That’s because RBI has created a SoCal oasis, one with lush, verdant landscaping (olive trees! tangerine trees! roses!), a gorgeous spa pool, and dreamy Spanish-style architecture. They’ve done something that’s hard to achieve: instill a sort of laid-back comfort to a space so decidedly luxe. Relaxed but regal, and very SoCal.

I was invited to a stay at Rancho Bernardo Inn as part of their INNfluencer program, and though last weekend’s crazy torrential rainstorm dampened things a bit on Saturday, the rain actually made the greenery smell that much better. #glasshalffull

Here, four reasons Rancho Bernardo Inn is oh so magical: The Landscaping. Yes, RBI has golf and putt-putt, and pools, but you could spend a decent chunk of time just wandering through all the gardens. The variety is pretty astounding, from olive and eucalyptus trees to rose bushes, succulent walls, and bright golf greens.
The Amenities. I have a soft spot for hotel robes and bath products, and RBI, you won me over in a big way. They included a sprig of rosemary—from their on-site gardens—in the robe and stock their bathrooms with C.O. Bigelow. By far the most charming was the mini Marvis toothpaste. (I would’ve loved slippers, too, but now I’m just being a brat.) If you can, book a room in The Greens, a building which overlooks the golf course.
The spa and pool. The hotel has two pools for all guests—one geared towards families and another for adults only (genius)—but the spa pool is the pièce de la resistance. Flanked by cabanas and tall trees that lend extra privacy, this area is most definitely a highlight. When San Diego friends saw via Instagram that I was staying at RBI, most of them gushed about the pool. If you’re not getting a spa treatment, access to this area is $30 for hotel guests and $35 for locals. Cabana rental rates range from $85-155, depending on half-day versus full-day and weekday or weekend.

Lucky for me, I was headed for the spa. I was treated to their signature Made Fresh Daily treatment. For the summer “Tropical Twist,” that meant a coconut oil massage, lime body scrub, a quick shower to rinse off, and a mango butter wrap ($180 for 80 minutes). I’m a big, big fan of tropical aromas, so this was right up my alley. Even better, I got mine in one of their outdoor treatment rooms. It’s like a private, enclosed hut in the forest and an absolute must is you’re booking a spa appointment.
The food. The thing about fancy hotels is their restaurants are often a bit unpproachable and even, dare I say, pretenious. Not so at RBI. At Veranda , the more casual of the two restaurant options, we sat on the beautiful outdoor patio overlooking the golf greens for a breakfast of carbs and more carbs. (The chocolate chip pancakes were the best.) But Avant, RBI’s fine dining restaurant, was the true highlight. Formerly known as El Bizcocho restaurant, Avant feels relaxed but upscale and very much in tune with the rest of the vibe at RBI. They often have live music, and that night singer Nadia Keilani performed acoustic covers of everything from Amy Winehouse to Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.”

We dined on ahi tuna sashimi, an excellent cheese platter, foraged mushroom tartine, and those lovely donuts (above). The mini cinnamon-dusted donuts come with a side of Bailey’s ice cream—I don’t like alcohol-tinged desserts, but it wasn’t quite detectable here—and a shot of just-poured espresso. It’s warm, comforting, and perfect to share.

Rancho Bernardo Inn provided accommodations, one spa treatment, and dinner. As always, all opinions are my own. Last two photos via Rancho Bernardo Inn.

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A few weeks ago, the team at Visit Tri-Valley invited me to check out the area for a weekend getaway. Along with my friend Cindy, we scoped out each hamlet-like town, toured the quaint downtowns, sipped wine amongst the vineyards, spotted cows along each drive, dined on farm-fresh eats, and even made our own bottle of vino to take home. All of that in 30 hours, and it was still a supremely relaxing trip.

Here’s where to go, what to do, and how to plan your getaway:

Lunch at Sideboard Neighborhood Kitchen: This meal was one of the best of the trip. Housed in a restored historical building, this green certified eatery leans heavily on locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. The theme is “rustic comfort food,” which means sizable sandwiches on bread by San Francisco-based ACME bread with (incredible) housemade potato chips, spinach salad with strawberries and a pear vinaigrette, and a veggie burger made with oatmeal, black beans, and jalapeno slaw. It didn’t hurt that the space is decked out in bright colors, Instagram-worthy vignettes, and a ladder topped with blankets for chilly nights on the outdoor patio. Make sure to grab a cup of Blue Bottle from their extensive coffee bar, too.

