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A Lot to Love Along France's Lot River
By Patricia Woeber
The Lot River's valleys and gorges dazzle nature lovers with scenic beauty, fascinate history buffs with its rich past, and delight art lovers with ancient art and architecture. The river courses for about 300 miles and spends …Read more.
Gourmet Celebration in Gascogne
By Patricia Woeber
After friends told me about their food, wine and culture honeymoon in France, I decided to follow their example. In a rented Renault Clio, I drove west of Toulouse to Gascogne, an area in the Gers departement, Midi-Pyrenees Region …Read more.
Vary Your Vacations With Film Festivals
By Marilyn Zeitlin
Want to see the latest and best films from Hollywood and around the world? Does the idea of seeing film stars up-close — even sitting next to them in restaurants — seem exciting? Would you like to participate in a …Read more.
From the Bauhaus to Your House
By Joan Scobey
Take a look around. The iPod. Target's bright-red circles. Tubular steel chairs and goose-necked desk lamps. Skyscrapers of glass and steel, and whitewashed buildings with clean, sharp lines. They are all indebted to one school of …Read more.
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Southern California Town Celebrates Old-Fashioned Fourth of JulyWe wanted peacefulness and beautiful scenery, with good food and art thrown in, so my husband and I headed for Ojai, Calif. We made it a long weekend getaway for the Fourth of July holiday. Neither of us had been to Ojai before so we found a place to stay by checking the Internet, made reservations and figured we were in for an adventure. The city of about 8,000 citizens is nestled in Ojai Valley about a 15- to 20-minute drive east of Ventura and is convenient to most of Southern California. We arrived about 2 p.m. after driving through farm country and stopping in the small town of Santa Paula for lunch. We headed to the two-bedroom hacienda owned by Wendy Fletcher that we had booked through Vacation Rentals. The fully furnished kitchen, tiled floors and Mexican furnishings led to a lovely outdoor patio with a barbecue and a side yard with a hammock. After quickly unpacking, we headed for the Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza at nearby Nordoff High School. Both of us are from the Midwest and this was like going home. The annual fundraising event had rides for children and childlike adults, a local band, food stands for barbecue beef sandwiches or ice cream and families staking out spots on the football field with blankets and lawn chairs. As 9 p.m. rolled around, we were treated to one of the best fireworks displays we had ever seen. Yes, we could have cooked at the hacienda, which Fletcher stocked with lots of fresh fruit from her sprawling property. But we decided to head for Eggs N Things, an unassuming breakfast spot in a strip mall that turned out to be spectacular and very popular with the locals. After that, we took a stroll around town and into the many stores selling jewelry, home furnishings, clothing and artworks. Libbey Park, in the middle of town, has tennis courts along with the benches for the less athletically inclined among us. Ojai also has the Soule Park golf course and a golf course at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. As we strolled the streets, we saw the red cars of the Ojai Trolley, with fares of 50 cents and 25 cents for seniors and children under 5. The trolley traverses Ojai and the nearby neighborhoods of Meiners Oaks and Mira Monte. We spent an afternoon at the hacienda reading and relaxing before going to Suzanne's Cuisine, which has been around since 1992, for a spectacular dinner on the outdoor patio. The following day, we went to nearby Lake Casitas, with 100 miles of shoreline, where there is boating, camping, picnicking and fishing. The excitement of that trip was when an overzealous man barbecuing caught a eucalyptus tree on fire. The local fire department had it out in minutes but it was something to remember. The highlight of our day was a trip to the pottery studio of Otto Heino, 94. Heino, an internationally known potter, spent about 15 years with his late wife Vivika developing a formerly lost ancient Asian glaze that produces a yellow sheen. He throws pots every day and then sells them from his studio, in a home once owned by another renowed Ojai potter, the late Beatrice Wood. Heino is one of 12 children from a Finnish-American family and a World War II veteran, who generously shared stories with us about his life and art. That evening we dined at The Ranch House overlooking the lovely garden. The wild mushroom strudel appetizer is not to be missed. The trip back to San Diego included quick stop in Ventura, a 15 to 20 minute drive west from Ojai. Boat tours from there take you to the Channel Islands. IF YOU GO: Getting There: Ojai is 30 miles south of Santa Barbara, 15 miles northeast of Ventura and 85 miles northwest of Los Angeles. From San Diego, take Interstate 5 north to state Route 126 west to state Route 150 north. Accomodations, Restaurants, Tours: Ojai Chamber of Commerce ojaichamber.org; Vacation Rentals vacationrentals.com Places Mentioned: Eggs N Things, 1103 Maricopa Highway, 805-646-5346; The Ranch House Restaurant, 500 W. Lomita Ave., 805-646-2350, www.theranchhouse.com, reservations recommended; Suzanne's Cuisine, 502 W. Ojai Ave., 805-640-1961, www. suzannescuisine.com, reservations recommended; Otto Heino and The Pottery, www.ottospottery.com, open 1-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday.
Susan Gembrowski is a freelance travel writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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