this weekend my husband and i celebrated valentine's quietly with good food, laughter and time together. as a high-note, we were treated by the in-laws to a generous and fabulous get-away to ojai, for some much needed r&r (thank you mike and terri!). the city of ojai is just 30 minutes south of santa barbara, tucked away in a gorgeous valley of rolling hills and shady oaks. i wanted to share this special place with you, because not only does the inn we stayed in serve as a romantic little b&b, but can be an ideal location for intimate outdoor weddings.
the lavender inn is located in the heart of ojai, with all of ojai's quaint boutiques, restaurants (try osteria monte grappa - absolutely fabulous!) and activities, literally out the front door. there are 7 guest rooms + one cottage for accommodations and a small adjacent on-site cottage, providing massage and skincare treatments. the afternoon wine and cheese hour and daily homemade breakfast are delicious. the grounds (complete with a pond) are well maintained and private. a fun little historical fact: the inn was ojai's first schoolhouse built in 1874. if you chose to rent out the inn for immediate family, there are a number of other small inns or the luxury ojai valley inn and spa to host friends and relatives nearby. one of our favorite parts of the experience was a chorus of frogs that chirped us to sleep after the sun went down. the frogs in addition to the sound of the trickling garden fountain, was a magical moment during our stay. look into ojai and the lavender inn for your next romantic retreat or wedding venue. happy love day!
