Ideas for fun/cheap 1 night getaway btwn Malibu and Santa Barbara?
 

Hi there, not so much anymore, but for over a decade, one of the oldtimer Fodors veterans (of the Europe board - - I have only rarely come nosing around here on the US forum) - - planning to be in Los Angeles last weekend this month (August) on a mix of business and family stuff (Hollywood/midtown) and looking for some of change of scenery just for one night - - could be coastal or are there interesting and not too crazy expensive places to stay up in the canyons? Looks generally kind of undeveloped past the border between Ventura County and Santa Barbara county.

Anything around Channel Islands beach? Anything for recreation there, besides actually going out to Catalina (dining? wineries? parks, other exploring?)

Quick answers will be especially appreciated - - you can probably tell that I came here looking for guidance before I did much of internet searching or anything else, other than look at a map.

But of course, grateful for any and all answers,

Best wishes,

Rex
(Floyds Knobs, Indiana)

Stay coastal August can be brutal even a dozen miles inland.

So, Ojai would not be a good idea? Even if we just arrived in the late afternoon, and departed after breakfast?

Thanks for posting a reply, however terse... so quickly...

Yes, look into Ojai. Might not be too cheap though.

Cheapest you are likely to find is a yurt at Lake Cachuma north of Santa Barbara. They do have a pool since swimming is not allowed in the lake because it is a drinking water supply.
http://www.countyofsb.org/parks/parks05.aspx?id=9150

Check out our post on FamilyTrek.org on 51 Things we love about Santa Barbara at http://bit.ly/ihwpeA

You can find budget accommodations right on the beach. Could save a few bucks perhaps by staying in Carpinteria.

I suppose east coast residents would be okay with the high 80's but I prefer the mid 70s that you'd find in Santa Barbara. What about Bacara or even Alisal Ranch?

O sorry you said NOT expensive.

Well there's the original Motel 6 in Santa Barbara.

Rex:
Ventura Harbor might be a good bet for you....several hotels motels in the area. Also, Oxnard's Mandalay Bay resort has a beachfront hotel (Embassy Suites)...fairly
reasonable. I used to have a beach house down the street on Ocean Drive, also on the sand. Many restaurants thereabouts....one of the better beaches in SoCal. Best place for brekafast in the Ventura/Oxnard area..Mrs. Olson's on Ocean Drive, Hollywood Beach, waking distance from the resort..old funky beach shack ambience, superb coices for breakfast. You'll be comfortably cool in that area.

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_...ornia/index.do

Nice to see you posting again Rex. Are you still practicing?
Stu Tower

Fraught with typos, but you get the idea.

rex, I have no suggestions but I just want to say hi. It's good to 'see' you!

What nice welcome-y responses (in particular, from those who know me). Yes, Stu... I still work (neonatologists never seem to use the word "practice" - - sounds like something one does in an office, and we see no babies in an office; in fact, we don't see any of our patients at all once they go home from the hosdpital - - except for the annual NICU reunion). Anyhow, for someone who likes to call himself "semi-retired", I sure seem to be working a lot. I have scheduled myself a lot of extra work in July and August because my wife and I are taking almost the whole month of September off, to go to Kenya!

And really, I deserved a wag of the finger for using the word "cheap" - - price ranges always should be defined. There will be three of us, and I have found two nice-looking places in Ojai at $129 for one... and $145 for the other (the $145 looks much nicer). So, although the yurt suggestion is novel and creative, no... we don't need THAT cheap! For what it's worth, even $129 won't buy as much as we might like in midtown LA, so it fels like Ojai could be the (relative) bargain night.

And even though they are not suited to wanting to (sorta) economize, it's nice to learn about Bacara and Alisal. Our daughter is going to be in southern California for many years to come (if not forever), so maybe there will be an occasion to check out resort vacationing sometime. It does strike me as mind-boggling that a ritzy place like Bacara can have 49 suites and 311 rooms!

Although the difference in distance is minimal, Ventura/Oxnard just doesn't seem like "getting away" from LA, though for some reason, Ojai does scratch that itch (or at least this is my perception). And while the Mandalay Bay does appear interesting - - but again, the striking similarity to Bacara... so, SO big! I know I didn't say this, but I always prefer places with a dozen rooms or fewer, when such a choice is available.

This whole little excursion seems so short that it is borderline ridiculous. My flight arrives (LAX) at 2 pm, and we are going to try to head straight to Ojai or at least this is our tentative plan, right now (our daughter lives in LA, and my wife will have already arrived two days earlier. With any luck, we are hoping to catch the screening (4:30 pm) of "Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune" - - for more info, see http://www.ojaifilmsociety.org/pdf/O...ochure-FNL.pdf - - any other SoCal fodorites have any interest in meeting up afterwards for a drink, in Ojai?

That, and a little walking around, and dinner and just a good night's sleep will make for all we are seeking on my arrival day/night. Probably leave by noon the next day, (back into LA).

The question wasn't seeking a big plan for a real "trip" - - just a little escape.

Always nice to be able to think out loud with such a great community of "friends" - - old friends, and "friends that I have not met yet"!

;)

I was so pleased to see your thread, Rex, and am glad life is going well for you and your family.

I was going to suggest Ojai as I had family that lived there and so am very familar with it. For an overnight stay I believe you would enjoy that small city.

Best regards and have a fun trip!