ALONG COMES MARY

Camarillo checks all of the boxes for a fun outing with the kids. I’m lucky to live close, so I find myself in town often. As one of the many gems in Ventura County, Camarillo is laid-back and has an outstanding foodie scene to boot. Even better? Two of these recommendations are free, which is always a perk when my girls are involved.

KidSTREAM Children’s Museum

KidSTREAM is the first of its kind in Camarillo. The long-awaited children’s museum, which is great for ages 1 to 10, offers a large outdoor playground in addition to an indoor exhibit. Their outdoor space is made into three distinct sections (Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands, Agriculture, and Basecamp) that give kids a variety of imaginative play and plenty of sunshine. There’s also plenty of room for strollers and letting babies enjoy the surroundings.

As KidSTREAM is still expanding and will be opening more, one indoor room is currently open. The STREAM Gallery has crafts, a LEGO building station, and the Amazing Airwaves. The latter gives visitors the chance to see scarves, ribbons, and other airy objects whiz, zig, and zag through the airwaves until it flies out. Mabel got a kick out of this, and it brought to mind one of our favorite spots,  the MOXI Museum in Santa Barbara.

The Camarillo Premium Outlets

We’ve always enjoyed an afternoon at the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Their Disney Outlet has always been our big “draw” in an age where the Disney Store is long gone. Imagine how excited my family and I were when Toys R Us opened here last year. Yep, THAT Toys R Us. Living close enough for my girls to experience these throwbacks from my childhood is special.

And that’s not even a fraction of the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Over 150 stores are spread across the ample shopping destination, plus dining and plenty of grab-and-go staples. We usually end up at Ubatuba Acai or McKenna Koffee Company. In the center of the plaza is a playground, which makes it a convenient spot to grab a treat and hang out and play.

Nexus Family Center

This is my favorite activity with my kids in Camarillo. The Nexus Family Center at Nexus Church is a completely free and welcoming play center for all, open weekdays from 10 am to 4 pm. The center is gated in which makes me extremely comfortable as Mabel races around. Their backyard often hosts water play parties, bubble day, and other events. Inside, there’s weekly toddler playtime and storytime.

Although under construction this year, the massive slide is easily the center’s main attraction. Mabel never fails to make friends and play for hours. Imagine a McDonald’s PlayPlace gym and multiply it by a few. The climbing slide thrills children as it’s larger than life.

At the self-serve cafe, they offer a great variety of snacks of all sorts. String cheese, granola bars, dried fruit, chips, snack packs. There’s something for everybody, as well as Ragamuffin coffee for one dollar and locally made baked goods. I love that so much is under two dollars and that I’m giving back to the Nexus Church, which has created such a welcoming environment for the Camarillo and Ventura County communities.

More to Explore in Camarillo with Kids

Camarillo has an impressive foodie scene and nearly 30 parks in the area. Some of my favorite spots to eat with the kids in tow are the Hidden Cafe and Rice by Mama. For parks, we love Camarillo Grove for its nature trail and dog park, and the Community Center for the pirate ship. They also host movie nights in the summer.

Stroll the Old Town and grab coffee and hot chocolate at Cafe Ficelle and American Pie Records and Coffee House. Old Town is also good for dogs if Fido is joining.

While Camarillo makes for a great day trip or afternoon adventure, they have numerous hotels. We loved our stay last year at the Hampton Inn. The rooms are spacious, comfy, and located near everything I’ve mentioned. Complimentary breakfast and a pool, too.