Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Carpinteria is 11 miles east of Santa Barbara via Hwy 101 (southbound exit Linden Ave,
northbound Casitas Pass Rd). From Santa Barbara, take MTD bus 20 ($1.75, 45 minutes,
Linden Ave)
has an unstaffed platform downtown; buy tickets online or by phone before
catching one of five daily
Pacific Surfliner
trains south to Ventura ($11, 25 minutes) or LA
($29, 2¾ hours).
Ojai
Pop 7560 / Elev 745ft
Hollywood director Frank Capra chose the Ojai Valley to represent a mythical Shangri-la
in his 1937 movie
Lost Horizon
. Today Ojai ('
oh
-hi', from the Chumash word for 'moon')
attracts artists, organic farmers, spiritual seekers and anyone ready to indulge in day-spa
pampering. Bring shorts and flip-flops: Shangri-la sure gets hot in summer.
Sights & Activities
Inside downtown's historic firehouse,
Ojai Vineyard
( 805-798-3947;
www.ojaivineyard.com
; 109 S Montgomery St; tastings $15; noon-5pm)
pours tastes of its delic-
ate, small-batch wines. It's best known for standard-bearing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and
Syrah, but the crisp Sauvignon Blanc, dry Reisling and zippy rosé are also worth
sampling. Outside town, take a free guided tour of the olive orchards and sample fruity
and herb-infused oils at family-owned
Ojai Olive Oil Company
( 805-646-5964;
www.ojaioliveoil.com
; 1811 Ladera Rd; usually hourly tours 1-4pm Wed & 10am-3pm Sat)
.
For the ultimate in relaxation, book a day at top-tier
Spa Ojai
( 877-597-3731;
www.ojairesort.com/spa-ojai/
; Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 905 Country Club Rd)
, where non-resort
guests pay an extra $20 to access two swimming pools, a workout gym and mind/body fit-
ness classes. Or unwind with an aromatherapy or hot-rock massage in a hobbitlike cottage
at
Day Spa of Ojai
(
805-640-1100;
www.thedayspa.com
;
1434 E Ojai Ave)
, about a mile east
of downtown.
Running beside the highway, the 9-mile
Ojai Valley Trail
, converted from defunct rail-
way tracks, is popular with walkers, runners, cyclists and equestrians. Pick it up downtown
