Simi Valley, CA

How to spend a weekend in Simi Valley. 

Simi Valley was a fun getaway for the weekend. From hiking to shopping, food to activities, I loved that there were so many different things to do. This is one of those locations that no matter if you were looking for a trip to take with friends, a girls trip, a family trip, or even a romantic trip, Simi Valley would be perfect destination since there are so many different things for everyone to enjoy. 

Friday

We started our road trip late on Friday night as it was a holiday weekend. We checked into the Best Western Posada Royale Hotel & Suites where they had a warm fireplace going and a beautiful Christmas tree set up in the lobby, creating such welcoming feeling. We showered and got ready for bed on the first night of our holiday break. I quickly realized during our trip that I should have outlined the activities in a different order as the places we went to were near each other, so I am going to outline the trip in a way that makes more sense than what we did - learn from our mistakes! 

Saturday

We got up bright and early with free breakfast at the Best Western Posada Royale Hotel & Suites. The breakfast here was unique because not only did they have the usual continental breakfast, including an omelet station, but to our surprise they also had a build-your-own-burrito station which my husband loved. The hotel was a beautiful Spanish style hotel, with an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, free parking and breakfast, and really high ceilings in our room that made the room feel so spacious and open. It really is a great place to stay with everything you need. 

We then went to hike Mount McCoy. There were so many different hikes to pick from, but I am so glad we decided to go with this one. The hike is also known as the "cross hike" because there is a large white cross at the top overlooking all of Simi Valley. There is no designated parking spot at the begining of the trail, but there is plenty of street parking in the residential area at the trailhead. There are two ways to get up. The first is a "hard" path that takes you straight up to the cross, but we had our little one with us, so we decide to take the "easier" path that took us about 1.75 hours round trip to complete with lots of breaks to enjoy the nature and views.  Either way takes you to the top. Remember: at the trail spit, Left=Easy, Right=Hard. If you are looking for even more of a challenge, try the Hummingbird Trail. 

After the hike, we picked up food from Caffe Noor Mediterranean Food and took it to the Rancho Simi Community Park. The chicken shawarma was delicious, and the park was probably the most beautiful parks I have ever been to. There were different playgrounds for different ages, a large man-made pond in the center, a river flowing off the side, bike trails, tennis courts, and SO MANY BIRDS. My little one and I loved this park very much. It was the most perfect and relaxing lunch. 

Even though we got ice cream later in the day, I would have grabbed ice cream during this time to enjoy it after lunch. Subzero Nitrogen Ice cream was such a fun experience. They make getting dessert an interactive activity. They also have events such as field trip or birthdays where they have educational presentations with students which I thought was cool. The location has plenty of indoor seating, ice cream options, and the staff were super friendly. Thank you Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream for having us! We really enjoyed our time with you! 

After your sweet treat, head over to Strathearn Historical Park and Museum. This was a fun place for our little one to run around and explore. It really makes you feel like you went back in time with the displays and buildings. Bring lots of water and a hat as there is not much shade pther than in the pretty garden in the back. The area can keep you entertained for about an hour if you walk it at your own pace, or you can take a guided tour. The best part is, parking, visiting, and the tour are all free! However, be sure to check out the times of operation before heading over, as they are limited on the weekends. 

We went to have dinner at Thai Noodles. The place has great reviews and now I see why. Even though there was only one other person that sat down and ate while we were there, the location was never empty because everyone and their moms were ordering take out. I felt like I was in a movie because the guy that sat next to us came in and asked for "the usual" and the waiter knew exactly what he wanted, with a smile said, "you got it!" She then noticed that we were playing tik-tac-toe on a sticky note while we waited for our food, so she dropped off a sheet of paper with a smile as she walked by and said "have fun!" It's the little things like this that make restaurants memorable. Even though my little one was complaining on the ride there that he was not hungry, he devoured the fried rice, it was just so good! We really enjoyed our meal here.   

