Recommend area

We will be in the Santa Barbara area for 3 nights in July. Can anyone recommend a good area for a family wioth 3 older teenagers. We like to do the usual; shopping, restaurants, beach, relaxing. I am also considering Goleta or Carpinteria but no further south than Oxnard. Can anyone offer advice? Also looking for reasonably priced accommodation around ￡250 pn.

Recommend area

I would not stay in either Carpinteria or Goleta. Santa Barbara is where you want to be with teenagers. I think there are several hotel that would fit your budget. The main area of Santa Barbara for shopping, dining, walking, and people watching is State Street. Several hotels are very close to State Street. I would recommend the Hotel Santa Barbara, the Holiday Inn Express, or, for a pricer option, the Canary Hotel.

At the very lower end of State Street is the main beach area of Santa Barbara (including Sterns Wharf). There are several hotels in this area as well. The ones I would recommend are the Harbor View Inn or Fess Parker%26#39;s Doubletree. Both are nice accomendations with have easy access (just accross the street) to the beach.

In terms of things to do: (1) I would see the courthouse (it has a beatuiful tower which you can take an elevator to the top of for a beautiful view of the city) and its only one block off State St.

(2) There is always shopping/people watching along State St. (3) Stern%26#39;s Wharf (where State St. meets the ocean). Its a nice place to walk and see a beautiful view of Santa Barbara from the water. (4) Condor Cruises for whale watching or sunset cruise. (5) The Santa Barbara Mission (historical chapel - self guided tours are $3); and (5) On Sunday, I would recommend walking along Cabrillo Blvd for our famous Art Walk. Its a beauiful walk and more than 100 exhibitors seeling hademade crafts and art objects within 150 feet of the ocean, its very nice and I would say it is a ';Don%26#39;t miss';

As far as beaches go -- Butterfly beach is top notch for both people watching and swimming with East Beach (directly accross from Fess Parker%26#39;s Double Tree) being a close second.

Recommend area

The Harbor View Inn is very nice but may be out of your price range. Check their website for specials and packages. This property is very nice and convenient for the beach and Stearn%26#39;s Wharf. Also, check out the Hotel Oceana a few doors down on the same street. Enjoy Santa Barbara! :)

www.santabarbara.com is a nice, informative website for the area! :)

Many thanks for the replies and advice, all very useful. Just need to find a hotel now.

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