SC Gildred Family YMCA is a nonprofit organization devoted to health and fitness of its community…read more This huge facility has an olympic size pool, basketball gymnasium, cardio room, weight room, pilates, locker rooms etc. They have membership plans and free wifi. It was my first time here and staff were affable and respectful. Facility is clean and organized. I came to workout and play some basketball. I really enjoyed my experience here. Overall, this is a fantastic facility for the community. I recommend you visit if you're in the area.

My wife is the member and she is very frustrated over the pool being closed for several issues such…read moreas the heater going out, to much Chorine and the pump going out

We had a really nice time at Vino Vaqueros. Our group did the 9am ride, which ended up being a…read moregreat call as the weather was cool and comfortable, and it made the whole experience more enjoyable. Char was our guide, and she struck a good balance of keeping things relaxed while still making sure everyone felt comfortable, especially since a few people in our group hadn't been horseback riding before. I rode Boomer, who was steady and easy to ride, and we appreciated that they gave a simple safety overview before heading out. After the ride, we did a casual tasting of both a red and white wine and then chose a glass of our favorite to hang with. The setting was quiet and pretty, and it felt low-key in the best possible way. One of the dogs Nana even joined us for the ride. Overall, it was a calm, well-paced outing that felt thoughtfully run without being overly structured.

Had a lovely time on our trail ride! Some of the horses were a bit stubborn at times, but whatcha…read moregonna do? Just added some amusement and laughs to the experience hahaha. Our two guides were great and one took plenty of pictures during the ride, which was really nice because we got to have those memories documented without worrying about having our phones out while on horseback. The trail itself was a beautiful view of the springtime flower blooms on the hills. I'd recommend bringing a hat or sunglasses because it can be a bit bright, and there's room for a water bottle in the saddle bags.

My daughter just got back from her fourth year and it's already begging to go again next year…read more There is something so magical for the kids out there, and they are all incredibly well cared for! all of the counselors are incredibly kind, and she especially loves the pool and the hiking. See you next year, Camp Natoma!

My son just got back from session 1. He had a blast! Sleeping under the stars, meeting new…read morefriends, singing songs. Everything camp should be. He plans to attend next year and has said he might want to be a counselor. (He is only 9- he's got a few years to be a camper still!) My sister went to Natoma for years. She and my son compared memories and except for some new songs and food/candy no longer being allowed in care packages, not much has changed in 20 years. The value is fantastic. I'm very happy with the camp (and so is my son!)

Cristi and Art Spot are so great! I am an SYV local but had never been to Grimm's Bluff so jumped…read moreat the chance to do a painting in the vineyard event for a little introduction. Grimm's Bluff is stunning with so many fantastic sites to paint. Art Spot chose their private lake with the mountains and a bit of Cachuma Lake (Cristi joked about it being a unique painting in the vineyard experience to not actually paint vines!). Stunning scene. But before we proceeded to our painting location, we enjoyed sampling a bit of rose and estate sage honey and olive oil, with a little primer about Grimm's Bluff. I had persuaded a friend to join and had told her that I had done a watercolor class at Kaena, where the scene was penciled in and we were instructed on how to mix paints and water and layer in the paint, but it was easy and fun - almost like a paint by numbers with a good glass of wine. So when we got to our painting spot, I was surprised and somewhat intimidated to see completely blank canvases on easels with a few globs of acrylic paint! But Cristi is a great instructor and leader, and made the experience so fun and comfortable (the liquid courage from Grimm's Bluff didn't hurt, either). She gave us detailed tips on color mixing, which brushes to use, and how to just jump in and start. She had an easel up front and led the way, showing us on her canvas what to do. It was a blast and each one of us produced surprisingly passable if not beautiful little canvases - each unique in its own way. I highly recommend Art Spot. I have zero training or natural ability but with Cristi's guidance, now have two cute little paintings (including my Kaena watercolor). There is no reason to be fearful or intimidated- Cristi makes it so anyone can pick up a brush and release their secret inner artist. It is a lovely activity to do with friends on a gorgeous SYV day.

The experience was so fun and the guidance was helpful - I walked away with a painting I was proud…read moreof! The venue was great and the group made it all the more enjoyable.

