El Viaje

Photos by Sideways 8 Creative El Viaje was inspired by architectural design of an Italian Luxury Villa where Old World Charm and the modern conveniences of every day life come together perfectly. As you enter through the gates to a private, secluded yard, you will love the mix of mature trees, the rose gardens, and the cozy seating areas.

Marc Whitman

By Misty Hall

Some architects are known for just one style. But Marc Whitman’s designs are, as he puts it, eclectic. “I design in most all styles: Modern, Spanish, Craftsman, Mission Revival,” he said. Yet somehow in this variety of styles, there is something distinctive, something undeniably, well, Whitman, about each of his designs.

Horses Helping Humans

By Amelia Simpson “Something beautiful always happens here!” Andrea Gaines says of her Horse, Heart and Connection workshops with an exuberant smile. Winston Churchill said it best when describing our connection with horses: “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Andrea Gaines spends her time in Ojai making sure as many people as possible experience that important connection.

A Painter’s Life, Naturally

By Amelia Simpson

A landscape and still-life painter, Lee calls Carpinteria home. By way of Vermont and with a stint in NYC, Lee settled in the small, seaside town just south of Santa Barbara two years ago. She wanted to be close to her fiancé, who had accepted a new position at the Patagonia headquarters. Lee cites the “small-town” feel, incredible climate (she is able to paint outdoors year round, and grow her own fruit and vegetables), the dog-friendly beaches, and Carpinteria’s emphasis on healthy living as definite plusses to her move.

Sweet local bicycle riding in Ojai and Ventura

By Bennett Barthelemy

We’ve been pushing our bikes 
up some of the hill. But we don’t mind because we are able to better appreciate the shimmering diamond light bouncing off the Pacific Ocean 15 miles away, and the Channel Islands swimming off in its hazy distance. Remnants of the devastating Thomas Fire two years ago are barely visible on the trail around us as the tenacious chaparral has rebounded after welcomed winter rains.