Indian Canyons

We decided to hike in Indian Canyons. This is private land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. During the winter the area is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 38520 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. There is a fee per person to enter. Adults are $12, children $6, and horses $11. Dogs are not allowed. Before heading here I suggest looking at their website.

Hiking in the Desert Can be Dangerous

You should allows have the following items with you.

• Water/electrolytes
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight
• GPS/cell phone
• Signal mirror
• Whistle
• Poncho
• Pocket Knife
• Compass
• Snacks/food
• Sunscreen/chapstick
• sunglasses/hat

In addition, when hiking in the desert it is better to dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes. It is highly possible that you will see a snake and it’s safe to assume all snakes are dangerous. Be mindful of where you put your hands and feet. In the desert, it’s important to know the symptoms of heat-related illness.

Parking

After paying at the entrance we drove to the Murray Canyon parking lot. The lot is dirt and there are plenty of parking spaces. There are two port-a-potties in the parking lot.

Murray Canyon to Seven Falls

From the parking lot to the end of the trail it is approximately 2 miles each way. Most of the trail is easy, however, there are a few moderate sections. The trail itself is mostly sand or compacted dirt. You will be walking along the stream the whole time. Be prepared to get your shoes wet.

A Steep Section

About 1.5 miles into the hike there is a a steep section. If you have poles this would be a good section to use them. We didn’t have any poles and we just took our time. After passing a group of hikers on the way down they informed us, “That trail is treacherous and we’re lucky we made it down.” Luckily, that was a bit of an exaggeration and we just took our time and were fine.

Horseback Riding in Murray Canyon

Murray Canyon is a popular location for horseback riding. There is plenty of space for parking a trailer in the lot. In addition, there is a hitching post near the end of the trail. It’s a perfect spot to leave your horse before the trail gets too steep. Remember trail etiquette and allow the horses to pass safely first. Horses always have the right of way.

A Hike to an Oasis

Murray Canyon was an amazing hike to a desert oasis. We enjoyed our time in the desert. It was winter so the water was a little too cold to go in, but it was relaxing hiking next to the stream. We saw lizards and birds, but unfortunately, we didn’t see any Big Horn Sheep. We saw signs that they were in the area. I highly recommend this hike if you are in the Palm Springs area and it’s not the middle of the summer.

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A Dream

Michael Rubel acquired the land in 1959. It was 2 acres, a reservoir, and a citrus packing building. After Rubel secured the land he decided to pursue his dream of building a castle. One of the first rooms that Rubel Built was “The Bottle Room.” He used leftover bottles from the parties his mother threw to construct the walls.

Building a Castle

Our tour guide told us Rubel didn’t have the funds to build a castle fortunately he had a very gregarious personality and relied on his friends to help him build. The main part of Rubel Castle was constructed with concrete and rocks. Because Rubel didn’t have the money to purchase materials people in the community donated countless items to the castle. While touring the castle I saw bottles, bedsprings, old cassette players, coffee pots, hangers, and a myriad of other abandoned objects. All of the rock was hauled out of the Canyons above Glendora to keep building costs low. Rubel would hold large construction parties. His friends would show up to help him build and Rubel cooked a big lunch for everyone. In 1986, Rubel declared the construction of Rubel Castle was complete.

Every Castle Needs a Clocktower

The castle is 22,000 square feet with five-story high towers. After seeing Big Ben in London Rubel dreamed of a clock tower and he went on an endless quest to find the perfect clock. Lack of money almost stood in the way of Rubel acquiring his dream clock. Luckily, one of Rubel’s friends became his benefactor and purchased a restored 1890 Seth Thomas clock. The clock is still running the brass bells that are the crown of Rubel Castle.

Current Castle Grounds

Today a caretaker and a few residents live on the grounds in self-contained apartments, but Rubel Castle is unoccupied. Walking around the castle grounds is like stepping back in time. Antique cars and tractors are parked in the garages and are often brought out to participate in parades in Glendora. In the center of the property is a 1940s Santa Fe Caboose that was relocated from San Dimas, CA. The caboose is now used as a guest house for the permanent residents. Be sure and check out the headstones in the cemetery. All of the headstones contain mistakes and Rubel received them for free. There are no actual bodies in the cemetery.

