Ojai Valley Inn: Our Romantic Getaway

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway that’s a quick car drive from Los Angeles, look no further than the sweet town of Ojai in Ventura County. And specifically, check into the Ojai Valley Inn. Drew and I just spent two magical nights there and can’t wait for our next visit.

Ojai is a Chumash word meaning “the Nest” or Valley of the Moon. The area itself is actually thought to be centered on an energy vortex that releases healing vibes for spiritual awakening. And whether or not you believe in that type of thing.  The energy here is something you have to experience to understand…and we definitely felt a different sort of peace during our stay. 

This little oasis is located just over an hour or so north of Los Angeles. The Ojai Valley Inn first opened in 1923.  And although they refer to the hotel as an Inn…it’s actually a sprawling resort with 4 pools, a world-class championship golf course (if only I knew how to play), tennis courts and the most relaxing spa. There’s no need to leave the resort as there are several restaurants to choose from including a super healthy spa restaurant.  You can also rent bikes to tour around the property or ride into town…another cute idea is to order a picnic basket and go exploring.

On our first night there we had a delicious dinner at “The Oak” overlooking the property followed by ‘smores over the open fire pits.  Our second night was pure magic with a thunder and lightning storm.

You can walk or ride bikes into town to explore a bit.  We checked out the famous Barts Book Store which is billed as the largest outdoor bookstore in the world with more than 200,000 new and used books, ranging from rare out-of-print gems to well-loved paperbacks. 

Another cute stop was Tipple and Ramble which is part picnic and home goods boutique and part wine and cheese bar. We stopped by during the day, but can only imagine how pretty it is at night with all the tiny lights in the trees. 

And while we choose our visit to be a romantic getaway it’s definitely a family destination as well with plenty of activities and adventure…from learning about beekeeping and honey tasting to cooking classes, soap making classes, family crafts, horseback riding, and hiking just to name a few. 

Again all of this is less than 90 minutes from Los Angeles, but it truly feels like you’re in another world!

OJAI VALLEY INN
https://www.ojaivalleyinn.com
905 Country Club Road
Ojai, California 93023

BARTS BOOKSTORE
https://bartsbooksojai.com
302 W Matilija St.
Ojai, California 93023

TIPPLE & RAMBLE
http://www.tippleandramble.com
315 N. Montgomery St.
Ojai, California 93023

 

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