| Everyone dreams of that perfect vacation, in an | | | | 'Shangri-La'. |
| idyllic, stress-free, and clean location, with excellent | | | | This place is also the home of the Ojai Film |
| accommodation and recreational facilities for the | | | | Festival, which annually showcases independent |
| whole family. To most people, this scenario | | | | films from around the world. The film festival |
| remains a dream, an eldorado. To the | | | | holds every year in mid-summer. The scenic |
| knowledgeable, it exists in reality. Can you picture | | | | beauty of the area is further accentuated by the |
| in your mind's eye what the original 'Garden of | | | | superlative efforts put in the environmental |
| Eden', or 'Shangri-La' must have looked like? Then | | | | development of both the city proper, and its |
| be ready to see the modern one. Welcome to | | | | surrounding countryside by the city authorities. As |
| Ojai, a small city in Ventura County, Southern | | | | proof of their determination to maintain the town |
| California, USA. A most interesting place to have | | | | as the ultimate destination for every stressed out |
| your next unforgettable vacation, the city has a | | | | big city dweller, and keep the metropolis |
| population of about eight thousand souls. | | | | spotlessly clean, the city council has instituted a |
| This town is located less than twenty kilometers | | | | two day street cleaning exercise per month. All |
| from the Pacific Ocean coast in Southern | | | | cars are moved off the city streets and |
| California, and within ear shots of the cities of San | | | | side-walks, while both roads and drains are given |
| Buenaventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. It | | | | thorough scrubbing. |
| is about fifteen minutes drive from San | | | | As if to take a cue from the city council, Ojai |
| Buenaventura, and less than an hour by car from | | | | hotels are a beauty to behold. From the rustic |
| either Santa Barbara or Los Angeles. The location | | | | country style cottages to the most modern, |
| of the city within the valley of the same name, | | | | elegant, well appointed architectural styles, all |
| which is surrounded by hills and mountains on two | | | | hotels are pleasing to view. The interior of each |
| sides, and a river running between, gives it a | | | | hotel is most comfortable and tastefully furnished. |
| most scenic beauty. | | | | All types of accommodation are provided by Ojai |
| The valley was given its name by the Chumash | | | | hotels. From the cheap but comfortable single |
| Indians who lived in it before it was settled by a | | | | room, to two or more bedroom apartments, right |
| Spaniard, Fernando Tico who built a ranch there in | | | | up to suites and condos. Your choice of |
| 1837. Ojai in Chumash language means 'Valley of | | | | accommodation is limited only by the size of your |
| the Moon'. Fernando Tico sold his land holdings to | | | | purse, or the depth of your pocket. The |
| some oil prospectors in 1853. The new land | | | | Topatopa mountains on the north side and the |
| owners built a city and named it Nordhoff. The | | | | Sulphur mountains to the south, enclose the |
| German sounding city name was changed to Ojai | | | | valley, which is drained by the Ventura River. |
| during the First World War in 1917. | | | | Every evening, just before sunset, you can watch |
| The unsurpassed scenic beauty of this area | | | | the surreal beauty of the hallow cast over both |
| makes it a veritable destination for movie sets | | | | valley and city by the brilliant shade of pink on the |
| and film festivals. The valley was the location for | | | | Topatopa Bluffs. Ojai City is one vacation |
| the famous 1937 Frank Capra film, 'Lost Horizon', | | | | destination you will remember for a long time |
| which depicted the mythical utopia called | | | | after your first visit. |