Really lovely museum. Currently under construction, but had some great exhibits open. I got a…read moredocent tour which I was very happy about. The pieces of art were beautiful, and the docent was able to go into shocking detail about each one. On top of all that, the price was really reasonable for what you get here. If I lived in the area I'd absolutely become a member, huge fan!

Summer in Santa Barbara is beautiful...and absolutely overrun with tourists. I mean, they had every…read morerestaurant PACKED, every parking space TAKEN, every dessert shop FULL, and every sidewalk OVERFLOWING. Ironically, as tourists ourselves (LOL, sort of), we needed a break from THE TOURISTS! My best friend Catherine suggested we duck into the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and I'm glad she did. It's not a massive museum. Just two floors. But hear me when I say it punches above its weight. On the day we went, there was a thoughtful and curated mix of Southeast Asian and Indian artifacts, contemporary works, digital installations and enough classic pieces to keep serious art lovers happy. There were also funny art pieces that reminded everyone that art is allowed to have a sense of humor, too. I appreciated the balance. One of my favorite exhibits there let us enter our birth information and it generated our birth charts. Whether you believe in astrology or not, it was fun to interact with the art instead of just looking at it. I learned some cool stuff about myself looking at my birth chart. Hey...If you need a break from the crowds, this is the place. It's peaceful, cool inside, has clean restrooms and it's just the right size to explore without feeling overwhelmed. You won't lose your whole day here. You'll simply enjoy the bit of time you dedicate to visiting. Sometimes the best attraction in a tourist town is the one that gives you a break from other people. Consider.

We have been coming here for years. Our kids LOVE the Moxi!…read more Especially our son who is a big STEAM kid. My only complaint is the water section on top floor, that exhibit in particular seems like it needs some maintenance. Some oil added or something like that as it is very hard to push the levers. Also some additional shade up there would be nice! It is super bright and VERY sunny (almost blinding with the white paint)! Highly recommend people bring sunglasses up there. It's nice because it is a very spacious museum that offers a lot. Often it is very clean too!

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.

I've been on a kick this year to see more historic parks and landmarks in SoCal. Shout out to…read moreYelper All-Star Derek W. of Lakewood, CA for inspiring me with his awesome photos and experiences! The challenge I'm finding is parks being open through the week, when we (ahem) "more mature folks" like to enjoy less crowds. So when I saw Heritage Square in Oxnard was open, with possible docent tours, on a TUESDAY, I jumped on the opportunity to partake of some local history. We headed for the Square and saw some parking but, being a first timer, I decided to drive around the entire square and see the layout from the street. I decided to park on W Seventh St, to the north and take advantage of shade, and the close proximity to Heritage Coffee and Gifts(separate review), which I knew we would wander into before departing the area. Turns out W Seventh is the perfect place to start. We entered and immediately were taken with the beautiful architecture, landscaping, care and attention to detail this special area exudes. It was all pretty magical and I wasn't sure where to start. Luckily, it wasn't more than a few steps in that we spotted the water tower and visitor's center/gift shop/central hub. We stepped inside and were greeted warmly. I explained that I saw they had docent lead tours and we could sign up online, but I wasn't sure what time we would arrive, so I didn't make a reservation. Was it still possible to get a tour, or was there a self-guided walking tour info sheet? We were asked to wait a moment while the manager and lead docent was found to see if they were available. Gary was available and we began our tour. What a WONDERFUL storyteller! Weaving the families and their history with Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and bringing them to life in front of their very lovingly restored homes! He took us inside of some of the buildings, where operational businesses agree to have the public tours pop in for a moment of show and tell. Details about the original designs, room layouts, furnishings and use were all so amazing to see, touch and learn about. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. We paid $10/pp and it was well worth it! Just to hear the history of the on-site church alone was worth it! But to venture inside, see the details in the hand-made stained glass and the conversion of the oil lanterns to electric. To hear how it has changed denominations over the years and to view the photos inside, documenting the preparation of the Square, the moving process for the homes and the restoration was so intriguing. This is such a beautiful and unique area. I love that these beautiful homes were repurposed and are thriving with businesses! At the end of the tour, Gary encouraged us to check out the annual Holly Trolley Tours, Christmas Tree Lane Event and Gingerbread House Exhibit and tours. All sounded absolutely delightful!. I immediately signed up for their newsletter and I'm REALLY looking forward to returning durning the holiday season and posting more pics of festively dressed docents and delightful decorations. Cheers! "CC"

The tours are such a great way to learn more about Oxnard. Ms. Connie Korenstein and all the…read moredocents who volunteer are gems and so good at what they do. Make a visit soon and plan your trip by visiting their website to get tour schedules and info. Review the expectations before your visit and ensure the littles are able to follow instruction to not climb and explore on the historic grounds.

GETTING HERE:…read more Located in the Channel Islands Harbor at 3900 Bluefin Circle. It's deep into the Harbor and you will drive for a bit. I was exploring Oxnard recently and found it on Yelp. Thank you Yelp as always! REVIEW: https://www.cimmvc.org/ You had me at museum and water. Such a lovely hidden gem (to me) in the V.C. In full disclosure, I didn't know what to expect and I was floored! Ships galore, in model or art form. I was greeted at the front and gladly paid the ticket fee. I was told there was an option to have a docent provide me a tour, but I decided to explore on my own. I don't speak ships, so I don't have the correct terminology, but please come check it out for yourself. Spend the day out here and immerse yourself in the history that is at our fingertips. Such a great experience. Thankful to live so close to this and thankful to the volunteers who serve here. Very definitely highly recommend! **** Please note that I have several photos attached. They're not showing on the app but they do show on the yelp.com website.

This museum is beautifully located on the harbor and contains a large collection of paintings and…read moremodel ships. We were fortunate enough to have a tour led by one of the many docents that work at the museum. Admission is very low priced and you can also become a member. We learned a lot of fascinating stories of battles and how ships were built. Highly recommend.

Upon entering from W 5th, there was a photo op area to take pictures with Santa. The food stalls…read moreand trucks were also in the same section. In the grass area there were many vendors selling various items. There was also a stage for musical performances. There were a few food stalls that sold tamales exclusively but most seemed to have a variety of offerings on their menu. Several vendors listed the price of $6 per tamale, which is pretty steep. I only recognized The Original Tamale Co. as I've had their tamales before at the farmers market. Their tamales are big and yummy. There was also a stand that sold sweet tamales with different fruit fillings. As I arrived later in the afternoon the lines for food was short and it seemed a few of the vendors were already sold out because their booths looked zipped up. Most festival goers were relaxing on the grass enjoying the musical performances. Although coming later you can avoid the crowd and easier parking but it didn't seem like I got to enjoy the festival to the fullest so I plan to attend much earlier next year.

What does a gal do when she wants to go to a festival and has no one to go with? She goes by…read moreherself and has a great time!!!! I walked around and visited the different vendors. I also really enjoyed the live music. I stopped at The Canyon truck as last year I really liked the tamales tatemados! I got a red pork tamale. The gentleman even remembered my name ... like what!!!! That was over a year ago!! I got an agua de sandía for 10 bucks at another stand. Wow .. pricey . Festival foods are pricey though! The line for gourmet tamales was long but they're not from Oxnard or even Ventura County. Back in the day it was more local vendors. I wish it was more of that. I'd love to see more local Oxnard, Port Hueneme ... etc vendors. Maybe even a home cook competition!

I had the pleasure of visiting both the Hermitage Museum and the botanical sculpture gardens…read more It's unbelievable that all of this is on one man's property in the hills of Santa Barbara. The museum is filled with fun pieces of art, some of it interactive. The giant sculptures on the property are remarkable, with the sheer quantity of them amazing. I loved the themed areas like the zoo. The vegetation is also a wonder, especially seeing rare specimens, some of them hundreds of years old. I can't wait to go back and spend more time appreciating all the detail that went into the place!

