Always a highlight of our springtime activities. We've been supporters of this fundraising event…read morefor many, many years. This year we took a friend with us who hadn't experienced this event before. She was amazed at how well we knew our way around the various neighborhoods where five gardens were featured. One reason for that is having been on the tour so many times. Even with that said, there were several homes in areas that were a fresh surprise to us. Camarillo not only has an amazing climate, but also areas where lots were sold initially with plenty of elbow room. We toured several gardens this year sitting on an acre or more of land. The homeowners have done a beautiful job of filling those spaces with many landscaping delights. There was one more modestly sized yard at one location. That was absolutely charming in how they used the space, including a waterfall cascading into their swimming pool and a wonderful seating area to one side that captured a relaxing tropical vibe. We sat there for a time listening to the rushing water, and also to the musician who was providing entertainment for the that home. Delightful! Another home on large lot had extensive food plantings - veggies and fruit trees. They were arrayed in such a way that it was practical, but also visually beautiful. Several large artichoke plants were especially striking. Their outdoor table was set with decorations crafted from the vegetable garden. So clever. All in all, it's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon to be inspired by homeowners with not only green thumbs, but a sense of joy in embracing their precious garden spaces. The usage of succulents and other waterwise plantings is encouraged, and there are great examples of that style of gardening to embrace.

Well worth the visit!! At the time we stopped by, we were the only guest so we enjoyed a private…read moretour of the home and extended history lesson on all things Camarillo. We love old homes and the lovely things they house. It's wonderful to be able to support a piece of California history in this way.

This is where Camarillo initially started as an agricultural/ cattle ranch and acquired its name…read more The Docents are exceptionally knowledgeable and can answer most questions asked. They wear Victorian clothing and explain the early history of Pleasant Valley and how the sixteen year old Adolfo Camarillo grew his inherited ranch into the world's largest producing Lima bean center while developing a genetically distinct breed of white horses. The ranch house is a Queen Anne style mansion with 14 rooms and 6,000 square feet of space. Most of the furnishings are from the inhabited period and many are original, donated by the Camarillo family. The ranch and mansion are "handi-capable" which is very thoughtful to all who might arrive. They also have an extensive garden tour, school tour and can accommodate large events such as weddings, corporate gatherings and proms. Best of all; the entry fee is $5.00, children under 12 are free.

My wife and I wanted to do something different and fun for our wedding anniversary, and booking a…read moreride with Sunburst Railbikes turned out to be one of the best decisions we've made. We chose the 1 PM time slot, which is a 2-hour scheduled ride that includes two stops--one in Fillmore and another at Prancer's Farm on the way back. The ride was full with 16 guests, and the guides did a great job leading from both the front and back, making sure everyone felt comfortable and safe. Check-in was quick and easy, and they even provided complimentary popcorn and water, which was a nice touch before getting started. The ride itself was an absolute blast and definitely a solid workout--very similar to cycling, covering just under 10 miles round trip. The carts are super easy to use, with clear instructions from the guides. Each cart comes equipped with a front storage rack, cup holders, a hand brake (which you'll appreciate on the downhill!), an odometer, and a switch to toggle between manual and automatic. The assist mode really comes in handy on the uphill stretch heading toward Fillmore, while the ride back is a smooth and enjoyable downhill cruise. The weather couldn't have been better, and the scenery was incredible. Along the way, we took in beautiful views of avocado and lemon groves, cactus fields, and plenty of wildlife--squirrels, lizards, and even bees hard at work pollinating. It made the whole experience feel peaceful and immersive. On the way back, we stopped for about 20-30 minutes at Prancer's Farm, where we got to see a variety of animals including goats, pigs, bulls, and sheep. There's also a petting zoo option if you purchase tickets. The farm had a fun seasonal setup for Easter, along with a shop where you can buy fresh fruit, beef jerky, and other local goods. Overall, this was one of the most fun and unique experiences we've had. If you enjoy the outdoors, want a bit of adventure, and don't mind getting in a great workout, I highly recommend giving Sunburst Railbikes a try. Hopefully my photos--and this review--help you decide to book your own ride!

I had a nice experience riding the Sunburst. Staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. They…read moregave general instructions of use but I perfected the pedaling and driving (option via a little throttle lever) in the first few minutes. Riding over a moving rattlesnake in between the tracks was a startling surprise! I lived to tell the tale there! The first stop at the end of the route before turning the railbikes back was ok, but I feel there could be some kinda stalls or local art on display during the 15 minute break. Surely some vendors could set up something? The next stop going back was at Prancers Farm which was ok for some local produce. Having said that, a fruit smoothie or ice cream made locally would be a nice touch? I went to go look at the animals but didn't wanna pay $7 each person to do so. After this 30 min stop we went back to the depot. I experienced this adventure in early spring on a day which was maybe high 70s. I'm not so sure I would enjoy this in Summer.

