Janss Marketplace, Thousand Oaks

Janss Marketplace is an incredible place for kids. They thought of everything! In a strip of lush green landscaping, there's a play area that's so imaginative that it's nicer than most large playgrounds. Kids can climb up a giant caterpillar and under it in a tunnel, wiggle over an dunder a giant, slippery worm, sit on an ugly toad, hide and slide inside a flower bouquet decorated with bumblebee and ladybug, and sit on a grasshopper. The friendly open faces of the creatures add to the delight. Parents can sit on the surrounding benches with no worries that their little critter will run away because the area is fenced.

Next to the play area is a row of coin-operated vehicles for kids to ride: a train, boat, and tractor scooper. Grab a coffee and pastry from Panera Bread just nearby to enjoy while your kids have fun.
Walk a little further and there's another whole area to explore. A huge splash pad with a fountain that is synchronized to music awaits. The best one is the piece from Fantasia that plays while the fountain leaps. Kids bring their swimsuits in summer and dance around in the sprays. A handsome sculpture of a Native American with bow and arrow rises up in the center. Embracing this area is a mural of a Chumash village with bison. Beautiful!
There is a Panera Bread that has sandwiches and salads and some organic choices. You pay before you eat, which is always way better when you have kids. If you have young kids, don't sit in the outdoor seating in the back because your child will run off to the playground area while you're eating! 
There is a large Toys R Us, which extends your outing nicely.
Since the Panera isn't that inspiring, if you want somewhere else to eat, you can drive one minute to Baja Fresh, in a nice plaza with a Peet's Coffee and outdoor seating with a fountain and plenty of palms for shade. 
While you're in the area, take a stroll around Gardens of the World and enjoy the California Garden, Italian Garden, English Garden, and Japanese Garden. Entrance is free!
This area is blessed with very creative malls. Check out Calabasas Commons, with lush flower beds, a stream and bridges, and a lavish belltower. Also, The Promenade in Westlake Village, a mall with belltower, stained glass lamps, fountains, murals, flowers, mega bookstore, and restaurants. The Lakes at Thousand Oaks is a mall that is centered around a playground, grassy hills, a lake with huge fountain, a stream with bridge, and cool sculptures.
A really nice park near here with rolling green hills beside a creek and a new playground with space net, boulders and ropes is Conejo Community Park. A fun space-age playground with great views is Wildflower Playground.

Directions

Janss Marketplace is located at 275 N. Moorpark Rd in Thousand Oaks, call (805) 495-4662.
From Highway 101, exit at Moorpark Rd (not Moorpark Freeway). Turn north toward the mountains. Turn left on Hillcrest Dr. Immediately turn right and right again into the parking lot. Drive to the north-most parking lot to be near the fountain splash pad. It's great that there's a parking lot, to keep your car cool on hot days.
Panera Bread, (805) 496-2253‎.

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