

19

"Soft swells of the Topa Topa mountains seem to appear from every vantage, lending this sprawling, immaculately maintained resort an irrefutably calm quality—even running on the treadmill feels relaxing. The spa is impressive (I had a lovely facial), and the place hums with a surprisingly food‑obsessed culture: depending on who you ask, there are four or five onsite restaurants; the general manager is a full‑on gastro‑maniac; and a vast, modern gray barn houses state‑of‑the‑art kitchens for cooking events and Ojai Food + Wine Festival conversations with the likes of Jonathan Waxman, Alice Waters, and Jessica Koslow." - Lauren Mechling