Famous Visitors at the Castle

Michale Rubel’s mother Dorothy Deuel Rubel was a Vaudeville dancer and had many famous friends. She threw countless parties on the castle grounds. Some of the noteworthy people who have visited the castle include Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and Alfred Hitchcock. In 1990 Huell Howser interviewed Rubel for videolog.

Unique California Attractions

Rubel built his castle with determination and found objects. There are two similar attractions in Southern California. Tio’s Tacos in Riverside and Watts Tower in Los Angeles.

A Tour of the Castle

Tours are led by docents and last approximately 90 minutes, unfortunately, they are not ADA-accessible. You will be walking on uneven surfaces and upstairs. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes. Children under the age of 8 are not allowed to tour the castle.

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Tips for Hiking With Your Dog

• Start small. You will have a good idea about your dog’s endurance, however, your first hike should be less than 3 miles.
• Bring plenty of water and treats for your dog.
• Carry Poop Bags and clean up after your dog.
• Make sure you know trail etiquette.
• Bring a first aid kit.
• If hiking where it’s okay for your dog to be off leash make sure they have 100% recall.
• Double-check if dogs are allowed on the trail you are planning to hike. A lot of National parks and California State parks don’t allow dogs on any unpaved trails.

Start Small

Before heading out on a big hike, take your dog on a few smaller hikes and see if they like it. Ideally, you should incorporate a little incline to see how they do. Things like the breed of dog and the weather can really affect their hike.

Bring Water & Treats

Dogs can overheat quickly on the trail even when the weather is mild so be sure and offer them plenty of water. Dogs don’t sweat like humans and panting is their way of cooling off. If the weather is warm offer your dog water every 15 minutes.

Pet Waste

People not cleaning up after their dogs is one of the reasons dogs are being banned from trails. Even worse than not cleaning up is when an owner bags poop and leaves it on the side of the trail. Bag your pet’s waste and dispose of it properly.

Trail Etiquette

Hikers going uphill have the right of way and should yield to hikers coming downhill. Everyone needs to yield for horses and mountain bikers need to yield for everyone. In a perfect world, your dog should scoot off the trail and let other hikers pass.

First Aid Kit

My first aid kit also has supplies for my dog in case I need them. I have Benadryl for a bee sting, gauze to wrap up a leg, and a pair of infant socks that I can duct tape to my dog’s leg in case she hurts a paw.

Off-Leash

There are a lot of places in the Sierras that allow dogs to be off-leash, however, dogs need to be under voice command. This means your dog needs to have a really good recall. Fellow hikers don’t want your dog running up to them or jumping on them.

Is Your Location Dog-friendly?

Some states are more restrictive and depending on where you live there are different rules as to where your dog is allowed. I took my dogs to Death Valley National Park and the only place they were allowed to hike was on a 4-wheel drive truck road that was hot and had no shade. They would have been happier at home.

Always Ready to Hike

The best part of having a dog that likes to hike is I always have the perfect companion ready to go. With a little bit of training and planning your dog can be the perfect hiking companion too.

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The Benefits of Solo Backpacking?

• Freedom – You can choose when & where to go.
• Hike Your Own Hike – You can set your own pace.
• At One With Nature – When you’re solo it’s quiet. You can really hear the birds, water, wind, etc.
• Accomplishment – You will discover how capable, strong, and brave you are.

Planning

After deciding on Dinkey Lakes, I looked at recreation.gov to see what permits were available. There are 6 main trailheads to choose from and a few require 4-wheel drive. The trailhead from Courtright Reservoir is paved and one of the most popular. I chose a permit from Willow Meadows and it requires a high-clearance vehicle to get there. My permit was for 4 days and 3 nights and I picked up my permit from the High Sierra Rangers District in Prather, CA.

Packing a Backpack

I’ve always heard that you pack your fears for backpacking. Usually, I don’t over pack but this time I had a few extra items just in case. I brought the larger canister of fuel, because what if I ran out and couldn’t boil water? In addition to my water filter, I also brought water purification tablets because what if something happened to my filter? My pack was heavy. I didn’t weigh it but I’m guessing it was 50 pounds. My bear canister, hammock, and dog food were added weight.

Picking Up My Permit

High Sierra Rangers District requires you to call and confirm your permit 3 days before the start day of your hike. On the day of the hike, I went inside their office to pick up my permit. If you are not going to be able to pick up your permit during office hours you can arrange for them to leave it outside. When I picked up my permit the ranger went over how I was planning to store my food (bear canisters aren’t required in the Dinkey Wilderness they are just recommended.) He also went over LNT (leave no trace) and tips about picking an appropriate place to camp.

