Each July, I treat myself along with a friend to a stay in Ojai, California .We arrive in the evening of July 1st, so we are not travel weary when we begin the week's activities. The city of Ojai, (pronounced Oh Hi) is located about 12 miles inland from the city of Ventura in the Santa Paul Mountains. And is the smallest city in Ventura County. Besides being a home to many resort spas, it is a haven for artists, musicians and health enthusiasts and home to numerous private boarding schools and has golf courses galore. To stroll through this village (as the locals refer to it) is an experience of the senses. You will find wonderful art galleries, restaurants, gifts shops and often hear local musicians playing in Libby Park. Ojai even has it own Shakespeare Festival. So no matter when you visit Ojai there are numerous things to experience.

On July 2nd, we begin our escape at a holiday marketplace that features signature condiments, fresh baked goods, garden items and Spa Ojai products and accessories. On the 3rd we will spend a day of being pampered at a spa...we splurge and get the works. And the rest of the evening we will have dinner at one of the casual eateries that grace the area.

July 4th we get a taste of real small-town Americana, as we watch the Independence Day Parade and participate in the festivities. The entire town is there, either participating in the parade or watching. This parade is small town America personified. The parade itself feature about 70 entries which includes a few homemade floats and lots of kids and horses, local cheerleaders, dancing young girls in tutus, boys in their judo gear and others on bicycles decked out in the red, white and blue. There is no better place to be to appreciate the joy of being a free American than watching the townspeople applauding one more time at the site of their own marching to patriotic sounds. The rest of the day we spend at Libby Park where the activites continue into the night.

We end our stay in Ojai with a day at a country club, with a round of tennis and just socializing with the wonderful people that make up this small mountain community.

A word of caution, be careful, after visiting this delightful mountain town you just might get the bug to move here. In fact whatever type of home you are looking for, you can find it in Ojai. Whether it is an older cottage or estate size home or a horse ranch, it is all here. Here is the big announcement I have to make to my family, I have finally made the decision to purchase a second home here in Ojai.