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[westcoastgirl]

I'm trying to decide whether I should go right from the airport to the conference. I have plenty of time, but, realistically, how much time will I be spending in my rental car? I'm trying to minimize driving and gas costs.

Oh, and what can I do between my 10 o'clock arrival and late night get together before the conference?

[ucprof]

Do you know people at UCSB?  It's a lovely campus right on the ocean you can walk around.  There is a restaurant right on the beach next to campus.  The fac club has ocean views.  The gym there has an outdoor pool with a view of the mountains.  It's also very close to the airport.

[academic_cog]

Ain't nothin' in Lompoc. There's plenty of bars down town in central Santa Barbara (state st.) There's a bus but it's not really walkable. There's some stuff by campus that's walkable, and stuff downtown, but you'd probably want a car between.

The drive is really pretty in the daytime, but no fun at night --- just dark freeway. You really want to keep going up the coast and spend some quality time by Pismo or SLO. Very pretty.

[westcoastgirl]

Thanks all.

We get x number of flights paid by our grad institution over the duration of our studies. The wonderful hosts of this particular conference offer us a very generous stipend. Usually, I'd use that to pay for my flight and then stay with a student (or, admittedly, pay out of pocket for a hotel room). This year, I'm using my last comped flight (because I hope to be done soon) and so I've selected to ask the conference for only a small stipend to cover my room (or at least part of it. I pricelined and ended up in Lompoc. I'm not too happy about that, it seems really far out). I've lived adult life long enough (no offense to anyone at all) and have had my own space long enough (or at least my family space long enough) that I really do prefer to stay on my own and make a pseudo vacation out of it. They generally offered grad student housing, but, meh, I'd prefer to shack up on my own, have dinner overlooking the Pacific, etc. and wander round a bit in the early morning. Last year, I took in breakfast on the docks near Ventura, ate at a crab shack overlooking the Pacific, etc. And then I attended all of the sessions during the day.

On the other hand, I always host when prospies or conference folks come to my city because I know lots of people really could use the cost break in my uber expensive city.

Anyway,  I guess there are some perks to being a student. I'm very, very eager for the this conference. The topics seem really compelling.

[academic_cog]

I wonder how the drive back of a morning will be --- a lot of people who can't afford the area commute and the drive in to SB from the Ventura/LA direction is *terrible.* As is a Friday afternoon commute out to LA. You might have the same problem if everyone else is commuting in from Santa Maria, so plan your morning time out carefully.

A long drive to a hotel also messes up the wine tasting...I don't know of any good wineries actually *in* Lompoc but there are plenty of tasting places in SB.

You could also go downtown and look at the Courthouse and the Mission, which is all fancy and historic and stuff. Red tile roofs and all that... Personally, I'd go for the food and a wine tasting.

[westcoastgirl]

Thanks much! Conference is on a weekend, so I'm hoping that traffic will be light. It starts on a Friday. I'm debating about whether or not I should go to the hotel first or not. It doesn't look like I will have much time.

I've looked into wine tours (so that I won't have to drive) but the yelp reviews are so mixed. Everyone says "Save money and drive yourself." I have no DD, so I can't drive myself. I'm not going to go to four wineries and rack up a DUI (or worse) in the process. The wine tours begin at 50 bucks and everyone says it's a huge ripoff since tasting is usually six bucks or less at each place. Sigh.

I want to drive the Pacific Highway for a bit.

[melba_frilkins]

I've looked into wine tours (so that I won't have to drive) but the yelp reviews are so mixed. Everyone says "Save money and drive yourself." I have no DD, so I can't drive myself. I'm not going to go to four wineries and rack up a DUI (or worse) in the process. The wine tours begin at 50 bucks and everyone says it's a huge ripoff since tasting is usually six bucks or less at each place. Sigh.

That doesn't sound so bad, if I'm understanding it correctly? The $50 covers the $24 you'd pay to get into the four places. And then the remaining $26 accounts for the fact that they're driving you around (driver, gas $, etc.). Seems reasonable to me. Or is it $50 per winery?

[cranefly]

It's been a while since I've been there, but it's not that far from Santa Barbara--I wouldn't want to go back and forth more than once in a day though. Definitely take a trip to Solvang.... best pancakes around, and it's a crazy little place that's more fun than wine tasting.

[westcoastgirl]

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the tips. It was an awesome conference. I had a great time, networked, commiserated (or in many cases, got good advice) about the job market. I spent yesterday at Stearn's Warf. I was told by one of the organizers that it has free parking. It reminded me of a much classier version of Niagara Falls. I shopped a bit (souvenirs) and did deep sea wine tasting. I wish I hadn't eaten right beforehand since the fresh seafood sandwiches looked amazing. Seven flights, four cities in the course of 5 days. I'm beat. And I teach all day.

[gilda]

What is deep sea wine tasting? I live in northern CA and have never heard of that...

[cms99]

Lompoc will take about an hour to get to.  I'm in SB now, and made the trip last weekend.  Pretty drive!

[cms99]

Oh, and Lompoc has some fantastic wineries! 

[westcoastgirl]

I think that was just the name of the winery, "Deep Sea Wine Tasting." It was really nice, but pretty lonely. I was surrounded by rich, beautiful people having lunch.

The drive to Lompoc was ok, but the drive to Ventura (last year) was nicer. Santa Barbara is where I'd live in another life where I was rich and beautiful.