One of the most interesting and numerous place to visit. Vigorous walking up and down the hillside.read more

I had did some research before I stepped into this creative expression of fun collections. This…read moremuseum is definitely an art experience worth visiting with iconic figures and street art that paints Mr. Brainwash's (Thierry Guetta) main mantra for the museum, "Life Is Beautiful" which is dedicated to honoring imagination, joy, creativity and inspiration. It's his own work that is displayed but he also references artists work such as the famous Banksy and other artists. A friend told me that the documentary, Exit through the Gift Shop, is connected to this museum. I have yet to watch but will do so to gain more understanding. Apparently, it was free museum day because there were hosts at the door greeting and letting visitors in. That was nice. It wasn't too busy but a good crowd to where I had to wait for my turn to take photos. It's three levels including the rooftop where more artwork is held and a view overlooking Beverly Hills. They also have a gift shop with unique items for purchase. I bought a cutesy pen with an engraved quote on it. To add, I was instantly moved by the creativity and effort they put into this museum. It brought a lot of inspiration. The art work gave me ideas of how I would want a part of my home to look like. It was a fun visit and would recommend for anyone wanting to dig into their imagination and enjoys art. I am also a sucker for anything that brings out the inner child in me and this place fed it well. Thank you, Mr. Brainwash and staff. Ps. The museum might be closed now. Unsure if it's temporary or permanently but still wanted to share my experience. I visited it in January of this year.

My friends and I had fun here. It's free and you get two hours free parking across the street…read morewhere Crate and Barrel is... Great place to visit. There are 3 floors and it's kind of like a maze inside. Unfortunately, this museum is closing January 6, 2026. Visit if you can! There is a lot to see and take pictures of... The art is like an Impressionist and pop culture fusion!

This has to be one of our favorite places to visit in Santa Barbara. I've personally been coming…read morehere for over 25 years, and I still love it every time. It's peaceful, relaxing, and the nature is absolutely beautiful -- minus all the poison oak during the summer, LOL! Whether you have little ones, teenagers, or just want to take a relaxing walk with your partner, this is a great place to visit. You don't need to spend the whole day here either. A couple of hours is perfect to walk around, enjoy the scenery, and unwind. Definitely one of our Santa Barbara favorites. Highly recommend!

What a fun little add on to a trip with kiddos to Santa Barbara. Enough places for learning but…read morealso for the kiddos to get some play in the day as well. I have a 4.5 yo and 22 month old and they both had lots of fun. Random but I do wish the gift shop was a bit more stroller friendly.

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.

We've been wanting to visit the Oxnard Historic Farm Park for a while now, since it's part of the…read morePassport 2 History program. The limited hours of 9 to 12 on Saturday mornings hasn't worked for us in conjunction with other plans on the Oxnard Plain. I was glad to see that they were participating in Ventura County Farm Day, and staying open later than usual. We made it one of the definite stops we planned for the Farm Day activities. It was not what I expected. Good surprise! First, it's tucked into a neighborhood with green belts and a park, which gives a more spacious feeling than I was imagining. It's also not near any other farmland. What they do have is a number of vintage buildings, several plots where they're growing crops, some farm machinery, and more. There's a lot to take in visually. On Farm Day there was an added bonus that a gentleman was operating an old printing press, then giving away the bookmarks he made. They were literally "hot off the presses". He had a wry sense of humor, and it was fun visiting with him. We weren't able to pick up a stamp for the Passport 2 History program, as we never found the rep for the property. We were greeted by volunteers for the SEEAG group, the organization promoting Farm Day. Guess we'll have to go back to enjoy the surroundings one Saturday morning. I recommend this venue for families with kids, as there's lots to see, interesting backdrops for photos, and opportunities to talk about where food comes from, besides Ralph's!

I had my wedding here in February and can I just say that even in the dead of winter with not much…read moregreenery I'm so thankful we chose the farm park. It's so beautiful and rustic and the team working there are so knowledgeable and dedicated to this park. Not to forget they were so easy to work with! I don't live in the state anymore but I will absolutely make it a point to go back when I can and recommend it to everyone I know!