Ventura County family guide
Things to Do in Simi Valley with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Simi Valley on the map
📍 Where Simi Valley is
Simi Valley sits in Ventura County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~23 mi / 36 km). It's roughly 32 mi (52 km) from Downtown LA and 141 mi (227 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
🏡 New to Simi Valley? Start hereRec classes, library cards, school lookup, alerts and getting around.OpenClose
- Rec classes & camps: Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District, separate from the city, publishes seasonal guides; Winter 2026-27 registration opens October 28, 2026.
- Pool: RSRPD's Rancho Pool offers lap swim and lessons; open rec swim is closed for the school year and returns in June 2027.
- Library card: Simi Valley Public Library on Tapo Canyon Road is free for any California resident; register online, then bring ID for a full card.
- Storytime: The library's Kids' Programs include storytimes, crafts and science activities for children.
- Find your school: Simi Valley Unified serves the city; enter your address in the district's Find My School tool to see assigned schools.
- City newsletter: Subscribe to City Focus, Simi Valley's monthly e-newsletter on city programs, events and services.
- Alerts: The city's emergency services page urges VC Alert sign-up for emergency notifications at your address.
- Wildfire ready: Ventura County Fire's Ready, Set, Go! program covers defensible space, go-bags and leaving early; the county urges planning two exits from home.
- Getting around: Simi Valley Transit runs Routes 10, 20 and 30, with Route 10 reaching Chatsworth; Metrolink and Amtrak stop at the Simi Valley station.
Things to do in Simi Valley
Parks & Hiking
Arroyo Simi Bike Path
Paved multi-use paths run along both sides of the Arroyo Simi channel from Madera Road east toward Stearns Street. It is flat and good for learning to bike or scooter. Upgraded entrances are at Sequoia, Royal, Sycamore, Erringer and Madera, and Rancho Simi Community Park connects to it.
FreeBerylwood Park & Skate Plaza
This park has a Skate Plaza, a kids' half-court basketball court, a tot lot, playgrounds, hopscotch, sand volleyball and covered picnic tables with restrooms. On Friday nights (6–9pm) the multipurpose room has retro arcade games.
FreeBig Sky Park & Big Sky Trail
This park has pre-teen play areas with swings, four lighted softball diamonds, restrooms and the Simi Dog Park above the fields. The Big Sky Trail starts across Lost Canyons Drive.
FreeChumash Park & Chumash Trail
A small hilltop park with play equipment and a fitness area at the foot of the Chumash Trail, whose main trailhead is just past the park driveway. Turn around whenever little legs tire; the trail continues on to connect with the Rocky Peak Trail.
FreeCoyote Hills Park & Wood Ranch Trail
This park has pre-teen and tot-lot playgrounds, a covered picnic pavilion, a big shady lawn and a small riding arena. The Wood Ranch Trail starts at the southwest corner of the park for a short hike.
FreeKnolls Park
One of its two playgrounds is built like a fire truck, next to the renovated old Knolls Fire Station. It also has a walking path and a ball diamond, and Rocky Pointe Natural Park is nearby.
FreeMayfair Park
A neighborhood park with dinosaur bones for little ones to 'uncover', a playground, a walking path, a ball diamond and basketball and handball courts.
FreeOld Windmill Park
A neighborhood park with a playground, a large lawn, a lighted walking path and its namesake old windmill. It is on Long Canyon Road, near the Long Canyon and Canyon View trailheads.
FreeRancho Madera Community Park (Wood Ranch)
A large, well-kept Wood Ranch park with tot and teen playgrounds, an amphitheater, gazebos, a lighted walking path and restrooms. It hosts the district's annual Snowfest.
FreeRancho Santa Susana Community Park ('S Turn Park')
Simi Valley's hub for soccer, with a playground and a marked walking path just under a mile long. It hosts the Springtime Egg Hunt and the Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza, and the community center holds the annual Youth Halloween Carnival.
FreeRancho Simi Community Park Pool & Duck Pond
Simi Valley's only public pool, an Olympic-size pool with two diving boards in the 'Duck Pond Park'. The park also has a renovated lagoon, an accessible play area and a tot lot. Open rec swim is summer-only, and lap swim (ages 14+) runs year-round. The Arroyo Simi bike path connects to the park.
Rec swim summer only; lap swim $5 drop-inRunkle Canyon Park
A neighborhood park with a kids' play area, a picnic pavilion and two sand volleyball courts. A path at the south end leads to the Runkle Canyon Trail. Enter through The Woodlands neighborhood via Sequoia Ave and Fir Ave.