We got in touch with Captain Sean to help celebrate my girlfriend's 30th and had a fantastic time!…read more We set sail in the morning to the Channel Islands, then kayaked through sea caves, snorkeled in the kelp forests, hung out with the seals, and chilled on the boat with a some drinks, sandwiches, potato salad, and cake. Captain Sean also didn't blink an eye when I had a couple dietary restrictions in terms of provisioning the boat. Overall the experience was definitely an adventure we'll remember and we're already itching to find a way to get back in the sea again.

People were friendly and informative! We saw whales, a massive school of dolphins and seal lions…read morethey were knowledgeable and attentive.

What a great experience at Malibu Wine Hikes vintage VW Bus wine tasting tour!. So informational,…read morebeautiful sites, mountains animals, great wine and charcuterie board! and an awesome live band, and it's the absolute perfect day out - who could ask for anything more! Our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable, leading you through stunning mountain views and up-close encounters with the ranch animals.

My wife and I did the 4 o'clock hike and tasting yesterday at Malibu Wine Hikes. We had a wonderful…read moretime. The hike itself was very easy. The venue was visually enjoyable as there were multiple places to take great pics of the area. Our guide, Elena, was very knowledgeable and very engaging for the entire event. She knew the ranch history, the area history, and also the various bridal options on the vineyard. She is a certified sommelier and it was clear she knew her stuff. I would ask for her if you can request a guide. Would definitely recommend this as a three hour event to get outside and enjoy nature as well as wine.

My two brothers and I spent the long Thanksgiving weekend in Solvang and decided to end our trip…read morewith an ATV tour in the Santa Barbara mountains before heading back to L.A. Best decision ever! Although getting to the meeting point was a bit scary as we drove 15 mph through winding roads next to steep cliffs, the views were nice and the ATV experience was totally worth it! We gave ourselves plenty of time to get lost and it took us about 1.5 hours to get to the checkpoint. Luckily Google Maps was on the entire time and we even had an hour to kill on top of the mountain before our 12:30pm appointment. (Also had screenshots of the directions in case we lost service). Upon arrival, we met with the two girls who were wearing face masks and face shields so we felt safe. They had all the sanitizing stuff. They checked us all in, gave us each a mesh covering for our head, pairs of gloves, goggles and helmets. They offered different insurance plans (just like a rental car company), each ranging in price. Then, they walked us over to the ATVs where Jorge was our tour guide. He asked us if we've ever rode before and taught us how to use the automatic ATVs and made us feel comfortable and safe. (Throttle was on the right handle bar and brakes on the left. Second brake was a foot pedal). We drove on wide and narrow trails, over some fun rocky areas, kicking up lots of dust, and he took photos of us the entire time. This was a great family bonding experience and we're all still talking about how fun it was and want to do it again. Know Before You Go: It gets dusty so wear clothes and closed toe shoes that you're ok getting dirty. Give yourself plenty of time to drive to the location because the last thing you want to do is rush through the scary mountain roads. 10/10 would definitely do this again!

WARNING We saw all…read morethe awesome reviews from this place and thought to give it a shot. My wife has been wanting to go ATV'ing awhile, we were staying in Santa Barbara for the weekend so the timing was perfect. We live almost 2 1/2 hours away from the location (Santa Barbara)but gave ourselves a 40 minute cushion before our reservation. We past through 2 counties and caught anADDITIONAL hour of traffic on the way and completely missed our reservation. Now before your reservation you sign a agreement with a reschedule disclosure attached. We didn't make the appointment, didn't reschedule and we were forced to forfeit our prepaid $250 for two riders. This is an online business so you won't be able to talk with a single soul. I reach out via email, and was surprised how quickly they responded in NOT caring about helping me with my issue. Bottom line; no they didn't do anything wrong by not helping, but they could care less about having satisfied customers or anything outside of collecting our money. So if you're planning on going with this company then please be on time cause you'll not be shown any leniency, or to cough up an additional 40% of your initial cost PER PERSON just to reschedule.

One of the best experiences of our life!!! The boat super…read morecool and comfortable, and our tour guide was awesome. We got to see a big bank of Dolphins, Sea Lions and a Blue Whale. We are definitely coming back, this really was a fun experience.

We went on the 1.5 hour morning outing and saw two separate pods of dolphins which swum around us…read morefor a long time and got up right next to the boat. The boat was small enough to be fast, exciting and close to the animals but large enough to be comfortable and feel safe. We also saw sea lions and heard about the area from our boat captain. I've been on several whale and dolphin boat rides/cruises and this was definitely one of the best. I only took video of the dolphins around the boat and unfortunately, Yelp won't let me post a video. But I added a couple of other pics.

Had a FANTASTIC experience today! It seems some of the less than favorable reviews below are…read morerelated to the other business with the same name. We met our guide at a private lot with direct beach access. (No crossing freeways or long rides to the beach) Our guide Steve was friendly and we were given clear instruction before mounting the horses. My husband had never been on a horse before and he was nervous but afterward said he had a great time and felt confident on the horse as we rode. While we did not book a private ride, our group ended up only being our family of three and it was a truly gorgeous day and awesome experience. If we lived local I would do this all the time!

