Gardens of the World

This is a wonderful spot just off the 101 freeway. It's a beautiful oasis in the middle of TO. The gardens are stunning. They are beautifully manicured. The fountains and waterfalls are lovely. There are so many colorful flowers. It's just a serene place to spend some time. There is no charge to enjoy the scenery. We highly recommend you visit here. You can even bring your picnic as there is a picnic area.

A little gem in the center of the city. A clean and well maintained garden and most importantly not very crowded. There are a lot of benches where one can enjoy a book. The parking lot is small and has limited space, but there are parking spaces across the street. The entrance and the parking are free. I highly recommend to visit the garden.

Was looking for fountains and found this hidden gem in Thousand Oaks. Went on a Thursday, 1 hour before closing. Lovely day and weather to enjoy spring in the themed gardens. Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese, and English gardens with flowers, statues, and fountains. The dominant fountain is the Italian Chain Fountain. However, I really enjoyed the Japanese Garden with its koi fish pond and themed lanterns lighting the path. Parking is through the gate, up the driveway and around the back. Little slice of green heaven in TO.

Beautiful garden and so much love and care is put into this place. My son and I loved walking and exploring. We even had a chance to feed the koi fish.

Such a beautiful well maintained garden. I loved the paintings of all the missions and we were stopped by some of the workers and given a brochure about the park with information on each beautiful area and they gave us some food to feed the koi

Free to park and enter the garden. Very formally laid out with gently sloping concrete paths accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, throughout. Trees provide shade for much of the gardens. It is just a few acres so not very large. You can walk through all if it in about 15 minutes. For picnics, there is a large grass area in front of the bandstand as well as shaded picnic tables in a level picnic area. Many of the plants are labeled and all are very common.

A refreshing oasis in the heart of our city. Relaxing, quiet and very pretty. It was a delightful experience. However, you are not allowed to take a lot pictures which we found odd.

What a lovely set of gardens! Wandered through on a weekday, and enjoyed everything blooming. Docent staff was polite and unobtrusive.

What a gem! First and foremost, thank you to the Hogan family for creating such a beautiful and peaceful place and generously offering access to the public for free. The grounds are beautiful and make you feel very much away from the city even though it's literally right there. The grounds are beautifully kept. Baby koi aplenty. Lovely history and information provided in the pamphlet. I stopped here on a whim bc I have long kept it bookmarked on places to go and today I decided to visit. I walked into the main house and spoke with Linda who was super friendly and kind. She offered a great explanation of the property as well as the rotating art exhibits in the main house. She asked that I stay on the path which I think is unfortunate that it needs to be asked bc normal ppl would see a path and follow it instead of running wild on the grass or allowing their kids to do so. I'm sure this has been the case and that's why it is emphasized. Easy rule to follow. Prior to entering the grounds there is a sign outlining various rules which unless you have been raised with zero social skills, are the most basic to follow. The only one that isn't common is that the grounds can't be used for commercial photography without a permit. Ummmm, HELLO????? It's a private property. The Hogan family has a say in what their property is used for. How would you like it if random people walked into your bedroom and started taking photos without permission? So unless you're really void of common sense (see all 1 star ratings) then the "rules" won't bother you and someone asking you to stay on the path won't rub you the wrong way either. In fact, I have to say that every staff member I ran into today was so gracious and kind and said hello and made sure I was enjoying my visit. I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful place.

Didn't even see the park. They said I was part of an organized group when we are not. We were just 3 adults. The lady with short blond hair who looked and sounded like a manager spoke over me and very forcefully say I'm an organized group when we are now. Say I HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION over and over not really letting me speak we were just 3 adults Also was turned away. I asked if this was open to the public she said yes. I asked if all people had to make reservations she said no but organized groups do. I told her again we are not an organized group she still refused and said I will have to have workers out in the garden as if we needed supervision for grown people, but thank you Linda for showing us bad, customer service. It would've been better if you would've just been more polite, not speaking in a rush not so eager to kick us out and just give us the right information take a breath when you talk and not talk over people you were talking over me constantly , and then answering questions that I didn't even ask like Let me ask you the question before you give me the wrong answer to a question that I didn't even ask RUDE WONT LET ME SPEAK AND TURNED AWAY. If I do decide to come here again, avoiding her at all cost