*** Downtown Danville: Of all the towns we visited, Danville is the most quiet. The tree-lined downtown streets—Hartz is the main drag—are filled with old-school establishments, like that cocktail bar from the early 1900s to vintage shops.

***Blackhawk Automotive Museum: I’m not a car gal, but even I was impressed by this car museum in the upscale Blackhawk area of Danville. The Smithsonian-affiliated institution packs 90 shiny classic cars—everything from a 1903 Ford to a 1937 Rolls Royce Phantom III—into its showroom. The blue Ferrari with leather detail (above) was one of my favorites. (Upstairs houses an exhibit on Native American culture, which felt pretty random.) (Admission is $15 per adult.)

Downtown Pleasanton: Pleasanton lives up to its name. It’s just lovely, with its great boutiques, Wild Wild West-style shops, candy parlor, and the perfect balance of energy without feeling too busy. I got a great pair of earrings at Prim, and at the very well-curated Drift Co., a 7 Diamonds button-down for Eaman.

Also worth scoping out is the John Madden-owned Rose Hotel, a very old-school spot with a bar if you’re in the mood for a throwback happy hour, and Blue Agave, a festive Mexican restaurant that was booked for a private event that night. It’s no wonder—they have an amazing patio!

Dinner at Oasis Grille + dessert at Meadowlark Dairy: Oasis is a Mediterranean restaurant that teeters between Greek, Turkish, and Persian cuisines. Expect juicy chicken kabobs, creamy baba ghanoush, and more. Word to the wise: The kabob plates are huge and totally shareable. After dinner and en route out of Pleasanton, we hit up Meadowlark Dairy, Pleasanton’s famous drive-thru soft serve spot, which has been open in that location since 1969. It feels very classic-America. I highly recommend it, especially if you get the chocolate-vanilla swirl. I mean, is there really any other way?

Dim sum breakfast at Koi Palace: This being in the vicinity of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, the Tri-Valley’s population is fairly diverse, and that rings espeically true in Dublin, which boasts a large Asian population. So it’s no surprise that this Dublin dim sum restaurant was so incredible. Koi Palace opens at 9:30 am on Sundays and by 9:15 am, the line was already about 20 people deep. Ordering is a chaotic and confusing adventure the way dim sum always is, but that’s the fun of it. I never would’ve guessed it, but this was my favorite meal of the weekend. It was also the cheapest at $27 for three people.

(Idea: From the Bay Area, bring your bike on the Bart to Dublin. Once you get off, you can trek Mount Diablo, a mighty mountain with tons of trails. November is tarantula mating season on Mount Diablo, and people actually go to spot them. Yikes! Not for me. #worstfearrealized)

Livermore: Livermore is the liveliest town of the bunch. By night it’s a buzzing nightlife destination with booze and live music—check out Swirl wine bar and The Beer Baron—but by day, it’s a peaceful wine paradise. That means rolling hills, lush green vineyards, and plenty of reds, the Tri-Valley’s speciality. We stayed at the newly renovated Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Livermore. It was an ideal central location for our excursions, and they also include a breakfast buffet in your stay. Does anyone else love hotel breakfasts as much as I do?

*** Wente Winemakers Studio: I don’t drink a lot of wine—mostly whites—but being the explorer that I am, I like to try everything so I can get to know a place. At the Winemakers Studio, a part of family-owned Wente Vineyards, we learned about the art of wine, from looking to smelling to tasting, and how to detect different flavor notes. For a wine novice like me, it was an excellent crash course. But the best part was blending our own varietal. It felt a little like science class with the beakers, graduated cylinders, and that awesome periodic table of wine. We combined various cabs and pinots to create our own wine before corking and labeling it ourselves. Wine lover or not, this was a really cool and unique experience if you can swing it ($125).

*** Lunch at The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards: Down the road at Wente Vineyards, we had a lunch of burgers and beet salads at their restaurant. It’s an upscale and gourmet experience without feeling stuffy, and the landscape is beautiful with Spanish-style architecture, verdant lawns, giant olive trees, and the vineyard in the distance. While we were eating lunch, we spotted a couple laying in the grass with their two dogs and a glass of wine each. It looked like the perfect Sunday.

***Altamont Beer Works: Quick stop before the airport! Altamont in Livermore. Much like San Diego breweries, Altamont is situated in an office park, but the off-beat location didn’t bother this crowd. It was buzzing with 20- and 30-somethings looking to get their beer on. Despite its reputation as wine country, Tri-Valley is big on beer, too. They recently launched a Beer Trail that spans 18 microbreweries, tap rooms, and restaurants in all four of the towns we visited.

