The Ojai Music Festival is fortunate to have amazing volunteers, who not only assist us during our four-day music event, but throughout the year as well. Meet one such volunteer, Sheila Cohn, who has taken on the duty as our helpful Festival Concierge for the last six years. Sheila is there to provide assistance on lodging and offer superb advice on places to eat, see and do.
My name is Sheila Cohn, and I have been a travel advisor for 38 years, currently at Santa Barbara Travel-Ventura Branch It has been my great privilege to be the Festival Concierge for these many years. This entails arranging lodging and giving advice about restaurants, transportation and sightseeing. Having lived in Ojai for 16 years I am fairly knowledgeable about the town which I love so much. During the Festival we are all immersed in the music and social activities. However, there is always a little downtime to explore the town. Here are some of my ‘go-to’ suggestions that I offer to our patrons looking for an ‘adventure’ close to the Libbey Bowl:
1) Hike up Signal Street. At the end, there are two beautiful trails-straight ahead is Shelf Road-a panoramic fire road that overlooks the city, where you will see orange and avocado groves and beautiful vistas. Go up about two miles and then turn around. If you turn left at the top of Signal you get on Pratt Trail, which is in the Los Padres National Forest. This trail is a little more challenging.
2) Walk along the Arcade (the main shopping street directly across from Libbey Park) and visit the charming galleries and shops. Make sure to visit the shops on Matilija, the street behind the Arcade and on Montgomery and Signal Streets.
3) Wine tasting at Casa Barranca, the Ojai Vineyard, or at Ojai Beverage Company which is a few blocks east of the park.
4) Have lunch at one of the several restaurants that have outdoor patios.
5) Buy food for a picnic at Rainbow Bridge (our local health food store) or from Marche Gourmet.
6) Browse at Bart’s Books, the famous outdoor book store that is an Ojai tradition.
7) Get a facial or mani/pedi at The Oaks of Ojai.
8) Take a walk along the bike path or rent a bike at one of our two bike shops, and go for a ride.
9) Visit the charming Ojai Museum where you can learn the history of Ojai, and also see a fine exhibit.
10) If you wish to go farther afield you can drive up to Meditation Mount or visit Lake Casitas on Sunday for the Wine Festival, or go to the Krishnamurti Library, or visit Beatrice Wood’s studio in upper Ojai.
For more specific information please call me through the Festival office or at 805 869 1154 and I will be happy to help you.