Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Ojai with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Ojai on the map
📍 Where Ojai is
Ojai sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~53 mi / 86 km). It's roughly 63 mi (102 km) from Downtown LA and 169 mi (273 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Ojai
Family attractions near Ojai
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Ojai.
Ventura Botanical Gardens
This 107-acre hillside garden above downtown Ventura showcases more than 120,000 plants representing all five Mediterranean climate zones of the world — California, Chile, South Africa's Cape, Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin. A stroller-friendly path leads to the first viewpoint with sweeping views of the Channel Islands and Topa Topa peak, while the full loop trail continues for those who want more.
~$7 adult; under 18 free
Ventura Pier & Promenade
California's longest wooden pier sits beside a beachfront promenade with a playground, wide sand, and Channel Islands views — easy, breezy, classic beach-town fun. Built in 1872, it's the oldest pier on the California coast, originally serving as a commercial wharf for shipping lumber and farm goods before becoming a recreational landmark; storm damage closed it for about a year and a half before it reopened in 2024. Today's promenade runs from the pier toward Surfers Point, a favorite for sunset walks and rides.
Free; paid parking nearby
Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center
At the end of Ventura Harbor: a free national-park center with a living tide pool, a viewing tower, and exhibits on each island — kids love spotting the swell shark.
Free; free parkingCarpinteria Valley Museum of History
A small, free local-history museum covering the Carpinteria Valley's Chumash, rancho, and agricultural past — modest hours, but a genuine local-history stop for a rainy afternoon.
FreeTomol Interpretive Play Area
An award-winning, universally accessible playground at Carpinteria State Beach themed around a Chumash village, with a play cave, boulders to climb, and a plank canoe (tomol) structure kids can board — a genuinely distinctive design, not a standard play structure.
Free
Underwood Family Farms (Somis)
The quieter sister location — Somis is primarily a year-round farm market with pygmy goats, alpacas, and sheep to feed, plus weekend-only pick-your-own fields, rather than Moorpark's bigger festival-style productions. Bring a picnic, let kids play on the wooden truck, and pick berries in season — lower-key and easy with toddlers.
Free entry; u-pick by weightFarmers markets in Ojai
Ojai Certified Farmers' Market
Beloved Sunday market behind the Arcade on Matilija St with local citrus, produce, and prepared food — a perfect add-on to an Ojai day trip.
Local restaurants in Ojai
Boccali's Pizza & Pasta
The Boccali family's 'Original Ojai Italian' since 1986 — hand-tossed pizzas and garden-grown pasta served on a country patio in Ojai's east end.
Local shops in Ojai
Bart's Books
The largest independent outdoor bookstore in the U.S. — 130,000+ books on open-air shelves, sold on the honor system after hours.
Twice Sold Tales
Cozy used-and-rare bookshop in downtown Ojai, a quiet browse for out-of-print finds.
In the Field
Artfully curated shop of clothing, jewelry, and home furnishings with an artsy, laid-back Ojai sensibility.
Seasonal & outdoors near Ojai
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Ojai.
More Los Angeles family guides
Ojai family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Ojai with kids?
Family favorites in and around Ojai include Libbey Park. Our guide lists 1 spot, sorted by distance from you with hours, prices and tips.
Are there free things to do in Ojai?
Yes — free family spots near Ojai include Libbey Park. Use the "free only" filter in the finder above to see them all.
Where can families eat in Ojai?
Local, family-friendly spots in Ojai include Boccali's Pizza & Pasta — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Ojai guide cover?
Our Ojai family guide includes 1 things to do, 1 local eats, 3 local shops and 1 farmers market — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Ojai
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Ojai on one map — then book on your favorite site.