Things To Do In Ojai

Ojai (pronounced “OH-hy”) is a small town outside of Los Angeles, located in the valley of the Topatopa mountains and south of Los Padres National Forest. This place is a great option for a day-trip or weekend getaway from Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, and is known as a relaxing hideaway and the perfect wellness retreat. Here you can eat and shop locally made goods, enjoy wine tastings from the surrounding vineyards, and hike or bike to take in the beautiful scenery!

Written in: 2020 Edited in: 2024

In this article, we’re going to show what our day was like in Ojai. We really enjoyed our time here in this low-key town, despite the record-heat in California and the pandemic closing many of the shops in the Ojai Valley.

Read on to see our tips and recommendations for Ojai.

Ojai has a beautiful Mediterranean climate and similar vegetation that is grown in the Mediterranean such as avocado & citrus trees, as well as grape vines for Californian wine. I’ve read that the name is derived from the Chumash word for “moon” (‘awha’y), however most sources refer to Ojai as meaning “nest”. Either word fits well to represent the spiritual, local, and natural vibe to the town and its unique character.

The Best Hike in Ojai

We highly recommend finding a hike to do whilst you’re there as the views are stunning and there are so many hikes to choose from, making it easy if you are short on time and need to stick to a shorter trail.

We did the Pratt, Foothill, and Fox Canyon Trails Loop which is a 3.1mile loop located just a few streets away from the center or high street of Ojai. The views from the top were beautiful 360 degree views of the mountains surrounding Ojai Valley. Dogs are allowed.

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Where To Eat in Ojai

After our long hike under the hot sun, we needed fuel so we stopped at Harvest Moon for lunch and a drink. It was great food and a really enjoyable time stopping there. The patio was open, but inside dining is closed at the time of writing this (2020). There’s so many great locally owned restaurants to try in town and we’ll be exploring more soon!

We walked the town for a bit, and then we needed to cool off so we went to Java & Joe for a cold brew. The coffee was delicious! There are a few similar places for drinks in town like the Ojai Coffee Roasting or Revel Kombucha Bar & Acai Bowls for a caffeine-free boost.

In town you can check out Bart’s Book Store which is the world’s largest outdoor bookstore and been around since 1964! Or you can walk around Libbey Park like we did after picking up our coffee.

The main activities to do in town would be to check out the shops (farmers markets, bookstores, boutiques), visit a wellness spa or bike around town and the nearby meadow. While there isn’t a long list of things to do in Ojai, I think that’s the point. It’s a great relaxing weekend destination to soak in the California sun, wine and nature!

Another activity to do on your first visit to Ojai is to explore the nearby Los Padres National Forest. We drove up to Rose Valley Campground (there is a short hike nearby called Rose Valley Falls) and took in some amazing scenery from the winding roads on the way.

Something that was recommended to us by a local was to visit Matilija Creek. Unfortunately we got there on a busy summer day and decided to check it out another time. But if you get there earlier in the day, try head over there to a hidden gem!