Take a hike to mountain science fest

Bet you didn’t know that April 17-25 is National Park Week.

What better time to explore the natural wonders of our incredible national parklands and open space in the Santa Monica Mountains?

And here’s an added incentive: The weekend of April 17-18 features the 1st Annual Santa Monica Mountains Science Festival at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, sponsored by the National Park Service in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Activities and fun for all ages – Friday night, gather round a campfire to hear tales of owls, bats and bobcats. Saturday, see a live animal show and learn about fossils, stone carving and more. For further information, call the National Park Service at (805) 370-2301. And be sure to visit lamountains.com for a full calendar of year-round events in the Santa Monica Mountains.