Retro Hotel in Laid-Back Ojai Valley

Everything about the brightly lit, ultra-mod lobby of The Capri Hotel—from its all-white midcentury furniture to its modernist glass walls supporting the A-frame roof—harks back to a time when airplane passengers wore suits and cocktails were a staple at the office. The hotel's retro entrance contrasts, however, with the contemporary guest rooms, which feature sleek white furniture, bright-green walls, and plasma TVs.

All rooms come with a VCR/DVD player for in-room screenings of movies borrowed from the hotel's library of 400 videos, including thrillers, tearjerkers, and gripping footage of Eisenhower-era Agriculture Subcommittee hearings. Ground-floor rooms boast large fenced-in patios; upstairs, private balconies offer views of the famous Ojai “pink moment,” when the sunset fades into the pastel horizon, filling the sky with a soft blush hue. Outside, you can take in sweeping views of the Topatopa Mountains from one of two pools. Mr. Vivian, the Capri's resident cat, can usually be seen stalking the grounds as yogis salute the sun near a life-size Buddha statue.

Ojai Valley, California: Bohemian Living Northwest of Los Angeles

The quirky, pedestrian-friendly hideaway of Ojai—which derives its name from a Chumash word meaning "moon"—is known for its fragrant orange groves and laid-back spirit congenial to artists and bohemians. On a stroll down the main thoroughfare, Ojai Avenue, you'll pass by Mission-style buildings and a host of art galleries and wine-tasting rooms. On Sundays, local vendors set up shop at the farmers' market to sell handmade cheeses, breads, and raw Ojai chocolate made without dairy, sugar, or the assistance of particle accelerators.

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