Not worth the stop. If you're expecting a peaceful garden experience, skip this place. I was immediately made to feel unwelcome by staff who seemed more focused on enforcing arbitrary "rules" than letting people enjoy the space. I was literally just walking on a path and got accused of doing something wrong -- all while being followed around like I was in trouble for existing. This isn't some world-class botanical garden with rare plants or exhibits. I've been to places like the Huntington and Descanso Gardens where staff are respectful, and the gardens are worth the visit. This place is tiny, and the atmosphere is tense from the moment you arrive. You're better off going somewhere that actually values visitors and knows how to treat them. Total waste of time. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Don't bother.

We live in the area and have been several times. The gardens are beautiful but the rules are incredibly strict; we spend the whole time watching our kids and making sure they're behaving well, observing the signs, etc. even so, the docents will follow you around and the second your child makes a noise or does anything other than walk you'll get yelled at. I even got yelled at for bringing "outside liquid" in (it was a water bottle for my 1yo). Beautiful if you want to sit and listen to a podcast, but for families this is not a place that will welcome you.

So pretty I've lived here over 10 years and in Ventura county my whole life and I just went for the first time the other day. A must GO! Beautiful walk through the gardens I love all the plants trees water features and the history of all the missions.

Garden of the worlds. This is a must for my family. It's my daughter favorite place in all of westlake/T.O. It a beautiful calming serene walk. You forget where you are for a second. There is a bit of history and so much beauty. The Koi fish so a sight. It's a beautiful peace of heaven to enjoy and just take a step away from everyday life.

The Hogan family of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays created a petite gem of a botanical garden right in the heart of Thousand Oaks for the enjoyment of all. Admission is free! The parking lot spaces are limited, so take that into planning your visit for a mid-week day, perhaps. Dear Hubby and I have visited a number of times over the years. It had been a while since our last time, so on an afternoon when we didn't have time to go farther afield, we stopped by to stroll the gardens and relax for an hour. They have thoughtfully provided many benches upon which to sit and take a closer look at the plantings, or just be with your thoughts in a natural environment. The garden designer created a series of internationally themed "rooms", including the Japanese section with koi pond and stately wooden pagoda, plus an Italian-style water garden. A tribute to the chain of California missions is definitely worth checking out. The English rose garden is in bloom much of the year. A central grand bandstand with surrounding lawns is the site for concerts. Since Covid I haven't kept track of whether they've resumed summer musical events there, but it should be easy enough to check that out. We used to bring our grandson here when he was small. Now there's a young granddaughter in our lives that we can introduce to this garden space. It's just about the right size for her energy and imagination to enjoy.

This is an immaculately maintained garden. It's so peaceful and there are so many plants represented. They even have a koi pond and pagoda. I went during a weekday, so it wasn't busy and had no issues with parking. The parking lot is small though, so I can see how parking might be a parking during busier times. I found this place on Yelp, and I saw a lot of people commenting on how strict the rules are for this place regarding photography. There were even allegations of stalking by the docents! I thought it was an exaggeration. Since I was dressed down, I didn't feel like I was being watched, but I definitely saw other people being tailed by the staff there. There are also numerous signs about what you can't do and what the rules are (seriously look at my photos). I mean, I do kind of get it, but it's a little bit much. Hence, I'm only giving this four stars just because it was bizarre.

The Hogan Family Foundation gave a special present to Thousand Oaks, and everyone doing these gardening for visiting for free! The place is so peaceful, gorgeous, adding educational tour and space for artists. Really a hidden gem. Everyone should visit it. They show how is a little bit garden in Japan, England, France, Italy and has the history of Missions in California. Go there!

Beautiful place however staff can be unpleasant. We were taking photos of the scenery & strolling around while a staff member followed us around stating we CANNOT take photos with people on it as we didn't have a permit to do so, she continued accusing us of taking photos of one another , we ended up leaving as it was completely unnecessary.

Beautiful gardens. Well maintained. It is gracious of them to offer viewing for free. I understand why they would like it respected.

No activities there for the community to enjoy. They used to have holiday events when it first opened .. now nothing. The docents are overly strict as well.

Great picture location but keep in mind this is a privately owned garden open to the public. That said, they have rules. Permits are required for any type of commercial OR personal formal photo shoots. For example, if you want to take prom pictures with your personal camera, you'll need a permit. Parking is very limited on site

Immaculate. There's definitely a level of peace on each of the variety of gardens and their respective sitting areas. This is a great place for meditation or just a casual stroll. They also have a nice picnic area.

For a garden free to the public, the strict regulations for visitors make it uncomfortable to spend time there, and you feel as though you are being watched. I have experienced stuffy and uppity attitudes from docents. They deter groups, fearing visitors will block the walkways or run amok.

I had this place saved in my bookmarks for a while now and finally this afternoon I took my mom on a beautiful walk at the gardens. It far from my house but it was definitely worth the drive to spend a few hours relaxing, meditating and enjoying the beautiful gardens. This place is clean, very well taken care of and free to enter. It's small but beautiful. You can walk around the whole property in 15 mins. But we took our time stopping g in each area and sitting down and enjoying the views and the weather. Very peaceful .... The French garden was beautiful and the rose garden I can imagine how pretty it will look once the roses bloom. It's too early in the season to see blooms so I'm thinking to go back in May to enjoy the roses. The Japanese garden area is nice too with an authentic Japanese Pagoda and a koi pond. There are many water features around the property. The Mission courtyard was beautiful with a map of the mission trails in California. Colorful hand painted murals of the mission are on the walls and a fountain in the middle of the courtyards. A few benches here and there makes this a cozy area to sit and enjoy. The Italian garden has cypress trees and a chain fountain inspired by Italian architecture. Overall this is a great place to spend an afternoon at to clear your mind.

Worst place in the world. So sarcastic that it's called "gardens of world" while the place doesn't allow any kid to be a kid. Especially when a staff came out to yell at our kids. Can you even believe the staff yelled at a kid who is only 4 years old:" No, I said no. You guys should go to a public park. I am waiting for you to leave." If this is a private garden then keep its door closed to yourself. Or admit that you are trying brag to the rest of us that you have so much money, so you can have a garden that the rest of us cannot touch your grass or the rock inside. You just set the worse example to the kids and made this world less inclusive.

The Volunteers take their jobs seriously to make sure that this place is well preserved and for good reason. It's beautiful! And it's free, accesible to anyone. The gardens were picturesque and pay homage to different parts of the world. There's also an entire area dedicated to the missions in CA! Would recommend paying a visit!

This is a nice oasis in the city. Some folks are bothered by signs with the Garden's rules, but the rules simply ask that visitors respect the property so others may enjoy the grounds. The walking loop through the various gardens is well maintained, with a small elevation to descend and ascend. It is wheelchair-friendly, but some of the climb might be tough for someone with certain walking or breathing issues. That said, there are plenty of benches to take a break and enjoy the gardens. The brochure provided gives an explanation of the different gardens. There are numerous signs identifying plants throughout the property. Any questions can be answered by the many docents present along the walkway. The Gardens of the World is a worthwhile stop. Plan on spending 1-2 hours.

Terrible place!!! Do not go here unless you want old people yelling and accusing you of breaking a rule, while just simply walking on the paved path. One of the rudest encounters I've had in years at a public place. They act like it's the Huntington library or Descanso gardens (both of which I have memberships and know reasonable rules. Mind you those places have actual historical artifacts and rare plants unlike this "gardens of the world". Anyway this place is ridiculous. The old people who work there are extremely unpleasant and will follow you around the gardens making you feel very uncomfortable. It's also an extremely small place not worth a visit at all. Glad it only took me 5 minutes to walk around the loop because I wanted to leave fast. Safe yourself the trouble and go to a real Botanical garden where you can relax and enjoy without being followed!!!

What a lovely hidden little gem I was unaware of. Durning pandemic I actively searched for places to visit . Self guided tour with a brochure. The offer tours go to website or call. Grounds are wonderfully maintained. There were a few gardeners there. He was ever so kind to answer a few names of plants I seen. 4.5 acre Garden is open to the public and is a striking monument to commemorate the various cultures of the world. The Gardens include Italian, French, Japanese and English gardens as well as the Mission Courtyard. There are rules please be advised! Strict rules on photography. posed photography; whether amateur or professional, and using a camera, cell phone, IPad, or any other equipment. This includes family photos, engagement, wedding, birthdays, maternity, etc. Reservations require at least two weeks in advance booking with dates and times subject to availability. No pets ! My favorite of all is The Japanese Garden The delicate balance and harmony of Asian culture has been beautifully captured in this peaceful setting surrounding an authentic Japanese Pagoda. Set in the midst of a Koi pond, encircled by bamboo and bridges, the Japanese Pagoda is a wonderful place to pause and savor a tranquil moment. I sat there for 30 minutes enjoying the serene setting. It's budget friendly (free admission) Open to the public Tuesday through Sunday Closed Mondays, most national holidays and during inclement weather I did research.

Free and exquisite gardens. How could everyone not give this place 5 stars? Spectacular Japanese and rose gardens

This is a very pretty little maintained set of gardens, but small and the number of rules and signs are ridiculous. I often frequent Descanso Gardens, Huntington Gardens, the Getty Museum Gardens; none of them are this insane and uptight. My 6 year old kid ran down the wide empty path today and one of the guides called to her "No running!" I get asking people to not step on grass or feed koi fish, sure, but this place is NOT worth the level of regulation they are giving it...it ruins the visitor experience.

Beautifully quiet location for a peaceful walk or pause in a busy day. We are visiting end of March...a few plants are flowering...give it 2- 3 weeks and the roses should be in bloom! Wisteria had just started blooming in one location, but not the others. Is wheelchair accessible from the street and upper end of gardens.

Are you kidding me? It's a very pretty place and we could've had a great time except for the fact that a woman who works there is on a rampage to yell at everyone she sees. She literally runs across lawns, binoculars in hand as she's been spying on you if you do something that goes outside of her rulebook, she will berate you loudly- visibly shaking. The kids were literally scared of her. I do not recommend this place to anyone. Unless of course you feel you need to be punished in some I'm way.

Staff was rude and this is not a child friendly place at all my toddler is well behaved and one of the workers practically followed us around the whole garden harassing us until we left. Not worth the gas money when there are so many other beautiful places around

This place is beautiful and free. Doesn't take too long to tour the gardens, but they're very cool.

Had a wonderful time at this beautiful garden. Everything was well maintained and beautiful. It was quiet, peaceful, and serene. Best part is that it was free! Can't wait to come back

Such a beautiful place to walk, enjoy the various gardens, fountains, gazebo, listen to the little man-made creeks and waterfalls. They have a little picnic area. They do not sell food. Absolutely loved it.

Free! Beautiful! Stop by and smell the roses. Free parking lot. Near shops and restaurants.

It's smaller than a football field, no photography is allowed, and the staff is rude and follows people around to act as a photo cop vs being a docent. I was honestly really underwhelmed because compared to other botanic and Japanese gardens close by this one is much smaller and has a lot less effort put into the construction and design of it. I feel as if this should be in the middle of a really busy city block in Philadelphia or something like that if redesigned this thing could be done so much better there is so much wasted space in the middle. The track to walk is pretty much along the outside with only three different eco-zones. Imagine how many more it could be if it would crisscross through out and was inside and outside and designed by someone with a true passion for design or botany. I would not recommend unless you live close and I don't plan to be back. One visit was more than enough.

We LOVED our visit here with our 3 year old and baby. Walkways are wide enough for a stroller. Our toddler was able to run around and explore. There were great areas out in the open and quiet corners to just sit and look at the plants around the area. There is a designated spot for eating, which was nice because it helped limit trash being tossed throughout the gardens. Worth a visit if you're looking for a free, low stakes activity.

I came here when I used to live in Thousand Oaks. A colleague mentioned it to me. It is good place for family, group of friends or couples. Great for photo ops and picnicking. They have different kinds of garden. I like the Japanese garden with koi ponds and pagoda.

It's a nice place. Peaceful in the middle of the city. The volunteers are very helpful if you need any information.

