Family-friendly things to do in the Camarillo/Oxnard area

(Prices as of 2012)

Six Flags Magic Mountain. 50 miles away on HWY 126 (not super busy).

http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/index.aspx

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.   27 miles south.  Admission $21 for adults.  Less for children.

http://www.reaganfoundation.org/library-and-museum-overview.aspx

Getty Museum. 58 miles south on HWY 101. Admission free, parking $15.

http://www.getty.edu/

Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  ~68 miles south on HWY 1. Adults $15, seniors and students $10, children free. Parking $10.

http://www.lacma.org/

Horseback riding. There are dozens of horseback riding facilities around but the one linked below seemed to be the most low-key. Prices at some other web sites seemed to be in the $30 - $45 per hour range.

http://peppertreeranch.com/  (20 miles)

Miniature golf. Bumper cars, bumper boats, go-karts, speed karts, lazer tag, and of course, golf. $23 buys an “All Park Pass” which includes a round of golf, 4 ride tickets, and 4 game tokens.

http://golfnstuff.com/ventura/info.html

Go-Kart racing.  $225/half-day, $395/whole day. This is a little more serious than bumper cars. Read the “parent/child” class link.

http://jimhallkartracing.com/

Kayak rentals. $55/day (or less) in the harbor. Can also take a boat ride over to the islands and kayak around there ($200).

http://www.cikayak.com/index.html

Day trip to Santa Barbara. Arts and crafts show is every Sunday along the beach. SB is about 40 miles north on HWY 101.

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Visitor/Things/SBAACS/

Ocean fishing. $45 to $65.

http://www.channelislandssportfishing.com/index.php

SeaBee museum. Admission and parking are free.

http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/seabee_museum.htm

3-hour tour of Santa Rosa Island. 25 minute flight each way in a 9-passenger twin-engine airplane. $165 adult, $130 child

https://www.flightstothechannelislands.com/index.html

Helicopter tour. Prices range from $325 to $625 for three people.

http://channelislandshelicopters.com/

Stunt driving school. $1650 for a 2-day course.

http://www.bobbyoresports.com/beginner.html

Introductory flight lesson.

http://www.ciaflightschool.com/deluxe_intro_lesson.html

Restaurants:

Whale's Tail [http://thewhalestail.com/]  (nice view of Channel Islands harbor)

Brophy Brothers [http://www.brophybros.com/] (Ventura harbor)

Tierra Sur [http://www.herzogwinecellars.com/] (follow Tierra Sur link)

Greek at the Harbor [http://www.greekventuraharbor.com/]  (Featured on a recent episode of Kitchen Nightmares.)

Spinnaker Seafood [http://www.venturatoday.net/spinnakerseafood.html]

Eric Ericssons [http://www.ericericssons.com/] (seafood on the Ventura pier)

Masa Sushi in Camarillo (read trip advisor reviews)

Waypoint café [http://www.thewaypointcafe.com/] (breakfast & lunch)

Eggs ‘n’ Things (breakfast)

Victoria’s Pub (English food but also has darts and pool tables)

Toppers Pizza

China Buffet

Of course we have several movie theaters including an IMAX and an independent.

There are at least two golf courses in the area.

There are two malls and a huge outlet center.

Disneyland is 95 miles south – through LA.

People surf around here but I think they’re always in wet suits so that’s another possible activity for the hardy among you.

Flying in (commercial) to Santa Barbara is easiest but may not be cheapest. In addition to LAX, you may also want to check Burbank for possible deals.