After dinner, head over to Nectar of The Dogs for wine tasting. I loved the Christmas Dog decor and every single wine on the tasting was good. My husband is not a big wine guy, but kept stealing sips from my tasting saying "just one more". No wonder their 2023 Viognier won the first ever "Best of White Wine" at the Ventura County Fair! Sometimes on the weekends they have live music. We went wine tasting first and then to dinner, but if I could do the trip over again, I would have gone the other way around, to eat and then here to enjoy the live music while enjoying our drinks. When we were there, they were just beginning to set up and it looked like it would have been a good time. Lesson Learned! This fun tasting room allows dogs and even helps donate to rescue them (10% of bottle purchased go towards dog rescue organizations). What better way to spend the rest of the night than with your furry friends and delicious wine for a good cause? Thank you Nectar of the Dogs for having us! Your location is beautiful and fun, your wine is delicious, and we enjoyed our time with you. 

Sunday

After breakfast and checking out from the hotel, head over to Meera Coffee and Plants. The coffee shop is attached to the outside of the Simi Valley Town Center and has beautiful plants everywhere. Studies show that being in a green environment makes you feel calmer, and this place proves it. As soon as you walk in, you feel the calm from the plants and the delicious scent of the coffee. There is plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating and even has designated parking spots right in the front for guaranteed parking at the shopping center for those who want to grab coffee quickly on-the-go. We tried the Carmel latte which was delicious and the matcha that was so pretty.  They also serve food so it is the perfect place to grab breakfast or brunch. I even got to meet Meera herself, and she was so kind! The shop started off as a coffee cart and has now evolved to a beautiful coffee and plant shop. Living proof to never give up on your dreams! Thank you, Meera Coffee and Plants, for having us! We really enjoyed our drinks and our time with you. Congrats on your beautiful location!  

After enjoying your tasty drink, walk around the Simi Valley Town Center. We had to shop for a few last minute gifts as it was the week of Christmas so this was the perfect place to go. There were so many stores to pick from, both chain and boutiques. There are also many decoration and fun areas for the little ones to play on to keep entertained while you shop. 

We then headed over to our last activity of the weekend. We got to race cars at the Off Road Club and our little one had so much fun! They have lots of track space where you can rent a car and race with others. This family owned business is by RSVP only and is the perfect place to host birthday parties or just spend the afternoon entertaining your little ones! The area is surrounded by rocks and beautiful scenery making you feel a little bit like you are in the cars movie. The center has plenty of seating where you can either bring your own food, or Off Road Club can coordinate for the food truck that is on site to cater for your event. The owners are very kind and helpful and made our experience fun. Thank you Off Road Club for hosting us. Our little one had a great time and we hope to return in the future! 

Before heading on the road back home, we grabbed lunch at Beep's Diner. There was a wait to get seated, but I quickly understood why. This 1950's inspired diner has fun decor making you feel like you were in a diner back then. The prices and food were really good making it worth the wait. We devoured the milkshake in 2.5 seconds and the fun vibes of the place made it the perfect place to end our trip. I will forever hold Simi Valley dear to my heart for the fun memories I got to create with my family. If you are even remotely considering going, do it! You will not regret the fun! 

Itinerary for Simi Valley, CA

Friday

• Road trip to Simi Valley, CA
• Explore Best Western Posada Royale Hotel & Suites
• Jacuzzi and rest

Saturday

• Breakfast at hotel
• Hike Mount McCoy
• To-go from Caffe Noor Mediterranean Food
• Picnic in Park at Rancho Simi Community Park
• Ice cream at Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream
• Strathearn Historical Park and Museum
• Dinner at Thai Noodles
• Wine tasting at Nectar of the Dogs

Sunday

• Breakfast at hotel then check out
• Coffee from Meera Coffee and Plants
• Shopping at Simi Valley Town Center
• RC Race at Off Road Club
• Lunch at Beep's Diner
• Head home

-Out of Office

With Love, Erica 

Thank you Visit Simi Valley for having us! We had so much fun and really enjoyed our time there! I hope to visit again soon. 

We attended this trip courtesy of Visit Simi Valley. All opinions are those of

Out of Office, With Love, Erica.