Vandenberg AFB and surrounding

[Oerdin]

I lived in the Santa Barbara area for four years and loved it. There is a ton to see and do on the central coast and most of it remains undeveloped so you get a great feeling of nature and wide open spaces. You can find most of the shopping and restaurants you want there but if you really feel the need for big city life then it's only a short drive (or AMTRAK trip) to LA or SF for the weekend. Some of my suggestions:

- Go to one of the many state beaches to camp, fish, sun bath, dig clams, etc... Don't forget Channel Islands National Park just off the coast as it's a wonderful place to camp, kayak, and fish. If you sail then the boating in the Santa Barbara Channel is great.

- Wine tasting & horse back riding in the Santa Ynez Valley. Great wine & food at very reasonable prices compared to Napa or Sonoma. There is also a nice casino on the Chumesh Indian Reservation. While you're in the Santa Ynez Valley make sure you stop off at the famous Cold Springs Tavern on the Old Stage Coach Road as it started as a genuine stag coach stop during the old west period and has a wonderful history. Enjoy nature as there is a ton of it out there and I will always remember watching the bald eagles soaring around the Lake Cachuma area during the yearly salmon run on the Santa Ynez river.

- Take a day trip to San Luis Obispo as it is a great little sea side city but make sure you take the time to explore the funky little towns along the way. Stop for lunch at the Madonna Inn, dig for the giant pismo clams at Pismo Beach

- Watch the annual butterfly migration as tens of millions of beautiful monarch butterflies travel through the central coast on their yearly trip from Canada to Mexico.

- If you or your spouse like hunting then Vandenberg is a great place for it as there is tons of wild pigs and turkeys in the area as well as deer and just about every other game species.

- There is a ton farmers out there so the local farmers markets are packed with just about everything you can think of it. It's fairly cheap and very fresh.

That's all I can think of right now but if I come up with a few more ideas I'll be sure to post them.

[.highnlite]

A million acres of Wilderness to hike and camp in. San Rafael, Dick Smith, Matilja, Sespe. Garcia, Machesna, Santa Lucia, and Carrizo Plains National Monument.

[unoit]

If you want to live somewhere else, no problem, but you don't have to condemn everyone in Louisiana to do that. Guess what? There are people from Louisiana who live in California. And they just might read your posting. Want friends?

[ia52076]

I've driven through Louisiana, it was awful.