S

MC L

THE HOOD

WWW.SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

68

BY LINDA LANG

JalamaBeach Parkis a short,scenic drive

fromLompoc.

CALIFORNIA'SCENTRAL COASTGETAWAY

LOMPO

C

S

MC L

THE HOOD

WWW.SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

69

LOOKING FOR AN OUT-OF-THE-WAYadventure in a picturesque valley where life is alittle slower, locals and shopkeepers know oneanother by first name, where chefs buy fromlocal farmers, winemakers produce smallbatches of premium wines, and local history isexperienced in the architecture, street murals,and old mission?

miles from the nearest town is the smallcity of lompoc secluded in a fertile valley onthe California Central Coast where scenicHighway 1 meets route 246. As you turn offthe 101 highway and begin the winding drivethrough undulating hills and valleys greenfrom winter rains, you become immersed in anever-changing scenic grandeur which peaks inspring when wildflowers cover the hillsides,vineyards bloom with new buds, and sprawl-ing ranches and cultivated farmlands are rais-ing grass-fed beef, goats, chickens, and fields offresh and organic produce that provide newlandscapes around every bend. H

BOTTLE BRANDING

S

MC L

THE HOOD

WWW.SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

70

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1. SantaRita Hills AVA is home to nearly 60vineyards covering 2,700 acres. 2. A mural to honor Chief CharlesEverett, Lompoc's first fire chieffrom 1916 - 1950, was taken from a 1923 family photograph. 3. Victorian Fabing-McKay-SpanneHouse was built in 1875. 4. ValleEatery + Bar at the Hilton GardenInn features California cuisine,handcrafted cocktails, microbrewbeers, and local wines. 5. TheLompoc Valley is a popular destina-tion for cyclists. 6. Driving aroundthe Lompoc Valley and along theCentral coast takes you throughspectacular scenery.

BOTTLE BRANDING

SHERRIE CHAVEZ PHOTOGRAPHY

JASON REYNOLDS

AROUND TOWNin Old Town lompoc you’ll find an eclectic blend ofpast and present with locally-owned shops, antique co-ops, eateries and small businesses lining tree-shadedstreets. History buffs can opt for the Old TownHeritage Walk, a self-guided mile-long tour with 18 stops including the Andrew l. Huyck House(1890), Artesia School House (1876), lompocmuseum housed in the old Carnegie library building(1911), and other landmarks with neon signs adding tothe vintage ambiance. Not to be missed is Sissy’sUptown Café, a long-standing family-run eatery inlompoc’s original post office building, where you cangrab lunch, dinner and slice of homemade pie.

Old Town is also a curated outdoor art gallerywith more than 30 murals depicting colorful scenes oflompoc’s heritage, flower industry, historic sites, andethnic diversity on street corners, sides of buildings,and in alleyways. many can be seen in Art Alley acrossfrom the lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce &Visitors Center. Stop in for a map of the murals to helpguide your way.

lompoc’s local vibe also manifests in its diningoptions. Among the popular spots is the new ValleEatery & Bar featuring cra cocktails, wood-firedpizza, and gourmet entrées showcasing locally-sourcedingredients. Chef Conrad Gonzales’ inventive porkbelly tacos are a must try. Scratch Kitchen & Wine Baris another favorite known for its farm-to-table menuprepared by chef/owner Augusto Claudio. it’s a greatspot for lunch, happy hour, local beer and wines.Another newcomer is the Hoptions Taproom andEatery by Solvang Brewing Company offering animpressive selection of made-on-the-premises crabeers along with tasty pub food.

THE LOMPOC WINE TRAILlompoc is a wine aficionado’s delight. e WineGhetto, a cluster of small local wineries and tastingrooms in an industrial park setting, houses some amazingwines, creative winemakers and the largest concentra-tion of world-class, small-production tasting rooms inSanta Barbara County. A few blocks away in midtownare two highly acclaimed wineries — Brewer-Clionand longoria — and the lompoc Wine Factory, a production facility for local winemakers.

ese winemakers are not just bottling some ofCalifornia’s best Pinots and Chardonnays but an arrayof exceptional sparkling wines. Flying Goat Cellarslaunched the lompoc sparkling wine scene in 2005with Goat Bubbles and has produced 11 consecutivevintages — all hand-made in their lompoc WineGhetto facility. Since then, lompoc-based FiddleheadCellars, Kessler-Haak, Palmina Wines and other localproducers have jumped on the bubbly bandwagon. H