September is one of the best times to visit Tri-Valley, so get your planning on. I’ll be back again soon too—with Teddy in tow!

Thanks to Visit Tri-Valley for hosting me on this trip. Though my flight, accommodations, activities, and meals were paid for, all opinions are my own.

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Here are a few places you need to visit:

We stayed at the gorgeous Ponte Vineyard Inn, the hotel component of Ponte Family Estate & Winery, one of the most famous operations in town. Our stay had a lot of layers—touring the vineyards and trying a private wine and cheese pairing, eating at Bouquet, the fine dining restaurant with an epic patio overlooking the vines, and spending time on the grassy lawn with Teddy. Yes, dogs are allowed! So rad!

Ponte’s motto is “a day in the country”, and with the expansive views of rolling hills and Mission-meets-Mediterranean style architecture, it’s an understatement to call the area photogenic. It’s one of the most beautiful properties I’ve visited, and bonus points for that rock candy pop in lieu of regular sugar with my coffee.Walking onto the lush grounds of Briar Rose Winery feels like you’ve stepped into a fairytale. That’s because the architect, Belden Fields, was a Disneyland architect and designed his home in the style of Snow White cottages. A family then bought the property in the 90s and turned it into a winery. Situated among homes on a residential street, it’s a great off-the-beaten path choice. And though I forgot to snap a picture, Vindemia is another unique option. The winery has an open-air tasting room that feels more like a wine stand. It’s wonderfully low-key.Old Town Temecula, a pedestrian-friendly area about five miles west of wine country, is made up of 12 blocks of shops, restaurants, and bars. On Saturdays, it plays host to a bustling farmers market. How do I love thee E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) Marketplace? Let me count the ways. The dedication to farm-to-table before farm-to-table was trendy. The breakfast “Scottie” sandwiches made with Fontina cheese. The Euphoria smoothie, a blend of almond milk, coconut water, dates, bananas, chia, maca, and seasonal berries. The berry galette. The organic, sustainably sourced coffee. The homemade coconut milk. I could go on, but just go to this spot just outside Old Town Temecula. Despite its moniker, Blackbird Tavern is a bright and airy dog-friendly restaurant with a great backyard space that feels like a more hipster Palm Springs. The burger was dynamite, and it seems to be a lively spot for an evening beer or five.Across the street from Blackbird is The Goat & Vine, a cozy and charming restaurant that specializes in stone-hearth pizza made with uber-fresh ingredients, like San Marzano tomatoes and homemade dough. As if we didn’t have enough to be wowed by, sunrise is worth getting up for in the Valley. Hot air balloons rise at the crack of dawn for a journey over the hills. and even if you don’t take flight, there’s plenty to enjoy from sea level. From Ponte’s lawn (and other spots, I’m sure), you can see a handful of balloons dotting the air. Paired with the colors of the sunrise—that’s the sunlight bathed against my face, not saturation filters!—the silhouette of the hills, and the peaceful silence in the air, it makes for the best kind of wake-up call.

Disclaimer: Since I was on a work assignment, all expenses were covered. As always, all opinions are my own.

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What I had found in Cabo were tequila-shot-chugging parties, massive/generic hotel chains, wildly expensive luxury resorts, and more often than not, a lack of availability given our last-minute planning. (I’m sure there are wonderful off-the-beaten path finds, like this restaurant I want to visit some day, but I couldn’t find many. I wanted to get really off-the-beaten-path.) I wanted something quiet, on the beach, and for $100-200/night. I was told that would be impossible.

But I prevailed! In a last-ditch effort, I looked up ideas on one more site, and on a map of hotels, I saw a star indicating a hotel on Cabo’s East Cape. As it turned out, it was the dreamy hotel Villa Del Farro, and this is where we spent a glorious 4.5 days last week.

Villa Del Farro is located on 12 acres in Baja’s East Cape—a sprawling mansion split up into individual accommodations with a breakfast room, pool, and the great outdoors to share. Owned by an extended family of siblings and their spouses, VDF has seven different casitas, each with its own decor scheme. The grounds of the property are lush like a rain forest, with the desert on one side and the beach on the other. Because getting there requires an hour’s drive on a dirt road—we rented a car for $4/day—and there’s almost no other sign of life in the area minus a few homes, it’s incredibly, wonderfully secluded. That means it’s also very much an eco-hotel and suited to a certain type of traveler. There are no power lines, water heaters (solar panels instead), or air conditioning (you’ve been warned!), and drinking water is trucked in from a local ranch. With the area’s iffy plumbing network, guests also can’t flush toilet paper down the commode.

