NSPW 2011: Location & Activities


NSPW 2011 will be held at the Marconi Conference Center in the town of Marshall in Marin County, CA, USA.

Registration and rooms

Registration includes a room at the conference center for the nights of September 12, 13, and 14.

We begin with a late afternoon reception and dinner on September 12. Traditionally the workshop concludes with lunch on the third day (September 15th). Three days of dinner, breakfast, and lunch are included in the registration (and are what will be provided for any registered guests, at a fee).

Registration is by invitation only and can be made via Acteva.

The only thing not included in the conference registration fee is a daily wireless Internet access fee of $7.99/24hrs (or, if you have an AT&T Wireless account, it should be free).

Important Packing Advice

Bring layers of clothing! Weather in Marshall is notoriously unpredictable and could be either warm or very foggy, windy, and cold. We will be doing an outdoor dinner one evening and an outdoor reception another evening. Long sleeves, fleece jackets, and/or windbreakers are an excellent idea.

Cell phone reception in Marshall is spotty at best. Skype via the venue's WiFi is a good bet. Landlines are available.

Travel

Marconi Conference Center is between 90 minutes and two hours by car from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). Rental car is the only easy way to get to Marconi, but not all attendees will need to do so, as the workshop will provide a mailing list for attendees to help coordinate ride sharing.

Driving Routes (mostly equidistant, all are very scenic)

1. Via Sir Francis Drake Blvd. (via the town of Fairfax)

2. Via Lucas Valley Rd. (likely the fastest)

3. via Hwy. 1 (coastal route, might be slower)

Parking at Marconi Conference Center is free and abundant.

Activities in West Marin

There are many nearby nature-related sights and activities, including:

Pt. Reyes National Seashore and Pt. Reyes lighthouse

Audubon Canyon Ranch

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Muir Woods National Monument

Tomales Bay State Park

Pt. Reyes Vineyard

Various oyster farms, e.g., Tomales Bay Oysters, Hog Island Oysters, and Drakes Bay Oysters.

Various cheese makers, e.g., Cowgirl Creamery and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese

UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory

Accommodations before and after the event

The conference center probably cannot accommodate early arrivals and late departures. However, quite a few other local accommodations (many B&Bs) in West Marin are available.

More information on accommodations, travel, and activities is forthcoming.