Thousand Oaks Travel Guide

Tucked securely into the base of the magnificent Santa Monica Mountains, Thousand Oaks is settled between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and in close proximity to the smaller neighborhoods of Simi Valley and Westlake Village, making it one of the most desirable urban California cities to live in. It has also been named one of the top 10 safest cities within the United States, furthering its appeal as a vacation destination. Travelers who stumble upon Thousand Oaks will be pleasantly surprised by its beauty and laid-back attitude.

Things to Do in Thousand Oaks

The city of Thousand Oaks is known for its natural beauty. It’s home to a number of great places to go hiking including Paradise Falls, Wildwood Regional Park, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area -- a large urban park that features of 415 miles of hiking and jogging trails and a bird's eye view of the city below. The Gardens of the World is another place that’s perfect for walking and relaxing, as the location offers dozens of lush gardens, verandas, and stone-paved walking paths, as well as a panoramic mountain view. Other notable things to do within Thousand Oaks include a visit to the library, a tour of the Chumash Indian Museum, catching a live theater production at Conejo Players Theater, and spending the afternoon at the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks. Visitors could also spend the day shopping, playing golf at the Los Robles Greens golf course, and swimming.

Best Places to Stay in Thousand Oaks

Some of the best areas to stay in Thousand Oaks are the general downtown area and anywhere within walking distance of public parks and lookout points. The rentals in Thousand Oaks offer full kitchens so that guests can enjoy home-cooked meals, internet access, and affordable prices. The rentals range in style from small and simple to large and exquisite, ensuring that each visitor finds his or her perfect vacation rental.

Best Time to Visit Thousand Oaks

There are simply no bad times to visit Thousand Oaks. With the area that it's located in, there are too many things to do to be worried about getting bored. If you’re looking to make the most of the hottest weather that California has to offer, you’ll want to take a trip to Thousand Oaks during the mid-summer months.

Best Events in Thousand Oaks

Residents and visitors both look forward to attending one of Thousand Oaks’ many annual events. The Scandinavian Festival, honoring the Scandinavian culture, features food, crafts, storytelling, art, live entertainment and dancing, and traditional Scandinavian clothing- all of which work together to create an immersive experience and a fun celebration. The Conejo Food and Wine Fest is another popular festival. This event features live music, wine, beer, and a variety of food vendors who serve large portions and dozens of tasty dishes to try. A few other events to note are the FAYM Music Festival and the Thousand Oaks Chili Cook Off.

Things to Do for Families in Thousand Oaks

Underwood Family Farms is perfect for families with children or with members of different ages. Underwood Family Farms offers a variety of fun things to do, some of which include pony rides, mini electric tractors, train rides, games, a playground equipped with a sand box, and petting the farm’s various friendly animals. Guests to the farm can also pick their own fresh fruit and vegetables to take home. Oak Park Splash Pad and Dalad Swim School are great for cooling off in the swimming pool or water park, while go kart racing at MB2 Raceway is the perfect way to have some competitive, family fun without any hard feelings.