Organized by: Chris Lynch

The Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard, Malibu, and Los Angeles areas have many attractions that will be of interest. Most are familiar with the Los Angeles standards like Disney, Getty, LaBrea tar pits, etc. A favorite is visiting the Santa Barbara Wine Country. This is best done with small groups. The 90 minute drive to Los Olivos runs along the coast to Santa Barbara, then over the San Marcos Pass to Los Olivos. The self-guided excursions will require one person to drive with a car. Meet Chris Lynch in the Mandalay Bay Resort lobby at 10:30 Sunday morning to form groups (drivers / riders) and receive general instructions and directions. More information can be found at the conference web site. If you have questions please contact Chris Lynch at cslynch@seas.ucla.edu.

The Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard, Malibu, and Los Angeles areas have many attractions that will be of interest. Most are familiar with the Los Angeles standards like Disney, Getty, LaBrea tar pits, etc. A favorite of mine is visiting the Santa Barbara Wine Country. This is best done with small groups.

Cost: Around $10.00 per tasting (six or so wines). Keep the glass.

No need to sign up. Just organize a small group of friends and a car and meet in the lobby.

This link has information and maps. http://www.santabarbara.com/winecountry/

Local Etiquette: You will identify yourself as an movie tourist by asking if the tasting room was in the movie Sideways. The Los Olivos Cafe was, Sanford was, as were many others in the area. I don't recommend the movie, but it was shot in Santa Ynez and Los Olivos at places you will visit.

Sip and Spit: Highly recommended, otherwise you can only really taste the first two or three sips. Required for the driver. Bring a coffee cup to spit into.

Sunday, August 20

10:30 am — Meet Chris in the lobby area of the Mandalay Bay Embassy Suites for a brief discussion of wine tasting.

Get into groups of three or four with one volunteer to drive. Drive to Santa Barbara and then to Los Olivos using the San Marcos Pass (approximately 90 minutes, but you will likely want to do sightseeing stops for photos)

Points of interest:

Cold Springs Tavern - A stage coach stop that is still in operation. Just over the top of the pass. Left on stage coach road. Excellent lunch and the best onion rings anywhere. Continue driving down stage coach road. Left on Paradise road and you will be back on San Marcos Pass Rd.

Los Olivos Cafe - Another great place for lunch. Down town Los Olivos and within 100 yards of many tasting rooms. No need to drive to the wineries, but well worth the trip.

Chumash Indian Casino in Santa Ynez - Just like Las Vegas (if you are into that sort of thing).

Bridlewood Winery - Not my favorite wine, but one of my favorite wineries. Beautiful setting.

Concilience - Tasting room in Los Olivos. Very good Syrahs.

Fess Parker - OK wine. Getting much better.

Andrew Murray - I like his wine.

Foxen canyon wine trail - This is my favorite. Many many wineries. Long drive, but beautiful.

Foxen Winery - This winery has the most rustic tasting room, but some of the best wine in the world (in my humble opinion). Very small operation. Wonderful Pinot Noir, especially the Sea Smoke. Looks like a shack on the side of the road. Don't miss it.

Rancho Sisquoc - Turn right and drive along the one lane road. Very nice location.