Located a short ride from Santa Barbara, the quaint town of Ojai California is one of California’s hidden gems!
Read on for helpful tips of things to do and what to expect so you can have the best trip possible!
Wine tasting in Ojai is a must
Ojai Valley is full of grape vines and tasting wine at one of the half dozen wineries shouldn’t be missed!
In downtown Ojai there are many wine tasting rooms next to each other making it easy to pop from one to the next.
Wine tasting (only, no food), with beautiful indoor and outdoor seating options, checkout the Ojai Vineyard tasting room. The staff is great and will spend extra time with you to explain each wine and what’s special about its grape and/or production.
Expect to pay around $18 for a 3 wine tasting (white, red, or mixed) and reservations are highly recommended
Head across the street to Majestic Oak for your next tasting. Another fun tasting room, but a heads up, many of these spots have last calls fairly early (Majestic Oak closes at 6pm) so be sure to check the hours.
What’s amazing about these spots (and others)? Many of them are BYO food. There are TONS of awesome places to grab food to go in the downtown Ojai area (like Ojai Tortilla Factory – read on for that).
See these wineries and more ideas of things to do in the video below!
Don’t miss one of the many hikes in Ojai
Ojai has over 100 miles of trails giving you endless options for hikes!
Things to consider:
It’s hot in the summer and many hikes are not shaded, choose the right hike for the amount of heat you’re able to take in hotter months or just hotter days!
If you’re looking for views, there are steep and strenuous hikes, but there are also hikes that start mid mountain (-‘s move across with less incline) that give you views throughout like Shelf Road!
See more Ojai, California hikes on All Trails
See some of the top rated tours on Viator for Ojai!
Ride a bike on the Ojai Valley Trail
The Ojai Valley Trail runs 9 miles from Ventura to Ojai along highway 33. It has it’s own dedicated path (separate from the road) and is a great way to get in a long ride via regular bike or electric bike!
Here are some helpful things to know about the Ojai Valley Bike Trail
- When taking the path from Ventura to Ojai it is a slight uphill (gradual) climb
- Places to rent a bike in Ventura include:
- The Ventura Bike depot (for all types of bike rentals)
- Ventura Beach E-Bikes (for electric bikes)
- The trail is asphalt all the way (in case you have a road bike with thin tires)
- You won’t find JUST bikers on the trail. Expect to see walkers, joggers and on a parallel path, horseback riders
Want more? SEE the Ojai Valley Bike Trail with helpful tips in the video below!
Play tennis or pickleball
Popular for tennis and hosting the Ojai Tennis Tournament, catch a game at one of the many courts around Ojai.
How about pickleball? It really is all the rage and there are courts with open play near Ojai City Hall.
The courts can get very busy during these times with plenty of players (at all levels) to play with. It’s a great group and I highly recommend dropping in.
Helpful to know: there is parking on the street (free) and a porta potty (but I couldn’t find a place to fill a water bottle).
Don’t have just one cup of coffee in Ojai
A great spot for morning coffee and pastries (and later an afternoon or evening of Burmese food) checkout The Dutchess. Located in the heart of downtown Ojai, there’s tons of indoor and (and some) outdoor seating. This places gets really busy!
Eat at the Ojai Tortilla House
You know you’ve found it because this little taco and burrito counter has a long line down the street. It really IS delicious, stop in for a steak burrito.
Where to stay in Ojai California
Don’t forget Ojai is a small and quaint little downtown. That doesn’t mean there aren’t options, but you won’t find big hotel names here.
This is a great place for renting a VRBO if you are staying more than a few nights. If you’re staying just a single night, I stayed at the Chantico Inn for just $99. You can find the latest prices here.
If you want more of a UNIQUE stay, consider a vintage airstream. Caravan Outpost is right along the bike path and creates a fun environment to stay in.
The most popular place to stay (on the higher end), but well reviewed, is the Ojai Valley Inn. Whether you stop in for tea or a meal, or stay at the property, it’s worth checking out. See the latest prices here.
Best time of year to visit Ojai California
Unlike it’s neighboring town of Ventura, Ojai is not at the ocean and can not only get very hot, but feel really hot.
When I filmed the Ojai vlog, over Thanksgiving 2022 we had low 80s during the day and 40s at night. When I returned in 2023, we had 50s at night at mid to high 70s during the day.
June to September are the months that are not only warm, but most people visit.
Ojai is a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
The summer months, particularly July and August, often experience temperatures soaring into the 90s°F (30s°C), with minimal rainfall.
Winters are generally mild, with temperatures ranging from the low 40s to the mid-60s°F (4-18°C), accompanied by the majority of the area’s annual precipitation.
This unique climate contributes to Ojai’s charm, offering clear, sunny days for most of the year, perfect for enjoying its natural beauty and outdoor activities.
Bottom Line
Ojai is a great destination for a short getaway and being outdoors. It’s a quaint town that offers wine tasting, biking and hiking trails and more.
Many people combine a visit to Ojai with it’s neighboring town Ventura. Learn more about things to do in Ventura in the full blog post.
Want to watch the youtube video that goes with this blog post? Check it out below!