As a nanny and a self-proclaimed hiking queen, Arroyo Verde Park has been one of my go-to outdoor…read morespots for about five years now. I've spent countless mornings and afternoons here hiking, clearing my head, and getting a great workout in while still enjoying nature. The trails are well maintained with multiple options, so you can keep it light or make it more challenging depending on your mood. The views are beautiful, especially in the early morning or at sunset, and it never feels overly crowded. It has a calm, local Ventura vibe that I really appreciate. I've also brought kids I nanny here for walks and fresh air (sticking to the easier areas), and it's such a great space to reset. One thing to note: when it's hot, be cautious of snakes on the trails--proper shoes and awareness are important. If you're looking for a reliable, scenic place to hike in Ventura that locals truly love, Arroyo Verde Park is a must.

First time visiting this park. It's like a mini valley where you have to large hillsides on each…read moreside. When you first drive it, it's a lot of grass and picnic tables. In the middle of the park is the toddler playground and then at the end of the park is the larger playground area for older children. There is lots of grass and a grass hillside. The highlight for me was the toddler playground. I work with children and often like to meet at parks to see their gross motor skills and work on them. This is one of the few parks left I have seen with sand. The park was very clean and even though there were many dogs off leash running around, pet owners were quite aware of where their dogs were and I didn't see any dog poop in the grass. You also can't beat that gorgeous ocean view. I came on a Friday late afternoon when they don't charge a park fee. Big plus!

Very clean and nice park with a baseball dugout and areas for bigger kids and little kids to play…read morein. It's very peaceful and in a nice neighborhood. No strange people hanging around and no people sleeping or living at the park. There are restrooms as well but I can't comment on those because I didn't use them. Plenty of street parking in front of homes. Overall a very nice place to bring the family. I saw lots of people having birthdays and hanging out on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of big trees for shade.

Visited this place on Saturday. I liked the size of the play area. Gives kids space to run and…read moreplay. I was a little dissappointed that the trash cans didn't have lids. Because when the wind blew the trash would fly out. The bathrooms at the park were locked except for one and when you have kids they need to have at least two open. Some parts of the front play area should have some coverings. But its a nice place.

Dear Hubby and I took a drive out to Ventura for my birthday, which happened to be mid-week this…read moreyear. Big hooray - it was sunny; no fog in sight. It was on the coolish side, but the abundance of sunshine made it seem warmer. We had an early dinner down on Main Street. Where we parked there was a sign indicating that the eastern entrance to Grant Park was nearby. We had been up there perhaps only once in the past, and we'd gone in from the west. The drive up in the late afternoon / early evening had the golden glow magic to it. The light was amazing! I was driving and marveling at every twist and turn on the roadway while ascending the hills. The wildflowers and green groundcover from winter's rains made the scenery even more breathtaking than it might be when the grasses start to turn golden instead of green. I was able to drive all the way to the top parking lot, which overlooks the Serra Cross, and the entire Ventura coastline. The view encompasses the pier, the harbor, then beyond out to Channel Islands Harbor, Port Hueneme, and the western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. It solidified my feelings in that moment of gratitude for enjoying life in Ventura County for the past 40 years. A gorgeous view on a clear day can do that for a person. When a sunny day happens, and the winds are calm, I can recommend taking a drive up to the top of Grant Park to make some of your daily cares seem very small. Looking down on the city / county from on high helped lift my spirits and added joy to my birthday celebrations.

**A Sacred Place**…read more This park is truly beautiful, with lush vegetation that delights the senses and creates a sense of quiet grandeur. A loved one first brought me here when I was about nine years old, and the memory has stayed with me ever since. Now that he's no longer with me, I find myself returning--not just to enjoy the scenery, but to remember the love he showed me by introducing me to places like this at such a young age. April is his birthday month, and I visited again just last week. I breathed in the scent of fresh lavender, sat in the sun over Easter weekend, and wandered the grounds at my own pace. Every moment of that solitude felt meaningful. Yes, this may sound a bit sentimental--but it really is that special. It's a beautiful place.

Big park w/ restrooms and easy access to the 101 in Ventura. Good place for a picnic or pit stop.read more

Beautiful Park!! We had not been here in a long time, but this is truly a beautiful park. The park…read morehas 2 separate play structures to accommodate for different ages. Bathrooms are available, but I did not use them to note the cleanliness. Large open grassy areas to play lawn games or just come for a picnic. The neighborhood is quiet, and there was ample parking when I came twice recently. There is also a covered gazebo with tables. I think it is a first come, first serve for usage. Oh, and basketball courts! Overall, I think this is a wonderful park.

As a nanny, Camino Real Park is one of my absolute favorite parks in Ventura. I've taken multiple…read morekids here over the years, and it's such a great setup for families. What really sets this park apart is that it has three different playground areas, so kids of different ages always have something to do and don't get bored easily. The park is spacious, well maintained, and feels safe, which is huge when you're responsible for little ones. There's also a dog park and tennis courts, so it works for everyone--families, dog owners, and people just looking to be active. I love that it's easy to spend a long afternoon here without feeling cramped. Plenty of space to run around, sit, relax, and let kids burn off energy. It's one of those parks that's clearly designed with the community in mind. If you're a parent, nanny, or caregiver in Ventura, Camino Real Park is definitely a go-to spot.

Super huge park, with two play areas and baseball and softball fields…read more however, This park is slowly going downhill. The road to get in and out needs to be repaved, very bumpy ride in and out. The parking lot is beginning to fill up with homeless people.

Our go-to spot for a relaxing day at the beach with our husky. It is a bit of a drive from LA, but…read morenot much further than getting to Long Beach or Huntington Beach for us (the other dog friendly beaches near LA). This beach is on-leash and has never been crowded. That makes it a good spot for our senior dog to walk a bit and then curl up by our beach blanket for bird watching and napping under the sea breeze. The humans like the fact that it is usually clean, parking is very easy and inexpensive in the two large lots, and the restrooms are usually clean enough (bring hand sanitzer, though - the soap and paper towels often run out). There's also paths for people riding bikes and jogging, and a large park that is often lively with picnics, barbeques, volleyball games, and people working out. As people in our early 40s, it is refreshingly unpretentious and un-scene-y, too. Most people are friendly and there are a lot of families. One tip: The water here can be rough with rip currents, and there is no life guard present.

We were so full from our breakfast at IHOP that we felt the need to walk. In looking around at the…read morearea, 'olołkoy Beach Park was less than a mile away. The park is small, but well maintained and clean. The palm tree lined walking path is wide and flat. Nice playground. The beach is a short walk over -- just follow the sand. :) We ventured into the neighborhood behind the park to check out the lovely homes, each with their own personality. The people were so friendly to wave and say 'hi' as we walked by. There's two good size parking areas -- pay to park machines are easy to find.

I visited Plaza Park yesterday. I loved seeing the Moreton Bay Fig Tree as the sheer size of it is…read moreimpressive. I also liked seeing the Phoenix statue and admired the craftmanship that went into making it.

Such a fun place to just chill at...when we walked by and hung out yesterday after the Ventura…read moreMarathon, there was a huge crowd of adults playing Pokemon Go! LOL! Love it! Beautiful, old trees and lots of grass to run around on.

Beautiful views and worth the 7.25 mile round trip hike. It was about 2.45 h in and 2.5 h out…read more Plenty of arrows to help lead the way. If you can weather the whole hike up to the punch bowls, you won't regret it! Lots of maneuvering rocks and it can get sketchy at some times. But there are plenty of families and furry friends that take this hike so that should give you an idea about difficulty. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen and you will be fine. You might step in some water crossing a pond or two so bringing an extra pair of socks wouldn't be a bad idea either. Have fun and don't leave your trash behind!

DO NOT LET YOUR DOGS GET IN THE WATER AT THE START OF THE TRAIL!!!!! I'm not sure how it is further…read moreup, but we got in the water as soon as we could, and our three dogs immediately covered themselves in thick tarry oil. We had to rush to the nearest park bathroom and scrubbed them as much as we could, but it ruined a bunch of clothes and towels, and I'm worried for their health after watching them drink some of the water and try to lick themselves clean. There needs to be some sort of warning sign about the oil in the water.