Take a City Break: Day Trip to Ojai, California
Are you planning a city break with a day trip to Ojai? See the things to do in Ojai, California.
Located 18 miles inland from the Pacific coast, Ojai is a popular destination for day trips and weekend getaways.
We visited Ojai for the first time during the end of the pandemic; while our days to days were slower, it was still the change of environment we needed at the time. We decided to drive to Ojai, California, for the day. And, wow, it’s an escape from city life.
There are so many day trips from Los Angeles, CA. In the 16 years in LA, shockingly, we have not visited all of them. You forget to explore your surroundings when you live somewhere for so long. It was the same when we lived in New York.
But we’ve been doing our best to re-explore and discover new things to do in Los Angeles, near our home in Pasadena and its surrounding areas.
Sometimes we need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you want to do that, consider a day trip to Ojai, California.
How far is Ojai from LA?
This charming town is in Ventura County, just an hour and thirty-minute drive from Los Angeles.
In Ojai, you will find wineries, ranches, citrus farms, an olive farm, and picturesque scenes.
While there, we felt like we were a million miles away from the city – even though it was only a day trip.
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What is there to do in Ojai for a day trip?
For a day trip to Ojai, you’ll want to visit Downtown Ojai for shopping and wine tasting. Don’t forget to stop by Bart’s Books. Plan to visit the Ojai Olive Oil Company, a local olive farm with a tasting room.
You can experience most of the top things to do in Ojai in a day. However, we also recommend Ojai for a weekend getaway if you want an extended relaxing stay.
Rent an Airbnb or Vrbo on a ranch or stay at one of their many boutique hotels. We have our hearts set on the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa for a future stay.
Plan an Ojai weekend getaway and plan a day at the spa, visit the wineries and farms, and eat at the various farm-to-table restaurants.
Book a Hotel in Ojai – Booking.com
Day Trip to Ojai, CA
How do I spend a day in Ojai?
There are so many things to do in Ojai; it all depends on your priorities. Some people may want a relaxing day to explore the town at leisure, while others plan on bike riding or hitting some nearby trails at Los Angeles Padres Forest.
If you’re looking change of scene, we guarantee that the moment you drive into Ojai, you will instantly have you feeling like you’re on a mini-vacation. We loved the scent of fresh citrus trees hanging in the air. Cows dotted around on various farms grazing along the fields. And farms with horses grazing right outside of town.
While there is plenty of things to do in Ojai, take some time to drive around and enjoy the picturesque scenery.
How many days do you need in Ojai?
A day trip to Ojai is enough to see the main attractions in town. However, if you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway, you can spend 2-3 days enjoying all it offers, including its well-known spa resorts.
How close is Ojai to the beach?
Surfs Point Beach is the closest beach to Ojai, a 23-minute drive and 15 miles away.
Things to Do in Ojai in a Day
What to do in Ojai, California? These are the highlights and things to do in Ojai, whether spending a day or having a weekend getaway.
Explore Downtown Ojai (Ojai Village)
Downtown Ojai is the perfect place to explore this charming Californian town. Stroll down tree-lined streets and browse the trendy boutiques and art galleries. Stop for a coffee or a bite to eat in one of the cafes, or enjoy people-watching.
You can also visit the historic arcade, a covered walkway lined with shops and restaurants. Downtown Ojai is the perfect place to taste what this special town offers.
You’ll probably spend an hour or two before heading to lunch or exploring other parts of Ojai.
In Downtown Ojai, you’ll find:
- unique local shops
- restaurants
- art galleries
- wine tasting
- Libby park
- Ojai Valley Museum
- Ojai Coffee Roasters (we visited the coffee multiple times)
- Bart’s Books
Downtown Ojai | 336 E Ojai Ave, Ojai | Google Map It
Ojai Coffee Roasters
We parked and made a beeline for Ojai Coffee Roasting. If you’re a coffee drinker like us or it’s the start of your day, this is a great local spot. Breakfast and lunch were available, but we were there for the coffee.
We’re glad we made the stop – it was the perfect pick-me-up after a long drive.
Ojai Coffee | 337 E Ojai Ave, Ojai | Google Map It
Shopping in Ojai
We walked around the small town and enjoyed looking at all the shops. It was great to see that there were no large franchises and all the businesses were small, locally-owned stores. There was a great selection of local and handmade items available for purchase.
One shop, Fig Ojai, impressed me and was worth the visit. It is beautiful and unique, with a ton of cool items. If you’re looking for something special to gift someone this Christmas, you’ll find it here.
Fig Ojai | 327 E Ojai Ave, Ojai | Google Map It
Bart’s Books
Bart’s Books is a must-visit for any book lover. This independent outdoor bookstore has been in Ojai since 1964 and boasts an impressive collection of new and used books. In addition to classic novels and recent bestsellers, Bart’s Books also carries a wide selection of comics and other collectibles.
But what sets this bookstore apart is its distinctive layout. The store is best known for its unique layout; all books are displayed outdoors, under the sun and stars.
Bart’s Books | 302 W Matilija St, Ojai | Google Map It
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Enjoy Ojai Wine Tasting
One of the best things to do in Ojai is wine tasting.
Ojai may be a small town, but it has a big reputation regarding wine. The region has multiple vineyards, and the local wine scene thrives. If you want to go wine tasting in Ojai, there are plenty of options. You can visit one of the few tasting rooms scattered around town.
Majestic Oak Vineyard Tasting Room
Get a taste of their local wineries right in Downtown Ojai.
The Majestic Oak Vineyard Tasting Room has one of the prettiest patios where you can sit back and order full-sized tastings from their menu. You can also bring food from local eateries nearby.
