Must See Sights and Landmarks in Thousand Oaks Area

"Santa Monica Pier and Beach are one of Los Angeles' most iconic landmarks, spanning 3.5 miles along Los Angeles' Pacific Coast Highway. The free-admission beach is a protected California State Park, with areas provided for swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, and beach volleyball. Its most well-known attraction is the Santa Monica Pier, which was originally opened in 1909 and became an amusement park area in 1916 following the addition of the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome."

"Peerless Pier – To be entirely honest, we’re not huge fans of Santa Monica Pier. It’s dirty, crowded, the attractions are sketchy, and the atmosphere is touristy. At the same time, Santa Monica Pier is also iconic and romantic in its own sort of way."

"Located on the Malibu Pier, this is a relatively low-cost (and delicious!) way to have an ocean-view meal. Opt for something light, like an acai bowl, as it’s going to be an active day."

"If you'd like to get a taste of Malibu student life, check out Pepperdine University, located 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from central Malibu. Hotels.com travelers also say the area is full of friendly people and has lots of nice beaches."

"Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, this state historic park really feels as if you’re out in the country, right down to the grazing deer. For the littlest legs, just running around the polo fields and across the lawn to the horse stables can feel like a hike, but wandering up past the stables and to the left leads to a hiking trail to Inspiration Loop Trail. (You can also start the hike on the other side of the Will Rogers house, by the tennis courts)."

"At the time of his death in the mid-1930s, actor Will Rogers was once of the most popular men in Hollywood. He used the money he earned from his fame in part to build himself a sprawling estate to enjoy his favorite activities. His massive ranch, with over 30 rooms, sits on a property with stables and corrals for horses, dedicated trails and areas for riding and roping, a polo field, and a golf course."

"Parking is $12 but if you arrange it on a day where you can take a tour of Will Rogers' house and see a game of Polo, who can complain!. There is limited street parking but you will have about a ten-minute walk. For the hiking, please read the signs and follow the trails."

"Clean, abundant with cheap parking, easy to find and dog friendly, Charmlee is the Malibu hike you pick when you want a chill, hassle-free stroll where you’re not too likely to run into too many fellow hikers. The trails here are gentle, with easygoing slopes, focusing more on golden, flowery meadows (hello influencers) without skimping on the dazzling coastal views. No wonder it’s one of Malibu Magazine’s favorites."

"Charmlee Wilderness Park protects about 590 acres of unexploited natural scenery in the Santa Monica Mountains. The park is home to a wide variety of native plants, brightly colored wildflowers and has over 8 miles of crisscrossing hiking trails. There are several trails in the park but the most popular one is the easy, 2.6 (round trip) Ocean Overlook Loop Trail."

"It has a land area of more than 500 acres with a trail that stretches to more than 8 miles. This trail is very family-friendly with a great view of the ocean and a gorgeous sunset. There is signage that marks the park’s entrance and, you only have to pay the $4 parking fee."

"Natural History Museums24151 Newhall Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91321MoreLess Info. The William S. Hart Park & Museum is a historic museum that is the former retirement home of William S. Hart Park. The museum includes a '1910 Ranch House' that holds a collection of saddles and Hollywood mementos."

"Also known as Case Study #8, this residential house is located at 203 North Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades and is an example of modern architecture in L.A. It was one of about two dozen homes built as apart of The Case Study House Program between the 1940s and 1960s. The study was a challenge to create homes to express life in the modern developing world."

"Last year I stopped by Paramount Ranch and Lone Pine, which were both very Western-themed locations. You may be wondering, "What is there to do in this tiny town?" It's an actual functioning town with a community theater, historic hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, and more."

"If I could truly give this place a negative 0, to say the least. My son and I made this our regular Donut place on school mornings and sometimes on the w..."

"America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee, espresso, breakfast sandwiches and donuts. Order your Dunkin’ faves ahead of time with the Dunkin’ mobile app for a fast grab and go experience."

"DK’s Donuts in Santa Monica is not afraid to take risks with its bakery menu, and it combines some highly unexpected flavors and ingredients to great acclaim—a line often snakes out the door. DK’s slings just about every hybrid donut under the sun, including an o-nut (croissant-donut) and a wow-nut (waffle-donut). The UBE donuts ($2.25) incorporate Filipino purple yam into traditional cake donut batter, then are topped with glaze, bacon, coconut, or crumb or filled with cream and fruit."

"Take a quick Uber to DK’s Donuts & Bakery to pick out a few of their creative concoctions, including a donut/waffle hybrid dubbed the “wownut” and more crazy toppings than you could ever imagine. So many different donut creations it’s overwhelming, but in the best way possible. I fell asleep early, what a shock, I know, so I got my fix of DK’s in the morning before heading off to the airport. Your long weekend in LA isn’t complete without some of the good stuff."

"For more than 25 years Cold Stone Creamery has served up the finest, freshest ice cream, cakes, smoothies and shakes using only the highest quality ingredients. 27071 McBean Parkway | (661) 253-412318740 Soledad Canyon Rd | (661) 252-1300"

"Third Street Promenade – Steps away from Tongva Park, you’ll find Santa Monica Place, which is a large shopping mall and one end of 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica’s world-famous alfresco shopping street. Third Street Promenade offers stores that range from giant national chains to independent luxury boutiques, restaurants, and random other stuff. Our interest pretty much lies exclusively in the “random other stuff,” which includes dinosaur topiaries."

"Upon entering the Sonoma Wine Garden, a popular rooftop restaurant in Santa Monica, visitors immediately notice the beauty and atmosphere of the place. A large outdoor patio and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean are just the beginning, though. The restaurant is known for its bottomless mimosas and extensive menu, including a wide range of traditional coastal California dishes made with the freshest local ingredients."

"Santa Monica Place is one of L.A.’s most upscale shopping malls. You will find stores like Swarovski, Tiffany, Michael Kors and Nordstrom at this charming, yet modern outdoor mall. Many people enjoy visiting the Nike flagship location here as well, or having a meal with an amazing view on its upper-level dining deck."

"This suburban mall has all the typical stores and food court you'd expect, along with outdoor patios, dining, crafting opportunities, and nightlife.24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia"