Recently my wife Linda and son MJ traveled to the sensational Ojai Valley Inn And Spa.
From our home in Danville, we flew from Oakland to the Burbank airport. From Burbank, It is an easy 1.5 hour drive to the Inn.
The Inn has been open since 1923 and is located in a revered setting that the Chumash Indians described as "perfect sacredness." They described the Ojai Valley as the vortex of magical mystical energy. Many come every year to experience the "Pink Moment" where the sunset has a pink glow of timeless serenity as it sets over the beautiful mountains.
The Inn offers "something for everyone" and has also has a trolley available for guests to explore the downtown area offering wine tasting, shops, restaurants and art galleries.
We arrived and experienced a happy, helpful staff who checked us into our spacious and recently updated mini suite complete with fireplace and balcony with sensational mountain and golf course views.
This is a perfect place for weddings, special occasions, business conferences or just to enjoy a break from the rigors of modern life.
You can enjoy lounging by the pool, bicycling, world class golf and dine at one of their great restaurants. The 31,000 square foot award winning spa also offers a variety of treatments to suit your needs after a day of golf, tennis or a boring business meeting.
We enjoyed playing golf and experienced the "magical peaceful energy" that the Chumash Indians discovered many years ago in this valley. The course is very friendly for all skill levels with multiple tee options. It is flanked by post card magical mountain scenery and fresh air so pure that even your "bad" shots are enjoyable.
After golf, we enjoyed wine tasting at nearby Topai Mountain winery that just opened 1 year ago.
The brush and bubbly experience is also a unique offering and a way to enjoy your creative abilities. Enjoying a glass of your favorite bubbly will also help unleash your hidden artistic skills. This is very fun and can be arranged for groups of 4 to 8 people.
There are 7 restaurants to choose from casual to fine dining. We enjoyed an elegant dinner at the upscale Olivella restaurant. There are also special rooms available with fireplaces to create a peaceful ambience to enjoy special occasion and business dinners. We had the honor of meeting Chef Andre Rodella who has Italian roots and prepared us a fantastic dinner. We especially enjoyed the Grandma's daily fresh made rigatoni with a perfectly seasoned sauce that has been a long time favorite of the Inn and a recipe from the Chef's family for many years. The food went well with the bottle of the Mara Nella 100 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by my long time Southern California foodie friend and winemaker Guy Finello. The grapes are handpicked from Villa Peline a private estate in famed Alexander Valley near Healdsburg, California. The wine is a full bodied wine with an array of fruit tastes and a smooth finish that pairs beautifully with any type of cuisine---- especially Italian.
We also enjoyed a warm Southern California "pink moment" sunset with stunning views of the golf course and mountains from our table on the patio. Each evening at approximately 7pm the sun hits the mountain range at exactly the perfect angle and throws off a vivid pink color over the mountains and sky. It is breathtaking to see. The night also featured a lightening show coming from over the ocean which graced the sky and made for a magical evening.
The Olivella Wine Room also has a collection of many great wines and also offers a unique place to dine for up to 14 people.
We also took the trolley into town of Ojai that is very close by. You can enjoy wandering the various art galleries, shops, wine tasting rooms, and have lunch or dinner at one of the many fabulous restaurants. The trolley leaves hourly from the front of the Inn. This charming town is like being on a movie set in the South of France or Tuscany.
In conclusion, the Chumash
Indians description of the Ojai Valley as being the "vortex of perfect
sacredness" is a wonderful description of this magical mountainside
resort. The calmness one experiences at this special refuge is very soothing to
your soul and a refreshing break from the high anxiety world that we live.
The only the downside
about Ojai is having to" leave" this sensational slice of heaven on
earth.
Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is definitely a destination to put on your bucket list of "must do's".
Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is definitely a destination to put on your bucket list of "must do's".
For more information and
to make reservations go to: https://www.ojairesort.com
