Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Thousand Oaks with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Thousand Oaks on the map
📍 Where Thousand Oaks is
Thousand Oaks sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~28 mi / 46 km). It's roughly 36 mi (58 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.
Things to do in Thousand Oaks
Gardens of the World
Established in 2001 as a gift to the city from Ed and Lynn Hogan, founders of the Pleasant Holidays travel agency, this free 4.5-acre garden tours England, France, Italy, Japan, and a California mission courtyard. Kids gravitate to the Japanese Garden's koi pond and pagoda and the English Garden's 400 rose bushes.
Free
Conejo Valley Botanic Garden & Kids' Adventure Garden
This 33-acre hillside garden's Kids' Adventure Garden, added in 2003, is open Sundays only, with a treehouse, a pirate's cave, a zoo garden, and even dinosaur-shaped topiaries. It's free (donations welcome) and playful by design — made for curious kids to run, climb, and explore.
Free (donations welcome)
Conejo Creek North Park
Two duck ponds, a stream, big shaded playgrounds, and a footbridge to the library — a perennial Conejo Valley family favorite for an easy afternoon. The 44-acre park's two ponds are linked by a gentle recirculating stream where ducks and turtles gather, and the footbridge across it leads straight to the Thousand Oaks Library next door. Shaded picnic areas and sand volleyball courts round out the park for a longer stay.
Free
Wildwood Regional Park & Paradise Falls
A roughly 2-mile round-trip hike past Lizard Rock to a 40-foot waterfall splashing into a shady canyon pool — best after winter rains and a hit with adventurous kids. Paradise Falls and its pool sit inside the sprawling 1,765-acre Wildwood Regional Park, where sweeping grassland gives way to volcanic rock outcrops like Lizard Rock along Mount Clef Ridge. There's no fee or permit needed to hike here, and families who want a longer day can extend the loop past the falls to the rock formation and back.
FreeFarmers markets in Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers' Market
Thursday market at The Oaks shopping center with fresh Ventura County produce, flowers, and prepared foods.
Local restaurants in Thousand Oaks
Bandits' Grill & Bar
A home-grown Conejo Valley barbecue favorite since 1989 — tri-tip, ribs, and chicken in a casual, family-friendly setting that's racked up best-BBQ honors.
Cisco's Mexican Restaurant
An authentic family-owned Mexican kitchen serving the Conejo Valley since 1971 — generous combo plates in a lively, welcoming room.
Local shops in Thousand Oaks
The Open Book
Independently owned bookstore stocking books, comics, toys, collectibles, jewelry, and antiques — a little of everything.
Seasonal & outdoors near Thousand Oaks
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Thousand Oaks.
More Los Angeles family guides
Thousand Oaks family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Thousand Oaks with kids?
Family favorites in and around Thousand Oaks include Gardens of the World, Conejo Valley Botanic Garden & Kids' Adventure Garden, Conejo Creek North Park and Wildwood Regional Park & Paradise Falls. Our guide lists 4 spots, sorted by distance from you with hours, prices and tips.
Are there free things to do in Thousand Oaks?
Yes — free family spots near Thousand Oaks include Gardens of the World, Conejo Valley Botanic Garden & Kids' Adventure Garden, Conejo Creek North Park and Wildwood Regional Park & Paradise Falls. Use the "free only" filter in the finder above to see them all.
Where can families eat in Thousand Oaks?
Local, family-friendly spots in Thousand Oaks include Bandits' Grill & Bar and Cisco's Mexican Restaurant — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Thousand Oaks guide cover?
Our Thousand Oaks family guide includes 4 things to do, 2 local eats, 1 local shops and 1 farmers market — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Thousand Oaks
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Thousand Oaks on one map — then book on your favorite site.