The Road to Willow Meadow

I read online that the trailhead to Willow Meadows is the shortest hike into Dinkey Lakes, however, the road is for 4-wheel drives and high-clearance vehicles. I can now speak from experience the road is horrible. The first 6 miles are on an old logging road that was paved once but is no longer maintained. Giant pieces of pavement are missing and there are many places to pop a tire. The next 6 miles are on a dirt road with potholes as large as a bathtub and lots of huge rocks that require some maneuvering to get around. I have a high-clearance vehicle and I’m pretty sure my car scrapped the rocks a few times.

Hiking to Swede Lake

Starting from the Willow Meadow Trailhead there is a 6.7-mile loop. Along this loop are Dinkey Lakes 1 & 2, South, Swede, and Mystery Lakes. After the first initial mile of the hike, you can go clockwise or counterclockwise. Heading clockwise is easier and heads straight to Dinkey Lake. If you choose counterclockwise it is much steeper and the first lake you will see is Mystery Lake. I headed counterclockwise because I was going to camp at Swede Lake. It was a tough hike up the steep parts with my heavy backpack.

Picking My Campsite

When I got to Swede Lake I found the perfect campsite. There were a few big boulders that I could put stuff on and trees that I could use to hang up my hammock. I had an amazing view of the lake. I set up my tent and then my hammock and then went to explore the lake.

The Nights are Long When You Solo Backpack

When I was in the Dinkey Wilderness there was a fire restriction in place so that meant no campfire for me. In the evenings after I had cleaned up dinner and filtered water I got in my tent and read. I love bringing my Nook with me because I can have multiple books loaded on it, the battery lasts for at least a week and it only weighs a few ounces.

Dinkey Wilderness has Many Lakes to Explore

I spent 4 days and 3 nights camping at Swede Lake. During the day I would pack a lunch and hike to the other lakes to explore. I was there in August so the water was warm enough to swim and I saw lots of people fishing.

A Great Location

I think I hit the jackpot in picking Dinkey Lakes for my first solo backpacking trip. It is beautiful scenery and the permits are far easier to get than in the Sierras. The hike in was moderate and my campsite was spectacular. I would definitely recommend Dinkey Wilderness to a solo or beginner backpacker.

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Practice

Practice before you go. Ideally, you have gone on a backpacking trip before your first solo trip. I started with short 1 and 2-night trips with a friend. We gradually worked up to more nights and longer distances. This gave me the opportunity to dial in my gear and figure out what works and what doesn’t. I also went to a class at REI that went over how to pack my backpack for multiple nights. Before my first solo trip, I was 100% confident in setting up my tent, filtering water, and cooking in the woods.

Planning

Planning, planning, and planning will help eliminate some of your fears. Step number one is picking where you want to backpack. For a first-time trip, it’s a good idea to pick a location that you are familiar with and that isn’t too remote. For my first solo trip, I went to Dinkey Lake Wilderness in Central California. I only hiked 5 miles and set up my tent. I felt a little more confident knowing that I was close to the car. After picking my location, I did my research. I contacted the ranger’s office and requested a permit. I also read recent trip reports from other backpackers so I had an idea of what to expect.

While planning out what to bring, I did add a few extras such as an extra pack of matches in addition to a lighter that is always with my stove. I also packed iodine tablets in addition to the Sawyer water filter that I always bring. Lastly, I brought a larger can of fuel because I was scared I wouldn’t be able to boil water if I ran out.

Being Prepared

Being prepared for your trip will help ease your mind. For every backpacking trip, I always have the 10 essentials.

• A map ( an actual paper map in addition to any maps on my phone.)
• Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.)
• A headlight (for backpacking I also carry a portable lantern for around camp & in the tent.)
• A Knife or a multitool that has a knife inside.
• First Aid (My first aid kit has bandaids, ointments, and medicines in addition to insect repellent.)
• Fire starter ( lighter & matches.)
• Shelter (For backpacking a tent & for day hikes at least a space blanket.)
• Extra Food (It’s always a good idea to have a little bit extra in case you have to stay an extra night.)
• Water (I typically only backpack where there is a water source. I bring water, but then filter more at camp.)
• Extra Clothes (It’s okay to wear the same clothes for multiple days, but you want to make sure to bring appropriate jackets for the location and possibly rain gear. In addition, a clean pair of socks and something to sleep in will go a long way to making you comfortable at night.)

