Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Lompoc is a city of about 44,000 people on California's Central Coast, in a broad valley about an hour northwest of Santa Barbara near the Pacific. Founded in 1874 as a temperance colony and incorporated in 1888, it takes its name from a Chumash word, and it is known as the City of Arts and Flowers for the vast seed-flower fields that bloom across the valley in late spring and summer.
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park, just outside town, is the most completely restored of California's Spanish missions, with adobe buildings, gardens, livestock and costumed living-history days. Downtown, dozens of large murals painted on building walls tell the valley's story, and the Lompoc Museum covers Chumash and local history.
The valley has become a wine destination too, with tasting rooms clustered in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto and vineyards along the Santa Rita Hills producing acclaimed pinot noir. Jalama Beach, a wild county beach at the end of a winding road, is popular with surfers and campers, and rocket launches from neighboring Vandenberg Space Force Base light up the sky over town.
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park, just outside Lompoc, is the most fully restored of California's missions, with rebuilt adobe buildings, gardens, livestock and miles of trails across the grounds. Living history days recreate mission life. Allow two hours and bring water, as the site is spread out.
The Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building is a Spanish Colonial Revival style building from the 1930s, built to honor local veterans and still used for community events and gatherings. Its decorated facade is a notable piece of downtown architecture. View it from the outside on a walk around downtown.
The Lompoc Museum occupies a former Carnegie library downtown and displays Chumash and other Native American artifacts, local history and natural history exhibits. It is small and easy to see in under an hour. Check open days before going, and combine it with a walk to see the downtown murals.
Lompoc is known as the City of Arts and Flowers for its many large outdoor murals painted on downtown buildings, showing local history, flower fields, ranching and the space program. A self-guided walk takes in dozens of them. Pick up a mural map from the visitor center or chamber and walk the downtown blocks.
The Lompoc Wine Ghetto is a cluster of small winery tasting rooms in an industrial park on the edge of town, pouring wines from the Sta. Rita Hills and wider Santa Barbara County. It offers a relaxed, unpretentious alternative to the bigger wine regions. Most rooms open Thursday to Sunday, so plan accordingly.
The Sta. Rita Hills wine region stretches east of Lompoc along Highway 246 and Santa Rosa Road, known for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from wineries set among rolling hills. A drive between tasting rooms makes a scenic half day. Book tastings ahead at smaller wineries and choose a designated driver.
The Lompoc Valley has long been a major flower seed growing area, and in late spring and summer fields of blooming flowers color the farmland around town. Sights vary by year as crops change. Drive the valley roads in May to July and view the fields from the roadside without walking onto private farmland.
The Lompoc Valley Flower Festival is a yearly June event with a parade, a carnival, arts and crafts booths, food and flower field tours, celebrating the valley's flower growing heritage. It draws families from across the region. Check dates online and plan to combine the festival with a drive past blooming fields.
Jalama Beach County Park lies at the end of a winding road south of Lompoc, a remote beach known for surfing, wind, tide pools and a popular grill famous for its burgers. Camping spots book up fast. Allow time for the 14-mile drive from Highway 1, and bring layers, as it is often windy and cool.
Ocean Beach County Park lies west of Lompoc where the Santa Ynez River meets the sea, with a lagoon that draws birds, a picnic area and a long sandy beach. Parts of the beach close seasonally to protect nesting snowy plovers. Check posted rules, avoid swimming in rough surf and bring a jacket.
Vandenberg Space Force Base next to Lompoc launches rockets into polar orbit, and launches are often visible from around town. Several spots in Lompoc and along nearby roads offer views of the climb. Follow the official launch schedule, as times shift often, and night launches can light up the sky across the region.
No reviews yet. Been to Lompoc? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Lompoc? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Mona Eshaiker, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: WalkThisWay1962, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Murphy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Elisa Rolle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Red3two, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Red3two, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Red3two, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Channel City Camera Club from Santa Barbara, US, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Thomas Camargo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Thomas Camargo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Thomas Camargo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Mussi Katz, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Missvain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Missvain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Baseball636, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mona Eshaiker, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Annette Teng, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Annette Teng, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: LuckyStar387, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Bergez General Custer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Thomas Camargo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: WalkThisWay1962, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gene Daniels, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Gene Daniels, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Gene Daniels, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: John Murphy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: John Murphy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Photo by: Pat Corkery, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain