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THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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Ojai
Valley of the Moon Road Trip
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By Matthew
Martz |
The Ojai Valley is an area
in Ventura County, California. The hub of the valley is
the City of Ojai, which is one of the smallest towns in
the county with just over 8,000 residents. Located a few
miles up highway 33 about 12 miles inland from Ventura
and not far from Santa Barbara, it’s just 15 miles
from the coast.
The Chumash Indians were the first residents of the Ojai
valley, and the name is derived from their word for “Valley
of the Moon." Ojai was settled in the 1800s and incorporated
as a city in 1921. Later Edward Libbey, a glass manufacturer,
rebuilt the town after a fire in 1917.
The town was renamed Ojai, and Libbey built his home on
Foothill Road. Citizens celebrate Libbey’s contributions
each year in October on “Ojai Day”. Ojai is
centered within the east-west mountain range, which creates
a unique sunset that few other towns in the world offer.
Called a "Pink Moment" , the brilliant sunset
over the nearby Pacific Coast is reflected onto the mountainside,
creating a pink glow for several minutes on the Topatopa
Bluffs at the east end of the Ojai Valley, which is over
6,000 feet above sea level.
At the western edge, the Topatopa Mountains at Nordhoff
Ridge rise to more than 5,000 feet. The pink sunset is
something everyone should witness first hand. The climate
of Ojai valley is Mediterranean with hot and dry summers.
The area has drawn many health conscious individuals who
wish to rejuvenate their well being with the dry air.
Search
for Ojia Valley Hotels.
Known as a center of physical and mental health, many
new age gurus and yoga practitioners call the valley home,
which creates a real sense of spiritualism. The Krotona
Institute and School of Theosophy has been in the valley
since 1926. Visitors are welcome at their library and
bookstore. |
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Ojia Valley California |
Outdoor recreational
activities are a large part of the culture in the valley.
Los Padres National Forest provides opportunities for camping
and outdoor escapes. Matilija Creek is a favorite spot for
locals to splash under waterfalls, backpack, and soak in
a hot spring.
On the western edge of the valley, the Lake Casitas Recreation
Area offers camping, picnicking, and hiking as well. Lake
Casitas boasts nearly 32 miles of shoreline and was the
site of the 1984 Olympic canoeing and rowing events. Rental
rowboats and small powerboats are available, but swimming
is not allowed.
From Highway 150, turn left onto Santa Ana Road and follow
the signs to the recreation area. The Ojai Valley Trail
runs for more than nine miles with a parallel path for horses.
If you want to meet half the town, that is a good place
to start.
Bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and outdoor types can be seen
enjoying the beauty of nature. In April of each year, the
town hosts a bicycle race called the "Garrett Lemire
Memorial Grand Prix". It began in 2004 as a tribute
to a 22-year-old cyclist from Ojai who died racing his bicycle
in Arizona the previous year. The one-mile circuit that
runs around the Libbey Bowl draws the top professional and
amateur teams from around the country.
If you are a tennis fan, Ojai hosts the oldest competitive
tennis tournament in the United States known as The Ojai,
which has been held since 1893. The tournament draws up
to 30,000 spectators who overtake every public and private
court in the Ojai Valley. Many of the top collegiate players
in California visit for the premium competition, and star
players like Billy Jean King, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras,
Arthur Ashe, and Lindsay Davenport have all been part of
the event.
Ojai Valley is child friendly with many parks. Mighty oaks
with plenty of paths and picnic areas shade Libbey Park.
The oaks are so loved that a local man actually chained
himself to one a few years ago to protest its removal.
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City of Ojai California |
Lake Casitas |
Two major golf courses
are available for dad; the Soule Park Golf Course and the
Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course. Ojai's reputation as a golfing
paradise brings many to the city. The Ojai Valley Inn and
Spa is a challenging course and is one of the top 25 golf
resorts in North America.
The Ojai Valley has become an art Mecca, with local residents
including major musicians, artists, actors, and director
Tim Burton. The Ojai Music Festival was founded in 1947,
and is an annual festival of performances by some of the
world's top musicians and composers, and occurs on the first
weekend after Memorial Day.
Notable appearances have included Igor Stravinsky, Aaron
Copland, and Esa-Pekka Salonen . It’s held in the
Libbey Park amphitheater, fills the summer air with notes
as crowds gather to fill the wooden benches around Libbey
Bowl. Free concerts are offered on the bandstand.
Ojai occasionally hosts the "Ojai Classic Rock Festival"
featuring tribute acts of various rock groups. The Ojai
Film Festival was founded in 2000, and showcases independent
films from around the world.
Another annual event Ojai
Day the downtown street fair hosted by the Recreation
Department. It's not your ordinary festival – it’s
a cultural explosion bursting with art, food, spiritual
incantations, multi-ethnic celebrations and good old fashion
fun and games.
With the Ojai Valley filled to the brim with delightful
shops, art galleries and places to retreat and rediscover
your creative and spiritual side, why not pay a visit? Numerous
restaurants dot the village, and many take advantage of
local harvests with an eye towards healthy cuisine using
fresh food. Lodging is available locally, or consider a
campout at Lake Casitas or Los Padres.
The Ojai Valley is located an hour and a half from the San
Fernando Valley, add about 45 if traveling from Orange County.. |
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Oxnard
is a unique blend of maritime adventure
and natural resources |
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Santa
Barbara plenty of things to do in this
beautiful coastal city. |
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Lompoc
is called the City
of Arts and Flowers and a facinating place to visit
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