FreeSanta Susana Park ('The Rock Park')
An older park in historic Santa Susana known locally as 'Old Santa Su', with a play area, tot lot, covered picnic tables and restrooms. It sits next to the Santa Susana Train Depot museum, so you can combine the two on a weekend afternoon.
FreeSycamore Park & Elephant Rock
A large neighborhood park with a playground, a small climbing wall, disc golf and Elephant Rock, a sandstone formation that was a picnic spot for early Simi families. The site was also a Chumash camp site.
FreeCorriganville Park
A free 246-acre former 1940s-50s movie ranch where Fort Apache, Bonanza, and The Lone Ranger were filmed, with five trails including an easy 1.2-mile loop and a 1.1-mile interpretive trail with 20 nature signs, sandstone outcrops, oak forest, and picnic areas.
FreeAnimals & Nature
Rocky Pointe Natural Park
A 13-acre natural area at the headwaters of the Arroyo Simi with huge sandstone outcrops, including the county landmark Knolls Rock. It also has oak woodland and a seasonal vernal pool. There are no facilities, just a hiking path, so it suits an adventure walk for kids who like to scramble.
FreeSimi Hills Neighborhood Park (duck lagoon)
A shady pocket park at the Simi Hills Golf Course entrance with a lagoon of ducks and turtles. The district says no fishing license is needed to fish the lagoon. There is no playground, so it suits a picnic and duck-watching stop.
FreeIndoor Play
Lazertag Extreme
A family-owned venue with a 5,200 sq ft multi-level laser tag arena, a Pixel interactive game floor, arcade games and a café. Walk-ins are welcome, and it is a popular spot for birthday parties.
Check siteharley's Simi Bowl
A west Simi bowling center with bumpers for kids, automated scoring and family packages. Cosmic bowling runs Saturday afternoons and nights and Sunday midday. Lanes can be booked online, and walk-ins are not guaranteed.
Check siteharley's Valley Bowl
The east-side harley's bowling center, with bumpers for kids and the Rock & Roll Pizza bar. It is open Tuesdays, when Simi Bowl is closed. Cosmic bowling runs Friday nights and Saturday from 2pm.
Check siteMuseums & Learning
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum
Walk through the actual Air Force One jet (the Boeing 707 that flew seven presidents, including Reagan's 660,000-plus miles to 26 countries), see the real Marine One helicopter and a presidential limousine, and crawl through a mock Berlin Wall escape tunnel — a surprisingly kid-engaging history museum with hilltop Pacific views. The grounds also hold a full-size Oval Office replica, a WWII-through-9/11 gallery with a World Trade Center steel beam, a replica White House Rose Garden, and the Reagan gravesite overlooking the ocean, all included with admission. One detail almost nobody expects: the snack counter inside the Air Force One Pavilion is an actual Irish pub building, shipped over intact from Ballyporeen, Ireland, the town Reagan visited in 1984.
General $16, senior $13, youth 11-17 $9, child 3-10 $6, under 2 free (through Nov 6, 2026 — jumps to ~$30/$27/$23/$20 when the next special exhibit opens Nov 7). No timed-entry reservation needed.
Santa Susana Train Depot
A 1903 Southern Pacific depot moved to Katherine Road and run as a small railroad museum with a model train room. Hours can vary, so call 805-581-3462 before you go.
Check siteSimi Valley Public Library
The City of Simi Valley's library runs weekly storytimes at 10:30am: Baby (Mon, 0–12 months), Get Ready for School (Tue, ages 3–5), Tiny Tots (Thu, ages 1–3) and Family Storytime (Sat), with crafts after some sessions. Check the calendar for holiday changes.
Free
Strathearn Historical Park & Museum
A free 6-acre pioneer history park with the Simi Adobe (the oldest structure in Simi Valley), a relocated 1890s church, and Ventura County's first public library building, with docent tours Friday through Sunday.
Free
More for families in Simi Valley
From our researched guides: the Simi Valley spots for splash pads, pickleball courts, camps. Hours and prices change, so check the venue's site before you go.
Splash pads
All SoCal splash pads →Rancho Tapo Community Park Splash Pad
Locally loved 'Lemon Park' with a recirculating splash pad of ground nozzles and spray structures, plus courts and shaded picnic tables.
