2 Nights in Ojai
About Ojai
How do I describe Ojai, other that it was a perfect place to relax and retreat, especially at the inn we stayed at. (More about that later). This town had a mix of a hippie and spiritual renewal vibes coupled with modern restaurants and bars. We spent two night in Ojai as part of our baby moon in April.
Here are some fun things we did in during our time there.
1 - Ojai Meadows Reserve hike
A beautiful, easy, and paved hiking trail that runs through the city. The great part about it is that you can start and stop at any time. It's also a fairly flat trail. We saw lush trees, meadows, and some residential areas while walking though the trail. There are many hikes in and around Ojai, but this one fit my strength and energy level at the time.
2 - Main Downtown Area (E Ojai Avenue)
This main area of Ojai was beautiful to walk through and had a wide variety of restaurants, breweries, wine tasting venues, and shops. We dined at Exotic Thai Restaurant (their mango with sticky rice was amazing), The Ojai Pizza Company (the Mediterranean pizza was yummy!), and Ca'Marco Ristorante. (where I enjoyed my Fettuccine Alfredo).
3. Libbey Park
Libbey Park is located in the heart of downtown Ojai. It's big area where the local community meets to play, hang out, and relax. It has some beautiful structures, a playground for kids. The Ojai Meadows Reserve trail runs through the park.
3 - Ojai Olive Oil Tour
On our last day in Ojai, we drove over to Ojai Olive Oil, an olive oil production farm. We toured the grove of olive trees and learned about their interesting history. We got to see an olive press and learn about the process from start to finish. The tour concluded with an olive oil tasting session (perfect for me, because I could have olive oil ;)) The tour was free and informational not only about the farm, but also Ojai.
Where we stayed:
We stayed at the Ojai Bed and Breakfast Inn. It's the "best kept secret" in Ojai. If you're looking for the place to relax and unwind, this is the place. This Ojai retreat is nestled on top of a hill on a five acre hill top with panoramic views of the Ojai valley. It has only 10 rooms. We stayed in the Ojai Suite, which had a mini kitchen, and the best view from our bed and our mini patio. Sure, it wasn't as new as other hotels, and didn't have as many amenities, but the views and the peaceful vibes were well worth it.
We're so happy to have made Ojai part of our baby moon. It was the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation. Have you been to Ojai? If so, I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments.