Archive for the 'Ojai' Category
Hotel deals for Ojai-Ventura film festival, Nov. 5-8
October 8, 2009 11:57am
What’s better than watching a few good independent films? Seeing them in conjunction with a relaxing weekender, perhaps. It may be no Sundance; in fact, you may not have ever even heard of it. But the Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival, with lauded documentary “The Most Dangerous Man in America” among its features, is coming up Nov. 5-8 and is the perfect excuse to give yourself a little getaway to the charming small town of Ojai, in Ventura County.
Most of the festival’s screening venues are in Ojai, though films are also being shown at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Ventura, 15 miles southwest of Ojai.
See indie and classic flicks by night and/or day, and, out of the theaters, take in the area’s other offerings, which include good food, great hikes, day spas, a mellow vibe and spectacular sunsets. Following are a few festival-related packages being offered by hotels in the region. Contact venues directly for more details, cancellation policies, etc.: Read the rest of this entry »
Higher fees at California state parks start today: Where to find details
August 17, 2009 5:34pm
Starting today, Aug. 17, it will cost you more to visit and camp at many California state parks. In some cases, the cost has doubled.
The increases stem from California’s budget crises, which has put the state billions of dollars in debt. “In these dire economic times, we can longer afford to keep our fees at their current levels,” State Parks Director Ruth Coleman said last week in announcing the fee hikes.
Officials waited until today to release a park-by-park rundown of the new fees for day use and camping. Among Southern California parks affected, with sample fees:
> Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Parking went from $6 per day year-round to $5 to $8, depending on the season. Borrego Palm Canyon developed campsites with hookups were $24 to $29 per night, depending on season; now $35 year-round.
Mother’s Day brunching day trips beyond L.A.
April 18, 2009 7:24am
Threatening to sneak up on all of us again, Mother’s Day is just over three weeks away. You don’t want to be a last-minute brunch planner (take it from me), so make those restaurant reservations A.S.A.P. But why end the fun after dessert? Mother’s Day Sunday, on May 10 this year, is a perfect excuse for a family day trip.
Here are a few ideas, all starting with that must-do brunch:
Pasadena
Maison Akira is offering a three-course French lunch menu with a twist of Japanese. The main course will be a choice of sautéed Canadian scallops in a saffron sauce, grilled miso-marinated Chilean sea bass with lobster shrimp raviolis, or Angus chateau beef steak. Read the rest of this entry »
A ‘tax break’ at Oaks at Ojai (and a special something for Twitterers)
April 1, 2009 2:14pm
This past weekend, when I was in Ojai, spring was definitely in the jasmine-scented air. April is the perfect time to visit this tranquil, arty town east of Ventura, and to maximize your stay, why not make a weekend out of it?
Most accommodations in the area offer ways to wind down, but if you’re looking for some active relaxation (in the form of a little motivation to work out), try out the Oaks at Ojai. It’s an all-inclusive destination health spa, with all manner of offerings, including classes from qi gong to rollerblading.
Deal: The Oaks’ “Sweet Tweet Tax Break” offers all guests half off of a third-night’s stay. You don’t need a Twitter account for this one; in fact, you must call in the reservation. Read the rest of this entry »
Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in Southern California
January 16, 2009 11:00am
We’re on the brink of a long weekend, but let’s not forget to give a big nod to the one who got us here — to somebody who devoted his life’s work to selfless service, who made unprecedented strides in the quest for equality, who inspired countless to be better citizens in his lifetime and since.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to remember the truly admirable accomplishments of someone who had a dream and worked tirelessly toward it. Following are various events in Southern California to celebrate MLK Jr. and his birthday:
12 books of Christmas: ‘Galen Rowell’
December 19, 2008 11:42am
You look at the soft-cover version of “Galen Rowell: A Retrospective” (Sierra Club Books, $39.95) and you want to weep — at the beauty of his photography, at the notion that Rowell and his wife, Barbara, were taken too soon. The couple died in a plane crash in August 2002, a shock at the time and a shock still.
This retrospective, with an intro by friend and admirer Tom Brokaw and commentaries by other comrades, contains 180 of his images.
Visit Southern California national forests for free on Veterans Day
November 8, 2008 12:12pm
If your employer gives you Veterans Day off (or even if you don’t get it off and you are suddenly struck by a 24-hour virus on Nov. 11), you can visit a national park in Southern California for free on Tuesday.
In honor of America’s veterans, visitors to Los Padres, San Bernardino, Angeles and Cleveland national forests can park, hike, swim and generally frolic without opening a wallet. The daily Adventure Pass, normally required to park and use the national forest facilities, costs $5. An annual pass costs $30.
Tonight: Full-moon fun in Southern California
August 16, 2008 6:00am
Assuming clear skies tonight, you don’t have to do much more than step outside your house to enjoy the moon in its once-every-29.5-days full-illumination state. But it’s much more fun to go out on the town or trail to enjoy a moonlit summer night.
Following are some ideas for you, if you’re like me and haven’t planned ahead.
Hiking: To be fully mesmerized by the moon, get as far away as possible from the bright lights in the big city and participate in a full-moon group hike. Read the rest of this entry »
Ojai: pink moments and more, a world away from L.A.
July 20, 2008 9:00am
At least a couple of times a year, I find myself in the arty enclave of Ojai -– just over 80 miles from Los Angeles but cosmically worlds away. On a nice weekend afternoon, the road running through the short stretch of downtown hums with everyone from Harley guys and gals to mellow spa clientele.
What’s the draw? It’s a charmingly kooky kind of place, where the resident and visiting population is a hodgepodge of transitory nomads, artists, spiritual seekers, young families, the retired, and/or folk who might wear one or more of those hats. It’s got spa treatments aplenty, decent food, cute shops, and more art and cultural offerings than would be expected of a town of its size (its population is just under 8,000). But it’s the aura, so to speak, of the place that attracts me -– here, passers-by look you in the eye, and these folks sometimes even stop to chat.
Ojai: ‘Hard Hat Special’ at fitness-oriented Oaks
July 19, 2008 11:00am
For the unfussy fall visitor, the Oaks at Ojai is offering a “Hard Hat Special” while the interior of its main house undergoes cosmetic renovations. The hotel promises no more than minimal disruptions to guests, which I am guessing means midnight hammering projects are unlikely.
Deal: For your understanding and flexibility, you get 20% off all-inclusive packages; main-lodge rooms are normally priced from $185/person per night (pre-tax). Just bring along earplugs, just in case.
You won’t have time to be too concerned about what’s going on with the building’s interior anyway because you’ll be so busy working on your own exterior.