Getting Over the Fear

For my first solo backpacking trip I spent 3 nights. During the day I hiked, took pictures, napped in my hammock, and waded in the lake. In the evenings, I read in my tent. At night I put my hiking poles in my tent thinking I could use them to poke something if I need to. I also had pepper spray and a knife, but I’ve never needed them. My solo backpacking trip was magical, the weather was great, the mosquitos were minimal, and the lakes were pristine. I conquered my fear of going solo with practice, planning, and being prepared and I will always cherish the memory of that trip.

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Convict Lake

Convict Lake is just South of Mammoth Lakes. From 395 there is a 2-mile paved road that will take you right to the lake. Breath-taking doesn’t even sum up the view of the lake highlighted by Mount Morrison behind it. Glaciers originally carved out Crater lake and today it is often crystal clear. You can boat, camp, fish, and hike at Convict Lake. There is a 3-mile loop around that the lake that is considered easy. I suggest you hike clockwise so that you can enjoy the view. There are paths to get down to the water. This trail is nice in the summer but spectacular in the fall. Part of the trail goes through a grove of Aspen trees and if you plan it right you will see some spectacular fall colors. There are vault toilets and picnic tables.

Parker Lake

Parker Lake is one of the family-friendly hikes along Highway 395. The lake is located near the June Lake Loop and is accessible via a dirt road that passenger cars can navigate. Park at the trailhead and the hike is about 2 miles each way. The first half of the hike gives no hint as to the beauty that is ahead. After leaving the trailhead we walked through sagebrush, but about 1/2 mile into the hike the trail starts to run parallel to the creek. We passed through an Aspen grove that is beautiful in the summer but would be amazing in the fall. I don’t think anything can prepare you for your first glimpse of Parker Lake. You are basically looking at the backside of Yosemite and it’s amazing.

Parker Lake Activities

Unlike Convict Lake there isn’t a clear path around the lake, however, you can fish, picnic or camp at the lake. This is a popular lake for fishing and I’ve seen lots of fishermen along the shores. I have been to Parker Lake for a day hike and I also backpacked there and spent two nights. There are no bathrooms or running water at the lake, however, there is a vault toilet at the trailhead. You don’t need a permit for day hikes, but if you want to spend the night you can get your permit at Recreation.gov.

Little Lakes Valley

I think Little Lakes Valley is a little slice of heaven. The entire trail is 8 miles roundtrip, but you can see the first lake after just 3/4 of a mile of hiking. There are a series of lakes, a few meadows, and Rock Creek that make this trail so special. Little Lakes Valley is located north of Bishop off Hwy 395. Rock Road starts at Tom’s Place and ends at Mosquito Flat. The trailhead starts at 10,000 feet so be prepared for some altitude. This a beautiful hike and is extremely popular. The trail is both well maintained and marked. It is popular with both fishermen and hikers. No permit is required for day hikes only for overnights and no fires are allowed. There are vault toilets and trashcans at the trailhead.

Backpacking at Little Lakes Valley

I have day-hiked at Little Lake Valley and also backpacked for multiple nights. Little Lakes Valley is an ideal location for a beginner backpacker because you can find a camping spot without putting too many miles and there is plenty of water to filter.

Hiking With Your Family in the Sierras

Hiking at Convict Lake, Parker Lake, or Little Lakes Valley with your family will allow you to see some of the beauty of the Sierras that people racing down Hwy 395 will never even know is there. As with all hikes check the weather before you go and bring your 10 essentials for hiking. Get out there and enjoy some nature.

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Crescent City/Redwoods KOA Holiday

Our trip involved a combination of nights in hotels and camping. I had made online reservations at the Crescent City/Redwoods KOA Holiday. It is located right off Highway 1. Although I made reservations at a KOA we were staying in a tent. I was a little apprehensive that we would be stuck between two RVs. I’m happy to say I was wrong. Our site was AMAZING. We camped in the middle of giant Redwoods and ground ferns and we couldn’t see anyone around us. This KOA has bathrooms with showers, a game room, a dog park, a playground, a laundry room, and Wi-Fi. I was able to buy firewood in the office and our site had a dedicated fire pit. My favorite part of our campsite is the banana slugs we found. 

Trees of Mystery 

Driving South along Highway 1 outside of Crescent City in the town of Klamath you can’t miss the giant Paul Bunyan and Ox at the entrance to the Trees of Mystery. We stopped and bought tickets to go inside. Tickets are $20 a person and they allow dogs inside their park they’re just not allowed on the Canopy Trail because it is a series of suspension bridges and platforms 100 feet in the air. Trees of Mystery is just the right amount of kitsch, information about the trees, and fun. We walked around reading the informative signs about trees and took turns on the Canopy Trail.

Dogs are allowed on the Gondola so we took a ride. The Gondola takes you above a new growth of trees and it’s an amazing view. There isn’t food at the park so plan accordingly. We spent about 3 hours at Trees of Mystery, but if you have young children with you they might want to stay longer and walk on the suspension bridges a few times.  

Drive-Thru Tree 

After leaving Trees of Mystery we stopped at Klamath Tour Thru Tree. It is 5 miles south of Trees of Mystery. It’s a $5 entrance fee. The lady at the booth gave us instructions. When you get to the tree your passenger needs to hop out and push the side mirrors in, guide the driver through the tree, and take a picture. I was the driver so I was a little nervous. Cars in 2022 are much bigger than they were when these holes were cut in the trees, but my vehicle fit inside. We were there on a weekday and it wasn’t busy at all, but I’ve read that it can really busy on the weekends. 

Smoked Salmon

As we were driving down Highway 1 we passed by Paul’s Famous Smoked Salmon Jerky. We could see the authentic smoke pit from the road, so we made a U-turn and stopped to try their salmon. Because of COVID they were not giving out samples and they were out of jerky, but we bought a package of smoked salmon. We took it to the beach and ate it on crackers. It was yummy and we would have bought more if we had a way to keep it cold.

Seaquake Brewing

For dinner, we decided to try Seaquake Brewing because we had Jinx with us and they allow dogs on their patio. Seaquake is located at 400 Front Street. When we checked there was an hour wait for a table and they took our cell phone number to text us when the table was ready. Our beers and food were good and they even brought out a water bowl for Jinx.

Battery Point Lighthouse

Battery Point Lighthouse is both a museum and an active lighthouse. You can take a tour during their open hours. It is only possible to access the lighthouse during low tide. We had to walk over rocks about 200 feet between the mainland and the island.

Visting Crescent City

There is so much to do in Crescent City and two days wasn’t enough. The many beaches and the Redwood Forests mean I need to plan my next visit as soon as possible.

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Driving to Green Lake 

We had a long drive to Green Lake from the Los Angeles area. It took us about 6 ½ hours. Green Lake is approximately 4 miles south of Bridgeport. Heading North on 395 the turn-off is just past the sign for Bodie and you need to make a left-hand turn across traffic onto a dirt road. From 395 it is 11 miles on Green Creek Road which is well maintained, but dirt. At the end of the dirt road there is a parking area, a vault toilet, and a water faucet, however, when we were there the water was turned off. 

Hiking to Green Lake 

After putting on our hiking shoes and backpacks, we started up the mountain. The trail is rated as moderate on Alltrails and it is approximately 3.2 miles each way. The first part of the trail is relatively flat and gradually gets steeper. A lot of the trail is parallel to the creek. My favorite part was when we passed by a pond that beavers had created. We saw some trees that had been recently gnawed on by beavers but we weren’t lucky enough to see any. In late June parts of the trail were wet with streams of water on it and we saw tons of wildflowers. 

Trail Sign to Green Lake 

After hiking for 2 ½ miles we came to sign for Green Lake. This is where there is a split in the trail we headed left for Green Lake and East Lake. Heading right takes you to West Lake. A quarter mile after the sign is when “choose your own adventure begins.” The only way to get to Green Lake is to cross Green Creek. We chose to cross by balancing on some fallen logs. This was a drought year so the crossing wasn’t as high as it could have been, but we needed to be extra careful. It’s always a good practice to unbuckle both your sternum and waist belts before crossing in case you fall off and end up in the water. 

Camping at Green Lake 

After maneuvering across the water it’s just a short walk to some campsites. We looked around for a good spot remembering to stay at least 100 feet from the water. There are a few signs nailed to the trees in spots where camping isn’t allowed. There were big thunder clouds looming and we decided we better pick a spot and set up our tents before it started to rain. 

