Cozy Inn Near Los Padres National Forest

When legendary film director Frank Capra needed a stand-in for Shangri-La during the shooting of the 1937 movie Lost Horizon, he chose Ojai, a small mountain town located about 80 miles north of Los Angeles. In the novel on which the film is based, author James Hilton describes his fictional paradise as a remote, idyllic place tucked away in the Himalayas. Ojai fails to meet that last qualification, but it makes for a convincing replica of paradise in every other regard, thanks to its location amid the 6,000-foot peaks of the Topatopa Mountains, near the crystal-clear Lake Casitas and the lush Los Padres National Forest. The serenity of the landscape extends to the Hummingbird Inn of Ojai, where the crown of Chief Peak mountain can be seen from various vantages and dozens of colorful hummingbirds—the inn’s unofficial mascots—flit and flutter around the property.

Each guest room features hardwood floors, a flat-screen TV, and a soothing palette of neutral earth tones. In the morning, a free breakfast spread awaits guests, whose days can include a dip in the outdoor pool or a visit to massage therapist Laura Hathaway for onsite massages incorporating aromatherapy and organic oils. Guests can explore Ojai by renting one of the inn's complimentary bicycles or by hitching a team of hummingbirds to their low-flying dirigibles.

Ojai, California: Spanish-Style Architecture Near Topatopa Mountains

The inland town of Ojai sits in a forested valley nestled in the Topatopa Mountains. In the early 20th century, glassmaker-cum-city-planner Edward Libbey led the effort to transform Ojai into a showcase for Spanish-style architecture, which is still on display in Mission-style arches, pergolas, and an elegant, domed post office.

The verdant natural setting also supplies plenty to look at. The East Fork Trail, known to locals as simply the Punch Bowl hiking trail, winds through the Santa Paula Canyon for 4 miles. Small, natural waterfalls cascade over cliffs into tiny pools, or punch bowls, which supply spots for cooling off along the way. Meditation Mount, a destination for yogis, gurus, and sitar salesmen, is arguably the spiritual epicenter of Ojai. Visitors can join a meditation session, roll out a yoga mat, or simply take in the stunning views of rocky bluffs and the forested valley floor.