I'm vising family near Northridge, CA. Through Priceline.com I was able to book a room for 7 nights at County Inn & Suites in Calabasas. I am traveling with my husband, 2 teenage daughters, my sister and her family and also my 75 year old mother.
Here are my questions. I've never been to Calabasas so any suggestions on what to do in that area are much appreciated. We're hoping to visit Santa Barbara for the day and although I've already visited Venice Beach, something about that place keeps me going back. I don't want to be too cheap on this trip but since there are 4 of us, it can get pretty expensive. Suggestions for Santa Barbara are welcome. Also, I'd like some suggestions for places to eat seafood at affordable prices. We all love seafood. I've been to Marina Del Rey in the past but I can't remember if the prices were reasonable or not.
And finally, Disney and Universal. Is there a pass to both parks only? I've seen a 5 day pass to all the parks but I only want to see both of those parks and only need 2 days. Where can I get the best price?

A quick remark on your theme park question:

Why would there be a pass to both Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood? They're completely and utterly unrelated (Disneyland is the theme park run by the Disney Company, while Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park attached to an actual, working film and TV production facility: Universal Studios, whose parent company is NBC Universal). Besides, they're about 35 miles apart in two different counties (and BTW, Calabasas is 55 miles from Disneyland). I think you're confusing all of the theme parks in Orlando with the original parks here in California.

You can get a Parkhopper pass for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure; these parks are actually adjacent to each other.

As far as what to do in Calabasas-- well, I've always thought of it as a bedroom community for people who work in the Valley or in Malibu or Santa Monica. I don't know if it's much of a destination in itself, but it seems to be nice in that "affluent San Fernando Valley suburb" way. Everything interesting in the greater LA area becomes a drive, and some consider that a good thing.

Yes, Calabasas is just a suburb, although a very nice one. Many wealth people live in the area, it is common to see people in expensive sports cars heading for a drive along Mulholland.

Your hotel is almost across the street, a 5 minute walk, from the Commons, which has an excellent seafood restaurant (with an extensive oyster bar!) called King's. There is a movie theatre, a Barnes & Nobles, shops, a Marmalade restaurant, a Corner Bakery and a Johnny Rocket's. All of their menus are probably online so you can look at prices. King's has a happy hour in the oyster bar, M-F 4:30 to 6:30 with a small appetizer menu. If the weather is warm, the Sagebrush Cantina is another 5 min. walk down the street, they have an outdoor patio with live music on Fri. & Sat. evenings. Between 6-8 p.m. it's just a guy and a guitar singing early rock standards, but at 8:00 the rock band starts, sometime's they are quite good! Sunday is biker day and there's a cover charge.

You will be right at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, with lots of hiking and pretty drives.

Your hotel backs up to the Ventura freeway! Be sure and ask for a room that doesn't face that!

Here is a link to the pass I was referring to. It is a 3 day hopper to 5 different parks, 2 of which are Disney and Universal. The cost is $199 for that pass but I thought that maybe there is one with less options that is less expensive. I really only want to visit those 2 parks.
http://themeparks.universalstudios.c.../tic_sccp.html
As for my stay in calabasas. I'm renting a car for the time I'm there so I'm not limited to where I can go or what to see. Just looking for the best things to do, things my husband and I will enjoy as well as my 15 and 17 year old daughters.

BTW, thanks to the both of you for your replies. gigib, thanks for the tip on the rooms facing the highway. I actually did some research earlier today on the hotel and was given that same advice about the rooms. I called immediately and made sure they put me on the other side of the hotel and as high up as possible. Good tip though, thanks a bunch! I will look into Kings for seafood.

RE: SoCal City Pass. I would say it's a great deal-- if you can accept the fact that the distances between the parks are vast. Sea World is in San Diego, just like the SD Zoo and Wild Animal Park-- a whopping 135 miles away from Universal City (and 95 miles from Anaheim).

With gasoline prices as high as they are, all the driving back and forth between the parks becomes expensive-- and draining.

Any suggestions on other places to visit while I'm in town? I'm reading in other posts that Santa Barbara might not be the best place to go with teenage girls? ages 15 & 17. We're renting a car so driving isn't a problem. Just looking for the best way to spend our time.

I'd suggest Santa Monica as a substitute for Santa Barbara. It's closer to where you are staying and it has a downtown section that is blocked off for foot traffic only. This part of town is fun to walk around in, see a movie, grab a quick bite, watch the street performers, etc. There are also huge parking structures nearby where parking isn't expensive. rjw knows Santa Monica so much better than I do, he should be able to kick in with some outstanding suggestions.

Nearby is the Getty Center. Don't miss that. Go even if you are not into art. It offers a terrific view of Los Angeles and the architecture is amazing. There's a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. The Getty Center provides parking for $5 at the Center or free parking about a mile down Sepulveda Blvd with free bus transport to the Center.

Get a map of the stars' homes and just drive around Hollywood, Bel-Air, etc. yourselves. You won't see much of the stars' homes anyhow, because they are usually behind high walls.

For a better view of the homes in the Hollywood hills, try going to a Japanese restaurant called Yamashiro's. You can get a really good view of the homes from there. Yamashiro ("mountain fortress/town/home") is on the top of a hill and offers an almost panoramic view.

It's also fun to just drive along the coast in Los Angeles as much as you can and see the beach communities. Venice Beach might be an interesting stop for your family.

Try to drive during non-peak traffic hours (when's that? LOL). The traffic in LA is HORRENDOUS.

You'll like the County Inn and Suites. I've stayed in several in the US and Canada and found them clean with fairly large rooms.

Sounds like a fun trip! Enjoy!

I live a little further west than Calabasas so I would offer the following as possibities:
Drive over Malibu canyon and spend a day at the beach
Getty Museum - it is so unique I think even the girls would like it
Ronald Reagan Library in Simi - you can even go thru his private plane

15 and 17 year old girls would LOVE shopping in Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara... there are tons of great restaurants within walking distance, then you can take the shuttle down to the Wharf and enjoy the ocean views. (WAY nicer than spending the day in Calabasas, IMO)