I stopped into the Carpinteria Community Library since I was moseying myself to the burger joint…read moreacross the street. Curiosity struck. I wanted to know what it looked like inside. So I sauntered myself into the library. It's small in square footage but they sure do pack a lot into the space. Besides books, they have computer (laptops) for in library use by library card holders. There was a cozy children's book and activity area giving off homey vibes. The armchairs added to that vibe along with the architecture of the building. They even had a covered front porch with pub height tables and chairs. Comfy place to crack open your laptop to use the WiFi. Fun fact: the Carpinteria city library was established on November 10, 1910 and was the first county library in California. (Ohhh the 1st). That original building was on 892 Linden Ave. See I learned a new fact. I picked up that little nugget by reading the funky lettered carved wooden sign in the courtyard.

Walking in to this library was a Blast from the Past. Not their past but mine. The smell of the…read morebooks, the sight of rows of orderly books and seeing a lady behind a large desk with cat glasses takes me back to lovely memories. I could spend a whole afternoon here (I wish there was an espresso bar). The library is small but has plenty book books in all topics. The helpful staff set us up with a library card and off we went with 7 books.

What a lovely day walking the trails in Ojai. The town has a special feel and we so enjoyed the…read morescenic beauty and serene environment. We also looked at property and visited an open house along our trail wandering. The weather was perfect, people so kind and the scenery and natural surroundings were therapeutic. Highly recommended

I just really love and adore Ojai. It's the perfect getaway destination or easy access for those of…read moreus that live in county to feel like we are "getting away" yet from Ventura it's under a 30 minute drive. The city is charming and so are the stores. Shopping is plentiful and they have great unique stores in this town. From clothing, to art, home goods and mystical finds - there is something for everyone. The stores vary, some are reasonably priced and some more expensive to reflect the higher end vacationers but that's any city for the most part. I love the restaurant scene here as it's growing and they've got some pretty wonderful restaurants and bakery's in this town. If you like beer they've got Topa Topa and for wine there are many many options. Some of my personal favs are Ojai Roots and the Ojai Wine Company. If you aren't here to shop or dine, this is an active community with beautiful hiking and recreation areas. Plenty of places to have a more rigorous hike or simple shaded areas and parks in the town that are kid friendly. Ojai is known for its sound baths, day spas, and meditation mountain. There is really so much to do here and see for a long weekend. I get why so many people come here, it's a magical little town away from the big cities with beautiful nature and weather. I'm happy that this town is accessible to me from where I live and I love bringing people here for the day.

Cute little stop , faucet of fresh mineral water and a corral with chairs to sit and take pictures…read more Something different and quirky

I'm not sure how I feel yet about the water itself. I do appreciate and love that the water has…read morebeen made available to anyone wanting it. I just recently stopped by and got some water only to realize that there is lots of debris in the water floating around when I shake it. Has anyone else seen this? I tried it when I first got there dumped out my mountain valley spring water bottle and filled it up and immediately checked and it had debris in it. Got home tried a different clear glass bottle, washed out clean and still debris in the water. If you have, does it not bother you at all?? Are we supposed to filter the water when we get home? I'm not sure if that's just all part of it being natural spring water. But anyways- just a heads up that it does have small debris particles in the water!

Really great spot. Clean, organized, and plenty of area for sitting and getting some work done…read more It's in a really convenient area, and was perfect for spending some time on the computer. I'm not much of a library guy in general, but was really impressed by this spot!

I really enjoyed visiting this library with my kids! There's a whole kids section downstairs, which…read moremakes it nice when my kids want to be excited while looking at books. I wasn't afraid of them being too loud for the other visitors. There were a bunch of other kids having a good time doing arts and crafts when we visited. A male librarian helped my son find the graphic novels and even recommended some which we ended up checking out. They have a wide selection of books and sitting areas for the kids. Everything was organized so well. I was very impressed.

We are not Ojai residents, but hit the Valley at least three or four times a year for various…read moreevents, or just to soak up the peaceful vibes and beautiful scenery. One of our must-do activities each spring is the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Spring Garden Tour. It's a fundraiser, and usually features waterwise gardens in a variety of settings from modest to spectacular. This year was no exception. I ordered our tickets online before the Friday deadline to save $5 a piece on the admission. We picked them up at the Chamber office on Saturday, along with the map of self-guided gardens to visit. Stretching from Oak View to the east side of town, there were a broad array of styles and venues this year. One couple had self-planted a native garden three years ago from seed and one gallon plants. Many have grown to over six feet tall in that time period. They did a marvelous job of labeling the different areas of their garden to help others decide what they might plant themselves. Another had a Mediterranean style with a large outdoor room, sparkling fountain, and naturalized meadow. One home had been on the tour ten years ago, and was showing off changes, like an added plunge pool, plus that maturation of the low-water usage landscape. Views of the lovely mountains were also featured, enhanced by the garden settings. It's a pleasure to go at our own pace among the properties, while discovering new neighborhoods. Our last stop was at Caravan Outpost. Had no idea what to expect with that name. Fell in love! Will write a separate review on it. We had a wonderful afternoon. Thank you to the Chamber and all the volunteers and homeowners for another successful garden tour!

Best source for finding out what and where things are happening, along with local business links to…read moreuse.

This little free library is located on Santa Barbara's Eastside off of Santa Ynez Street. What…read moremakes it unique is it's planter box of succulents growing in front. Also the owner made it completely out of wood scraps from their garage. Crafty indeed! There are even solar powered lights allowing folks to stop by in the evening and peruse the reading selection. The bottom half is children's and young adult fiction while the top half is historical and drama fiction. Remember to take a book and share a book.

I like walking down State Street when in Santa Barbara. They block a large portion to vehicle…read moretraffic which is nice for pedestrians. State Street has just about any cuisine you may be looking for. They also have lots of cute shops. This is a nice place to spend the day.

Love the Old Town Santa Barbara! With its Spanish architecture and nice Mediterranean vibe! It's a…read moreperfect mix between a smaller town with a relaxed vibe and a place that has many activities to offer: lots of museums, shopping activities, a great restaurant theme, various street fairs and festivals, check out their calendar when you plan a visit! Perfect place for a day trip or a nice weekend getaway from LA! The beach is close, lots of new breweries and spots great for wine tasting! Things changed here as well over the years, some not for the best, but I always enjoy walking the streets of Old Town, discovering new places, feeling far away, yet close enough. Santa Barbara is always a great idea, lots of fun things to do and the charm of the Old Town is hard to beat!

You can cross this sanctuary on the way to the islands of the Channel Islands National Park. The…read moreNOAA is in charge, apparently, of the sanctuary. Good chance to view wildlife.