| July, I treat myself along with a friend to a stay in Ojai, | | | | participate in the festivities. The entire town is there, |
| California .We arrive in the evening of July 1st, so we | | | | either participating in the parade or watching. This |
| are not travel weary when we begin the | | | | parade is small town America personified. The parade |
| week’s activities. The city of Ojai, (pronounced | | | | itself feature about 70 entries which includes a few |
| Oh Hi) is located about 12 miles inland from the city of | | | | homemade floats and lots of kids and horses, local |
| Ventura in the Santa Paul Mountains. And is the | | | | cheerleaders, dancing young girls in tutus, boys in their |
| smallest city in Ventura County. Besides being a home | | | | judo gear and others on bicycles decked out in the |
| to many resort spas, it is a haven for artists, musicians | | | | red, white and blue. There is no better place to be to |
| and health enthusiasts and home to numerous private | | | | appreciate the joy of being a free American than |
| boarding schools and has golf courses galore. To stroll | | | | watching the townspeople applauding one more time |
| through this village (as the locals refer to it) is an | | | | at the site of their own marching to patriotic sounds. |
| experience of the senses. You will find wonderful art | | | | The rest of the day we spend at Libby Park where |
| galleries, restaurants, gifts shops and often hear local | | | | the activites continue into the night. |
| musicians playing in Libby Park. Ojai even has it own | | | | We end our stay in Ojai with a day at a country club, |
| Shakespeare Festival. So no matter when you visit | | | | with a round of tennis and just socializing with the |
| Ojai there are numerous things to experience. | | | | wonderful people that make up this small mountain |
| On July 2nd,we begin our escape at a holiday | | | | community. |
| marketplace that features signature condiments, fresh | | | | A word of caution,be careful, after visiting this delightful |
| baked goods, garden items and Spa Ojai products and | | | | mountain town you just might get the bug to move |
| accessories. On the 3rd we will spend a day of being | | | | here. In fact whatever type of home you are looking |
| pampered at a spa…we splurge and get the | | | | for, you can find it in Ojai. Whether it is an older |
| works. And the rest of the evening we will have dinner | | | | cottage or estate size home or a horse ranch, it is all |
| at one of the casual eateries that grace the area. | | | | here. Here is the big announcement I have to make to |
| July 4th we get a taste of real small-town Americana, | | | | my family, I have finally made the decision to purchase |
| as we watch the Independence Day Parade and | | | | a second home here in Ojai. |