Learn the brochures and so they say that Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is a “spa village,” however we discovered it extra like an expensive faculty campus with courses and actions to show you extra about life, and top-rate lodging to be sure you’ll really feel pampered when you’re studying.
The Ojai Valley Inn is a bit off the overwhelmed path, 13 miles off Freeway 101 with the exit simply north of Ventura. This detour takes you to the Ojai Valley, a serene setting amongst a picturesque vary of modest mountains. About 10 miles lengthy and three miles large, the valley has simply sufficient room for a small city – a form of artists’ enclave – and the sprawling 800 acres occupied by the Ojai Valley Inn, its village and its golf course.
The inn dates again to 1922 when a rich Ohio glass producer and philanthropist commissioned famed architect Wallace Neff to construct a rustic membership in a Spanish Colonial type. The 18-hole golf course was designed by George C. Thomas, additionally a well-known designer. Even those that do not golf can nonetheless respect as we speak the broad fairways and scenic vistas which might be seen from nearly each a part of the property.
Through the years, the 308-room inn has turn out to be rather more than a rustic membership and was, the truth is, just lately awarded AAA’s five-star designation, making it one in all solely 15 properties in California to succeed in such lofty standing. The award – which comes on the heels of a $90 million renovation — is based on service and facilities which might be one of the best mere mortals can obtain, and the Ojai Valley Inn doesn’t disappoint.
Upon arrival, a valet and a few bellmen had been immediately on the prepared. We bought a golf cart journey to our suite, having fun with the gorgeous views as we rode alongside the curvy path that snaked its means up and down hills, in between buildings and alongside a picture-postcard golf fairway. A little bit questioning of our bellman and we realized that about 45 % of tourists come to Ojai for the golf, about 45 % for the spa and the opposite 10 % simply to benefit from the environment.
As you may think about, our suite was fairly fashionable and tastefully adorned. It wasn’t as massive as a conventional suite which will supply totally separate dwelling and sleeping areas, however the room was fairly spacious and there was good separation between the four-poster mattress with its comforter bench and the L-shaped sofa, the centerpiece of the dwelling space. There have been loads of additional touches from plushy sofa pillows to a wide range of lamps, to panorama work adorning the partitions. The texture was rather more like a residence than a lodge room, and proper out the sliding glass door was a patio and breakfast desk with views of the golf course and close by mountains.
The bathtub space deserves particular point out: it had a protracted, deep soaking tub, a separate bathe space, separate enclosed bathroom room and a double granite self-importance. Within the closet, luxurious tub rooms had been on the prepared.
It did not take quite a bit exploration to find that Ojai is a lot greater than a golf or spa resort. There are such a lot of actions at Ojai that one thing is deliberate for each waking hour. Identical to cruise ships, administration doesn’t ever wish to take the prospect you’ll get bored.
Chief amongst these actions are the courses and experiences that may make your keep as a lot an academic expertise as one in all whole leisure. Ojai’s “university” presents “short courses in living better” which might be designed to encourage company to strive new issues and study new ideas. 5 brief programs are offered, together with such topics as The Artist’s Path, Tasting Wine like a Professional, Golf: the Identify of the Sport, Horseback Driving: Life’s a Cinch; and Aromatherapy: Important Oils from A to Z.
With the current renovation, Ojai Valley Inn even has its personal 1200-square-foot artist’s cottage. On this gleaming new facility, the resort presents greater than 30 courses, starting from weaving, graphite and drawing to journaling, printmaking and wreath-making. We hadn’t actually come to the inn to take courses however, what the heck, we determined a category in watercolors could be a great way for us to see firsthand how the courses are performed.
Our teacher had a wonderful resume and wonderful potential to create watercolor artwork, as evidenced by the various examples of her work proudly displayed all through the cottage. And she or he was good at educating only a smidgeon of that to us company. All 4 individuals in our class had been newcomers, though one confirmed significantly extra promise than the others. After 90 minutes of enjoying with varied strategies and colours, we each had worksheets that reasonably carefully resembled papers I bear in mind bringing residence from kindergarten. However be mindful this was simply an introductory 90-minute course — nobody promised to make actual artists out of us.
It appeared to us these courses could be the proper complementary exercise for the particular person whose partner is hooked on golf or the spa. Allow them to do what they get pleasure from when you go take some courses to study extra about life — and about your self.
The 31,000-square-foot spa constructing is without doubt one of the essential points of interest at Ojai Valley Inn, and we had been impressed with the services and a spotlight to element. For instance, about $400,000 was spent simply so as to add particular person small-screen TV’s and separate channel selectors to the already state-of-the-art train tools. The locker rooms and dressing rooms had been so spic and span, this space nearly felt extra like a medical facility than a spa resort. Once more, a big a part of the Ojai’s spa expertise is schooling, with courses in water aerobics, T’ai Chi and different actions.
Schooling at Ojai Valley Inn just isn’t confined to adults. One other helpful service offered by the resort – for additional cost – is Camp Ojai, a classroom and recreation complicated on the far fringe of the property that’s devoted to youngsters between the ages of 5 and 12. Our six-year-old spent two half-day periods on the camp during which she loved individualized instruction in artwork, video games and sufficient enjoyable issues that she was fairly anxious to return for her second half-day of actions. Horseback driving topped her listing of cool actions, however that was simply one in all a number of.
Eating, after all, was a giant a part of our keep at Ojai. We did not get an opportunity to strive the inn’s signature restaurant, Maravilla, however the extra informal Oak Grill provided every thing we would have liked from the hearty breakfast buffet within the morning to lunch outdoor on the patio, to a scrumptious dinner with impeccable service. Jimmy’s is a sports-bar sort restaurant, excellent after a day on the golf course, and the Café on the Spa serves lighter Mediterranean fare for lunch.
We discovered the meals to be top-drawer at Ojai, and there was loads of consideration to element: the granola. We discovered it to be one of the best we might ever had, rather more flavorful and full than store-bought or any we might been served in a restaurant. To 1 extent or different, each one of many different dishes we loved at Ojai was simply as particular.
Little question about it: Ojai’s “Getaway University” is a perfect alternative for many who wish to discover new pursuits and discover ways to really loosen up. It is nearly like going again to your faculty days – you understand, once you had three hours at school and the remainder of the day to play with buddies.