Setting up Camp

I had a hard time setting up my tent. The shock cords in my tent poles had stretched out and I couldn’t get my poles together. Finally, I used my Swiss Army Knife to stuff the extra cord into the poles. With our tents set up, we climbed inside and took a siesta, and waited for the storm to pass. There is no internet at Green Lake, but when I got home I looked up how to fix my poles, and luckily for me there are YouTube videos showing me how to do it. The first part of the storm was howling winds. At one point it stopped raining and I was able to quickly cook some Ramen, but the storm wasn’t over so I had to eat it inside my tent with a spoon.

Filtering Water

The nice part of backpacking in the Sierras is the amount of water. We were easily able to filter water from Green Lake and Green Creek using my Sawyer Mini to filter. 

Hiking to East Lake 

The next day we woke up to a beautiful view of the lake and perfectly clear skies. After breakfast, we packed up our day packs with our lunches and headed to East Lake. The trail to East Lake starts at the beginning of Green Lake. The hike up is moderate and it’s a little over a mile each way. This trail also involves crossing the creek several times. 

East Lake

East Lake is gorgeous. The lake is rimmed by snow-capped mountains. I sat on the bank and took in the beauty. At one point I heard splashing that was so loud I thought there was someone swimming in the lake, but when I went to investigate it was huge Brook Trout jumping out of the water. I spent about 2 hours relaxing and exploring the lake, but I could see big thunder clouds building and I decided I should head to a lower elevation in case of lightning. On the way back down I talked to a man coming up to fish and he told me that the last time he fished East Lake he caught 62 fish and he returned most of them back to the lake. 

Thunderstorm in the Sierras

Afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence in the Sierras. While we camped at Green Lake we had thunderstorms on two of the three days. Luckily we were back in camp before the storms hit and we waited them out in our tents.

Hiking to West Lake

On our third day, we hiked up to West Lake. This hike is a steep route and it’s a little over 1 mile each way. Parts of the trail are beautiful and we walked through shaded woods and parts of the trail were switchbacks in direct sun. When we got to West Lake I was disappointed. It’s a small lake that isn’t very scenic. If you have a choice between hiking to East or West Lake definitely choose East Lake. The best part of the hike was the patches of snow that we found because the dogs loved playing in it.

Hiking Back to the Car

We spent 3 nights at Green Lake and on the last morning after breakfast, we packed up our backpacks and headed back to the car. It took us a little less than 2 hours to hike down and we passed so many beautiful wildflowers on the way. Green Lake is a good backpacking destination for beginners and it is so much easier to get an overnight permit than in some of the other Eastern Sierra locations.

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Details For Visiting the Lavender Festival

Just an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles and there is something for everyone at the farm. The Lavender Festival runs from May 6 – July 31st. The hours are from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm and they are closed on Tuesdays. Tickets are available online at https://www.thelavenderfestival.com/tickets. The prices are a little higher on the weekends ($16) and parking needs to be purchased online ahead of time.

What to do at the Lavender Festival

I visited on a Sunday and I assumed that we would stay 2 hours at the most, but we ended up staying the whole day because there were so many things to do and plenty of places to just relax and enjoy the vibe. Here’s a partial list of all the things you can enjoy.

• Wander around the lavender fields and inhale the lovely aroma.
• Take selfies in a field of lavender.
• Shopping.
• Take a ride on a hay wagon through the lavender field.
• Sign up to make a lavender craft.
• Go on a wine tour that ends with 123 Farms’ own Rose.
• Have lunch with either a Lavender Lemonade or try one of their lavender mixed drinks from the bar.
• Try some honey lavender ice cream or one of their yummy desserts.
• Play cornhole or chess on a giant-size yard set.
• Take a rest in a hammock.
• Find a comfy spot to sit among the olive trees and enjoy the music.

Wine Tour

I highly recommend going on the wine tour. We met our guide under a tree. She led the group to see the grapes that they have planted on site. We learned so much about 123 Farms and how they are working to be sustainable. Our tour ended inside their wine bar and we all tasted their Rose. It was delicious and reminded me of wine I had in France, light and crisp.