Free
Pickleball courts
All SoCal pickleball courts →Rancho Tapo Community Park
Six pickleball courts - 4 dedicated and 2 multi-use - in north Simi Valley, plus 4 tennis courts.
Venue website ↗Sinaloa Middle School Community Courts
Twelve pickleball courts open to community play outside school hours - the biggest court count in Ventura County. Check the school calendar, since weekday access does not start until 4:30 p.m. in term time.
Venue website ↗Camps
All SoCal camps →Rancho Simi Rec & Park District — Summer Day Camps
Themed weekly camps at Houghton, Vista and Wood Ranch — crafts, games, relay races and team sports all summer.
$ low-cost
Venue website ↗Farmers markets in Simi Valley
Simi Valley Certified Farmers Market
Friday market at the Civic Center Plaza with organic and local produce, baked goods, live music, and kids' activities.
Holidays in Simi Valley
Lights, parades, Santa and more this season. Confirm details with the organizer before you go.
A Christmas Carol – On Air! (Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
Nov 28–Dec 20, 2026 · Fri–Sat 8pm; Sat–Sun 2pm matinees
A comedy version of Dickens staged as a 1949 live radio broadcast with live sound effects and vintage commercials, lighter than a ghost-heavy Carol.
$37 adults, $32 seniors/students, $27 children (+$3 fee)
Auburn Lane Community Lights
Typically December, nightly
Thousands of lights are strung from house to house across the streets of the whole neighborhood, and nearly every home decorates.
Free
Iceoplex Simi Valley
Year-round public sessions
Ventura County's only public ice rink found in this research.
$20 ages 6+ / $15 ages 5 and under, skate rental included
Winter Wonderland Holiday Display (Highland Road)
Typically December, evenings
A single yard filled with 100 to 200 lit figurines and characters, a favorite with small kids.
Free
Festivals & annual events in Simi Valley
What Simi Valley is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
An American Christmas at the Reagan Library
An exhibit of 26 decorated trees, each styled for a different era of American history, plus a Gold Star Family Memorial Tree. Santa photos are offered on select dates from late November to Christmas Eve, roughly 10:30am-4pm. Tip: the library is open 10am-5pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, and tickets are sold online.
Included with museum admission
Simi Valley Fall Street Fair
A 9am-4pm street fair on Simi Town Center Way with craft and food vendors and a free Kids' FunZone. Tip: the Kids' FunZone is the main kid draw, so go before noon.
SnowFest at Rancho Madera
A 10am-3pm event at Rancho Madera Community Park with sledding, snow play, kids' attractions, a vendor expo and food trucks. Wristbands are needed only for kids' slides and attractions. Tip: dress in layers and bring a change of clothes and socks, since snow gets wet.
Local restaurants in Simi Valley
Tacos 805
A modern, family-owned Simi Valley taqueria with deep local roots, serving authentic tacos and Mexican plates in a casual, friendly room.
Porcellino's Italian Market & Deli
A family-owned Italian deli and market with sandwiches, pinsa, arancini, and salads — an easy, no-reservation lunch stop near the Reagan Library.
Seasonal & outdoors near Simi Valley
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Simi Valley.
More Ventura County family guides
Browse all SoCal city guides →Simi Valley family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Simi Valley with kids?
Family favorites in and around Simi Valley include Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, Rocky Pointe Natural Park, Simi Hills Neighborhood Park (duck lagoon) and Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, and more. Our guide lists 26 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Simi Valley?
Yes — free family spots near Simi Valley include Rocky Pointe Natural Park, Simi Hills Neighborhood Park (duck lagoon), Santa Susana Train Depot and Simi Valley Public Library. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
What can kids do in Simi Valley on a rainy day?
Indoor options in and around Simi Valley include Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Lazertag Extreme and harley's Simi Bowl, and more. Each listing in our guide is marked indoor or outdoor, so you can filter for the weather.
How can families spend a day in Simi Valley?
One easy plan: start outside at Rocky Pointe Natural Park while kids have the most energy, break for lunch at Tacos 805, then head indoors to Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum for the afternoon. Our guide has prices and tips for each stop, plus 24 more ideas to swap in.
Where can families eat in Simi Valley?
Local, family-friendly spots in Simi Valley include Tacos 805 and Porcellino's Italian Market & Deli — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Simi Valley guide cover?
Our Simi Valley family guide includes 26 things to do, 2 local eats and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Simi Valley
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Simi Valley on one map — then book on your favorite site.