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 OJAI
VALLEY
Northeast
of Ventura along scenic Highway 33 is the renowned Ojai
Valley. A place of incomparable beauty, the valley was immortalized
as the mythical Shangri-La in the film Lost Horizon, which
was filmed here in 1937.
Just
a 90-minute drive north of Los Angeles and 20 minutes east
of Ventura, the Ojai Valley is home to some of the most
interesting shops, world-class art galleries, fine dining,
and spas in California.
The
area boasts a rich and colorful past. The Chumash Indians,
who inhabited the region more than 1,000 years ago, gave
the valley its name, which means “moon.” Indeed, in Ojai,
natural wonders are always beckoning. The city sits encircled
by the dramatic Topa Topa Mountains, Los Padres National
Forest, and nearby Lake Casitas Recreation Area provide
outstanding recreational opportunities. And Ojai makes the
ideal starting point for back-country hiking on miles of
trails, boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping.
In
winter, Ojai is a photographer’s dream. The sun is low,
the shadows are long, and the air is crisp and clear. The
area’s famous oaks, minus their heavy summer foliage, strike
stark dramatic poses, while bright green winter grass contrasts
with mountains deeply gray from fresh winter rains. Black
skies are full of stars, and the smoke and scent of smoldering
fires snake out of chimneys and seep into the night.
Ojai
especially comes alive in the spring. The hillsides blaze
with poppies and wildflowers, and the days are ideal for
hiking canyon trails or simply wandering the village streets.
Ojai takes on a bustle in spring; world-class tennis players
arrive for the city’s famed annual tennis tournament, and
a variety of special events cater to those interested in
gardens, nature walks, and festivals.
During
Ojai’s summer, the pace of living slows down. The sun is
out for the better part of 14 hours each day, and cool mornings
give way to warm afternoons that are perfect for siestas.
The scent of ceanothus and sage fill the air as visitors
travel Highway 33 to a wading pool at the Wheeler Gorge
Campground.
In
autumn, the high heat of summer ebbs, and daytime temperatures
drop comfortably, trees wear bright reds and golds, and
the brown summer grasses begin to let the autumn flowers
show through. Roses give a final burst of buds, and the
cool ocean air winds its way into the Valley at night, bringing
a welcome chill to the evenings as intense “pink moment”
sunsets contrast with abundant orange pumpkins ripening
in the valley’s agricultural fields.
Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center
805-646-8126
www.ojaichamber.org
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