Say Hi To Ojai, California
Located in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles and east of Santa Barbara, the charming city of Ojai is about a 30 minute drive from the coast. And if you’re visiting a nearby beach town, we highly recommending stepping away from the sand for a day to explore it. Staying here is easy as they have many hotels to choose from. When you get here, we have a few suggestions on things to do.
From olive oil tasting to outdoor book browsing, this charming community has a laid back vibe, and it’s surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. It’s really no wonder that Ojai is a hippie-friendly city that welcomes the arts, music and New Age shops into its community. It’s also home to many celebrities from famous architects to musicians to many actors, directors, screenwriters and other film industry professionals.
Whether you’re an avid reader or it’s been awhile since you’ve picked up a good novel, a trip to Bart’s Books is an absolute must. This is one of those magical places you’ll feel humbled to have found. The center of the bookstore is an old house, and the rest of the shop is a maze of bookshelves with plenty of open air seating areas and tin roofing. You never know what you’ll find on the shelves.
When hunger strikes, head straight to Ojai Tortilla House on North Signal Street for lunch. This casual eatery serves some of the state’s best authentic casual Mexican fare, and it has an amazing reputation around town. Get your food to go and head across the street to enjoy it at the lovely Libbey Park.
Ojai Tortilla House also happens to be right around the corner from Casa Barranca Organic Winery & Tasting Room, a beautiful venue that offers tastings from noon until 6PM (7 on weekends). This is the first certified organic winery in the Santa Barbara region, and the vino is excellent.
Of course, if you’d rather burn off your lunch calories, you’ll have some incredible hiking trails nearby. The nearby Valley View Preserve has some great hikes for any skill level. This photo is from the beautiful and easy 3.5 mile Shelf Road Trail in Los Padres National Forest.
Source: FacebookShopping is an essential part of any day trip or weekend getaway, and Ojai is full of unique locally owned shops to browse. In the Field on East Ojai Avenue has a little bit of everything, from clothing to home accessories and vintage finds.
Don’t leave town without finding the Ojai Olive Oil Company at 1811 Ladera Road. Not only is it an incredibly peaceful place, but they offer delicious olive oil tastings. They also sell balsamic vinegar and olive oil based skincare products.
When you’re ready to return to the surf and sand, there are a couple options to find beaches near Ojai. If you head down Highway 33 you’ll be in downtown Ventura where you can hit Ventura Pier Beach, San Buenaventura State Beach, and Emma Wood Main Beach. Another option is to wind down to the shore via Highway 150 with access to all the beaches in Carpinteria.
