Ojai, pronounced oh-hi, is a wellness travel destination for the ultimate zen getaway. A 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, Ojai offers an abundance of new age shops, quirky art galleries, organic eats, mind-body spas and plenty of instagrammable ‘pink moment’ sunsets. Ojai is magnet for those in need of a digital detox and seeking escape, restoration and natural beauty.
Ojai Valley runs east-west rather than north-south, which some say creates a good energy vortex with the power to heal. With year-round Mediterranean climate, Ojai is a growing haven for spa-goers, foodies and fashion seekers. Whether you’re looking for a rejuvenating retreat or weekend getaway, Ojai is the perfect travel destination to escape your daily hustle and bustle, and discover your inner yogi.
STAY
The Lavender Inn
The Lavender Inn is a historic boutique bed & breakfast in Ojai offering gourmet cooking classes, complimentary daily breakfast, wine hour, and onsite spa treatments. Built in 1874, The Lavender Inn is Ojai’s first schoolhouse transformed into seven thoughtfully appointed and artfully designed guest rooms. This pet-friendly inn is centrally located and set amongst lavender gardens with a fenced in backyard with plenty of room for your pampered pooch. If you’re booking for a girls trip or honeymoon, opt for the Provence Cottage, featuring over 1,000 square feet and it’s own private entrance.
SHOP
In the Field
In the Field is a bohemian-style boutique, offering a carefully curated collection of men’s, women’s, children’s apparel, and accessories, as well as one-of-a-kind home and lifestyle goods with an eye toward bohemian products and cult labels. Reminiscent of shops you may find in Williamsburg, Brooklyn or Silver Lake in Los Angeles, here you will find western-inspired fashion, easy to wear dresses and plenty of stylish hats. Husband and wife team, Channon & Bianca Roe, opened In the Field in 2014, perfectly capturing the essence of Ojai bohemian living.
EAT & DRINK
Ojai Deer Lodge
A local favorite with a great selection of comfort food and photoworthy cocktails, Ojai Deer Lodge is a 1932 gas station and general store turned culinary haven and hip music venue committed to fresh ingredients, craft cocktails, and late hours. Standout dishes include their famous fried chicken, brussel sprouts, mac and cheese and BBQ along with specialty cocktails such as the Mule Deer and Pink Moment.
Azu Restaurant & Bar
Azu Restaurant has a menu that showcases Ojai’s unique local flavors and organic produce in inspired recipes from Spain, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. A tapas bar, restaurant and event venue, Azu also serves beer from Ojai Valley Brewery and offers a host of vegan and gluten-free food items.
Topa Mountain Winery
Topa Mountain Winery is a boutique winery and tasting room near downtown Ojai that invites guests to grab a glass and stay a while. Surrounded by the Topa Mountain Range, you will find the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy live music and tasting flights of wine on the lawn made for picnics. Producing more than 4,000 cases per year, varietals such as Syrah, Grenache, and Viognier have long thrived in the region, but new vines have also been introduced such as Barbera, Tempranillo, Carmenere and Touriga Nacionale.
DETOX
Day Spa of Ojai
The Day Spa of Ojai is a family-run spot that has been soothing knots and cares away for over two decades. The house specialty is Swedish massage, but also offers an extensive assortment of customizable massage options such as lomi lomi nui, structural integration, energy work, deep tissue, prenatal, hot stone, aromatherapy, Reiki, and Thai foot massages. They also offer wellness and stress-reduction services along with a host of beauty treatments including facials, microderm abrasion, ultronic ultrasound, oxygen facials, and organic-medi facials.
PACK
Packing travel essentials are important when planning a vacation. On your next jetset, try CALPAK’s new Travel Wallet, the perfect on-the-go travel accessory. Every feature and compartment was designed to keep you organized while you travel in style. Exploring downtown areas in new cities are perfect for walking so choosing stylish and comfortable kicks are a MUST! Checkout the new styles from comfort luxury footwear brand MOBS offering a variety of colorways, just in time for summer! Perfect for travel adventures, the new colorways range from bleu gitane, coral, dusty beige, and includes three silhouettes including tread slip-on, tread low and tread high styles. You can also document every moment of your travel adventures with handmade leather notebooks from the Chic Sparrow.
By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY
Kinya’s Wardrobe
Dresses: FifteenTwenty & Speechless
Pajamas: Midnight Bakery Intimates
Travel Wallet: CalPak
Shoes: MOBS
Travel Notebook: Chic Sparrow
Photo Credit: Marselle Washington, Marco Imagery
