That Cool Travel Couple

Ojai is one of the hidden gems of southern California. It’s only an hour and a half drive from Los Angeles, and is a 25 minute drive to one of our favorite beaches! There’s tons to do, and it’s a place we keep coming back to again and again. 

As you’re driving into Ojai, be sure to stop at the scenic overlook over the Ojai Valley. There are a lot of great camping spots around here if you want to turn your day trip into something longer. Enjoy the incredible view over Ojai. 

Your day starts with brunch (naturally). There are SO many delicious and adorable places in Ojai to eat brunch. We really liked LOVE Social Cafe, which is very close to the main street in Ojai. It’s a laid back and casual counter-order cafe with an expansive outdoor seating area with plenty of shade. Their menu is wide and has lots of vegetarian options, and their coffee is amazing. Sage Ojai and Bonnie Lu’s diner are also great breakfast places that are close by. 

After you’ve eaten your fill, head down Signal Street until you get to Libbey Park. Here you’ll see lots of families and dog walkers out enjoying the beautiful Ojai sunshine. This park is home to the Libbey Bowl – be sure to check the event calendar online to see if there is any live music during your visit. It also houses a large jungle gym which is helpful if you have little ones. The Ojai Valley Trail cuts through the park, and some bicyclists use this to travel from Ojai to Ventura. 

When you’re done with the park, make a left onto Ojai Avenue and stroll along the main street of Ojai. This beautiful street is lined with shops and restaurants that ooze small town charm. Wander in a few (or many) of the art galleries along this avenue. We highly recommend stopping by Heavenly Honey Company for a wide variety of delicious and natural honeys. Also be sure to check out Bart’s Books, an eclectic outdoor bookstore, just off Ojai Avenue. 

It gets very hot in Ojai, so you’ll no doubt want to cool off with a nice drink. We suggest Tipple and Ramble which is a wine bar that also sells barware and home goods. It’s elegantly decorated patio is a lovely spot to stay for a while and hang out. They usually have snacks like cheese and spreads on the menu if you’re getting a little hungry as well. 

Further down Ojai Avenue you’ll find Topa Mountain Winery, which has a very large outdoor patio to relax in. You can wander around the grape vines and sample some of their delicious wines. The patio is pet friendly, like most of the patios in Ojai, so furry friends can join as well. 

We highly recommend visiting the Ojai Olive Oil Company which is a farm shop located just a few minutes drive from central Ojai, but feels like a world away. There is a small tasting room where you are able to sample their various olive oils and vinegars. We never walk away from this place empty handed, and we find their prices to be on par with other specialty olive oil companies in the area. 

A few minutes further down the road will get you to Meditation Mount, a non-denominational Meditation Center that is renowned for having the best view of the sunset in Ojai. You could also drive back up to the overlook to watch the sun set over Ojai valley. Our personal favorite is finding a spot somewhere in the mountains off of 33 and posting up in our camp chairs.

Finally it’s time for dinner, and again you’ve got some great options. For a fancy dinner check out the Ojai Inn which often has live music outdoors. Boccali’s Pizza and Pasta is always packed whenever we drive by and is farm to table Italian food. You could also drive 25 minutes to Ventura and grab a bite to eat by the beach, on your way back to LA. 

And that’s our ideal day out in Ojai! Comment if you have any other suggestions we should add!