Travel

Ojai Hotels

Establishment neighborhood
Ojai Rancho Inn
615 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Formerly a 1950's retro roadside motel, the Ojai Rancho Inn, a no-frills but character-filled option in town. The guest rooms each have their own front porch, log cabin-style interiors, and the design brings together artwork and furnishings by area artists with a quirky, throwback vibe. There's a stable of bikes to ride into town (which is maybe ten minutes, tops), BBQ grills, and a fire pit that encourages communal hangs. Chief's Peak, right next to the swimming pool, is a cozy little bar that has a good selection of wines and craft beers.
Thacher House
4100 Matilija Canyon Rd., Ojai
Hovering somewhere between a bed and breakfast and organic co-op farm, LA-transplant Calvin Zara’s refurbished four-bedroom Thacher house and its four private cabins is where you want to be for a fully-immersive, get away from it all experience (it accommodates no more than 20 guests at a time). If you stay here, be prepared to share the lush grounds with chickens and a family of goats, in addition to citrus and pomegranate trees and a garden. Needless to say, all the food served at the beautifully appointed dining room is sourced locally or from the Thacher House farm itself. Also on offer: classes in cooking, baking, olive-oil pressing, wine-making, and so much more.
Caravan Outpost
317 Bryant St., Ojai
For such a popular destination, Ojai has surprisingly few accommodation options; Caravan Outpost and its fleet of eleven tricked-out, freshly-refurbished Airstreams aims to remedy the situation. The whole experience brilliantly combines the get-back-to-nature appeal of camping with all the creature comforts of a boutique hotel: cozy beds, small yet well-equipped bathrooms, and all the tech hook-ups. There’s also a well-manicured outdoor common area and activities, like biking and marshmallow roasting, to keep the littlest guests occupied.