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If you're looking for a private meditation spot to literally stop and smell the roses, Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks will help you press your internal reset button. Spread over 4½ serene acres, this privately owned park opened to the public in 2001 and offers a charming and quiet tour through the countries of the world. The grounds showcase gardens dedicated to England, with more than 350 sweet-smelling rose bushes; Italy, with a shady grape arbor, cypress trees and fountain; France, with a replica of an elaborate hillside waterfall found at the Palace of Versailles; and Japan, with a koi pond, a pagoda and a romantic reflecting bridge. It also features a California Mission–themed courtyard, and in the center of a green lawn there's a traditional American bandstand, where free concerts are frequently staged. A picturesque pathway, perfect for solitary reflection, connects the different gardens together.

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