As evidenced below we spent our Christmas Break “day-cationing” in the Southern California area. One of my favourite trips was this little jaunt up to Ojai. We hadn’t been before so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, and driving through the country lanes (completely reminiscent of back home in Devon) it was hard to imagine there being any central, built out area until Ojai just presents itself to you.
The route there felt, in many respects, very “un-Californian” (prompting my Dad to ask “are we still in California” and when I responded yes, return with “I thought you said we were going to Ohio…”) but really, for me, that’s what California is, a million different landscapes in one state. We really do have it all.
Photographed via Hipstamatic for iPhone, using DC film and Loftus Lens.
Our first stop in Ojai was the Farmer’s Market. A well known market filled with locally grown produce. It wasn’t as big as I expected but the selection was great. We picked up veggies and beans for a very hearty soup later that night as well as tangerines and some lavender (one of my favourite scents)
Wearing: J.Crew Shirt, Splendid Vest (C/O), Loft Necklace, Bagtazo Bracelets (C/O), Fossil Purse (C/O), Toms Sunglasses (C/O), J.Crew Jeans, Pink Chucks.
I rarely post outfits like this, not deeming them “blog worthy” but I thought perhaps it would be refreshing to see that generally the majority of us bloggers wouldn’t wear prom dresses and heels for a jaunt in the country…
Photographed via Hipstamatic for iPhone, using DC film and Loftus Lens.
After running round the Farmers Market we were officially starving, and right on the edge of town is Farmer and Cook, an amazing farm to table, organic and vegetarian restaurant. During the day, for breakfast and lunch, Farmer and Cook serves as a market café. In the evening it becomes a table serviced restaurant.
Everything we ate was delicious, pictured above is the burrito and the tacos, as well as Eel River Beer (from Fortuna,CA). I highly recommend a visit here, and I can’t wait to return (the desserts were soo great, but we demolished them faster than we could photograph them.
We naturally had to stop by Bart’s Books. Bart’s is the largest independently owned, outdoor, bookshop in the USA. It’s quite a treasure. It began in 1964 when homeowner, Richard Bartinsdale’s book collection had gotten out of hand so he constructed bookshelves outside his home to allow passersby to purchase books via a coffee can honor system. Outside the store this system is still in place, inside the store “Bart’s” former home and gardens, is a sprawling bookstore separated by genre – I think my favourite had to be the kitchen, selling cookbooks. Obviously.
I will definitely return to Ojai to discover more. Scott and I really fell for the spot (to the point we were looking at property…. including a rather bargainous campsite…. I wish!). So stay tuned or more Ojai adventures in the future.
Kelsi x