Where did you go? My husband and I went to Ojai, California for 5 days last summer to celebrate my 40th birthday. Ojai is a short drive east of Santa Barbara.

What were some highlights of the trip? The purpose of this trip was to relax. We slept in, hiked, swam, played tennis and golf, did yoga outside, had spa treatments and ate delicious food. Ojai operates at a slower pace and that’s exactly what we wanted.

Where did you stay? We stayed at the Ojai Valley Inn. If you ever come to Ojai, this is exactly where you need to stay.  This luxury hotel is not only beautiful but it has everything you need on-site. You don’t even have to leave the resort.  To get to Ojai, you must fly into Santa Barbara and rent a car to drive to Ojai.

What were a few of your favorite places to eat/drink? The Ojai Valley Inn has several restaurants to dine. All were delicious, but we stopped in town for lunch one day after our hike. If you go to Ojai, stop at Topa Topa Brewing Company for a cold beer and their chicken wings!  You will thank me later.

Any recommendations for others interested in taking a similar trip? Ojai is the perfect trip for just two, a couples trip, a girl’s getaway or even with the kids. The hotel has a kid-friendly pool and an adult pool. Plus s’mores on the lawn in the evenings when the weather cools off.

How did you plan your trip? We didn’t know much about the town or the hotel when we planned the trip.  The hotel has an Instagram page that has photos and information about the resort.