That said, as long as you’re willing to handle a few glamping scenarios, the payoff is 100 percent worth it. Nay, 200 percent. The owners have paid such amazing attention to decor details, the breakfast (included in the rate) is huge and delicious, and most importantly, the area is so quiet and the stars shine so bright, that it was just the recharge we needed. The world is so big that I rarely say I’ll revisit somewhere so soon, but I can absolutely see us making this an annual trip. It’s a special place.

Take a look:
The property is very tropical-meets-mansion. Strolling around the grounds felt like walking meditation.
There were so many great rooms to choose from that we split our time between two. If you’re up for some glamping, the Bali Room ($150/night) is the place to do it. We spent our first three nights in that room, which has an amazing view of both the ocean and the desert. The design is very much rustic, with a palapa roof and mosquito net, and one wall of windows completely open (with curtains if you so desire). We did see a scorpion outside our room and someone else saw a fruit bat another night, but this is a remote place. Get used to the occasional critter! Our second room was the bigger, more comfortable, Casa Azul ($200/night), which I highly recommend. Besides the beautiful furnishings (including a fireplace for cooler winter nights), the front patio is the stuff domestic dreams are made of, with couches, lounge chairs, wind chimes, a hammock, and coffee station. It was an awesome place to retreat to after being in the sun all day, and the big bed was the perfect surface for a few rounds of Bananagrams. (Gosh, it was amazing to be away from technology.)Breakfast was an elaborate spread. They took our orders the previous day, and we could choose from eggs, beans, tortillas, tropical fruit, yogurt, and/or granola along with juice and coffee. You could literally request all of that. As for lunch, you’re on your own. We were usually too full from breakfast, but we had also grocery shopped before arriving at VDF. With no stove, we opted for cold foods like nuts and dried fruit, sandwiches, etc. For dinner, the hotel offers a $45 three-course dinner, but we never tried it. We either made our own food or headed up to Cabo Pulmo’s few restaurants (more on that below). Ah, the pool. I seriously love a good pool spread. This one had stunning columns, a well-furnished pool house (which you could use so long as no one was checked in there), and ocean views. It felt straight out of a five-star resort. We spent two full days on our pool chairs, doing nothing but reading, napping, and eating potato chips. I finished The Art of Fielding (so, so good) and made good progress on Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.Cabo Pulmo is a small town 30 minutes north of the hotel, and though we were hesitant to do anything more than sleep by the pool, the drive was actually pretty simple and added great variety to our trip. What’s to love? First, the food. Caballero (above) is a laid-back taqueria-meets-dive bar, and our other favorite, La Palapa, has a great beach view and the cutest family of dogs snoozing around the restaurant. Also, the nachos at La Palapa are dynamite. Second, the beaches. The area surrounding Cabo Pulmo is home to a 20,000-year-old protected reef known as Cabo Pulmo National Park. You can snorkel off the beach at nearby Los Arbolitos (the reef looked a bit dead to us) or book a dive or snorkel trip in Cabo Pulmo proper. Or you can do as we did, and park at Los Arbolitos, walk left five minutes over some rocks, and find yourself on a secluded beach. As in, we were the only people there all day. We brought an umbrella from our hotel, and splashed the day away. I’m not sure I’ve had a more fulfilling and magical beach experience. That water was pristine like a screensaver and clear like a pool. A very pinch-me moment that easily turned out to be our favorite memory from the trip. Take me back!

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I appreciate my hole-in-the-walls and fun-for-free beach excursions, but SoCal isn’t SoCal without some floss, no? With that in mind, I had been itching to check out Rancho Valencia ever since I moved to San Diego and got wind of this sprawling, glossy property located in one of America’s wealthiest neighborhoods, Rancho Santa Fe.

The award-winning hotel is comprised of suites, villas, a luxury spa, fine dining restaurant, croquet lawn, and equestrian-themed bar, all of which together has earned it the number one spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best hotels in America. When you pull up to its Veladora restaurant, you can’t even see where all the cushy accommodations are. That’s how wide this place stretches.

Lofty title aside, would you just look at that design? Spanish-style architecture, bougainvillea to the left and right, and a perfectly pristine attention to detail. And that’s just the space allocated to the resort’s restaurant.

Take a look:

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Yes, I’m going to Cabo tomorrow! The idea hatched just a month ago within a few days of deciding that Eaman and I really needed a vacation. It’s the quickest I’ve ever planned a trip, and I’m so, so excited.