What an amazing experience we had we rode horses for an hour and a half. The horses were all so…read morebeautiful and well taken care of everyone was so welcoming and helpful during the full experience. Our guide was Jimmy he was so great told us stories and some background of the horses and the ranch. After we went to their bar and had some drinks, they were a 10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some fun or romantic experience. Thank you so much :)

Went horseback riding for a friend's birthday on Saturday and it was wonderful! Driving to the…read moreranch felt like entering a fairytale! The road was filled with streams, shady trees, birdsong, and gorgeous green countryside. We brought produce for the horses to snack on and got to feed them! We did the 1.5 hour trail ride and there were only 4 of us in our group, making it comfortable with fun conversation. It was such a beautiful day and beautiful trail. Our guide was funny and kind, and helpful when some of the horses were going a bit slow (shout out to Tot and 530, the horses!). Every cowboy we encountered were also funny and kind. We truly had a wonderful experience and wish we could've stayed the whole day just hanging out at the ranch!

The family and I spent a terrific day exploring and experiencing all the fun, interactive, STEM at…read moreMOXI. We had a 4 year old and a 7 year old in our group, but I think their dad had the most fun of all! The activities were designed to be developmentally appropriate to include all the members of our group in their range of engagement. Parents interacted with their children and staff was on hand to make suggestions, monitor, and prompt us to better delve into the "science" we were playing with. They seemed well-trained on how to lead us to deeper learning without slowing our explorations. Thanks to the staff and designers who allowed us to spend such a beautiful family day!

Fun, hands-on museum in Santa Barbara, but I think it's better suited for school-aged kids than…read moretoddlers and preschoolers. We visited MOXI with our 4-year-old and under-2-year-old. The kids had fun exploring, but I personally found it a little underwhelming for their ages, especially considering the price. There are definitely some great interactive and creative spaces, but I think older kids would get much more out of the experience. One thing that was pretty disappointing was finding out after we arrived that the entire third floor was closed for a private event. We had driven about 70 miles to get there, so it would've been nice to know ahead of time, especially since admission wasn't exactly cheap. Parking was also a little confusing, although there is some street parking and public parking around downtown Santa Barbara and the transit area. There were definitely some highlights. They have a craft/building area where staff were helping kids with projects and doing little workshops. The current theme was marble runs, but kids could also draw, color, build, and make whatever they wanted. Staff were really hands-on and supervised things like glue guns and scissors, which I appreciated. I can see this being a really fun and worthwhile area for older kids who are creative and enjoy building and STEM-type activities. For younger kids, there is a small crawl/play area on the second floor, plus a quiet "cave" or calm room where kids can take a break if they get overstimulated. I thought those were nice additions, especially for families with toddlers or sensory-sensitive kids. We went on a Monday and it wasn't very busy, which made for a pretty relaxed visit. I could see the experience being much better for our family in a few years, so I wouldn't completely rule out coming back when the kids are older. If your kids are school-aged and enjoy interactive, hands-on learning, building, and STEM activities, I'd definitely say it's worth checking out. For younger toddlers/preschoolers, though, I would temper expectations--the admission price felt a little high for what we were able to do. One thing that could make it a much better value is the ASTC Travel Passport Program. MOXI participates in the program, which can provide free general admission at participating science and technology museums around the world if you have a qualifying membership. There is a 90-mile restriction, though--the museum you're visiting generally needs to be more than 90 miles away, measured "as the crow flies," from both your residence and the museum where you have your active membership. Overall, a nice museum with some genuinely fun interactive spaces. I'd recommend it at least once, but for our family, I think we'll wait until the kids are a little older before making the trip again.

Camp St Nicholas has been providing a safe, friendly and beautiful camping experience in the…read moremountains above Frazier Park, CA for sixty years. I have been camping here since the 1970's and still enjoy sessions either summer or winter today. Over the years, the camp has gone through several renovations, adding a beautiful chapel and upgrading the pool and game room behind the pool. The camp staff are pleasant, always willing to help and accommodate special dietary or scheduling needs, and strive to make every booking a complete success. All the services of the facility are available for a single booking fee which is based upon nights and meals.

