Our Favorite Ojai Attractions
eat eat eat
Some of our favorite places for food and drink include:
Pinyon, Ojai
Rory’s Place, Ojai
Izakaya Full Moon, Ojai
Beacon Coffee, Ojai
Yume Japanese Burger Cafe, Ojai
Topa Topa Brewery, Ventura
Little Dom's Seafood, Carpinteria
Third Window Brewing for SMASH BURGERS (a must)!! Santa Barbara
Hike The Rose Valley Falls Trail
This 1.1-mile trail is located within the Los Padres National Forest, just a 40-minute drive from downtown Ojai. On the trail, you will pass streams, canyons, and enjoy picturesque views of the mountain range. Along the trail, you will reach a waterfall where you can stop and take a dip or climb inside the waterfall into a cave!
Bart’s Books
Bart's Books is one of those magical places you'll feel humbled to have stumbled upon. It's a beautiful outdoor bookstore, packed to the gills with an extensive collection of used and new titles from Sci Fi to Self Help. The center of the shop is an old house (with the cookbooks in the kitchen, poetry in the living room, art books in the "gallery," etc.), and the rest of the place is a maze of bookshelves with corrugated tin roofing and open air seating areas for comfy browsing. It's like being in a treehouse made of books—just don't ask them what they do when it rains. Tip: While you're there, pick up the Hip Hiking Guide—written by three generations of Ojai women—for info on the best trails.
Ojai Olive Oil Company
See (and taste) the benefits of Ojai's unique Mediterranean climate at Ojai Olive Oil Co. The olive grove here was planted back in 1880—in the era of the Missions, when there was a communal olive press in the valley—and has been thriving ever since. The specific varietal produces a robust and peppery oil, which you can taste for yourself (along with flavored oils and vinegars) after a tour of the farm and facilities.
Ojai Valley Bike Trail
This is one of the best rides we've been on in the area. It's not too challenging, there's lots of shade, and you can complete a one-way leg of the ride in under an hour, which means lots of time for meandering around Ojai (or Ventura, depending on your starting point) before heading back. The views from this ride are stunning: You'll see sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains, and get a rural feel once the trail breaks away from the railroad tracks and Route 33. Bring lots of water and some cash for lunch, and enjoy!
Topa Mountain Winery
A beautiful place for local wine tasting and a picnic.
Beach Day!
Check out the beautiful beaches between Ventura and Carpinteria. Spend the day with lunch at the beach or take surf lessons.
Meditation Mountain
Lauded by locals as one of the most spiritually sound spots in the valley, Meditation Mount is prime for catching a famous Ojai “pink moment”—or a guided, walking, and full-moon meditation, depending on the day. Time it so you're there around sunset, and bring your camera.
Shop locally
Some of our favorite stores include:
In the Field
Sumer Camp
Tipple & Ramble
Fig Curated Living
deKor & Co
Go horseback riding
The Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company is located within Oso Ranch which is a fully operational horse establishment featuring trail rides along the Ventura River valley through some of the most beautiful horse country in California.
Relax at a spa
After exploring the city or going on a long hike, it will surely be time for a relaxing spa day. Ojai has some great five-star spas to relax and rejuvenate. My favorite is at the Ojai Valley Inn!
Day trip to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is just a 30-minute drive from Ojai so during your weekend there why not go wine tasting in one of the best wine regions in California? Sip wine, shop and eat at some of California’s most romantic spots.