The Lakes Mall, Thousand Oaks

The Lakes is a nicely designed small mall/park with everything you could want for a peaceful hour with your kids. Sit on the benches by the playground and soak up some sun. Some happy retired people from the retirement community across the street often come here and you can have a chat with them. If you come on the weekend from 1-4pm you can also enjoy some live music, as a band plays out on the lawn. There are some small "lakes" here with fountains that kids love to watch. The fountain that is a boy holding a hose is an amusing one. There are all kinds of fun statues to be found hidden all about the grassy knolls. There is a bridge over a bubbling "creek" and Japanese lanterns hanging from mesquite trees. The playground is fun for kids and has clean sand to play in. On Wednesday mornings at 11am March-October there are kids events here like puppet shows. 

There are two good restaurant chains here, California Pizza Kitchen and P.F. Changs.
Don't miss out on a stroll around the Gardens of the World, just down the street.
Another mall by the same developer is Calabasas Commons, with lush flower beds, a stream and bridges. He also created The Promenade in Westlake Village, a beautiful mall with belltower, stained glass lamps, fountains, murals, flowers, mega bookstore, and restaurants.
Another incredibly nice mall near here is Janss Marketplace, with a beautiful, imaginative play area for kids, splash pad with synchronized music, coin-operated icecream truck and rocket ship and more!

Directions

The Lakes Mall is located at 2200 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.
From Highway 101 Southbound exit at Hampshire Road and turn left. Turn left on Thousand Oaks Blvd. The Lakes will be on your left at the intersection of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Conejo School Rd.
From Highway 101 northbound exit at Hampshire Road and turn right. Turn left on Thousand Oaks Blvd. The Lakes will be on your left at the intersection of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Conejo School Rd. There is plenty of free parking.

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