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Home By Linda Kissam


my love affair with the art and spirit of the getaway.


Beginning with this article, I share I don’t yet have a defini-


tive explanation of what that means, but you and I will explore the oppor- tunities and possibilities of taking trips that are close to home, and those that require some serious planning and


travel time. Last month I was in Maine sailing on a historic schooner, last week I was in Ojai finding my groove, in two weeks I’ll be in Nova Scotia ex- ploring the great outdoors. Sometimes one day is enough to catch the spirit of a place, other times a week or two is needed to put a destination’s aurora into perspective.


have a definite emerging wine and food culture.


I love visiting destinations that So it came to be that my


friend Ginger and I left fast paced So Cal and headed north to Ojai. What’s that? You didn’t think Ojai has a spe- cial wine & culinary scene of its own? Yes it does, thank you very much. Read on as I introduce you to an incredibly unique overnight trip—Ojai Style. Ojai is located about 2.5 hours


from Temecula. Its 745 feet above sea level and as the crow flies, 15 miles from the ocean. It may only be 10 miles long and three mile wide, but it’s a place worth spending some time in for its Bohemian vibe and definite art energy. Since Ojai is lined up with an east-west mountain range, it is one of few towns in the world to have a “Pink Moment.” This occurs as the sun is set- ting, when the fading sunlight creates a brilliant shade of pink for several minutes on the Topatopa Bluffs at the east end of the Ojai Valley. This “Pink Moment” tends to describe the per- sonal moment when you take a deep breath, relax, and let go. Read on as I describe our “moment” and encourage you to find yours in this very special place.


Our night’s lodging; the Emerald


Iguana Inn was -to say the least – per- fect for us. I had heard it was a local treasure, but OMG this is everything a


NOVEMBER 2010 In The “Pink Moment” A Visit to Ojai Valley


Linda Kissam


romantic-at heart could ask for: peace- ful, restful, spacious, and gorgeous. It’s a treat for the eyes and the spirit. We stayed in the Lily Pad cottage. Two bedrooms, two stories, kitchen, whirl- pool bath, private patio and many, many more amenities, made this an exceptionally private experience. There are a variety of rooms and rates to choose from depending on the sea- son, starting at $159 in the low sea- son. This adult only architectural and artistic inspired property has to be THE Place to stay. It’s about a 4 block walk to downtown situated on a dead-end street. It is a luxury that inspires and renews. Absolutely stay here. emeral- diguana.com First stop was Ojai Olive Oil, nes-


tled on the Asquith Farm on the south- ern edge of the Los Padres National Forest. It can be a bit of a challenge to find – but definitely worth it. Bring a picnic lunch so after your free one- hour tour (Saturdays 10 AM – 3 PM year round, or by appointment) you can enjoy the beauty of this place in a leisurely fashion. This is quite a treat. I recommend you think about visiting during Nov- Jan when harvest is occur- ring. ojaioliveoil.com Our “Pink Moment” of the trip was


the Day Spa of Ojai. Whereas the Emerald Iguana was a haven of rest, this was a sanctuary of spiritual calm and well-being. I had the 60 minute facial ($99). Talk about a WOW mo- ment. Ginger had a foot ($49) and hand treatment ($29) with an espe- cially gifted staff member, Veronique. This turned out to be a physical and spiritually renewing experience for her as Veronique is a master of reflexol- ogy. Owner Kim Wachter shared her idea of success as “Seeing my clients transformed. I want our guests to walk in the door and feel, sense and hear tranquility. That’s the beginning of the experience of letting go. That’s what


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