Bakersfield Life

Oh my Ojai!

larger view

       Looking for a summer vacation that provides fun for the kids, fishing and boating for dad and shopping, gourmet food and spa treatments for mom?
            Camper or hoteler, Ojai and Lake Casitas are first-rate destinations for the entire family. You can choose several routes to get there, but the fastest is taking I-5 south to the 126 south to the 101 north. Just before Ventura, take the connector to Highway 33 north. When you reach the 150, turn left for Lake Casitas or right for Ojai.
            Before making reservations at Lake Casitas, request a brochure or visit the Web site (lakecasitas.info) as there are 12 distinctly different campgrounds, some overlooking the 2,700-acre lake and others, more remote, tucked into the 3,100 acres of hills and valleys.
            There are sites for tents, RVs and trailers of all sizes. Large and mini group sites are available for family reunions or RV clubs. Choose basic hookups, executive hookups with sewer and TV reception, or go primitive (only water). All the RV sites have picnic tables, fire rings and are comparatively close to bathrooms and coin-operated shower houses. You can even rent a trailer for your stay and for those who can’t leave work behind, Wi-Fi is available in four of the campgrounds.
            If you own a sailboat, motorboat, pontoon boat, row boat, paddle boat, canoe or kayak, you can explore the 35 miles of shoreline, beaches, coves and Main Island. Boats of every description are also available for rent. Four floating restrooms are available, so you don’t have to weigh anchor when nature calls.
            There is so much to do at Lake Casitas it’s hard to decide what to do first. Of course, there’s always the option of just doing nothing and relaxing. Noncampers can buy a day pass and take advantage of the amenities or picnic in one of the beautiful grassy areas, some with lattice shading. But if you’re thinking about swimming in the lake — forget it. Except for fish and ducks, no swimming is allowed in the lake, which is a drinking water reservoir run by Casitas Municipal Water District.
             Speaking of fish, the lake is stocked with giant Florida largemouth bass and other game fish. Hard-core fishermen wanting to get the big one at first light will appreciate the “angler campsites” located next to the Santa Ana boat ramp. The Bait and Tackle Shop sells fishing licenses and gear. After catching your limit, get them ready for dinner at the handy fish-cleaning sinks.
            Bring your Frisbee and test your skill at the Coyote Point Disc Golf Course, next to campgrounds I and M. The rules are similar to traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, you use flying discs. The object is to get the disc into the hole in the fewest number of throws. The “holes” are flagpoles on which a cone-shaped basket has been attached about two-thirds of the way down. The course covers some hilly and rough terrain and if you’re part mountain goat, you’ll love it. Play is free and score cards are available at the park store.
             Five miles up the road is Ojai, a little town with a big agenda: please everyone. Just about any summer weekend you’ll find a fabulous farmers market, at least one craft fair and maybe a music festival. You can shop the arcade-covered boutiques for those one-of-a-kind treasures and dine at any number of patio restaurants. The premier place to stay and indulge your every whim is the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. The inn offers limousine wine tours of the Santa Barbara wine country, as well as golf and tennis. Choose from more than 50 massages, facials and scrubs or buy a package and spend the day in heaven.
            A must-see for book lovers is Bart’s Books, at the corner of Matilija and Canada streets, which offers an assortment of used books, first editions and collectibles. When you see it, the first question is, “Don’t the books get wet when it rains?” According to the owner, the rain in Ojai falls straight down, so the fiberglass tops over the bookshelves keep the books dry. With nearly 1 million books in stock, Bart’s is the largest independently owned and operated outdoor bookstore in the U.S. 
            Step back into the past at the mission-style Ojai Valley Museum, host to an extensive collection of art, Native American baskets, pioneer tools and photographs of Ojai’s early days. Their research library contains historical journals that chronicle Ojai’s past and present.
            The Ojai Valley Wine Festival takes place every year mid-June on the shores of Lake Casitas. More than 40 wineries and breweries pop their corks and serve up their best for a nominal fee. Vendors line up in rows to sell arts and crafts. Take a picnic lunch and sprawl out on the green grass, take a boat ride on the lake or take off your shoes and dance the afternoon away to live music.
            All in all, Ojai and Lake Casitas offer a lot of bang for your buck and it’s all an easy 2½ hours away and less than a half-tank of gas from Bakersfield.