Gather Again in Santa Barbara
Multigenerational family trips to delight all ages all year round
Looking for a special spot to reunite with your family? Santa Barbara is a tried-and-true, all-season destination for multigenerational family vacations. The city's manageable size and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods make it easy for all ages and abilities to get around stress free. Kids give two thumbs up to the entertaining attractions, our easy-going beaches and sun-drenched swimming pools. Parents approve of our regional cuisine, local beer and wine scenes and abundant fresh air fun. Grandparents savor the history, architecture, gardens and plentiful pockets of peace and quiet. And everyone loves the coastline, shopping and artisan ice cream—especially aunts and uncles who like to spoil their nieces and nephews!
Your first order of business is to choose a hotel. If you want to stay under one roof, book one or both of the two-bedroom, two-story townhouses at Best Western Plus Santa Barbara, which offer lots of extra living space and full kitchens. You can have a vacation rental experience with all the perks of staying a hotel—including the onsite Live Oak Café for delicious meals, daily housekeeping service and a big swimming pool for refreshing dips. The family can take walks to the Mission for afternoon picnics by the rose garden. You'll be a very short drive away from the Museum of Natural History, Botanic Garden and downtown's entertainment and retail district, too.
If you want to be biking and walking distance to the beach, consider booking neighboring rooms and suites at Brisas Del Mar, Inn at the Beach. Put the grandparents in Penthouse #5 and use the large private deck and living room as a gathering area for the whole family in the evenings. Suites have separate living areas, kitchens and bathrooms, making them equally ideal for entertaining—and the sleeper sofas are good for teens who like to stay up a bit later.
Inn by the Harbor is another great option for multigenerational stays near West Beach and the Harbor. The Harbor Poolside Suite has two bedrooms, a spacious living area and kitchen—and the kids will love that it's literally steps away from the pool! The regular suites also have full kitchens and open up to the lush garden courtyard for relaxing evenings spent playing card games, sharing stories and perhaps sipping local wines.
All fours of our properties—including the romantic Lavender Inn by the Sea—have ADA accessible rooms for wheelchair and walker users. You can stretch your vacation budget by taking advantage of added-value perks extended to our guests. Those include complimentary Continental Breakfast at our beach properties, afternoon wine receptions, a fleet of loaner bicycles, no-fee parking, free WiFi and a DVD library for family movie nights. Our lodging packages also offer great deals with activities and passes bundled with room rates, from whale watching cruises and sunset sails to Zoo tickets, golf rounds and salt cave sessions.
Check out our guide to Outdoor Family Fun in Santa Barbara for activity ideas that will give your kids a much-needed break from screen time. And when it's time for parents to treat themselves to a date night while the grandparents watch the kids back at the hotel, refer to our round-up of romantic activities that make the most of The American Riviera's swoon-worthy ambiance.
We look forward to welcoming your family soon!