Santa Maria to Oxnard, CA
 

In early August I will be driving with my 16 year old (participating in his driver's education) and need to find a good base for a three day stay in this area. I have friends in Santa Maria and a daughter in the Navy near Oxnard. Is there a good B & B or hotel in between? I would like something rather nice instead of touristy and commercial. Can anyone help?

We had a wonderful stay at the Historic Santa Maria Hotel in early June. Small rooms but lovely garden and pool.

Santa Maria has a gang problem, but you will probably be OK at Santa Maria Inn. The original rooms are cheaper and small like Paula mentioned, the tower rooms are more spacious and cost more, the one we stayed in had a nice bay window as well.
I've also stayed at the Holiday Inn, which was kind of dead at night.

I don't have a specific B&B/hotel recommendation but Los Olivos/Ballard are nice areas. Is Santa Barbara too touristy/commercial? I wouldn't stay in Santa Maria unless there was a compelling reason to do so. What is your budget?

This original post is from 2007.