Only Good Vibes In Ojai, California
No matter which way you get there, via ocean trail or valley highway, Ojai is an oasis of hip. It has always been the artist’s quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the big, overwhelming city to the south. For us, emphasis on the quiet.
But what’s beneath the simmering, slow-paced exterior of this little bungalow town just north of Los Angeles? We took a late Summer trip on a free weekend to see what we’d always been missing, and Ojai did not disappoint.
Both of us had never been to the Ojai Valley and we, therefore, had a lot in our list of must-do’s and see’s. Of the health conscious and eco-friendly eateries we’d been hearing great things about, Hip VGN was at the top of the list. We parked nearby, walked our dog, Bucky, out into the low 90’s, and filled up on gorgeous salads and veggie spring rolls. As you might glean from its name, Hip VGN was 100% plant-based and exactly what the doctor might order on a typically hot Ojai afternoon.
Just around the corner, Revel Kombucha offers refreshing kombucha flights including exotic, creative flavors. The kombucha tasting not only offered us another break from the heat, but gave us the chance to try some of the best local kombucha in Ojai. Even Bucky revelled in the last drops of some of the simpler flavors.
Bart’s Books, Bucky, and a Beaming Molly
The rest of our trip included some of Ojai’s more well-known attractions and unique destinations. At the top of the list was Bart’s Books, the open-air bookstore as seen on nearly every Instagram influencer’s profile. We have to admit, the bookstore itself is a bookworm’s paradise, and it’s as unique a bookstore as you might ever find. We had to take turns perusing “inside”, though, as strangely enough they did not allow the Buckster in to play. We just went for the ‘gram, anyway. (Kidding, of course).
The attractions also included taking a stroll around the heavenly Ojai Valley Inn (if you have a night to spend in the Valley, book your night or two there). The natural beauty façade and recently updated interiors make for quite the luxurious stay. As this was a day trip for us, we kept it to peeks and tip toes around the exterior, which is more than welcome as long as you’re not too obviously just there for the pictures.
The afternoon continued by taking in the natural beauty on the Ojai Valley Trail starting at Highway 33 and ending at Libbey Park. We ran up on a Grateful Dead cover band concert and the people watching, as you might expect, was glorious and provided hours of entertainment. The Ojai Valley Trail runs parallel to Ojai Ave., main road through Ojai comprised of all of the best shopping and eating one can do in town. The Trail, of its own value, offers day trippers like us the ability to walk through town enveloped in a canopy of trees. The most peaceful moments in Ojai are no doubt spent on these little trails through and around the valley.
After sneaking peeks inside the concert, we snuck a peek at the yet unfinished “Wow House”, a brick and mortar manifest of Real Fun, Wow! creator Daren Magee. Some of the most apropos design to come out of and embody the energy of Ojai originates from Magee’s workshop. He’s an excellent follow on Instagram, to boot.
Mixed between our walks to and from the ends of Ojai, we made sure to appreciate the vibeyness of Ojai’s best coffee shop, Beacon Coffee. While it was nearly closing time, this is a can’t-miss latte spot and wonderful place to sit and work for an hour or two.
The simple pleasure of local ingredient gelato.
A bit later, we stopped in to have a taste of local ingredients-turned-gelato at Sanders & Sons Gelato. When you’re on the lookout for things to cool you (and the dog) down as we were virtually all day, there can be no greater salve than fresh gelato. Right next door, we got our fix of well-potted plants and incense appreciation at Plant Based, a pop-up shop we hope keeps its proverbial doors open forever based on their excellent taste in decor and design.
As the sun began to set and we were finally ready to call it a day, we topped off our taste buds by grabbing wood-fired pizza and local ciders at The Nest. The Nest is Ojai’s happening outdoor eatery with a line constantly leaking into the parking lot. Despite the ample wait for food, we were happy to sip our ciders on the patio. We kept up our outstanding people-watching as the concert-goers drifted over toward The Nest’s savory smells. The pizza is well worth the wait, not to mention.
The best kinds of day trips are those full of flavor, unexpected sightings, and lots of moments in and out of comfort zones. Ojai pushed us with its heat, but that was partially our fault. We might recommend choosing another time of year or leaving the dog at home for the trip. The heat notwithstanding, we can see why Ojai is known for its good vibes and hippie appeal. We found there’s a whole lot more to be discovered underneath that impression, and we can’t wait to go back for round two.
P.S. below, you’ll find a short vlog we posted on our YouTube channel from the trip, half of which is completely unrelated and pertains only to our concurrent trip to Santa Barbara.
Here you’ll see a short vlog we posted on our YouTube channel from the trip, half of which is completely unrelated and pertains only to our concurrent trip to Santa Barbara.