leeeast7

My husband and I are looking to spend 4 nights North of LA in early fall. We have settled on Ojai as one destination for 2 nights, and are trying to confirm the second. We are thinking we would like the second destination to be on the coast.

1) any favorite recommendations for things to do, places to stay, and/or restaurants in Ojai?

2)Any opinions on Ventura versus Santa Barbara for a coastal city to visit?

Thanks!

clarkgriswold

Santa Barbara is nice in early fall because you can take a pleasant drive up through Santa Ynez/Los Olivos/Wine Country. And there are more nice accomodation and dining choices than in Ventura. Downtown Ventura would be a nice afternoon trip from Ojai, however.
The Emerald Iguana Inn in Ojai, and the Montecito Inn just south of Santa Barbara would be my first choices.

montereybob

Definitely Santa Barbara over Ventura.

leeeast7

Thanks for the advice!

easytraveler

Agree, Santa Barbara over Ventura.

hpeabody

Agree also, Santa Barbara is really lovely

Another option a little further north is Pismo Beach, a classic beach town, very fun! The beach is long (dunes) and their is a pier. Sunsets are fantastic. If you don't mind the line, eat at Splash Cafe, well known for their clam chowder/sourdough bowl. From Ojai travel through the mountains to Hwy 101 and go north on Hwy 101. Pismo Beach is a little more than 200 miles from LA. I drove it last weekend and took about 3 1/2 hours to get home, near the Orange County border/Long Beach area

Also, Solvang (Danish village) would make a nice shopping/lunch stop

krgystn

Also, good wine tasting in Santa Ynez valley, about 1 more hour north of Santa Barbara.