean Avenue ends. It is in a residential neighborhood…read more There are picnic tables, at least 1 grill for BBQing, basketball courts, and a childrens' play area. We walked our dog around the park twice. We met 2 other couples with their dogs. Everyone was friendly. It was peaceful today. This park is noted as a great place to see overwintering monarch butterflies according to The Monarch Program. I was intrigued by people leaving through a gate and crossing the train tracks. Hubby said it is a short cut, hike, to the beach. Once you cross the tracks, veer over to the right to another fence opening. Once you do that you will be on Vista del Mar. Then it is a downhill hike to the beach. P.S. Hubby said that back in the day this was a park for partying and fights. He noticed that it has been cleaned up since his last visit years ago.

All I wanted was to find a public park that offered a basketball court. This one has 1 that you can…read moreplay on. The other hoops are blocked off with plywood cuz of covid. Good grassy area for dogs. A little kid park. Plenty of shade and it's not too busy.

We were so full from our breakfast at IHOP that we felt the need to walk. In looking around at the…read morearea, 'olołkoy Beach Park was less than a mile away. The park is small, but well maintained and clean. The palm tree lined walking path is wide and flat. Nice playground. The beach is a short walk over -- just follow the sand. :) We ventured into the neighborhood behind the park to check out the lovely homes, each with their own personality. The people were so friendly to wave and say 'hi' as we walked by. There's two good size parking areas -- pay to park machines are easy to find.

Fun place to hang out - I wish it was closer, so I could be there often!…read moreTook my old rescue dog to the beach - I am certain she'd never seen the ocean before. Literally, when we got past the sand dune, and the view of the waves opened up, her jaw dropped and her wagging tail was in overdrive. I had to carry her, but she seemed to love that ocean air and the glorious cool breeze (I sure did). I need to move there. That is all.

I like going on walking ... daily! This is one of the parks I frequent. There's birthday parties,…read morebaby showers and etc going on every weekend. There's bbqs and picnic tables. This park also has restrooms which others don't. Overall, it's a nice park. It has a playground, tennis courts and plenty of grass for sports. It's kept clean!

Grant Park in Santa Barbara is seriously so pretty The views of the coastline are amazing and it's…read moresuch a great spot to just stop and take everything in. At the top there's a big cross that makes it feel really peaceful and kind of special. There are also a few different trails you can walk, some easy, some a bit more of a hike, plus little fun details along the way like bird statues. It's a great place whether you want to hike, chill, or just enjoy the view. Super relaxing overall and definitely worth checking out if you're in Santa Barbara

Dear Hubby and I took a drive out to Ventura for my birthday, which happened to be mid-week this…read moreyear. Big hooray - it was sunny; no fog in sight. It was on the coolish side, but the abundance of sunshine made it seem warmer. We had an early dinner down on Main Street. Where we parked there was a sign indicating that the eastern entrance to Grant Park was nearby. We had been up there perhaps only once in the past, and we'd gone in from the west. The drive up in the late afternoon / early evening had the golden glow magic to it. The light was amazing! I was driving and marveling at every twist and turn on the roadway while ascending the hills. The wildflowers and green groundcover from winter's rains made the scenery even more breathtaking than it might be when the grasses start to turn golden instead of green. I was able to drive all the way to the top parking lot, which overlooks the Serra Cross, and the entire Ventura coastline. The view encompasses the pier, the harbor, then beyond out to Channel Islands Harbor, Port Hueneme, and the western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. It solidified my feelings in that moment of gratitude for enjoying life in Ventura County for the past 40 years. A gorgeous view on a clear day can do that for a person. When a sunny day happens, and the winds are calm, I can recommend taking a drive up to the top of Grant Park to make some of your daily cares seem very small. Looking down on the city / county from on high helped lift my spirits and added joy to my birthday celebrations.

I visited Plaza Park yesterday. I loved seeing the Moreton Bay Fig Tree as the sheer size of it is…read moreimpressive. I also liked seeing the Phoenix statue and admired the craftmanship that went into making it.

Such a fun place to just chill at...when we walked by and hung out yesterday after the Ventura…read moreMarathon, there was a huge crowd of adults playing Pokemon Go! LOL! Love it! Beautiful, old trees and lots of grass to run around on.

It's a nice park, but lately a lot of people bring their dogs here and they often without a leash…read more be careful with your kids or if you go on walks, these owners are irresponsible. today a women had two dogs a big one and a small one both of them without a leash, the big one almost attacked me and she only stood there. be careful

This isn't the biggest part I've been to nor the fanciest but it ranks the highest easily…read more The one thing I love about this is that there's always people here. The structures include a playground, several full basketball courts, restrooms, an eating area, and grills placed through the park. At the outskirts there are large fields of grass where people usually play soccer or toss around a football. My favorite feature is the track around the perimeter of the park. The track is made of that rubbery material made to aid runners. A lot of people use the track so be sure to walk to one side or be attentive when I'm a group. There are small workout fixtures around the park too but no one uses them.

the park was very open and plenty of shade available with so many trees! took my puppy here for the…read morefirst time and it was a great place for him to explore in a quiet area with minimal people and pets, so perfect training opportunity!

After a long Day at Ofc? Good to take a walk at our favorite Park. Weather in Oxnard is pretty…read moreconsistent.