Most beautiful (smaller) towns/cities around L.A. (Huntington Beach, Oxnard: how much, hotel)

[LAvisitor]

Hi all,

We are currently seeking a place to stay for 4-5 nights this summer around L.A. which is much less crowded, but offers small distance to good beaches (Santa Monica/Santa Barbara) and some 1-day L.A. touristic site-seeing.

Which places around L.A. are considered child-friendly, safe and are smaller, though offer the beautiful (á la Santa Barbara) Californian looks?

Our budget is not extremely high, so we seek some nearby places (E.g. Oxnard).

[disgruntled la native]

port hueneme is in between santa monica and santa barbara and fits what you're looking for

[bhcompy]

Near Santa Barbara you'll find Solvang. Busy, but touristy and fun. Child friendly, but maybe not entertaining for children.

[Fran and Rowena]

You might look at Carpenteria - close to Santa Barbara, yet not as pricey.

In the southerly direction, there is Oceanside.

[LAvisitor]

Thanks for your reactions. So, there is not a common agreement here about the place :-).

For instance, Linden Avenue in Carpinteria looks stunning. We seek a place where we are able to stroll around the beautiful avenue in the evening, have a drink with the kids under the palm trees etc. Santa Monica seems to be a bit unsafe after dark, what I heard.

Solvang is a bit too far away from the beaches and L.A., but we will definitely visit this place.

[LASam]

Originally Posted by LAvisitor

Thanks for your reactions. So, there is not a common agreement here about the place :-).

For instance, Linden Avenue in Carpinteria looks stunning. We seek a place where we are able to stroll around the beautiful avenue in the evening, have a drink with the kids under the palm trees etc. Santa Monica seems to be a bit unsafe after dark, what I heard.

Solvang is a bit too far away from the beaches and L.A., but we will definitely visit this place.

Santa Monica is fine after dark, but it's not got the "village" feel of a Ventura or Capinteria... it's more urban. How much do want to spend a night on hotel?

[disgruntled la native]

No, Santa Monica is not unsafe after dark but your budget will get stretched there, unless you stay at Best Western or Comfort Inn a bit inland.

[LAvisitor]

Hmm, I read several reports that Santa Monica/Venice is not very safe after dark. With "not very safe" I read it's not bullets, but homeless people. I wouldn't personally stroll around there with my kids :-).

Budget isn't much an issue though, but we don't want to stay in the extremely expensive places such as $ 250,- night (santa barbara).

[Shinhiryuu]

Originally Posted by LAvisitor

Hmm, I read several reports that Santa Monica/Venice is not very safe after dark. With "not very safe" I read it's not bullets, but homeless people. I wouldn't personally stroll around there with my kids :-).

Budget isn't much an issue though, but we don't want to stay in the extremely expensive places such as $ 250,- night (santa barbara).

some people think everything is "ghetto" now. Its a shame honestly, if it doesnt have 5 year new construction, or if theres a little taggin here or there its ghetto... Venice has a wall for taggers to display their art. The city itself is about a 100 years old.
Santa Monica is safe, safe as in you wont be in the middle of a drive by, or stabbed for 5 dollars. Yeah you got bums on the beach at night, but bums are a normal thing in LA and if I was a bum Id be at the beach too. Also you get weirdos at night, white people weirdos and drunk people coming out of clubs but will they stab you? No, maybe throw up on you. Santa Monica is a safe family beach, if you "super safe" without the bums, go to Huntington Beach, people may look like bums but their just beach people :P I can hardly tell the difference.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by KennyTheEntrepreneur

Brentwood! Beautiful!

Are you joking? Affordable?