As I mentioned here, I’ve been burned out. A new work schedule and my mom’s surgery have been recent stressors, but both events made me realize how the last 2.5 years of freelance hustling and being the supportive sounding board for a boyfriend creating a start-up had taken a toll on me, on Eaman, on our relationship, on our health, you name it. I’ve been exhausted, eating poorly, becoming increasingly forgetful, and worst of all, anxious. There were some mornings I had to turn on talk radio just so I could drown out the to-do lists running through my head or go to evening yoga because I was starting to have mini panic attacks every day at 5:30pm. And seeing my mom in the E.R., coping with a broken ankle and then surgery, made me realize that I needed to take care of my physical and mental health. I needed a vacation.

Around this time, I was also reaching out to a few girlfriends, all of whom are successful business owners. Quite simply I asked them, “How do you do it without pulling out your hair?” All of their tips had a common thread of traveling. One had just come back from a trip, another was about to leave for one, and the third travels so frequently (for fun) that she might as well be a travel writer. One of them explained that she just books a trip for the future so she’s committed. Leading up to it, she makes tweaks—maybe less shopping or less eating out—and it’s worth it because getting that change of scenery is rejuvenating. We’re all struggling, we’re all hustling, and we all don’t quite have the funds, but they all seem to make it work, so why can’t I?

For 2.5 years, I’ve been really hard on myself, whether it was talking myself out of going to the movies or getting a manicure because I thought I had to save money. Well yes, I do need to save money, but I also need to take care of myself, lest I want another epic meltdown.

Visiting family is not a vacation. Weddings are not a vacation. Press trips, while great and I know I’m lucky, are not a vacation. Two-day weekend getaways are not a vacation. I needed something longer.

So one day last month, feeling totally worn out from my anxiety, I texted Eaman that we needed to book a trip asap. To my surprise, he was 100 percent on board. (Usually one of us checks the other when it comes to finances.) And before we knew it, we decided on Mexico, then Cabo (big ups to Alaska Airlines for affordable direct flights!), then found this relatively cheap and secluded eco-resort. All of a sudden everything was booked.

I’ve packed sunscreen, my swimsuit, books, and a big floppy hat. I may or may not Instagram. I may or may not blog about it. But finally, I am doing something good for me, and it already feels right. (Cabo was under hurricane watch this past weekend—”Blanca” was the earliest-in-season tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Baja peninsula—but it was downgraded to a tropical storm yesterday and will dissipate today, so I think we’re in the clear *fingers crossed*. And more importantly, it doesn’t look like the area endured much damage.)

The blog will continue as normal on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so see you Thursday! I hope to come back a little sun-kissed, a lot relaxed, and full on tortilla chips.

Photo via

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Cut to five years later, and the resort invited me and a few other bloggers to check out the resort, its restaurant, and Laguna livin’. We had a beautiful and luxurious two-night stay at the Resort, including oceanfront rooms, dinner at their excellent restaurant, and a hybrid body scrub-massage at their spa. Funny how things can come full circle like that.

Staycation or getaway, it’s a treat of a vacation, and I’m going to show you why:

Watchu know about oceanfront views? The resort is positioned on the beach, so close that the tide creeps precariously close to the hotel. They  put me in one of the most clutch rooms—a second-floor, oceanfront stunner, where I enjoyed prancing around in my robe, watching Bravo on TV, looking out onto the water, and ordering room service, which is my favorite indulgence in all the land. The attention to detail is wonderful, from the shell-shaped nightlight in the bathroom to the complimentary bedside earplugs to combat the loud waves. The waves are loud, but I didn’t think they’re earplug-worthy; the sound was perfect. The resort also has a butler service in case the seagulls rain on your balcony parade, if you catch my drift…