S

MC L

THE HOOD

WWW.SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

71

S

MC L

THE HOOD

WWW.SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

72

You'll also want to head down the lompoc Wine Trail alongHighway 246 and Santa rosa road to the Sta. rita Hills AVA forsome laid-back wine country ambiance. Here you'll find beautifulestate wineries and vineyards including Babcock, Foley, melvilleand Sanford. it's California wine tasting at its best.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES & DISCOVERIES reminders of the past are everywhere throughout lompoc Valley.la Purisima mission State Historic Park dates back to 1797 whenthe mission, one of today's most extensively-restored, was founded.its 2,000 acres has 25 miles of scenic hiking and horseback ridingtrails, a visitor center, gi shop, exhibit hall, and livestock. morethan 200,000 visitors annually enjoy the tours and living historyevents that transport you back into the simple lives of the peoplewho once lived here.

into golf? Test you skills at la Purisima Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course designed by world-renowned archi-tect robert muir Graves. Site of numerous PGA, lPGA andSenior PGA tournaments, it's known as one of the country's bestdesigned courses by players of all skill levels who enjoy its scenicbeauty as well as challenge.

BOTTLE BRANDING (5)

S

MC L

THE HOOD

WWW.SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

73

For an adrenaline rush, try tandem skydiving with an experiencedinstructor from Skydive Santa Barbara at lompoc Airport. During thejump, you'll see breath-taking views of the coastline, farmland and hillsides below.

Ocean Beach Park & Sanctuary, renowned for bird watching andphotography, is 13 miles west of Old Town on Ocean Avenue. Enroute, detour onto Union Avenue where you'll find flower fieldsabloom with vivid color from April to September. rotating varietiesinclude stock, larkspur, delphinium, bells of ireland, and sweet pea.

Continue to Ocean Beach at the mouth of the Santa Ynez riverwhere a tranquil lagoon attracts large varieties of birds. Beach access isclosed march 1 - September 30 due to the Snowy Plover nesting season,but you can still enjoy the peaceful view and amenities at the park.

Another must for your itinerary is Jalama Beach Park and theabsolutely spectacular 30-minute drive through ever-changing views ofmagnificent working ranches, rolling vineyards and stunning hillsides.Jalama is a popular spot for picnics, surfing, kite surfing, bird watching,nature photography, fishing and camping. many protected native plantsalso grow within the park. Come for lunch and head to the JalamaBeach Grill for its famous Jalama Burger.

WHERE TO STAYAccommodations in lompoc range from full-service hotels to modestmotels, all centrally located for enjoying all the activities in lompoc aswell as nearby towns such as the Danish village of Solvang and OldWestern town of los Alamos. Newest addition to lodging options is thestate-of-the-art Hilton Garden inn which just opened in October 2017.Guest rooms come with all the modern amenities, and the on-siterestaurant and bar, fitness center, heated outdoor pool, whirlpool, and24-hour market provide the extras to make your stay most comfortable.

EXPLORELOMPOC.COM is loaded with useful information to planyour trip. You can download a visitor guide, maps for wine and muraltours, a historic walking guide, and check out places to stay, dine, shop,and explore in and near lompoc. �

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 7. Old Town Lompocis where vintage architecture, colorful muralsand small businesses create a unique small townvibe. 8. Brewer-Clifton is one of the city's mostacclaimed wineries with a tasting room in mid-town Lompoc. 9. The 34th annual West CoastCub Fly-In is slated for July 13-15 at LompocAirport. 10. Lobby of the Hilton Garden Innwarmly welcomes visitors. 11. The patio at theHilton Garden Inn is a popular spot to enjoywood-fired pizzas. 12. Old Town Market includesweekly live entertainment during summer. 13. Scratch Kitchen, one of Lompoc's finest,focuses on creating farm-to-table meals fromscratch. 14. La Purisima Golf Course is a favoriteamong PGA pros, celebrities and amateurs.

JASON REYNOLDS (2)

COURTESY OF HILTON GARDEN INN LOMPOC (2)