After being sick last weekend, I really wanted to get out and get some fresh air. The weather was perfect. It's been in the 80s all week, but it was only 65 degrees outside at noon today. So, we decided it would definitely be a great day to visit the Conejo Botanical Gardens in Thousand Oaks, California. Admission is free and there are a few hiking paths, a connected park for the kids to play at, and plenty of beautiful views. Parking is also free. There is a lot which had space for about 30 cars. I suppose you could also park on the side of the road and walk in, but it's a bit of a walk from the roadside to where the parking and park gates are located.
This is one of those places I have seen the sign for on the side of the road for years, but I've never bothered to stop. It's in a residential community and seems deceptively small from the outside. Without this challenge to find free weekend activities, I may never have gone. But, it's beautiful and there's plenty to look at. Honestly, my children were more interested in the rocks (they found some very interesting igneous and sedimentary rocks on our walk), but the plants were pretty, too.
One fair warning to families of young children or anyone with orthopedic or health issues. The gardens are built on a rather large hill. Almost everything is an uphill walk and the main nature hike, which we didn't get a chance to do as we still lack the stamina after recovering from being ill last week, is considered a moderate hike. Also, there are rattlesnakes. We did not see any, but there were signs of snake holes in various areas.
Here are some pictures from the 2 hours we spent there this afternoon:
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