A location smack dab on the beach means a seafood-focused menu at Splashes, the hotel’s restaurant. The scallops were a favorite amongst our group, both for the taste and presentation, and I loved how they whipped up an off-the-menu vegetarian risotto for me. It was creamy without feeling heavy. Livin’ the poolside life. The best part is you get the comforts of a luxury pool with the vantage point of the Pacific.Breakfast at Splashes gave me a good dose of nostalgia for that brunch we had there 5 years ago.The Resort’s Aquaterra Spa just introduced two new treatments, the Body Surfer, a 90-minute body polish and scalp massage that includes aloe vera to repair damaged skin and arnica to treat muscle and joint pain, as well as the Body Buff, another 90-minute treatment that includes a coconut oil massage, hibiscus flower petal body scrub, and hot oil scalp massage. I got the latter, which turned out to be just what my dull, dry skin needed after not taking better care of it these last few months. One of the best parts is how the masseuse gently sprinkles the dried hibiscus petals on your skin. It’s a delicate but really lovely sensation. It was painful to leave the property and my oceanfront room, but we managed to get off our butts and across the street to The Soul Project, an apparel company with home decor and paper products that also partners with local artists for limited-edition pieces. Our stop there included a custom printed tote using their screen printer. I chose one of my favorite images from the Coronado Dog Beach a.k.a. my happy place.We toasted to our last evening with dinner at Sapphire, located a few blocks from the hotel. In the past, I’ve turned my nose up at other Laguna Beach restaurants for being too blasé, but I would 100% go back to Sapphire. The Iranian-born chef has worked at Four Seasons resorts around the world, and his menu reflects that global resume. We had everything from spring pea shoot salads to udon noodles, and I think sitting on the heated patio, overlooking the main drag, made everything even lovelier.

Rooms start at $600/night for summer months; surfandsandresort.com

The Surf & Sand Resort provided me with transportation, accommodations, and meals. As always, all opinions are my own.

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I turned 30 this year, and to enter a new decade, I knew I wanted to travel somewhere. But being on a tight budget, I stuck to Southern California locations within driving distance. I thought about Joshua Tree and considered San Luis Obispo but ended up choosing Ojai. The hippie, community-driven town 30 miles east of Santa Barbara covered my most important extracurriculars: good food and beautiful outdoor opportunities. We also wanted to take Teddy with us, and finding a dog-friendly Airbnb in our price range was incredibly difficult. The cabin we found in Ojai was just perfect.

It might sound intense, but 2.5 days in the Ojai Valley were enough for me to get attached. In fact, I got emotional about leaving! Ojai is such a beautiful, positive, friendly, and accommodating place. I don’t want to pretend like I’m an expert, but I connected with Ojai and could feel just how special it is. Part of the reason could be that it was a full moon weekend, and I am all about that full-moon power and pull. I’d be so, so, so happy to do this same trip on an annual basis.

Since I’m a Type A planner, I did research before visiting, made us a rough itinerary, and took copious notes. So here, a guide to Ojai, including where to eat, shop, play, and more:

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Wabi Sabi house in the East End. (Wabi sabi is a term derived from Buddhism that refers to impermanence and imperfection.) It’s essentially an artist’s cottage located near but totally separate from the Airbnb host’s parent’s home, as well as other quiet homes in the area. Aesthetically, the space is somewhere between glamping and a furnished apartment—and we loved it! The most amazing features are the detached bathroom and outdoor fireplace, which we used for a cheese and wine dinner one night. We woke up to birds chirping and at night, we fell asleep to frogs croaking. It was pure magic. Like elsewhere in Ojai though, bugs are a given, but for us it wasn’t a big deal.

WHERE TO EAT

Knead Baking Company: This bakery serves sweet pastries as well as popular breakfast sandwiches. We split almond and chocolate croissants with an egg sandwich on buttery brioche. At first I flinched at the $8.25 price tag, but that egg sandwich with spinach was worth every penny.

Hip Vegan: We sat on the outdoor patio, where we ate the Hoi An burger made with tofu and Indo wrap, a rice paper sandwich filled with tempeh. I also had myself the much-raved-about date shake—the praise is every bit warranted—and Eaman had a pineapple shake. Everything was delicious and soul-satisfying, but interestingly, the white bean soup du jour had us most gaga.

Farmer & The Cook: Everyone will tell you to go here, and they’re right! This cafe-meets-market serves a daily Mexican menu, incredible huevos rancheros (above) on weekends, and juices and smoothies. Wonderful option for vegetarians and vegans.

 Boccali’s: This casual Italian eatery is the only restaurant on the East End, which is a few miles from the tourist center and very close to our cabin. Besides the farmer’s market, it was the only place we couldn’t bring Teddy; the hostess said the patio was just too crowded for a big dog to be splayed out. I was bummed at first, but after taking Teddy literally everywhere with us, it was nice to have a meal—and pre-anniversary dinner—to ourselves. We sat on the very cute outdoor patio, where we enjoyed a feast of Italian proportions. Don’t expect edgy, experimental Italian food. It’s simple, the way nonna intended with ingredients and wines sourced from their family farm up the hill. And save room for their famous strawberry shortcake. It’s incredible.

