Ojai means moon or nest, and I truly felt enlightened and snug in this bohemian and hippy town. It’s why Ojai is known as a place to relax and calm your soul. However, there’s a lot to do, so it’s important to plan ahead so you can do as much as a possible.
Below are some of the wonderful things to do at The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa and its surrounding area. If you’d like help planning your trip or selecting activities, Just Ask!
1. Hike the Topa Topa Mountains
I hired a professional guide named Scott who really knew the trails. It was a beautiful crisp morning and we headed to The Valley View Preserve. You can view a map here.
Our route started at Shelf Road. We ascended Luci’s Trail to Foothill Trail, intersected the Pratt Trail to the Pratt Trailhead and walked back to the car. I’ve included a photo of the map and elevation chart that Scott made for this hike. There were breathtaking views! The Thomas Fire did not fully destroy the beauty of Ojai and the regrowth is uplifting, lush and promising.
2. Get a treatment at The Spa Village
The Spa at The Ojai Valley Inn is literally a village with rooms for meditation, fitness, steam, sauna, whirlpool and treatments. I suggest trying the Warm Himalayan Salt Stone Massage. Very relaxing. They even have a Somadome, but I didn’t try that. Next time! There are various adult and children’s pools around the property, but in the Spa Village there’s an adult pool, a lap pool and a hot tub. There’s also a cute Spa cafe to grab a quick breakfast or lunch as I mentioned in Oh, Hi Part 1 . If you forgot your workout clothes or bathing suit, the Spa Boutique has everything you need. What a retreat!
3. Ride bikes or take the trolley into town for some shopping and wine tasting
You can hop on the trolley or there’s a bike trail adjacent to the Ojai Valley Inn property, which brings you into the town. The Ojai Village has a variety of stores and many places to eat. Many of the stores are of artistic nature and I enjoyed shopping in a store called Ova Arts where I bought a pair of sterling silver earrings of a mountain landscape from local artist, Gayle Whiteley Minjarez. Each piece she creates is one of a kind. I love giving back to local artists.
There are wineries in town, too! The Ojai Vineyard, Casa Barranca and The Majestic Oak Vineyard are all worth a visit. I really liked The Topa Mountain Winery, which is a new addition to the Ojai community. It’s in walking distance from the Ojai Valley Inn and it’s such a quaint venue with café lights and wooden picnic tables. They have live music outdoors on Saturdays and Sundays, a bocce court and yes, a wine tasting room. Unfortunately, they don’t sell any food unless a food truck arrives at the property, but you can bring your own dinner or order a pizza. I recommend their 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir - Bien Nacido. It was delicious on that glorious day!
4. Play tennis or golf
Get outside and enjoy the fresh air while staying active. Hit the tennis courts or play golf at the historic golf course that surrounds The Ojai Valley Inn property shaped like a horseshoe. The one thing I regret not doing? Playing golf. But, I did pass by the Pro Shop. Ha!
There’s so much more to do at Ojai Valley Inn. All you have to do is Just Ask me to plan your next trip!
