I'm in Ventura all the time and for some reason I've never stopped by, until now! It was my…read moremother-in-laws birthday and she really enjoys George Stuart. The museum entry was free. They have the front lobby (staff was extremely friendly!) and to the left, they have a store with unique items made by locals; you can explore after you make your way through the museum. During our time there, they had the following exhibitions: Parallel Histories: Ventura County during the US Revolution, Patriotic Threads: Textiles, Tapestries, & T-Shirts, The Changing Faces of Abraham Lincoln, and In Focus: Mexican Indigenous Voices of Ventura County. You can get through the museum roughly in a 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Definitely worth stopping by!

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.

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.

We were so fortunate to visit the Gardens during their wonderful hummer exhibition. Hummingbirds…read moreand informative displays are located throughout the Garden. There are new paths to explore, interesting displays to enjoy and of course, the amazing views when you get to the top. Benches are strategically placed throughout the Garden for rest if needed, shade if desired and simply to enjoy the moment. Bring water as you'll be glad you did on these warm days. Remember to wear your sunscreen and enjoy. Ample free parking in the lot out front.

Heads up to local seniors who may want to build up their aerobic fitness in the foothills above…read moreVentura Harbor with a perfectly maintained path, gentle rise, and fabulous scenery. For a $45/year membership you can train all year on a 2.5 mile loop through the plants native to Chili, South Africa, Mediterranean, Australia and CA with blooms that change through the seasons. There's no gym that can provide the meditative immersion in nature that the botanical garden gives you. The path's surface is amenable to walkers. There's only an outhouse -so that may be a problem. Coming from out of town? Got children? Perfect place to take them for breathtaking views of the harbor, fun exhibits (like the one on hummingbirds going on now) and a place to eat your bagged lunch. Kids under 18 free. Adults $7 without a membership.

It's been years since I was last in here and I appreciate it more than the last visit. There is…read morefree parking available and it cost nothing to enter. There was more than enough information boards about all the islands and the flora and fauna. Support the visitor center buy purchasing collectibles and souvenirs.

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!

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura is the 9th of the 21 California missions. While going up to San…read moreFrancisco, we made a stop at MBSB to stretch out our legs. This is one of the smallest missions I've visited but one of the prettiest and most peaceful. Come visit this mission!

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!

Open Tuesday thru Sunday with some permanent exhibits and other new exhibits which usually are…read morelocal artistic exhibits with various themes. They have a great gift shop with local history information and also gift items. The suggestion donation is $5 but not mandatory. The employees manning the gift shop desk are full Of local Information and extremely knowledgeable about Ojai and very friendly. So worthwhile!

If you have a little time to spare, check out this small museum in downtown Ojai. The kids love…read moremuseums, so thought this was perfect for them to explore. It is free to enter, but a donation is suggested to maintain the museum. Very charming surroundings with history of Ojai, gorgeous paintings, a tiny gift shop, and nature exhibit. My daughter was so fascinated by the old school typewriter. She had questions on how to utilize one. They allowed her to try it out with blank paper, but ink was completely faded. We spent about 30 mins tops taking pictures and exploring the museum. Good spot to check out while visiting Ojai.

Very friendly, very organized. The tour was easy and close up and personal to the animal…read more Everything needed was provided.

Canzelle Alpacas is an alpaca farm located in the town of Carpinteria, just outside Santa Barbara…read more It's deep in the countryside but is close enough to the water. We booked tickets online and arrived on the farm during our slotted time. We got up close with the alpacas and fed them with carrots and bowls of feed. One of the workers got the alpacas in position (with sunglasses and a hat) and we took pictures with them. We learned about the different types of alpacas but there were other animals on the farm like llamas, horses, sheep, chickens, and Archie the water buffalo. The whole experience took an hour. I recommend wearing closed-toe shoes as you'll be walking on unsteady ground in the dirt and grass. We went with kids and it was very kid-friendly. They had lots of fun feeding the alpacas and being around them.

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.

Dear Hubby once had a VW camper van, and has a thing for retro campers. When he saw an…read moreannouncement for the annual vintage camper show, it was game on. What a fun, kitschy, time machine experience! The campers ranged from micro-mini teardrop -style, to a Greyhound bus which had been converted to a High-60's museum vibe. In the latter, I was transported back to the days of go-go boots and 45 records. The owner had the bus stocked with toys, games, furnishings and accessories of the era. Fabulous! Most of the owners dressed in period garb, and invited guests to tour their trailers. Color schemes and fantastic themes livened up the show. A DJ playing tunes from the 50s and 60s added to a party feeling. We grabbed a hot dog and listened to the music, people watching and taking it all in. The event was in full swing in the noon hour. Inside the car museum itself, there was a mix of classic cars, along with some muscle cars, and a few more campers. They've added mannequins sporting clothing from decades past, adding to the historic atmosphere. The model train layout is new since the last time we visited the Murphy. Quite extensive with great miniature scenery of a bygone era in Americana. Glad we checked it out today!

I'm rounding up from 3 1/2 stars to 4 for several reasons. First, because this is another stop in…read morethe Passport 2 History book, and the hostess was delighted to see us bring in the Passport. Kudos! Second, the hostess / cashier was extremely welcoming, informative, and gracious. She was happy to see us, which is always a nice feeling. She let us know that there was a group meeting down in the basement about to get started in 7 minutes, but that we could go down there to see a collection of weavings on display. We popped down to check them out. While not mind-blowing, it was a fairly extensive grouping of closely woven pieces of varying size and design. Back up on the main floor they had their current traveling exhibit of artwork from the collection of the Mullin Automotive Museum. The varied works of photography and paintings in various media are as striking as the autos that inspired them. Well worth experiencing for those who love the sleek lines and elegant components of classic cars. Having been to the Mullin, I don't remember the artwork as much as the cars, which suggests that highlighting the art is a worthwhile endeavor. Because these works were not the property of the Carnegie, but rather on loan, photography was not allowed. Up on the second floor, selfies only were recommended, but photos of the museum's permanent collection were okay. The current selections are of the plein air style, with emphasis on California subjects. Cornelis Botke (husband of Jessie Arms Botke, noted Ventura County painter) is represented with one of his landscapes. I thought I recognized the Botke name. Jessie Arms Botke's works are currently featured at the Santa Paula Art Museum. There is a fair amount of unused space, especially on the second floor. Portable display walls could be utilized to expand the number of works available to see. I suppose lighting could be a challenge, but they could surely figure it out. The building itself, in neoclassical style, was the former Oxnard City Library. It presents a grand facade in downtown Oxnard, adjacent to Plaza Park. Free parking in their own lot and adjacent streets. We saw a fashion photo shoot happening out front when we arrived, and it does make a statement as an architecture background. I understand that it's a popular place for photography. As we were leaving, the hostess mentioned that around the corner is their "Artist in Residence" venue, and suggested that we check it out. The current group of pieces there are mostly focused on photographs, and are vibrant, youth-focused, and often raw in emotion and subject matter. Worth checking out, especially for anyone who thinks that art museums are "stuffy".

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 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.