Now that we’re well into May, we’re all collectively itching to get away and pretend we don’t spend a zillion dollars just to breathe in Los Angeles (because, deep down, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else). Luckily, one of LA’s greatest strengths has always been what surrounds it: idyllic little towns, beach escapes, wine country, desert hideaways and low-effort 24–72-hour trips close enough to justify leaving Friday after work.

So, welcome to the start of a new summer travel series dedicated to the destinations Angelenos have been escaping to for decades—both the tried-and-true classics and the slightly more under-the-radar gems. I’ll be including all the hotels, restaurants, local experiences and overly specific recommendations my Friends and I cannot stop sharing in the group chat, aggressively raving about over dinner and forcing onto anyone who casually mentions they “need to get out of town.”

Up first: Ojai...

There are two types of people in Los Angeles: those who have already entered their Ojai phase and those whose obsession is coming.

Located about two hours northwest of LA in Ventura County, Ojai trades freeways, influencer-packed grocery stores and suspiciously long lines outside Melrose boutiques for mountain views, olive groves and a downtown that’s refreshingly untouched by corporate California.

Unlike many towns that lose themselves to appeal to tourists, Ojai has held onto its identity in a way that feels increasingly rare. Large chain stores and vacation rentals are banned, which means local businesses actually get to thrive.

And everyone seems connected: the wine shop owner will excitedly tell you about the lounge he’s opening next door, the bookstore owner is married to the florist, and she’s providing all the wedding florals for the yoga instructor in exchange for unlimited vinyasa classes.

Community still exists here in a very tangible way. And its entire economy appears to run on olive oil, artisan pottery, and collective emotional healing.

Between the olive oil tastings, impeccably curated shops, local honey classes, and the way everyone seems deeply committed to both ceramics and civic engagement, the entire town feels less like a real place you can drive to and more like a lifestyle fantasy. One where your nervous system is regulated, you own several bottles of expensive herb-infused oils, and you know local vendors by name.

How damn lovely.

‍Drive time: About 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours from LA depending on where you live and how optimistic Google Maps is feeling that day. Easy enough for a spontaneous overnight trip, but far enough that someone will definitely notice your Microsoft Teams dot mysteriously going inactive.

‍Where to stay:‍

‍Hotel El Roblar—yes, the hotel from Hilary Duff’s highly-discussed girls’ getaway with her famous mom group. Small, stylish and quietly tucked into the valley, it carries the same understated chicness that mirrors Ojai itself.

‍Ojai Valley Inn—one of the last family-owned luxury resorts in the country and easily one of Ojai’s crown jewels. Expect sprawling grounds, citrus trees, an enormous spa, and enough on-property activities to accidentally spend your entire trip inside the resort gates.

‍The Capri Hotel—retro, relaxed, and effortlessly photogenic. Between the mountain backdrop, striped loungers and boutique aesthetic, it feels like someone turned a vintage California postcard into a hotel.

‍What to do:

‍Wander through the Spanish-style, old-fashioned shopping arcades, lined with beautifully curated boutiques. Browse elevated home goods and, of course, ceramics at Sundays and Fig Curated Living / Bungalow by Fig, along with apothecary finds, artisan kitchen goods and home décor straight out of a California wine country estate. Don’t skip Beato Chocolates, the chicest woman-owned and artist-focused small-batch chocolatier. If you suddenly pledge your new commitment to linen everything, locally-produced olive oils and handmade wooden kitchenware, Ojai’s Goop-approved shopping scene has claimed another victim.Stop at Bart’s Books, one of the largest outdoor bookstores where you’ll suddenly convince yourself you need more poetry, plants and paperbacks in your life.

Taste local olive oils at Ojai Olive Oil Company, because olive oil quietly reigns supreme here. The family-owned farm offers tastings beneath the olive groves featuring citrus-infused oils, balsamics, and enough farm-to-table enthusiasm to make grocery store products feel deeply inadequate for the rest of your life.Take a honey tasting workshop at Heavenly Honey Company and leave strangely invested in local honey production (seriously, that’s how passionate their experts are and how good their honey is).Wine taste at Walson Holland, a small family-run winery just outside of downtownCatch Ojai’s famous “pink moment” at sunset when the Topatopa Mountains glow fuchsia and lavender. The Scenic Overlook off Highway 150 is one of the best spots.Walk or bike the Ojai Valley Trail, or hike Shelf Road for sweeping valley views.Unwind at Spa Ojai at Ojai Valley Inn, which has a near cult-following among the LA wellness crowd for treatments like the famous Kuyam clay-and-steam ritual, guided outdoor meditation classes, apothecary-style healing experiences, and treatments using locally-grown lavender, citrus and honey.

‍Where to eat & drink:‍

‍Farmer and the Cook for organic, all-vegan lunches built around local produce, fresh juices and enough Ojai wellness culture to make you briefly reconsider your relationship with meat and processed food (mostly because everything is delicious.

‍Rory’s Place for dinner and cocktails (order the Holy Marg or the Teagroni. Or both because decisions are hard and so is adulthood). You likely know its sister spot, Rory’s Other Place, home to the viral Matcha Affogato layered with buffalo milk soft serve, ceremonial-grade matcha and edible flowers that collectively terrorized everyone’s Instagram feeds for months. A media darling like that deserves to be seen in the flesh. And like most celebrities, she’s somehow even more stunning in person.

‍The Dutchess, where a bakery by day transforms into a Burmese-Californian dinner spot at night slinging rum-coconut-passionfruit cocktails and decadent, family recipes passed down for decades (lucky us).

‍Ojai Rôtie for highly-praised rotisserie chicken, colorful sides, handmade breads and elevated picnic provisions inspired by the idea of a tiny Parisian rotisserie shop where you’d grab a few quality things before hopping on a Vespa and heading to the countryside. If you don’t order a loaf of Chef Claud Mann’s bread to-go, I’m not sure we can still be Friends. It’s made from a starter he’s kept alive for over 20 years (the kind of commitment usually reserved for marriages and golden retrievers). The very least we can do is have some

.A cozy Italian dinner at Nocciola, the best spot to savor a “pink moment” sunset over freshly rolled pastas, slow-braised meats and an always-changing, multi-course tasting menu that takes seasonality extremely seriously.

— Your Friend