WHERE TO SHOP

In the Field: The new kid on the block, In the Field opened last November on the main Ojai Avenue drag. The bohemian store has a Western- and lumberjack-chic feel, with clothing, accessories, home, decor, and even surf gear, much of which is handcrafted in the U.S. The prices are steep, but the quality, especially of the leather products, is really great.

Summer Camp: Housed in a former gas station, this cute, hipster shop feels like a retail offshoot of a Wes Anderson movie. It’s filled with antique rackets, Pendelton blankets, candles,  pennants, prints, and more. I got a re-print of a vintage original as a memento of the trip.

Tipple & Ramble: This home and gift shop is rad! They have beautiful products, a lovely outdoor area, and even host wine tasting from their bar. I want that peacock chair.

Modern Folk Living: This shop sells jewelry, home goods, books, and more. The price points were a little higher than some of the other shops, but the curation is on-point. (The owner used to work in brand design for Adidas and Patagonia.) I loved chatting with the woman working there, Fanny, who grew up in Ojai and gave me tons of recommendations for our stay.

deKor & Co.: An upscale home store with cosmetics and skincare products all curated by owners Isabelle Dahlin, a Swedish interior designer, and Vogue contributor Rachel Marlowe. Loved that swing!

Ojai Farmers Market: Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a small stretch of Matilija Street is blocked off for this beautiful market. There are a couple of food trucks, but the focus isn’t on prepared foods. You’ll find flowers, fresh eggs, Ojai’s signature Pixie tangerine, and handmade goods. Eaman surprised me with this beautiful orchid. Here’s to hoping I can keep it alive. #blackthumb

WHERE TO BE OUTDOORS

Shelf Road Trail: One of the most popular hikes in Ojai, the Shelf Road Trail is an easy 3-mile, out-and-back hike with amazing pay-off. A big chunk of the path is lined with Valencia orange trees and avocado trees! And yes, you can pick them! We also took a detour up the Fox Canyon trail, which is more of a workout than Shelf, for great views of the valley. To get to the Shelf Road Trail, from Ojai Avenue, take Signal Street north until you hit a dead end.

Old Creek Ranch Winery: While wine tasting at Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room downtown, a lovely couple from Ventura advised us to head to Old Creek, 15 minutes south of Ojai. Thank you, couple! This turned out to be one of our favorite activities. The vineyard is set on an 850-acre property with picnic tables, rose bushes, cattle, and the owner’s dogs hanging around. We let Teddy roam with them, and he had the best time. It was absolutely dreamy, and we still think about how relaxing our hours were there.

Meditation Mount: This spiritual site plays host to meditation services, yoga, events, and famous sunsets, particularly the “pink moment” when the sunset cast a pink hue over the valley. On the drive to Meditation Mount, we could smell the fragrant orange blossom flowers, an experience I’ll never forget. Once we got to the viewpoint—so crazy that Teddy was allowed!—we sat in the grass, stopped talking and took it all in.

New in Ojai: the espresso and small plates eatery NoSo Vita and Ojai Tortilla House, which had delicious carne asada street tacos.

And on your way out of Ojai, I highly suggest taking 150 East through the mountains, where you’ll pass gorgeous ranches and lemon groves, and make a pit-stop in Santa Paula, a funky town that’s cross between a Mexican main street and old-timey Midwest town.

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A little more than an hour east of San Diego, Julian is set within the Cuyamaca mountains and its “downtown” is a charming throwback to pioneer style with a touch of the Wild Wild West. Going there is so transporting; the beaches and trendy juice bars feel far away. Beyond hiking, there are breweries, wine tasting, and quaint boutiques, with cute bed and breakfasts to make for a mountain getaway. Just how much of a getaway? Well, one house proudly posted a Confederate flag. So there’s that.

A closer look at springtime in Julian:

Food in Julian leaves something to be desired, but Granny’s Kitchen—are you getting the down-home vibe of Julian yet?—was good for a classic sandwich. I didn’t get to try it, but they also make a mean-sounding Nuts & Bolts drink with espresso and nutella.
Wine tasting at Orfila Vineyards & Winery.

If charming kitchenware, classic candy, handmade soaps, and by-the-pound potpurri are you jam, head to the E. Barrett General Store.

 Super fragrant lilacs sold roadside for $5.

Pie from Julian Pie Co. for takeout to Nickel Beer Company, a brewery set amongst the mountains with great outdoor space. Loved that they served their tasters in cupcake tins! We ended up sitting next to the friendliest people who also happened to be San Diegans. They were in Julian for the weekend and invited us to their beautiful vacation rental, where we joined in on some beer pong and more drinking.

