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Top 5 Reasons to Explore Lompoc this Summer 2017
Located where California’s sweeping Central Coast meets the Sta. Rita Hills wine region, Lompoc offers beautiful weather, scenic roads and multitude of attractions and outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. Signature summer events include the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival(June), the West Coast Cub Fly-In featuring historic WW2 aircraft (July) and the Wine and Fire Weekend (Aug).
Our Top 5 list for Summer 2017 highlights includes some of the best that Lompoc offers all summer long!
La Purisima Mission State Park
1. La Purisima Mission
La Purisima State Historic State Park is an amazing gem for visitors in California to explore, offering an authentic feel of what life would have been like here during the early 1800s. It is the most historically resorted of the 21 California missions, and also the only one designated as a state park, with 25 miles of hiking trails that surround the buildings and pastures below.
Open seven days a week, with guided tours Wednesdays through Sundays at 1:00 pm, and living history events on select Saturdays (see events calendar), La Purisima Mission is fun place to explore all summer long!
Lompoc California Flower Fields
2. Lompoc Flower Fields
During the summer, visitors can see spectacular patches of colors as they explore Lompoc Valley – Larkspur, Stock, Delphinium, Bells of Ireland, Sweet Peas, Queen Anne’s Lace and Blue Corn Flowers are the primary flowers grown here. Many of the Lompoc flower fields are located west of Old Town Lompoc, along Central and Union Sugar Avenue. Lompoc has over 500 acres of commercial flower fields that bloom at various times throughout the summer.
Lompoc Valley’s floral heritage is celebrated annually at the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival slated for June 21-25, 2017. The festival offers family activities, carnival rides & games, commercial vendors, food booths and musical entertainment. Don’t miss the flower-themed parade slated for Saturday, June 24, in Lompoc.
Murals in Lompoc
3. Old Town Murals & Vintage Finds
Nearly 40 murals – on street corners, in alley ways, and on sides of prominent buildings – have turned Lompoc into an outdoor art gallery. The Murals of Lompoc are one of the city’s top attractions, depicting scenes of Lompoc’s heritage, flower industry, historic sights, ethnic diversity, scenic beauty and more. Vintage treasures and collectibles can be found at T & T Sweet Repeats, The Maple Cottage and A Little Something Special.
Old Town Lompoc is where the action can be found on Friday nights in July and August, from 5 to 7 pm, with the summertime Lompoc Old Town Market Hosted by the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centers, the marketplace features fresh produce and flowers, live music, local vendors and special activities weekly.
Sta. Rita Hills Wine Tasting
4. Wine Tasting Al Fresco
Lompoc winemakers are producing some of California’s best Pinots, Chardonnays, and other cool climate wines. Experts say it’s the combination of climate, east-west hill orientation, and calcium-rich soil that makes wine magic in Lompoc Wine Country.
For the perfect pairing, pick up some sandwiches or picnic fare in town – Central Coast Specialty Foods is one of our favorites – and head to the Sta. Rita Hills for some wine country ambiance and classic vineyard vistas. Just a few miles outside of Lompoc, along California Highway 246, you’ll find Dierberg-Star Lane Winery, Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery, Melville Vineyard & Winery and Babcock Winery & Vineyards. These four Sta. Rita Hills wineries all offer sensational wines and outdoor seating for your picnic.
Lompoc Cycling
5. Scenic Back Road Cycling
Biking is a fantastic way to explore Lompoc during the summer season. You can bring your own bike or rent bikes in Lompoc to explore the many scenic backs roads including Jalama Road, a curvy 14.5 mile road that meanders past oak trees and grassy hills, leading straight to Jalama Beach Park – a site for camping, fishing, surfing and other beach activities. Riders can reward themselves with a ‘world-famous’ Jalama Burger featured on the menu of the Jalama Beach Store.
Santa Rosa Road is another great ride through gently rolling hills of vineyards, fertile agricultural fields, and organic farms. Cyclists can stop for wine tasting at Sanford Winery along the way. For an easier ride, cruise on two wheels along Ocean Avenue and the side streets of Old Town Lompoc, then head west past the agricultural heartland of Lompoc, where leafy lettuce and stunning artichoke grow all summer long. At the end of the road, cyclists can rest and enjoy the view at Ocean Beach Park.
Looking for more fun things to do on the Central Coast this summer?
Be sure to check out Lompoc’s Top Attractions or click on the hot links below for more Lompoc activities!
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