Gardens were nice to look at but service received from staff was very disappointing. We were approached by an employee named Linda once we arrived and because we were a group of 6+ she insisted we needed a reservation to enter but we did not request a guided tour. We drove over an hour to get there. I did not check the website ahead of time but her demeanor was very aggressive and lingered as if she was waiting for us to leave. I was confused as she made it seem we needed a reservation to enter the grounds while other parties were walking in. We decided to separate into smaller parties but as soon as we did she tracked us down and insisted we have to come back another day since she knew we were part of the same group. Her reasoning did not make sense as we were smaller parties and saw other groups do the same. She basically told us to leave since it was private property. We decided to leave but she stared us down as we got into our cars. The most uncomfortable and rude experience I've ever encountered. I honestly felt racially profiled as we were the only non-white party there.

Entrance to the garden is off Thousand Oaks Blvd.. ample free parking, clean restrooms and hand sanitizer and if that's not enough, the Gardens are beautifully manicured and maintained. The docents are so friendly and generous in sharing information about the grounds. Roses are blooming now, I do wish they were all labeled, although I can tell you, the fragrance of the Sterling's and Mr. Lincoln's are unmistakable. The Pagoda is closed for now as the wood is being refinished. The citrus trees in the Mission look well cared for as does the mission fig vine to the right on the wall as you enter the Mission building. All ages can appreciate this beauty so if you've never been, this is the time to go! Benches are throughout and a shaded picnic area was beckoning. Next time, I think I'll bring a picnic!

very pretty place. very clean and well maintained. my low review is for the rules of this place and while i get it's their establishment i just wanted to share my experience. i showed up after my court house wedding with my husband and his dad and no professional equipment. went to the coy pond and wanted to see the place and take a few pictures on our phone just for the memory. this lady quite literally chased us down there without saying anything i thought she was running to do something else and she told us this is categorized as an event and had to be booked and planned ahead of time. pictures are not allowed since i had "props" like my bouquet in my hand and my veil on. i didn't even have full wedding dress on. then some other lady came and right when i thought she was going to say something they just stood there and didn't move. i was like okay....thank you and we walked out. they quite literally kicked us out and escorted us out. just say you don't allow public photos but to go on and say we're a commercial photographer and that this violates their rules is just crazy. and then escorting us out is even crazier like girl why are you following us we're literally leaving. treated us like we were criminals we were just trying to take keepsake photos.

Haven't been here in years but came this morning. It wasn't too windy. It was packed with people already at 10:30 AM. Not really many flowers in bloom like in the summer. The gardens are still kept clean, and well manicured. Somehow I remember there being more to see before, so not sure if they removed some things. I got some nice pictures none the less. They really need more parking as I got the last spot. I needed to get out of the house, and see some nature, so I decided to come here. Its pretty, and relaxing, just wish there was more to see.

staff was very rude. They came running after us and just were very extremely rude. We had our group in the day program with us and I'm not sure if that is why they acted like how dare you bring in those types of people into our high and mighty place of business that's privately owned... We ended up packing everyone up and leaving because of how these lady's made us feel and it's just not ok at all to treat people the way we were all treated. Adults with autism are not meant to be kept hidden away in a closet away from the world. They are human beings just like you and I. I would never in my life recommend this place nor will I ever go back to this place.

This is one of my favorite little spots of paradise in the Conejo Valley. It's such a peaceful area to relax and walk around for a little bit. I think it would also be great to take a book and read or even paint for an afternoon. The guides there are also very friendly and knowledgeable!

A free and very peaceful place to take a stroll. There are a few benches to sit down and rest, some in the shade. Handicap assessable ramps all over. Lots of different plants, flowers and trees. There is a cool water feature that is so relaxing to sit by. Check the park out next time you are in Thousand Oaks!

It's a little gem in Thousand Oaks. A beautiful garden with history, and it's free. I loved reading the dedications on the benches too.

A wicked old Karen works there. My cousin was proposing to his girlfriend and the karen proceeded to interrupt the engagement with yelling and threats. And stated that "weddings are not allowed". We attempted to tell her that it was not a wedding, it was just an engagement. She was extremely argumentative and aggressive. What an embarrassment. She made a scene and made everyone very uncomfortable. I will not ever set foot in that geriatric park again. Disgusting! I was able to snap a blurry picture of her. Avoid this old witch at all cost.