They had the most beautiful view from their balcony, so of course we had to get a group shot before we ended our 9-hour adventure.

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But as much as I like exploring on my own, I wanted some guidance for this new-to-me Baja world, a tour that didn’t reek “follow the flag” and “this way please,” but something that felt more hip and modern. My search led me to Club Tengo Hambre, a roving supper club started by a collective of bloggers based in both San Diego and Los Angeles. Their trips focus on dining and drinking in Tijuana, Ensenada, Valle De Guadalupe, and now Mexico City, and they bring a wealth of knowledge with them. For example, our guide, CTH co-founder Antonio, grew up on both sides of the border and had been to many of the spots on our trip.

My friend, Lauren, and I went on their Tijuana Tacos + Craft Beer tour last weekend and had so much fun pushing our taco boundaries (i.e. a manta ray, tuna fun, and blood sausage version) and getting a feel for the high-low food options and emerging craft beer scene.

Check out the Tijuana spots you need to know:

We walked across the border from San Ysidro, which was new to me, since I’ve only ever driven over the border. (Tip: Either take the trolley or get dropped off. Parking around the border, especially on weekends, is horrendous. We paid $18 for a lot only to be yelled at on the way out for not having a ticket…even though we were never given one!) Interestingly, Lauren and I turned out to be the only San Diegans on the trip. The rest of our group was from Orange County and L.A. CTH keeps groups small—ours totaled 11—and once we crossed over to Mexico, we were driven around in a small van. Mezcal shots may or may not have been imbibed.

Our first stop was at La Cahua del Yeyo, a hole-in-the-wall  joint that used to specialize in turtle tacos before it became gauche to use shelled reptiles in food. The aforementioned blood sausage taco was tasty, as long as I told myself it wasn’t blood sausage. It’s all mental, really. I’m not a big beer drinker, so I polled the group about our brew pairing, an Imperial Stout from Funes Hand Crafted Baja Beer, made with blue corn, hibiscus, and Mexican corn sugar. This was the unanimous favorite of the day. I also loved how even though it was a pairing at the taco shop, the brewery teams were all on hand for info and questions.

Mention tacos in Tijuana, and Kokopelli is sure to come up. This taco eatery, which now boasts three locations along with a most recent opening in Chicago, is a TJ institution that specializes in grilled seafood tacos. Their chef consults at Tacos Perla in San Diego’s North Park, and that octopus taco at Perla? Yeah, it originated at Kokopelli. We tried that octopus taco, dubbed the “Kraken,” and it was fantastic, thanks in part to the cilantro- and poblano-based pesto. The second beer, an oyster stout by Hellixir Beer, is made with Baja oysters!

Our last food stop was at Tijuana’s very cool, very hipster Food Garden, an outdoor food court, with crepes, Asian eats, and tacos among other choices. It’s located near Tijuana’s ritzy enclave, so you can expect well-heeled Tijuanese (and visiting gringos) to populate the Garden. We tried a taqueso with New York steak and shrimp paired with a Mamut Brewery Co. beer. This was another amazing taco—I mean, the filling was wrapped in fried cheese!—but also the most tourist-friendly.

Our final stop wins the award for coolest decor. BCB Tasting Room, located down a nondescript street, is like an industrial, dimly lit den with old kegs turned into lights. Really, this tour is a beer-lover’s dream. For $75, along with transportation, a guide, and mezcal shots, we had one taco at each stop and beer “tastings” were full-to-the-brim cups. In fact, at BCB, the number of tastings seemed endless. Much of our group was fairly toasted by this point and our 4 p.m. departure time was so not happening.

We got to the border at around 5:30 p.m. and while our guide waved goodbye and hopped over to the fast pass-style Sentri lane, we were stuck in a god-awful line that took more 2.5 hours to pass through. CTH has warned us that the line to cross back can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.  I understand he didn’t have to wait for us and the length of the line wasn’t in his control and it was the worst possible time to cross (a Saturday evening), but it might’ve helped to have him there for moral support. We were all going a little crazy during those hours, but a few rounds of hot-from-the-fryer churros were a wonderful emotional salve. That’s one plus about waiting—so many snacks to purchase! One guy in our group even went to get tacos, because you can never have enough tacos.

The tour was a wonderful primer on Tijuana’s food scene, but I can’t wait to go back on my own: Another Food Garden is opening in the next few weeks, Kokopelli is worth multiple visits, and there are more broder-crossing churros to be eaten.

Disclaimer: Club Tengo Hambre sponsored my tour. As always, all opinions are my own.

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