Majestic Oak | 321 E Ojai Ave, Ojai | Google Map It
Topa Mountain Winery
West of Downtown Ojai, you’ll find Topa Mountain Winery. This is a great relaxing spot with beautiful views of the mountains.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Topa Mountain | 821 W Ojai Ave, Ojai | Google Map It
Go Olive Oil Tasting at Ojai Olive Oil Company
The Olive Oil farm in Ojai was one of our favorite spots on our day trip to Ojai. Seeing the olive trees was like being transported back to Italy.
Olive oil tasting is available. They will hand you four olive oil samples, and four balsamic samples served in separate containers in a wooden box.
You can go outside to enjoy them in their patio area, or at a picnic table they have set outside under the shaded trees.
Their Tuscan extra virgin olive oil turned out to be our favorite. We took a bottle home to remember our day in Ojai.
It was super peaceful there and not at all busy for a weekday.
Ojai Olive Oil | 1811 Ladera Rd, Ojai | Google Map It
Take a Stroll at Ojai Meadow Preserves
Trails are open. You can walk or bike at Ojai Meadow Preserve. You can make the loop trail that is not even a mile long for an easy walk. It’s peaceful and beautiful as long as it is not crowded.
The flowers probably bloom in spring, making it a more picturesque spot.
Ojai Meadow Preserves | 1601 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai | Google Map It
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Ojai Restaurants
With only one day in Ojai, you can’t try all the restaurants. We suggest researching ahead or on the morning of your day trip to Ojai, just in case you need reservations.
Boccali’s Pizza & Pasta
If you’re in the mood for a casual Italian dinner, Bocalli’s is a fantastic spot for couples and families. Family-owned and loved by locals. There was already a line at the opening at 4 pm.
There are two locations. The one we ate at is at the Boccalli’s ranch. They have picnic tables outside under these large oak trees.
We ordered their garlic mushrooms and a cheese pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven. We are picky with our pizza, but I have to say the crust on this pizza is excellent.
The best part about Boccali’s is that their farm-to-table dishes come straight from their garden. Make sure to ask what those are on the menu.
For dessert, if it’s in season, do not leave without trying their strawberry shortcake.
We enjoyed our meal outdoors under the shaded tree, which was the perfect end to our time in Ojai.
Fall Season Bonus: Their pumpkin patch is right behind the restaurant. On that particular day, they had an honor system set.
Boccali’s | 3277 E Ojai Ave, Ojai | Google Map It
Next time we are in Ojai, we’d like to try Nocciola’s for dinner.
You can make a day trip to Ojai from Los Angeles and other cities in Southern California.
If you’re looking for other day trips and other fun things to do in Southern California, check out these articles:
Fun and Best Things to do in Solvang, CA
Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
I seriously loved this post! Sorry for my delayed read! Work stress has gotten to me lately and I’ve slipped away from the blogging world.
I’ve never heard of this area but it sounds and looks so….what should I say! Lovely! Absolutely lovely. I love that you are taking day trips now. I’ve always loved Cali when I’ve visited so I’d definitely like to explore more of Cali via your blog.
Hello, that pizza looks amazing. I know I’m in pizza central NYC but I want that pizza. Maybe the garlic mushrooms too. Sometimes I like mushrooms and sautéed in all that garlic could be good.
That strawberry shortcake for sure looks amazing. Those strawberries look mouth watering. Wish I could have that right now.
The local shops look fun to explore and love the honor system pumpkin patch. In NH, they have this spot to get ice cream that’s in the woods and it’s all the honor system. It’s cool! The ice cream itself isn’t our favorite but the concept is amazing.?
Great post!
So sorry to hear it’s been so rough at work. You gotta take care of yourself first and foremost, so don’t worry about catching up here. My blog isn’t going anywhere… I hope lol. Thank you for stopping by and reading about our little day trip to Ojai. We had such a great day. It was so nice cause it was during the week and not that busy. Also sad because a lot of the local shops were either permanently closed because of COVID or just closed for the day lol. I think the weekends will probably be best for shopping. Just driving around was so nice. Lots of farms and horses. You would love it.
Honor system ice cream? Wow. Honestly, this is the first honor system I’ve seen here. Ojai is a different world from LA.
We passed through Ojai last fall on a drive to some parks. It was a ghost town! We’ll definitely have to get back up there.
It was definitely on the quiet side since it was during the pandemic, but I rather enjoyed it. I definitely loved the Olive farm.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading this post, Kathy. Just when I thought there was one experience that I would really enjoy, another one came right after it! One of my favorite things to do when visiting a major city is to find an escape to somewhere close by with a slower pace and interesting things to do. Ojai is that place, and I hope to visit this unique town someday soon!
It is such a cute town. I totally felt so relaxed there and I hope to visit again too.
Ojai looks really wonderful Kathy. It helps you captured it beautifully in your photos. With wineries, good food, and quirky shops there’s so much to fill a good day there.
Yes, visiting Ojai definitely helped us feel good.
Your post was relaxing to read as I imagined ourselves visiting to get away from everyday life. I’d like to visit the olive oil farm and try the strawberry shortcake.
So happy to hear it was relaxing to read as that is how I felt when I was there.
What a lovely village! I can feel the relaxing vibe here. I can spend hours at the shops and the bookstore. And great food too, Thanks for sharing this part of California!
Very relaxing vibe! There are spas nearby that people book for the weekends. Perhaps I’ll get to do that one day.
I’ve never been to Ojai, even though it’s within a few hours drive of my family. The shops there look adorable – it looks like the perfect city break! Thanks for joining #TravelBlogTuesday 🙂
Ojai is such a cute and relaxing town. I loved the vibes and it was the escape I needed from Los Angeles. Hope you get to visit one day.