One of the largest cities in Ventura County, Thousand Oaks is named after the oak trees that are abundant in the area. It was inhabited by the Chumash people for thousands of years before the arrival of the Spanish who named it “Conejo Valley”. In the late 19th century, it was settled by Norwegian immigrants, with many of the city’s place names reflecting its Scandinavian heritage.
Things to do in Thousand Oaks
Learn about travelling in days gone by at the Stagecoach Inn Museum, which occupies the 1876-built Grand Union Hotel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has also been used as a post office and a church throughout its history. Step inside the Victorian-era rooms and admire the reconstructed timber schoolhouse before strolling through the fragrant rose garden.
The indigenous history of Thousand Oaks is explored at the Chumash Indian Museum, which encompasses a site known for its 1,000-year-old pictographs. Browse the Chumash canoe, grinding implements and musical instruments on display, then stroll through the replica village. The site also includes ethnobotanical gardens and a huge oak tree that is believed to be the oldest and largest in Thousand Oaks.
You can journey around the globe at the Gardens of the World, a botanical destination in the heart of Thousand Oaks. Established in 2001, it features a French-inspired garden and plantings of English roses, as well as a Japanese garden with koi-filled ponds. Floral species native to the region are exhibited at the California Mission Courtyard.
Getting around Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks is just over an hour from the centre of Los Angeles and 1.5 hours from Los Angeles International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect Thousand Oaks to surrounding destinations and travel throughout the city.