We tried visiting on a Saturday morning, but there was a paper on the gate that said the garden was closed. According to their website, they are open on Saturdays 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except on most national holidays and during inclement weather. But that day wasn't on a national holiday and the weather was sunny and nice. It was a bummer especially since we drove a bit from Monrovia to visit. I would recommend calling ahead to confirm their availability, and would also recommend that the gardens keep their availability up-to-date on their website.

This is a nice place as long as you're not taking photos or perceived to be taking photos. Even if you're not taking a photo, they stalk you all around that place. They make it really awkward and uncomfortable! Of course, people are going to take photos there. The couple times I was there it wasn't calm and relaxing. I was being stalked all around that place.

As a senior citizen living in Westlake I had never taken the opportunity to visit the The Gardens of the World. Before entering we stopped next door to pick up lunch from a food truck that was parked in the next door parking lot. We decided to go into the Gardens and DID NOTICE THE NO DOGS ALLOWED SIGN, however my wife has an emotional support dog. After sitting down and eating a docent came over to us and very politely explained to us that dogs were not permitted. We told him that he was an emotional support animal and we did have the required ID. This was not an ID that was purchased on line and was a false document. This was licensed by the appropriate agency that does this. The docent just kept staring at us standing in place. I asked his if could please leave us alone and when we were finished our small meal we would be happy to leave without visiting the Gardens, in that we did not want further issues. Upon our departure a very typical "KAREN" type of personality came out of the facility following us to our car. She then proceeded to warn us and make false accusations about our dog, as well as attacking my wife and myself verbally. She warned me that we would no longer be allowed on the property, as if she had any say in the matter to make such a decision. The next business day I called the manager of The Gardens of the World and spoke with what I assumed was a gentleman who expressed his apologies and stated he would look into the matter. I requested his cell or email so I can send him the recording of when I took upon myself after consoling my wife who was incredible upset over the whole incident, and went back into the gardens to find "KAREN" and explain to her what she had just accomplished by her actions. She stated that THE GARDENS do not accept any dogs that are emotional support animals, and she had the right to do so. She was correct, however she refused to state it while I was recording her! She became very mute about the issue. The manager Lolo or a name similar to that, never sent me his information. When I called back several days later to inquire about the incident he then stated he never sent me his information because he wanted to speak with his docent's before hand. Well of course he got their version of what took place, and never wanted to see the actual footage of what took place. He just the word of the person's who caused the problem in the first place. It was like I felt I was in court but not allowed to show the evidence. Lolo or Lala became very hostile when I confronted him about not even wanting to see the video evidence. I guess they take care of each other even if it means they have to lie! I don't know if I can post the video on Yelp but it would sure be nice of I could have however Yelp does not allow video's. If you're interested in it please feel free to contact me. I do hope the senior persons who run the Gardens of the World would be interested to at least see it.

Small but beautifully designed and landscaped, these free gardens were inspired by a family's personal travels. According to the docent we talked to, the gardens are a space for relaxing and enjoying. Hours as of today, April 2019: Tuesday through Sunday, 9-5. Last admittance at 4 30 pm. Closed Mondays, most holidays and during bad weather.

This privately owned garden is available to the public for free. The garden is small, but mighty. My favorite parts include the rose garden and the Japanese pond area where you can see many live koi fish! I've visited a few times and interacted with nice docents who shared the history of the garden and about its owners. Many docents are volunteers giving back their knowledge and time. You can easily walk and look at everything within 20-30 minutes, but recently I parked myself on a bench in the rose garden and reflected. Street parking available on Thousand Oaks Blvd. or park in their parking lot up the drive way that loops around back, near the restrooms, which are very clean. Too bad the garden isn't available to rent for special events such as weddings. Either way, I'll be back soon! #60/2018

Can't help but roll my eyes when reading negative reviews from people who don't follow the rules. This is not a place to wear out your kids (no slides or swings or monkey bars) or bring your dogs (no poop bags). The rules are clearly posted but God forbid that you're asked to follow them! This is a garden, not an amusement or dog park people! We moved here 5 years ago and without knowing, I brought my dog so we left but I came back a few days later. There was a tour happening so I walked with them and no one seemed to mind. Now my visits are to relax and decompress and it's actually a great escape from the kids! My favorite is the Japanese garden and if you love roses, this place is for you!