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

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

I literally planned a trip to Santa Barbara just because my toddler wanted to go back to the Moxi…read more We have a kids museum in our city but she kept saying no the one with the parachutes. I figured out it was the Moxi. I guess it make quite the impression on her last year. The museum had some new exhibits this time around. They added a fun ball launcher that I also enjoyed as well. The water exhibit could use some love. Some of the hydraulic levers was either not working or you had to really work at it. My toddler was not strong enough to use them. One thing I like is that we were able to leave and come back after lunch. We got to make the most if our trip. I'm sure we'll ge back next year.

Happy Earth Day to my fellow tree huggers. In honor of the occasion, I'd like to share one of my…read morerecent faves - a gem of a botanical garden that's hidden in the heart of downtown Ventura. When driving up the 101 from LA to the Bay Area, I love to make a pit stop in Ventura. It's the perfect place to stretch your legs out. And if you're looking for a little more to get your heart rate up, Ventura Botanical Gardens offers a lovely stroll-style hike to unwind from the one-hour-plus drive. The grounds are a mix of tiered levels, winding walkways, and lots of exotic plants. There are stretches of shaded areas, but SPF/hats are advised as it's still exposed to the seaside sun & haze. There are quotes carved in stones along the pathway that are nice to read. And when you get to the top, you get sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Time it right, and you can watch the sun dip into the sea. Admission is very reasonable. $7/person and FREE on Fridays. Feel free to bring your dog on a leash on Fridays too. I went on a random Tuesday and arrived at 9:15am, close to opening time. There was lots of free parking near the entrance. That's also where the cutest little gift shop greets all guests. Here, you'll find lots of charming gifts & knick-knacks & small plants to take home too. For those who prefer to lend a hand and yank out the Mustardweed to save the natives, then Tuesdays are a good volunteer day Note: The bathrooms take a little bit of patience. They're built on a septic tank system so just try to follow instructions if you see them posted. According to some intel, permanent bathrooms are in the city's near-future plans. Also note that they are CLOSED on Mondays. So take in all that natural beauty, breathe out all that stress. And make sure you've roamed the gardens enough to work up an appetite. Downtown Main Street is nearby and there's a strip of charming diners, cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops. For the true eco-conscious tree hugger, you'll find stores with handcrafted souvenirs, artisan plant trinkets, and even vintage/used books just about any day of the week. After all, every day is Earth Day, right?

We escaped the fog of the San Joaquin Valley for Ventura. We stopped by the Ventura botanical…read moreGardens around 11 AM. It was seven dollars to get in. There are about 3 miles of trails. A lot of interesting plant life. What we liked is that you can't get lost even though we tried. There are some great views from the higher elevations. This is a great place to visit as it will always be changing

Scenic location. Educational exterior exhibits from 3D renderings of the Channel Islands to an…read moreinteractive native plant garden and tide pools inside the center. Although small in space, this visitor center offers you the views from the tower, water play with the inside exhibits, and plenty of space to recharge (picnic tables outside and clean restrooms). We didn't have a lot of time so we bought a magnet and a few trinkets to memorialize our visit. We hope we can explore the island more seriously next time we visit.

Great visitor center with lots of knowledgeable staff onsite to answer questions…read more A really comprehensive gift shop and I picked up a book on the history of Channel Islands, a towel, a sunshirt, some postcards, and some earrings. Theres also a small outdoor garden to explore and also an overlook area at top of the building. Also, a ranger program was happening when I came here discussing the sea kelp that exist here. Bathrooms also available. Worth a stop in to learn more about the islands!

We stumbled upon Mission Basilica San Buenaventura by chance and didn't even realize it was right…read morein downtown Ventura! Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see the whole place, but we did get to step inside the church, and it was absolutely beautiful -- peaceful, historic, and full of charm. We're definitely planning to come back to tour the entire mission next time. A lovely hidden gem in the heart of Ventura!

First time actually checking out VTA properly and had to make a stop at the Mission, which is…read moreprobably the most OG thing in the city. It is a bit whitewashed (real talk: The Chumash were not as happy as portrayed) but regardless, it is a part of California history, and I respect that. I visit cathedrals/churches/missions whenever I travel internationally (Mexico, China, and Italy already this year), and would place the historical significance of the Missions near the top of any global list. $8 at the door, and worth it, if for nothing else, the peacefulness and tranquility...

This a nice little museum in Ojai. I got to check out some history and wonderful paintings. I…read morereally like the paintings that shows the scenery, some of which I had seen. It's located in a very walkable route from other places of interest in Ojai.

Admission is technically free/a suggested donation, but given the quality of the museum, everyone…read moreshould be donating to keep it going. There is fine art being exhibited, there are exhibitions about the rich human history of Ojai Valley, there are even exhibitions of its natural history-- there is a lot to learn from this institution. On my visit, there was an interactive art installation where you can draw a small piece and add to the museum installation yourself. It's perhaps catered first towards kids, but anyone can (and should) take part!

Such a fun experience. The staff obviously greatly cares for the animals and does everything they…read morecan to ensure their safety and comfort. Super fun birthday tour.

I went to visit the alpacas for my birthday on Valentine's Day, and I can honestly say it was one…read moreof the best experiences ever. From the moment we arrived, everything felt so peaceful and welcoming. Getting to see the alpacas up close, feed them, and just spend time around them was absolutely magical. They are the sweetest, most gentle little fluff balls I literally fell in love. Each one has its own personality, and being able to interact with them made the whole experience feel so special and personal. It was such a unique way to celebrate my birthday, and it made Valentine's Day even more memorable. I truly had the best time and left with the biggest smile on my face. They completely stole my heart... so now I guess I'll just have to go back and get it! I already can't wait to visit again. If you're thinking about going do it. You won't regret it!

