A WEEKEND IN CONEJO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
Nestled alongside Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California is the scenic region of Conejo Valley. The vibrant valley offers up a little bit of everything, a recipe for the perfect weekend escape, including hiking trails, wineries, movie sets, botanical gardens and fabulous restaurants. I recently spent a weekend in Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills, exploring all the gems tucked away around the valley. Below is my complete guide to Conejo Valley including the best things to do, places to stay, the best cafes and restaurants and more.
This post is sponsored by Conejo Valley, and contains affiliate links. When you click these links I may get a small commission that won’t cost you anything, but it does help me run this website.
The Old Place is a restaurant in Cornell that resembles the Old West.
HOW MANY DAYS IN CONEJO VALLEY
2 DAYS. Conejo Valley is a great weekend escape in Southern California, and two days is the right amount of time to sightsee, enjoy a hike and sit down for a few meals at some of the best restaurants in the region.
Dozens of films and tv shows have been filmed at Paramount Ranch.
PLACES TO VISIT IN CONEJO VALLEY
CONEJO VALLEY BOTANICAL GARDENS
This 33-acre botanical garden is home to 15 hillside gardens that sit along a hiking trail. Highlights include the Australian garden, desert garden, Mediterranean garden, herb garden, trail of trees, butterfly garden and rare fruit orchard. The Conejo Valley Botanical Garden is free to visit.
CORNELL CORRIDOR
This tiny 19th century town looks straight out of the Old West. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon – grab an outdoor lunch at The Old Place, followed by wine tasting next door at Cornell Winery.
GARDENS OF THE WORLD
An oasis of calm in the middle of Thousand Oaks, Gardens of the World is home to hundreds of plants, fauna and flowers spread throughout five spectacular gardens – English, French, Italian, Japanese and the beautiful California Mission Courtyard. The 4.5-acres Gardens of the World is free to visit.
MALIBU CREEK ROCK POOLS
This swimming hole in Malibu Creek State Park is a vibe on the weekends when the sun it out. It’s a five-mile out-and-back hike to reach the rock pools, and takes about an hour. Pack a swimsuit and water shoes.
PARAMOUNT RANCH
Dozens of films and movies have filmed at Paramount Ranch. It’s currently being rebuilt, but the church from HBO’s Westworld is still standing and completely accessible to visitors. In addition to its Hollywood roots, Paramount Ranch is home to several beautiful hiking trails, ranging from easy to moderate treks.
WESTLAKE PLAZA
Popular shopping plaza in the heart of Thousand Oaks that offers an array of options including bouquet making at XO Blooms, pilates and yoga studios and delicious restaurants.
Wine tasting at Cornell Winey.
PLACES TO STAY IN CONEJO VALLEY
HYATT REGENCY WESTLAKE
Modern Hyatt property located in the heart of Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks. The rooms are clean, new and spacious, and the property location is ideal for easy access to the surrounding region. Several popular cafes and restaurants are located across the street from the hotel.
Morning feast at Joi Cafe includes superfood pancakes and a smoothie bowl.
WHERE TO EAT IN CONEJO VALLEY
CRAWFORD’S SOCIAL
Crawford’s Social is a great spot for craft cocktails, brunch, lunch or dinner in the heart of Thousand Oaks.
EAST COAST BAGEL CO.
This Thousand Oaks institution bakes New York style bagels that are kettle-boiled and baked. There are dozens of bagels on the menu including apple cinnamon, blueberry, chocolate chip, cranberry, everything, garlic, poppy, pumpernickel, rye and more.
MADE IN ITALY
Hole-in-the-wall Italian spot that serves a selection of fresh pastas and pizzas.
MOODY ROOSTER
Moody Rooster prides itself on being a family-owned artisanal restaurant. The food is sustainably sourced with menu offerings that include a variety of flatbreads, crispy gnocchi, wood-fired prawns, pan roasted salmon, pan seared flat iron steaks, roasted chicken and more.
NEIGHBORLY
A fun little food hall and marketplace that serves a little of everything including salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, bowls and more.
THE OLD PLACE CORNELL
The Western ambiance at The Old Place is a lot of fun, especially if you can nab one of the tables right out front. It gets busy on weekends.
The beautiful Gardens of the World.
Afternoon stroll at the Conejo Valley Botanical Gardens.
GET TO CONEJO VALLEY
The closest airport to Conejo Valley is Burbank Airport, serviced by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. From Burbank, it’s a one-hour drive to reach Conejo Valley.
Crawford’s Social | Made in Italy
