A Day Trip to Ojai (from Los Angeles) | A Detailed Itinerary
On the first warm sunny day of the season, Daniel, Kevynn, and I set out for a lovely day trip to get out of the city and to explore somewhere new. I always say my most favorite part about living in Los Angeles is the proximity to so many different environments and fun places to explore! I’m a big fan of visiting the Santa Ynez area, in fact I did another travel itinerary post on my favorite spots to check out there if you haven’t seen it yet:
A Day Trip to Santa Ynez Valley (from Los Angeles) | A Detailed Itinerary
But on the way up the 101 freeway, we have always passed the signs for Ojai, always curious about the “small hippie town” we have heard so much about. So we took this opportunity to check it out!
Ojai is a small agricultural community in Ventura County that is known for its Mediterranean climate and it’s cultural focus on spirituality, outdoor exercise, wellness, and art. It is a charming town that is the perfect spot for some rest and relaxation, good food, and beautiful views. It is also known for it’s famous Pixie tangerines, so be on the lookout for a farm stand to try out this local produce!
A DAY TRIP ITINERARY: FROM LOS ANGELES TO OJAI
~ 8:00 AM | DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES
The drive up to Ojai is actually pretty quick compared to other nearby places like Santa Barbara or Santa Ynez. The drive only took us about 1 hour 15 minutes or so, but obviously that will depend on the time of day and where you are coming from in LA. You are going to take the 101 freeway north towards Ventura. You will have just made it to the view of the ocean when your GPS will have you fork right up CA-33 N where you will see a sign directing you to the city of Ojai.
~9:30 AM | ARRIVE IN OJAI AT PRATT, FOOTHILL, AND FOX CANYON TRAILS LOOP
If you haven’t put your first destination into your GPS yet, I would recommend doing so now as you enter the town of Ojai. Your first stop will be a hike for some fresh air and beautiful views! You can type in Fox Canyon Trailhead into Google Maps to get a general idea of where to look for street parking to begin your hike. But I would recommend actually using the app AllTrails to guide you to the beginning of the trail you will be following.
Either type in Pratt, Foothill, and Fox Canyon Trails loop into the search or follow this link. Here you will find a detailed map of directions to follow as you hike. Its best to follow this map so you don’t get confused since you are technically following 3 different trails.
We absolutely loved this hike! It was about 3 miles in total and was a loop so we ended up back by our car at the end. It is moderately challenging with a lot of uneven terrain and it took us roughly 2 hours to complete. We had just gotten a ton of rain here in SoCal a few days before so the creek was flowing and there were even two spots where we had to take off our shoes and cross the water that was blocking the path. Kevynn asked to be carried for that part :P
You are sure to find a lot of beautiful flowers this time of year. You will also hike past some beautiful vineyards and creeks. And the views on the second half of the hike are stunning!
~ NOON | LUNCH AT FARMER AND THE COOK
After your two hour hike, you are sure to be ready for some food at this point. Your next stop of the day is to Farmer and the Cook, which is part Mexican cafe, part organic market! We fueled up on some iced lattes and I got a brick oven pizza. And Daniel had their Huarache, which we loved.
Farmer and the Cook
339 W El Roblar Dr, Ojai, CA 93023
Mon-Wed: 8am-4pm / Thurs-Sun: 8am-7pm
~ 1:30 PM | OLIVE OIL TASTING AT OJAI OLIVE OIL COMPANY
Next, you are headed to Ojai Olive Oil Company! This family run farm is the oldest and largest producer of extra virgin olive oil in the valley. Here you will get a taste of what this agricultural environment has to offer!
The farm has a beautiful little tasting room on the property where you can purchase a $10 tasting which gets you a tray to fill with any olive oil and balsamic vinegar flavors that you would like to try along with some bread to dip. They have a beautiful outdoor space with hammocks and picnic tables to enjoy your tasting, with staff walking around to answer any questions you might have. They even had a safe place for Kevynn to wait for us while we were inside the tasting room filling up our flight — they have thought of everything!
And of course we ended up purchasing two bottles by the end because we are suckers for a good olive oil :) We highly recommend this experience, it was totally worth it and just a beautiful place to relax!
Ojai Olive Oil Company
1811 Ladera Rd, Ojai, CA 93023
Mon-Sun: 10am-4pm
~ 3 PM | SHOPPING AT BART’S BOOKS
Now it is time to head back to town to the infamous must-see outdoor bookstore, Bart’s Books. As two book lovers, we had seen this magical spot all over TikTok and had to check it out for ourselves.
I mean when have you ever seen a bookstore located outside? It is definitely a charming and unique space to peruse for the afternoon!
Bart’s Books
302 W Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023
Mon-Sun: 10am-6pm
~ 4 PM | DRINKS AT TIPPLE & RAMBLE
Your next stop for the afternoon is to yet another quirky and unique spot, Tipple & Ramble. This charming building looks like you just stepped into a local Ojai home, but inside there is a well curated shop of home decor and gifts and there is a bar to order wine, beer, or even charcuterie snacks.
But the real star of the show is the beautiful patio! Out back is an eclectic mix of patio chairs and seating vignettes perfect for hanging with a group of friends and playing some board games or chatting away.
Tipple & Ramble
315 N Montgomery St, Ojai, CA 93023
Wed-Fri: 3-8pm / Sat: 12-8pm / Sun: 12-7pm (21+ only!)
~ 6PM | DINNER & DRINKS AT TOPA TOPA BREWING
The final stop for the evening is, of course, more food & drinks! Just a few blocks down, back on the bustling main street, you will find Topa Topa Brewing Company. Order yourself a beer from the bar and food from the window of Little Sama Ojai for some delicious Southeast-Asian-inspired cuisine!
Topa Topa Brewing
345 E Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023
Mon-Thurs: 12-8pm / Fri: 12-9pm / Sat: 11am-9pm / Sun: 11am-9pm
~ 7:30 PM | DEPART FROM OJAI (BACK TO LOS ANGELES)
Ojai is specifically known for the “pink moment”, which is a magical time of day when the sun sets and the mountains are covered in a beautiful pink glow. So if you can make it work I would definitely recommend staying in the area until sunset. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten to see it for myself yet, but what better reason than to plan my next visit :)
I hope you enjoyed coming along with us on our itinerary for the day in Ojai! What a magical little town with so much to explore. If you try out this trip, please let me know your favorite part. Safe travels!
xo Rachael
