I decided that for my birthday this year, I wanted to take a camping trip up to Ojai, California.  As I get older my desire to relax and reflect only deepens, and I figured this would be the perfect spot to act on my realizations.  The weather was a gorgeous 90 – 93 in the day and a cool 60 in the evening; my skin felt great, the air was clean, and I was energized.  As part of Fashion Intel Travels, please let me share with you the places I enjoyed most and would recommend if you were to take a trip up there yourself.

The Arcade Plaza: Located on Ojai Avenue (HWY 150), this beautifully crafted street is the largest redevelopment project ever undertaken by the city of Ojai. The Spanish-inspired structures are beautiful in every way and create the perfect atmosphere for a little stroll down the boulevard.  You’ll find a variety of shops tucked away on this strip: ice cream shops, cafes, and clothing stores.  Keep in mind that many places are closed on Monday & Tuesday.

the view from our campground

Camping, Dennison Park:  If you enjoy setting up a tent, unrolling a sleeping bag and waking up to the sound of cows mooing off in the distance, then Dennison Park is the place for you.  I had never camped in Ojai before and finding a place to set up base wasn’t too hard as I simply visited Ventura County’s official park page for information.  After scoping out some reviews, I figured what could be better than a view overlooking the entire Ojai Valley.  For just twenty-bucks a night, you get to cozy up on your very own piece of land with a fire pit and picnic table, both perfect for preparing Nutella smores!

Hike, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy:  We got word from the locals that there was a not-to-be-missed swimming hole located off a trail in the Ojai Land Conservancy.  Just a 15 minute walk we were told but I’m assuming that’s if you already know where you’re going!  We put on our hiking shoes and lathered up on sunscreen and headed out to find the water.  Our journey began on the Riverview Trail and continued on to the Oso Trail, but the only water we could see was the sweat dripping off our bodies.  It felt great to rid ourselves of toxins and take in the sun, but we wanted to find the water already.  Thankfully we ran into a man and his lovely dog who helped show us the way.  I asked, “which trail is it off of” and with a smile he quipped “it isn’t marked.”  When we finally made it over the last giant rocks to our secret location, I squealed with delight and jumped right in.  The water was perfect and I recommend to everyone that they seek out those elusive swimming holes, if not just for a great story.  Rumor has it that this gorgeous spot will dry up in the next couple of weeks.