Ojai (116)Join us for a retreat to the sleepy town of Ojai, Calif. A mere 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, Ojai's Spanish-influenced architecture and eclectic style creates a welcoming environment for visitors. The area's many resident artists and galleries also exert a strong artistic influence on its accommodations.
Outdoor activities abound and range from hiking to golfing to meditating at Meditation Mount. Take a tour of the Blue Iguana Inn, which was rescued from decay and features art throughout its rooms. We'll also visit the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, renowned for its comfortable and elegant ambiance as well as its outstanding amenities.
Ojai Facts:
- Although the valley was always called Ojai, the town was named Nordhoff in 1872 (after Charles Nordhoff (1887-1947), the author of California for Health, Pleasure, and Residence: A Book for Travelers and Settlers). The town was officially renamed Ojai in 1917.
- The name Ojai is derived from a Chumash Indian word meaning "moon."
- Meditation Mount is free and open daily from late morning until sunset.
- The Ojai Valley Trail is 9.5 miles long and can be used for walking, biking, jogging and horseback riding.
- The Ojai Studio Artists Tour weekend in October is open to the public and attended by artists from all over the world.
- Room rates at the Blue Iguana Inn range from $95 to $180 per night.
- Average Ojai temperature is 38-68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and 54-86 degrees during summer months.
- The Ojai Valley Inn offers two restaurants, three swimming pools, eight tennis courts and one of California's best golf courses.
- The Inn has 210 guest rooms, and rates range from $280 to $450 per night.
Contacts:
Blue Iguana Inn
11794 N. Ventura Ave. (Hwy 33), Ojai, CA 93023
805-646-5277, www.blueiguanainn.com
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Country Club Road, Ojai, CA 93023
800-422-6524, www.ojairesort.com
Meditation Mount
805-646-5508, www.meditation.com
Resources:
The Ojai Valley : An Illustrated History (2nd edition)
by Patricia L. Fry
Nordhoff's West Coast: California, Oregon, and Hawaii (Pacific Basin Books)
by Charles Nordhoff
Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center
www.the-ojai.org
