Oh Hi, Ojai! – The Monthly Traveler

Let’s face it, we all could use a break these days. A little down time to clear our head, change the vibes, try new things, and leave the city behind. Not quite a full vacation, but a really awesome daycation. One filled with a variety of delicious food, unique experiences and of course, some much needed R&R. For those of you currently in search of that, congratulations! You’ve stepped onto the right bus with the right driver. Doors closing in 3, 2…

With Spring upon us, this is the perfect time to consider taking a short adventure and discovering some hidden gems right here in Southern California. But with so many options, how does one make a decision?

Well, that’s where I come in. Who am I?

Just call me The Monthly Traveler, and this ride is your getaway guide to unique daycation destinations including things to do, where to stay, and of course places to eat.

Hope you’re ready.

Let’s roll!

Now that you’re all buckled in, our little adventure takes us 80 miles north of Los Angeles to the charming city of Ojai, located in Ventura County. Ojai, which means ‘nest’ in the native Chumash language, is tucked away in a scenic valley within the Topatopa Mountains and just east of Santa Barbara. Situated 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by picturesque hills, Ojai is the perfect daycation getaway and worthy of a spot on your favs list.

This lush town filled with rows of orange trees, beautiful Spanish architecture, breathtaking trails, and boutique hotels is truly a diamond worth finding here in the Golden State. Goods are locally sourced while chain stores are prohibited to encourage local small business development and to maintain the town’s unique look. In other words, you won’t find any subdivisions or strip malls in Ojai, which adds to the appeal of this small piece of paradise.

What is there to do in Ojai?

To keep it simple, plenty! With a string of family owned wine tasting rooms, shops, art galleries, restaurants and more, there is something for everyone. Although you won’t be able to see all of what Ojai has to offer during a short stay, you can still make the most of your visit with this daycation itinerary I had the pleasure of putting together for you.

First things first, Breakfast.

If there’s one place that deserves to be the first stop in Ojai, it would undoubtedly be The Dutchess. Step into this all-day bakery, cafe, and restaurant that offers a wide selection of Burmese-Californian options to enjoy. Local farmers play a starring role here and majority of the ingredients are sourced less than 50 miles away, including seafood from the Channel Islands, herbs and vegetables from the Ojai Roots Farm, along with eggs, honey, fruits, and more that come from owners, Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb’s own 3 1/2 acre farm.

“Chris, one of our farmers will come in daily with his haul of veggies and Chef/Partner Saw Naing will pick what he wants. That’s the mission for the owners, not only to create this as a community space, but to get everything local,” says The Dutchess Floor Manager Jon Hall, when asked how important it was to consistently serve local and fresh ingredients.

Travelers Choice:

• Croque Madame
• Dutchess Breakfast plate
• Sticky Toffee Date Muffin

What’s up, Downtown!

There’s nothing better than a walk after a meal, so our second stop is a stroll through Downtown Ojai. Right here on Ojai Avenue is where you’ll find a host of boutiques to peruse, galleries that feature work from local artists, restaurants, wineries and breweries. The town moves at a delightfully unhurried pace, so don’t expect to see people in much of a rush.

For those of you traveling with children, Libbey Park is a wonderful place for a quick break while downtown. The park has a wide range of playground activities for all ages so let the kiddos run around for a bit. If you’re lucky, the Ojai Post Office Bell Tower next door will treat your ears to its Westminster chimes that toll every hour on the hour between 8 a.m and 9 p.m.

Hey art lovers, I’ve got the perfect place for you. Located inside of the former St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is the Ojai Valley Museum. Here, you will see semi-permanent history exhibits, a wilderness diorama, a Chumash Interpretive Garden along with three original exhibitions on display that change every year.

Readers get ready!

Our third stop on this daycation journey is to the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, Bart’s Books. For those of you who enjoy a good read as much as I do, this is the place for you.

You’re sure to have a wonderful time inside and outside of this small converted house that’s filled with shelves upon shelves of new, secondhand, and first edition books. It’s very easy to spend a few hours in this unassuming booktopia, but there’s more for you to see.

Just Checking in!

If you plan on staying the night, which I highly recommend, our fourth stop takes us to Caravan Outpost. This is by far one of the most unique places to get some shut eye in Ojai. I found this valley oasis on booking.com and jumped at the opportunity to stay in one of their vintage airstreams. The property has 11 trailers, beautifully landscaped grounds, and is a skip away from downtown. Each trailer features retro decor including record players, a small assortment of vinyls and paperback books.

Complimentary bicycles are available if you’re up for cruising down the bike path conveniently located next to the entrance. For those looking for some peace and quiet, along with a photo worthy place to lay your head, Caravan Outpost is my top recommendation!

Olive-You!

For those wanting to experience something a little different, our fifth stop takes us slightly out of town into the grove at the Asquith Ranch, home of the award winning Ojai Olive Oil Company.

Some of the best extra virgin olive oils come right from this family owned and operated farm and if you’re lucky you can catch a guided tour of the grounds. If not, don’t worry, the real action is in the tasting room where you can sample all of their olive oils. Bread is provided as well for you to enjoy every flavor they have to offer.

Tasting cost – $10

The Happiest Hour

By now you should be working up an appetite, so let’s head back into town for some small bites at our sixth stop, Sea Fresh.

We’re not filling up here, just enjoying the best happy hour in Ojai. Whether you’re in the mood for oysters, sushi, ceviche, sliders or jumbo shrimp, there’s something for every pallet.

A list of beers and wines can also be found on the happy hour menu for all you 21+ visitors.

Let’s Wine Down

There’s no way you can visit Ojai without trying some local blends. Our seventh stop takes us below street level where you’ll enter Majestic Oak Vineyard.

After descending down an inconspicuous wooden staircase directly off of Ojai Avenue, you’ll have the option to take a seat in their beautiful patio or inside of their intimate tasting room. Grab a flight which will let you try a curated selection of offerings this family owned vineyard has been making since 2015.

Don’t get carried away too soon though, you’ll want to make the short trip around the block to our eighth stop and one of my favs, The Ojai Vineyard. Located in an old historic firehouse, this tasting room has over 300 wines to choose from along with a very informative staff ready to pour you up another glass. Cheers!

Dinner Time!

Stop nine takes us up the street to Ojai Rotie. So much can be said about this rotisserie located in the center of Downtown. This patio-restaurant is the perfect place to savor some French-Lebanese options while enjoying “The Pink Moment”, which is a magical moment in Ojai where the fading sunset creates a shade of pink for several minutes on the Topatopa Bluffs. Nothing better than a flavorful meal, and a beautiful view.

Travelers Choice,

• Pommes Rotisserie (Roasted Potatoes, lemon-pepper aioli)
• Caramelized Cauliflower
• Skinny Cucumbers
• Rotie Chicken
• Grilled Lebanese flatbread

Brews before Snooze

After a long day of seeing the sites and a wonderful dinner, it’s time to start winding down. This brings us to our last stop of the evening, Ojai Valley Brewery.

Conveniently located steps away from Caravan Outpost, this small artisan brewing company is a great place to end the night. Here, you can try a variety of beers on tap made with local and foraged ingredients.

Travelers Choice:

• Pixie (White Wheat Ale with Pixie Tangerine)
• East End (Belgian Golden Ale infused with Prickly Pear and Hibiscus)

Catch you later

I hope this itinerary helps you experience a lot in a short amount of time while in Ojai. Unfortunately, it’s now time to head back to reality. But, don’t worry, I’ll see you next month for another unique daycation adventure.

Until then, stay curious.

– The Monthly Traveler