Situated 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles in a lovely agricultural valley surrounded by mountains, Ojai (pop. 8000) is a friendly artistic getaway. Stroll downtown art galleries and coffeehouses, cycle through orange groves, or drive half hour to the beach or hike in the national forest behind Ojai.

Our comfortable, newly renovated, single-story home is located in a quiet residential neighborhood and a 10-minute walk from the center of town. The open floor plan includes living and dining room, kitchen and large, comfortable family room, master bedroom and guest bedroom with two baths. Two home offices can also be used as additional bedrooms; one has a fold out single sofa bed, and the other has an inflatable queen bed. We have a wide-screen television and wireless internet access throughout the house. The patio backs onto a serene, oak tree shaded, seldom-used city park. We have wonderful, helpful neighbors on both sides, but you can't see or hear them, and the park provides a sense of peaceful space. Car swap is optional for late model Honda CRV or Ford Edge.

People fall in love with Ojai, and go to great lengths to live here. Ninety minutes from Los Angeles, it is a very safe and friendly small town and is a destination Californians choose as a weekend get-away to relax. Ojai is known for its natural beauty, thriving art and music community, and includes many spiritual and personal growth opportunities. With outstanding restaurants, art galleries and a pedestrian-friendly village, Ojai offers the visitor a chance to become a “local” in a small town.

With its abundant sunshine throughout the year, there are plenty of outdoors activities – two superior golf courses, swimming, tennis (Ojai was runner-up for U.S. Tennis Association’s “2009 Best Tennis Town in America”), hiking, cycling, horseback riding, fishing and kayak rentals at nearby Lake Casitas, and good surfing beaches 30 minutes away.

Nearby, take a day boat trip to Channel Islands for whale watching, snorkeling or scuba diving. A beautiful hour coastal drive that rivals the Italian coast will get you to Santa Barbara, the charming Grande Dame of coastal cities. Go an hour more and you can spend a day in the Danish town of Solvang or go wine tasting on the Central Coast. Head south for a 90-minute trip to Los Angeles: the Getty Museum, Universal Studios, Hollywood, or to the Norton Simon Museum, Huntington Library, and Rose Parade in Pasadena. We are also 40 minutes from Camarillo Premium Outlets, a major shopping opportunity for tourists and locals alike.

For more information about Ojai, check out these websites: http://ojaiconcierge.com/index.html
http://www.ojaichamber.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=9

Our home would be available for 6 weeks between May 4 - July 6, 2013. We are seeking a two-week exchange between May 4 -25 or June 22-July 6, 2013, however you can use our home longer if you prefer.

We would consider a non-simultaneous exchange if you would like to use our home during these dates, and we could use your home some other time.

Other than the specific dates above, we are open to all dates and destinations. We have a very flexible schedule - make us an offer!

Abierto a cualquier fecha

Our preferred destinations for a 1- or 2- week stay are London, Italy, Portugal (between May 4-25, or June 22- July 6, 2013), We also would like to be in Vienna (May 18-24) or southern France (June 22-July 6). We would consider other European locations as well.

We would also like an exchange to New York City – dates are flexible.

Marty is a recently retired school principal who enjoys music, theater, photography, wine tasting, and reading. Kay has a part-time psychotherapy practice, and enjoys international service projects, swimming, gardening, reading, and going to the beach. Both are past presidents of the Rotary Club of Ojai, and are very involved in the community. We have three grown sons who live out of state (and country). We regularly visit 4 grandchildren in Germany, and like to combine a home exchange in Europe with our visits. We love the combination of small town friendliness and tranquility, and easy access to culture, beach and hiking that Ojai provides.

English