Long Weekend in Ojai
Sep 14th, 2011, 11:34 AM
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Long Weekend in Ojai
Picked friend up at the newly opened Santa Barbara airport and it is beautiful! Just as user friendly and beautiful as ever but larger... actually has waiting areas inside now! A wonderful improvement for our community. I was a little shocked that they actually tore down the old buildings... but I'll get over it.
The 101 South was completely congested on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 PM so we veered off in Montecito and took the backroad... I think it was the 192 ... into Ojai and arrived at the Su Nido Inn.
Let me say right off that their customer service on the phone was wonderful and I was really excited to see if the inn matched up to the beautiful pictures on their website.. and it does!
The Condor Suite was very upscale, in an understated way. The living area was comfortable, had good lighting, the fireplace worked well and since an unexpected storm came throught the area, was much appreciated. The bathroom was nicely sized, had thick, soft towels, the soaking tub was luxurious and the Molton Brown soaps and lotions in various scents were a nice suprise.
I got the feeling they really want their guests to feel a bit pampered.
The bed was super comfy with just the right amount of pillows and enough extra blankets in the closert. We didnt need them but they really have "thought of everything" at this hotel. Even the free dvd's they had in the lobby were movies you'd actually want to watch! (Not just some old ones that the staff brought from home, as I've observed at other Inns.)
I had a sinus headache and wanted comfort food so we had Mexican at a place I can't remember the name of, that I couldnt taste. What I really wanted was to be in bed. Ugh, not the best way to start the weekend.
Friday was a beautiful day in the 90s and we started out with breakfast at the recommended Cafe Emporium. Their orange juice was terrific, the bacon and cheese quiche I had was good but not out of this world. The service, however, was superb and they have indoor and outdoor seating, which is always a plus during our gorgeous fall weather!
Spent Friday walking around looking throught the little shops and gallerys that line all two streets (there may be four) of Ojai. This is a sleepy, sleepy town! Looked like the bike trails were the place to be but our weekend was all about conversation and relaxing so we didnt bring the bikes this time.
Ojai Pizza is maybe the best pizza I have ever had. In my life. We had just half pepperoni and half meat lovers and it was super, super!! I could have eaten here every night.. but had other restaurants selected to try so I had to be strong! (Plus I have three boys and we have pizza fairly often... its their favorite, so normally I would never have pizza on an adult weekend... this time I'm so glad I did!) Do not miss this place if you visit Ojai.
The movie Columbiana was showing at the little theater and it was a fun way to spend the evening. The theater has old photos inside as well as out from movie stars of the 40's and 50's. Kinda cool. Very small town theater, they actually forgot to turn the sound on and the previews started without it. The locals were talking amonst themselves to determine who was going to walk out and tell the owner. Kinda funny.
The coffee shops in this town shut down early... so we drove to Starbucks each night for a coffee...open til 10.
Saturday we drove into Ventura, did some shopping at Macys and came back for a long nap.I realize this report may bore some of you to tears but we have very stressful jobs and lots of family responsibilities so a weekend away every so often consists of food, sleep, reading, online surfing and great conversation... its a good recipe for us and it has worked for the 30 years of our friendship! Our only travel rule is that we never set an alarm clock and that no one has to do anything they don't want to do!
to be continued
The 101 South was completely congested on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 PM so we veered off in Montecito and took the backroad... I think it was the 192 ... into Ojai and arrived at the Su Nido Inn.
Let me say right off that their customer service on the phone was wonderful and I was really excited to see if the inn matched up to the beautiful pictures on their website.. and it does!
The Condor Suite was very upscale, in an understated way. The living area was comfortable, had good lighting, the fireplace worked well and since an unexpected storm came throught the area, was much appreciated. The bathroom was nicely sized, had thick, soft towels, the soaking tub was luxurious and the Molton Brown soaps and lotions in various scents were a nice suprise.
I got the feeling they really want their guests to feel a bit pampered.
The bed was super comfy with just the right amount of pillows and enough extra blankets in the closert. We didnt need them but they really have "thought of everything" at this hotel. Even the free dvd's they had in the lobby were movies you'd actually want to watch! (Not just some old ones that the staff brought from home, as I've observed at other Inns.)
I had a sinus headache and wanted comfort food so we had Mexican at a place I can't remember the name of, that I couldnt taste. What I really wanted was to be in bed. Ugh, not the best way to start the weekend.
Friday was a beautiful day in the 90s and we started out with breakfast at the recommended Cafe Emporium. Their orange juice was terrific, the bacon and cheese quiche I had was good but not out of this world. The service, however, was superb and they have indoor and outdoor seating, which is always a plus during our gorgeous fall weather!
Spent Friday walking around looking throught the little shops and gallerys that line all two streets (there may be four) of Ojai. This is a sleepy, sleepy town! Looked like the bike trails were the place to be but our weekend was all about conversation and relaxing so we didnt bring the bikes this time.