This trail ride was perhaps the worst I've ever experienced for multiple reasons. Two of the…read moreemployees in particular were so rude, uptight, and condescending. I brought a water bottle attached to a lanyard and both of these employees felt the need to judgmentally ask me if I "really needed that water bottle" and "are you sure that won't fall off?" Of course, the water bottle did fall off. When we got back, the man rudely and unnecessarily remarked "I told you it would fall off." I was paired with a terrible horse who did not follow any of my commands, constantly ate the vegetation, pinned his ears at and would try to bite the other horses for no reason, etc. I have some experience riding horses and I was doing my absolute best with this out-of-control horse. In turn, I was continually being barked at by the guides to "pull up on the reins and release, don't let him eat, kick him, go to the back, catch up to the rest of the group, keep him away from the other horses" etc. In addition, we rode through a very busy freeway overpass with multiple onramps/offramps and cars everywhere. We also passed right next to an active railroad. Of course, a train roared past a mere ten feet away from us. The horses spooked and it was a miracle that no one was thrown off. We were not given any prior warning that we would be riding in the middle of these very dangerous environments. If there was a warning in the waiver, I wouldn't have known because we were so rushed to sign it and had no time to read it. We finally made it to the actual beach and spent a mere 20 minutes on the shore before riding back through the danger zones towards home. I spent the entire ride pissed off, disappointed and feeling unsafe.

Went to this farm with honestly no expectations, and it ended up being one of the most memorable…read moreexperiences ever. I surprised my boyfriend with a date here, and we both left completely obsessed. We learned more about ostriches than we ever imagined possible, got unbelievably close to them, and even had them nibble on us -- which was equal parts hilarious and unforgettable. Every second of the tour was incredible. Now, to keep it real: this is a small farm. It's mostly ostriches, some desert, some fencing, and at first glance you might think, "okay... giant birds in the dirt." But that's kind of the magic of it. The beauty of this place sneaks up on you the same way a really good book does -- at first it's just paper and words, and then suddenly you're emotionally attached and questioning your entire existence over an ostrich egg. Lou absolutely made the experience. He has such an amazing life story, so much wisdom, and a genuine passion that shines through in everything he talks about. But honestly, the real tour isn't just about the birds -- it's about the way Lou sees the world. One minute he's explaining the mechanics of ostriches like some kind of desert bird engineer, the next he's pointing out California quails you never would've noticed on your own, talking about nature with the kind of excitement that makes you start paying attention too. He'll happily talk with you for as long as you're willing to engage, and you leave realizing there's so much life and beauty packed into what initially looked like "just some land." Also, this man talks about his wife with such genuine love and admiration that it honestly restored my faith in humanity a little bit. It was so sweet hearing someone speak so splendidly about their partner after clearly building a whole life together out there. The entire place feels full of heart because of it. And the honey!! Don't skip the honey. Absolutely delicious. We also bought an ostrich egg for $60 and honestly... worth every penny. We painted the shell afterward and made the world's biggest deviled egg, which is still one of the funniest things we've ever done. Such a unique souvenir and experience. There's also so much more here than just the tour -- Lou's son teaches archery lessons, there's a small campsite, and despite losing their cherry trees from the fire and flood, the farm still has this incredible spirit and resilience that makes you admire them even more. If you go, just keep an open mind. It might not look like much from the get-go, but if you really listen -- really let Lou show you what this place means to him -- you realize you're somewhere genuinely special. It's funny, heartfelt, fascinating, and weirdly grounding all at once. Must see. So glad we went. Stop by -- you won't regret it.

This place was so amazing great place to get close to ostrich. The own himself gave my family a…read moreprivate tour it was so informative and all the details he gave us have me so amazed. The location it self it's beautiful near mountains. They also have restrooms and playground for kids. They also have little shop they sell ostrich eggs which are huge and they even have home made honey. Amazing place would definitely be going back!!

Last week I flew to Camarillo airport to meet some friends for lunch…read more While getting ready to leave I found a maintenance issue with my plane that needed attention. The folks at Channel Islands Aviation were extremely kind and helpful. The customer service manager Alice arranged a hotel room for me and made sure that I received the 17% room discount provided to their clients. She also loaned me a phone charger for the night and had one of the linemen drive me to the hotel at no charge whatsoever. I cannot speak highly enough of their service and the atmosphere of the business. Top-notch all around. Thanks so much, Alice, and to the entire staff for your assistance during a stressful moment in my trip. Michael Rodgers - Founder - West Coast Mooney Club.

I fly here very frequently and have been renting here for about the last year and one of the…read moremanagers Abe is a NIGHTMARE to deal with not only has he made provocative comments about his female co workers which is insane to me how he hasn't got fired SERIOUSLY needs to be talked to. He is never in a happy mood to anyone, he gives off the impression of hating his job and life and it kills the mood when you're about to fly. Their selection of 172s are not bad they have some nice ones and the prices are normal lobby is fine and comfortable enough to wait in.