If you are looking for a snow camp for large groups of 100 or more then this is the place. It's a…read moresort of mom and pop operation with many cabins, each with showers, sinks, toilet stalls and heaters. The cabins are really clean and have bunk beds galore that squeak a little but are sleepable. The main lodge is great for meals and they have a ton of games for the kids. They even have a stage for the kids to do skits. The camp is on the north side of a mountain above 6000 ft so the snow stays around for a while. This year we went up there and had a blast making sled runs and snow men as well as many snow forts/igloos. The food was decent camp food and they really cater to kids offering healthy kid friendly options. It was my son's first real time in the snow and it was quality father son time that I'll never forget. Thanks so much Camp St Nicholas for a great winter camp experience.

I have driven by this place for years and never paid it much attention. Walked in one day and was…read moresurprised at the space. One of the owners was there to greet me and answered all my questions. Signed our kids up for one of the classes and they are having the best time! They do after school as well as day time classes for charter and homeschool kids. Our kids are always so excited to go. Going to register them for another month!

From the owner: At Engineering for Kids, our camps are carefully structured to provide your child with the…read moreenrichment he or she needs to grow and thrive. We offer classes in the areas of Engineering, Robotics and Technology/Coding. Registration is open now!

My daughter recently attended summer camp and she absolutely loved it…read more Nice and dedicated staff make this summer camp an unforgettable experience.

We came to the open house to explore what the camp is and what it has offer. My boys, ages 12, 10…read moreand 7, have never been to summer camp...and that's a pity. At the open house, my boys got to tour, ask questions, explore, play and even sample the food (burgers and hot dogs). They were so excited. In fact, when I told my 7 year old we had to leave, he almost started to cry because he thought the open house was the first day of camp! He enjoyed the 3 hours we spent there so much he didn't want to leave. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley just inland of Santa Barbara, you drive up Main St. that turns into CA-154. The Saturday morning we went, the coast was gloomy with low clouds, overcast and some fog. As we drove up 154 on the winding two lane road, we started to see patches of blue pierce through the gray clouds. At the crest, before heading downhill, the clouds gave way to crystal blue skies and warm sun. We forgot jackets and I thought we'd be underdressed, but with the sun out, it was a pleasant 80°F. The drive there was absolutely gorgeous with lake Cachuma flanking us on the right. As we got to the turn out, we turned left right before the Lake Cachuma camp grounds. The dirt road is shared with the boys club campground, so make sure you make a quick left (there are signs) towards Circle V Ranch Camp. The dirt road has some undulations and uneven terrain that an average car or minivan can handle at slower speeds, but our 4X4 truck handled with aplomb. After the mile or so drive, the road becomes paved again and you cross a small stream and then the cabins come into view. The lush greenery and warm breeze welcomes you as you pass the pool to the general parking area. Once we got settled, the camp counselors greeted us and invited us on a tour. The facilities are campy, but in a good way. Log cabins and a big field and sport court are the highlights of the grounds. There really is something for everyone to do or find interesting. When the time came for the boys to be dropped off for their week at camp, my littlest one began to cry, as did my wife on the drive back home. She lamented that this was the first time all 3 boys were away from us and that her boys were "growing up..." Parents are encouraged to write letters or emails for the kids to read as the emails are printed every evening. My wife read aloud the email I sent the boys and she began to cry, again, as it was my way of telling our boys how proud I was of the way they were growing up and this, their first summer camp experience, was but one of many that the three of them will remember and enjoy for the rest of their lives. The week seemed like a month for us, but for the boys it wasn't long enough. They had plenty of stories to share and bragged about how good the food was. In fact, all of them wanted to go back right away. They even experienced a little depression when they got back home because they said every day at camp was better than the previous one. They sang their camp songs on the drive home from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store drop off location in downtown LA and also showed us their prayers before meals. My 10 year old even told us he prayed every night, especially for his mama! When my 12 year old, who will be 13 soon, returns next year he'll be what's called a table leader and, if selected, said he would volunteer the whole summer! If we could afford it, we'd send them for 3 weeks. That's how much they loved the camp. But for the week they'll spend every year until they're too old to attend, it'll be more memories for them to store and share. And we can't wait.

Took my parents up here for a visit and we loved it. Katie was really wonderful. She was kind,…read moreaccommodating, and made the whole experience really enjoyable. A great way to spend a relaxing morning while seeing the gorgeous rolling hills. Would definitely recommend. I'll be making sure to stop by again when I'm back that way.

The most amazing experience! The land is beautiful. Our guide was so informative and we even got to…read moresee all the animals on their land. We finished off our time at Fess Parker with a great win tasting! Would recommend to everyone looking for a more personal experience.