Ojai Pizza is maybe the best pizza I have ever had. In my life. We had just half pepperoni and half meat lovers and it was super, super!! I could have eaten here every night.. but had other restaurants selected to try so I had to be strong! (Plus I have three boys and we have pizza fairly often... its their favorite, so normally I would never have pizza on an adult weekend... this time I'm so glad I did!) Do not miss this place if you visit Ojai.
The movie Columbiana was showing at the little theater and it was a fun way to spend the evening. The theater has old photos inside as well as out from movie stars of the 40's and 50's. Kinda cool. Very small town theater, they actually forgot to turn the sound on and the previews started without it. The locals were talking amonst themselves to determine who was going to walk out and tell the owner. Kinda funny.
The coffee shops in this town shut down early... so we drove to Starbucks each night for a coffee...open til 10.
Saturday we drove into Ventura, did some shopping at Macys and came back for a long nap.I realize this report may bore some of you to tears but we have very stressful jobs and lots of family responsibilities so a weekend away every so often consists of food, sleep, reading, online surfing and great conversation... its a good recipe for us and it has worked for the 30 years of our friendship! Our only travel rule is that we never set an alarm clock and that no one has to do anything they don't want to do!
to be continued
Sep 14th, 2011, 07:43 PM
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The weather changed Friday evening and we ended up with chilly weather... Saturday came rains and thunderstoms so we made good use of the gas fireplace in the suite. CAn't stress enough how comfortable and nicely put together that hotel was... not pretentious but VERY nice.
Bart's Bookstore, the "outdoor" bookstore was incredible. It was tempting to treat it like a library and stay all afternoon but we spent about an hour, found a few things and left reluctantly.
Definate highlight and exactly what I'd hoped for!
Dinner at Azu on Saturday night got mixed reviews... I had the best salad I;ve had in ages (arugula, fig, bacon, with shaved parmesean and the filet mignon was perfectly prepared and tasty. The chile relleano (however it is spelled) was tasted, tried and ultimately left to sit unfinished. My mojito was heavy, heavy on the mint and the rum was undetectable. The salad and filet was SO good that I'd go back again in a heartbeat.
Ojai was very restful.. so much so that we laughed that it might be haunted. We were the only ones out walking in the evenings after dark... except Saturday night had a few people out early. On our next visit we would probably bring bikes and get out a bit more.
Sunday we spent a quiet morning over coffee watching 9-11 coverage and in our own way, honoring the lives of those that lost theirs in the attacks or lost them trying to save others that day. A somber close to a quiet, restful weekend.
Drove back out through Carpenteria and visited the small beach and made our way back up the 101 to the airport in time for a 5:30pm flight.
it was a great trip... a nice alternative to the usual weekends spent in Santa Barbara.
Bart's Bookstore, the "outdoor" bookstore was incredible. It was tempting to treat it like a library and stay all afternoon but we spent about an hour, found a few things and left reluctantly.
Definate highlight and exactly what I'd hoped for!Dinner at Azu on Saturday night got mixed reviews... I had the best salad I;ve had in ages (arugula, fig, bacon, with shaved parmesean and the filet mignon was perfectly prepared and tasty. The chile relleano (however it is spelled) was tasted, tried and ultimately left to sit unfinished. My mojito was heavy, heavy on the mint and the rum was undetectable. The salad and filet was SO good that I'd go back again in a heartbeat.
Ojai was very restful.. so much so that we laughed that it might be haunted. We were the only ones out walking in the evenings after dark... except Saturday night had a few people out early. On our next visit we would probably bring bikes and get out a bit more.
Sunday we spent a quiet morning over coffee watching 9-11 coverage and in our own way, honoring the lives of those that lost theirs in the attacks or lost them trying to save others that day. A somber close to a quiet, restful weekend.
Drove back out through Carpenteria and visited the small beach and made our way back up the 101 to the airport in time for a 5:30pm flight.
it was a great trip... a nice alternative to the usual weekends spent in Santa Barbara.
Sep 22nd, 2011, 08:58 AM
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***This is a sleepy, sleepy town!***
LOL Yes it is! That IS the attraction for me. Although, your description makes it sound like a spooky ghost town. hmmmm maybe the economy???
Su Nido Inn sounds very lovely.
Glad you had a nice time and thanks for reporting back, lynni!
LOL Yes it is! That IS the attraction for me. Although, your description makes it sound like a spooky ghost town.
hmmmm maybe the economy???Su Nido Inn sounds very lovely.
Glad you had a nice time and thanks for reporting back, lynni!
Sep 22nd, 2011, 09:16 AM
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SOCALOC!
lol... I loved it and it was PERFECT and I would absolutely go back! The economy could have something to do with it, I guess... or maybe time of year too... definately not tourist season.
lol... I loved it and it was PERFECT and I would absolutely go back! The economy could have something to do with it, I guess... or maybe time of year too... definately not tourist season.
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