My husband is going to Thousand Oaks on business in July and we're debating going with him. By then our children will be 3 years old and 3 months old. We know nothing about California, having lived on the east coast our entire lives. I've been to California once about 18 years ago. What would be some appropriate things to do with young children? I'm thinking the beach, children's museum, walking path.

TIA for suggestions!

Thousand Oaks is a nice city, but it's pretty far away from the main drag of the greater LA area, and well inland (maybe four miles from the Pacific as the crow flies). Malibu is not too far away (maybe a half-hour on the road) and a very nice beach community. You will need a car the entire time you're there, however-- Thousand Oaks is pretty quiet.

FYI, the Los Angeles Children's Museum closed its downtown LA facilities in 2000, and is working on a new facility at Hansen Dam-- which will open in 2007. If you want museum time, LACMA (Miracle Mile section of LA) has children's activities.

If you feel like a 90-minute drive, the Aquarium of the Pacific (in Long Beach) has lots of sea life to view (and touch) and lots of kids' programs.

The Reagan Library is in Simi Valley (also within a half-hour), and I suppose you could stroll around the grounds. The crowds should be thinned out by then.

This is definitely tough-- Thousand Oaks prides itself on being removed from LA, so it's basically a bedroom community (colleagues of mine commute an hour from there to get to our Santa Monica headquarters) with limited attractions for out-of-towners. You'll have to use the concierge services at your hotel for tours and such. Good luck!

Thousand Oaks is closer to Oxnard than to LA, and in Oxnard you will find the Gull Wings Children's Museum. The Children's Nature Institute has many neat programs in both LA and Ventura county. They have a website. childrensnatureinstitute.org

If you want to venture into LA for the day I bet your 3 year old will love Travel Town, a real live train museum in Griffith park, with real live trains they can play on, and miniature trains they can ride and even smaller model trains they can watch. The zoo is also in Griffith Park, along with pony rides and a carousel.Tracel Town is heavily shaded. We used to do the zoo early and then go over to Travel Town, eat a picnic lunch, play on the trains and then go see the horses at the stables. Griffith Park is about 30 miles from Thousand Oaks, but the trafffic on the 101 is pretty bad, especially during rush hour. This trip would probably be best taken on a weekend

In the valley there are so many children's activities I cannot begin to list them, especially during the summer. Both Ventura County parent and L.A. Parent magazine will have calendar of other activities for your specific dates. Their on-lone calendars are not always up-to-date, but you can pick up hard copies of the magazines all over.
http://www.vcparent.com/
http://losangeles.parenthood.com/

here_today is much more of an expert on this part of the greater LA area than I (MUCH more), so I defer to her expertise and excellent suggestions.

I take it rjw that you aren't a mother! lol

I'm a guy, so no, I'm not a mother (although some behind my back may call me something starting with "mother...", LOL ). You are right: Since I don't have kids, I don't have insight on where people take them (unless I run into the kids wherever I am at any given moment).

Still, cindyloo will be burning up the freeways getting to the fun stuff....

I have burned up the freeways all of my life. It's part of the fun. We never went on a day trip--we always went on "adventures." To this day my daughter never says she needs to go OC or out to the westside, she is "going on an adventure."

And it could be a lot worse. Many people in this country would give their eye teeth to have so much avaialble to them within a 20 to 40 minute drive.

here_today: I'm with you...!!!