Yummy Food & Drinks

The food we tried was tasty. There is a line to order food, but it moves quickly. After ordering they give you a number and then you go pick it up at the window when it’s ready. I had the fig and lavender pizza and it had lavender goat cheese, sliced dried figs, caramelized sweet onions, wild arugula, and herb oil sauce it was $15. My friend Chris had the Lavender chicken sandwich which had grilled chicken breast, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted piquillo peppers, spinach, red onions, and basil pesto it was also $15 and it came with a bag of potato chips. I had the lavender lemonade $6 and Chris tried the lavender ice tea $5 and we were both happy with our choices.

Lavender Desserts

Before we left we both tried the Honey Lavender ice cream $5 and it is yummy. Their ice cream is organic and made in small batches. They also have lavender cheesecake, funnel cake, and lemon bar.

Find a Comfy Seat

There are a variety of different chairs spread throughout the property. I saw a couch and a side chair in the orchard. We sat in 70’s style wicker chairs on the old pickle ball courts, and we ate our ice cream on camp chairs.

123 Farms is Picture Worthy

Love is in the details and there is a lot of love that went into the Lavender Festival. Everything from the signs, to the colorful yarm pom-poms hanging from the trees to the music that is playing, adds to the adorable vibe that 123 Farms has to go on.

Don’t Miss out go Get Some Lavender

The Lavender Festival is only until July 31st and you should definitely go check it out.

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Topa Topa Brewing/ Little Sama Ojai

Fig Curated Living 

Bart’s Books 

Hip Vegan 

What to do in Ojai – Have a Drink at Topa Topa Brewing

On our way to a camping trip at Middle Lion Campground, we stopped for a beer and lunch at Topa Topa Brewing Company. Topa Topa is located at 345 E. Ojai Ave. They also have other locations in Santa Barabara, Ventura, and Camarillo. Topa Topa has both indoor and outdoor seating and they are dog friendly. We each ordered a tasting flight and brought them out to the patio. I was prepared not to like their beers because they have a lot of IPA but I’m pleased to say they have delicious beers.  

We wanted to have lunch before we drove out of town and Little Sama Ojai has a walk-up window inside Topa. I ordered one of their signature dishes the Sama Donburi Rice Bowl. It is Jasmine rice, pickled vegetables, a soy-marinated egg, Sriracha aioli, and your choice of protein. I had mine with Tofu Katsu and I loved the whole bowl it was flavorful and just the right amount for lunch. I highly recommend stopping at Topa Topa Brewing and Little Sama when you are in Ojai.

What to do in Ojai – Shopping at Fig Curated Living  

Fig Curated Living packs a big punch for such a little space. I’m going out on a limb and saying I think it is one of the cutest stores that I have shopped at. They are located at 327 E. Ojai Ave. Look for the turquoise door and you will immediately step into a long open-air hallway of hanging air plants, wind chimes, fun tchotchkes for the garden, pillows, and a plethora of things you need. At the end of the hallway is a small enclosed store where they have cards, paper products, and jewelry. They let dogs shop with their owners and they are extremely friendly. I did a few laps around their displays and made my purchases and I can’t wait to plan my next shopping trip.

Bart’s Books

Bart’s Books is the world’s largest outdoor bookstore. They are located at 302 W Matilija St. Imagine wandering around looking at shelves and shelves of books with the warm sun shining down on you and that is what shopping at Bart’s is like. Their bookshelves are protected from the elements by a series of tin sheeting. The majority of their books are used, but they do have some new ones as well. I could have explored the stacks all day, but unfortunately, they don’t allow dogs so I will have to visit again without Jinx. 

Hip Vegan 

On our way home from camping, we stopped in Ojai for lunch again. This time we stopped at Hip Vegan at 201 N. Montgomery St. We picked the Hip Vegan because they are dog friendly. They allow dogs to come inside and order with their owners. I ordered a Tiger Bowl and it has grilled Tempeh, Tumeric rice, shredded veggie salad with fried shallots, garlic, and peanuts. My bowl was filling and delicious. I’m a sucker for Vietnamese Coffee and theirs doesn’t disappoint. The rich dark coffee dripped into the sweetened condensed milk and it was yummy. We sat outside on the patio and they even have water bowls for the dogs. I’m looking forward to returning to the Hip Vegan and trying their Gunpowder Fries.

A Weekend in Ojai

Our 4 stops in Ojai just barely scratched the surface of all the things to do. Just looking around we saw cute boutiques and kitschy hotels to visit on our next trip. Ojai is the perfect weekend getaway if you live in Southern California and are looking for a small-town relaxed vibe.

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