Visiting Gardens Of The World In Thousand Oaks

Gardens Of The World Highlights

Here are a few quick highlights to know before you head out there:

• Location: 2001 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
• Cost: Free
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (last entry is 4:30 pm)
• Time needed: 1 hour. The gardens are small, but there is plenty to explore!
• Food on premises?: No. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and water to enjoy in designated picnic areas.
• Dogs allowed?: No
• Stroller friendly?: Yes
• Bathroom on premises?: Yes

How To Get There

Gardens of the World is located along E Thousand Oaks Blvd, across from the City of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. It is right next to the famous Mastro’s Steakhouse.

Although the garden is located next to a major street, it feels very secluded. I have passed by this garden several times before without realizing it’s there!

There is a small visitor parking lot on the premises in the back of the gardens by the Resource Center. You can also park along E Thousand Oaks Blvd and enter through the main gate. I parked in the visitor lot since there were plenty of spots when I arrived soon after opening.

If you need to use the restroom, there is one within the Resource Center that you can access from the outside. There are also water fountains throughout the gardens if you need to fill up on water.

What You’ll See At The Gardens Of The World

There are five gardens here dedicated to different parts of the world: England, France, Italy, Japan, and the Spanish-style California Mission Courtyard.

Japanese Garden

The first garden that I walked through was the Japanese Garden. It is small, but it feels so secluded and serene!

Here you can walk inside an authentic Japanese Pagoda that is surrounded by a Koi Pond and tall bamboo. The pagoda has a wraparound bench for sitting and enjoying the sounds of the nearby running stream.

California Mission Courtyard

From the Japanese Garden, I walked down to the Mission Courtyard. This was one of my favorite areas at this destination.

The Mission Courtyard was so beautiful and enticing! The entrance is through a detailed metal gate that feels like stepping into another world.

The courtyard is surrounded by tall Spanish-style arches and lemon trees with a water fountain at its center. On the walls, you can see drawings of the different missions in California.

There are a few that I have visited in California, including the Ventura and Santa Barbara ones. There’s also a large hand-drawn map on the wall with the locations of all the missions.

In front of the courtyard, you can see a statue of Father Junipero Serra, who founded many of the missions in California. Interestingly, the missions in California were built starting from San Diego along the coast, to be located one day’s travel apart.

French Garden

The French Garden is one of the most awe-inspiring places within the Gardens of the World. This is a symmetrical garden with a large water fountain at its center. This water fountain is a replica of one located in Versailles, France.

The water fountain is located by the main entrance off East Thousand Oaks Blvd, so it has a very big “WOW” factor. It’s the first thing that visitors see if they’re walking through the main gate.

Visitors can also walk to the top of the water fountain and see it from above, overlooking the street and the mountains in the distance.

English Garden

Walking through the English Perennial & Rose Garden feels like being submerged in an episode of Bridgerton. This garden has over 350 rose bushes with different styles and colors!

The English Garden has lush pathways and mazes that wind through rose bushes and pergolas. There are some benches where you can sit, take a break, and enjoy the views.

Italian Garden

The Italian Garden is one of the smaller gardens here, but no less beautiful! Here you can see a thin, long water fountain with a statue at the end of it.

The water fountain is surrounded by tall cypress trees on both sides, making it feel enclosed and private.

Bandstand

At the center of the garden is a large lawn area with a traditional American Bandstand. This is where events and concerts take place within the Gardens of the World.

Picnic Area

Gardens of the World does not sell any food or drinks on premises. But if you want to bring your own food, you can enjoy it at the designated picnic area or in the Bandstand lawn area.

The picnic area has covered tables and benches where you can sit and relax. Food or drinks are not allowed in the gardens outside of the designated picnic areas.

The picnic areas do not allow glass containers, alcoholic beverages, or grills for cooking food.

Visitor Tips

Gardens of the World is a private location, so there are a few things to keep in mind for visitors:

• Reservations are required for docent-led tours and group visits.
• This location does not allow dogs.
• Visitors are not allowed to take photos of people in them. If you wish to take photos of people, you will need to arrange a permit ahead of time.
• This location does not allow private events like birthday parties, meetings, or ceremonies of any kind.
• The gardens are stroller and wheelchair-friendly. Strollers and wheelchairs must remain on the sidewalks.
• Kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No running or climbing is allowed.
• Removal of flowers, shrubs, or plants is not allowed.
• This location does not allow bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, or scooters.

Have you visited Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks? What are your favorite garden themes here?

Looking for more things to do in the area? Be sure to check out these posts next:

• Visiting Conejo Valley Botanic Garden In Thousand Oaks
• How To Hike Paradise Falls Trail In Thousand Oaks
• Hill Canyon Trail At Santa Rosa Valley Park In Camarillo
• Visiting Mentryville Park And Hiking Pico Canyon Trail
• 20 Best Waterfalls In Central California

This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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