We stopped into Murphy Auto Museum on our way home from vacation. Tucked into an industrial park,…read morewe parked, paid our $10 per person admission and explored this small but interesting museum. Sadly, we were told at the front that within a month it will be permanently closed. They have some interesting cars, really cool vintage travel trailers, a room with an HO Scale train setup and a very cool slot car track. We spent about an hour and while there a man with his two boys came in, and the boys were enthralled with the slot car track. One of the employees was so kind and let the boys race cars as long as he could stand there. They were having a ball. What a fun museum, and great for kids. So sad that it is closing. If you are going, you better make it soon.

This was our first time here. We brought the whole family and everyone enjoyed the trip. The staff…read morewas very helpful and happy to answer any questions we had about these beautiful pieces of history. I highly recommend to anyone that's into vintage cars and American memorabilia.

It says this place was open until 5 today but when I walked up no evidence of other people or being…read moreopen... no closed sign just empty. It is a beautiful old building and I hope it's going to stay that way and do something... Just know if you come here it may say open online and not be.

This placed is closed. Not art. Not open…read more When you get close to the place you can tell how run down and dilapidated it is. A real shame that this town has chosen other priorities (can't really tell what those priorities are cuz the whole of Oxnard is just a mess) over preserving a nice landmark such as this. Way to make Andrew proud, Oxnard.

This vintage 1892 house was the home of successive generations of the Dudley family up to the…read more1970s. The house was originally situated at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood. The old girl is in remarkably good condition for 131 years old (I think she's had some work done). The interior is set up to reflect daily life in Ventura in the early 1900s. Many of the furnishings inside are original pieces the family used in their daily routine. One imagines the difficulty of cooking a meal on the vintage stove, or how exhausting it would be to iron clothes with a pair of ten pound irons (they had two so one would always be hot, forget taking a break for two damn minutes), or making a phone call on the old crank style phone (the Dudley's had one of the first telephones in Ventura). The house is open to the public on the first Sunday of every month. Admission is free. You can learn a lot about the Dudley family and life in turn of the century Ventura from the docents on duty. The docents here are very informative and exceptionally good at contextualizing everything you see. They share as much about the Dudley family as they do about the house. Attired in appropriate period clothing, their narrative really captures and holds your attention. All of the above is why I rate The Dudley House five stars. I encourage you to visit. But this place isn't for me. This place gives me the creeps. See, as it turns out, this is a haunted house. This isn't something that is well-known at all. But I tell you, I knew before I even set foot on the property that there was an evil presence here. Yet, whatever presence I was sensing didn't seem malevolent, so I ventured inside. I took the tour. Just after the tour started, I was surprised and a little shocked when one of the other guests straight up asked the Docent if the place was haunted. It seemed like the question came out of left field. Sure, people often ask that question about any old wood frame house. But I've gone on a great many tours of historical homes and adobes across the Southland and I've never heard someone ask it during any other Docent's spiel. And just to reiterate, this site is not at all well known for being a haunted house. I've read a lot about the house online and there's no mention of the house being haunted. Even so, as I said, I had a sense about the place from the get go. And then, seemingly from out of nowhere, this question from another guest. The question surprised me, but the answer didn't. The Docent answered Yes. According to our Docent, some people say that The Dudley House is haunted by at least two ghosts. I mentally patted myself on the back and said, Mikey, you totally called it. (Lol) But then I come to find out the evil here is much, much than just a couple ghosts. And it's personal. See, this was a farm house, or ranch house, whatever way you want to call it. The Dudley's grew walnuts. On the other side of Telegraph Avenue they had a sprawling walnut orchard. In addition to walnuts, in the fertile fields where Ventura College now stands, the Dudley family grew Lima Beans. The Dudley Family made their fortune growing and selling Lima Beans. Hearing that made my skin crawl. Immediately I knew that was the dark presence I sensed before I sat foot on the property. Lima Beans. Lima Beans were once one of my most despised vegetables. I say "once" because now, as an "adult," I love Lima Beans. But when I was a kid I was haunted by the damned things. Because more than once they were the vegetable in the old "You're going to sit there until you finish your vegetables" game parents used to like to run at Dinner Time. I don't think many parents play that mess these days, but when I was growing up it was a thing. For so many years I considered Lima Beans to be concentrated evil that it's impossible to shake that association. It doesn't matter that I like them now. I'm still haunted by the things. And there I was. I was standing in the house of the guy that grew the beans that I hated so much for so long. It was chilling, yo! Not taking any stars off. It really was a great tour led by a very knowledgable Docent. But this place ain't for me. Mikey C says: You go ahead inside, Ima sit in the car and listen to the radio.

Plan ahead to visit this gem in eastern Ventura. They're only open to the public on the first…read moreSunday of each month for guided tours of the Dudley family home. While the clan's land holdings were once large, as befitting a farm family, the Victorian home they built was adequate, not a big mansion. The house features Victorian-era craftsmanship, highlighted during our visit with bunting ahead of the 4th of July holiday. The docents all dressed in period costumes to further highlight the times when the home was built. Many Dudley family possessions are displayed throughout the house. Though it's a museum, it doesn't feel fussy. Its aura is that of a well-loved family gathering place with music and games in the parlor, and scratch-made biscuits in the kitchen. The docents are delightful - knowledgeable and welcoming. They bring humor and life to the tour around the common rooms and five bedrooms. Tucked into the largest bedroom downstairs sits a small gift shop. I understand their pride and joy is their holiday boutique in December. They decorate the home for the occasion and it must be all volunteers on deck for the event. We'll have to check it out this year. Very glad that the Passport 2 History led us to Dudley House.