Last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 11:48 am
Looking for a weekend getaway destination in California that the whole family can enjoy? There are adventures just waiting to be had in Lompoc! Whether it’s hiking, going to the beach, sipping wine or exploring history, Lompoc, California has everything you need to enjoy quality time together with your family while having fun. Check out these ten top things to do in Lompoc with kids.
Visiting Lompoc with Kids
Located on California’s central coast along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, Lompoc is just 155 miles northwest of Los Angeles, making it an easy-to-reach destination for families looking for a little adventure. It is surrounded by nature, but also close to Vandenberg Air Force Base, a popular destination where families can witness the many thrilling West Coast rocket launches by NASA and SpaceX.
With lots of great dining options and 12 hotels, Lompoc is a great base for exploring the California Central Coast, nearby beaches and small towns. Here are 10 family-friendly things to do in Lompoc.
1. Old Town Lompoc Walking Tours & Murals
Families can stroll through the center of town, taking in the sights on a mile-long, self-guided tour of Old Town Lompoc’s Heritage Walk. There is an easy-to-follow map available, tracing Lompoc’s founding by bold pioneers in the 1870s, to the present. Horse-hitching rings are still embedded in the curbs on West Ocean Avenue. The Lompoc Theatre, built in 1927 and now undergoing restoration, was considered one of the most technologically advanced movie theatres on the West Coast.
Long famous for its collection of nearly 40 murals, Lompoc is also a great destination to explore outdoor art. On a self-guided walking tour, visitors can see murals depicting Lompoc’s history and heritage. On the route is Lompoc’s “Lost Mission” mural, located behind the Lompoc Museum, which represents the original La Purisima Mission destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1812, but since restored.
2. La Purisima Mission Historic State Park
La Purisima is one of Southern California’s most beautiful missions. It has been meticulously restored and boasts an idyllic setting. Devoted curators have organized fascinating historical programs, demonstrations and commemorative events that the entire family can enjoy. The Mission is open daily, year round. Free guided tours are offered at 1 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays, and holiday Mondays. You can also take a self-guided tour.
From March through October on select Saturdays, The Mission’s Living History Event Series offers a glimpse of what Mission life was like back in the 1820s. Costumed docents and staff provide demonstrations and hands-on activities that may include candle making, blacksmithing, corn grinding, baking bread or weaving.
3. Miles of Hiking Trails
Outdoor enthusiasts know that hiking is one of the best ways to get to know a destination, and Lompoc is no exception. La Purisima Mission State Historic State Park, home to 25 miles of hiking trails over 2,000 acres, connects to the back country. Most of the trails are sandy and lead through a mix of chaparral and oak, home to a healthy population of wildlife.
The Vista Del La Cruz Trail starts behind the Visitor’s Center and leads up to the cross on the hill overlooking the Mission, about a half mile round trip. Dogs are allowed. The Mission is open daily, with a $6 parking fee.
Jalama Beach County Park, a 30-minute drive from the center of Lompoc, features the Point Conception De Anza Trail, an 11.1 mile out and back trail that offers the chance to see wildlife. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, walking, camping, fishing, and surfing. Many protected California native plants, such as sand verbena, saltbush, and sea rocket, grow within park boundaries.
4. Backroad Cycling
Backroad cycling offers another delightful perspective of the destination. Visitors bring their own bikes and can cycle to the coast, past fertile farmlands or vineyards.
Three popular bike routes in Lompoc Valley include:
- Cycling from Lompoc on Jalama Road to Jalama Beach Park: Every year thousands of road bicyclists pass on by one of Pacific Coast Highway’s most coveted hidden gems, Jalama Road. It’s a cyclist’s dream with its pristine beauty, windy curves, rolling hills, wooded areas, and unparalleled solitude.
- Cycling from Old Town Lompoc west to Ocean Beach Park & Estuary and Surf Beach, past farm fields and flower growers along the way.
- Cycling through the pastoral hills through wine country on Santa Rosa Road, over gently rolling hills of vineyards, fertile agricultural fields, orchards and farms.
5. Lompoc Wine Tasting
You don’t have to visit Napa Valley or Temecula Wine Country to experience great California wine tasting!
Wine tasting is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful countryside and vineyards surrounding Lompoc Valley. Lompoc area wineries, of which there are about 40, are well-known for exceptional pinots, chardonnays, and other cool climate wines. Many local winemakers, who specialize in producing wines from the grapes grown in the Sta. Rita Hills, have won prestigious awards and 91+ or higher ratings from Wine Spectator Magazine.
► Check out these family-friendly California wineries.
6. Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary
Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, on the outskirts of Lompoc, is dedicated to preserving the freedom, diversity, and habitat of America’s wild horses and burros through sanctuary, education, advocacy and conservation. The organization provides a safe haven to almost 400 wild horses, including 29 burros.
Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary also provides a venue to educate the public about America’s wild horses and burros and offers public events from late spring through early fall including family events, special tours and photo safaris.
7. Surfing and Kite Surfing
There’s nothing like the feeling of freedom that comes with surfing and kite surfing, and Jalama Beach is a popular spot for both. Jalama Beach is also a popular place for bird watching, nature photography, fishing, hiking and camping. Many protected California native plants like sand verbena, saltbush, and sea rocket, grow within park boundaries.
8. Visit Solvang
Less than a half an hour’s drive from Lompoc is the picturesque Danish-themed village of Solvang. Here, families can stroll through the village, sample fresh-baked Danish pastries, dine on delicious Scandinavian food, shop for souvenirs, and snap photographs of quaint windmills that dot the town. History buffs, vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, and museum goers will enjoy exploring a multitude of Solvang museums and historic sites.
9. Birding
Ocean Beach Park & Estuary Wind-swept Ocean Beach Park & Estuary, where the Santa Ynez River meets the Pacific blue, is where visitors discover Lompoc’s most appealing shoreline. Bird-watchers and nature photographers love this destination, where many varieties of migratory sea birds can be seen.
10. Rocket Launch Viewing
And finally, one of the best reasons to head to Lompoc is for one of the thrilling rocket launches that lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. NASA, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance, all provide spacecraft launch services from Vandenberg.
Last year, NASA’s historic InSight Mission to Mars launched from the VAFB on May 5, 2018—the first interplanetary launch from the West Coast. For information on future launches, visit Vandenberg AFB Launches.
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