By the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Surf Beach is, as its name suggests, popular with surfers, though fatal shark attacks in recent years mean you should be careful if you decide to take your board out. It can also be closed from March through September because of nesting Snowy Plovers. An Amtrak station sits conveniently right on the beach.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Ocean Beach County Park

0.71 MILES

The closest beach option to Lompoc, but closed for half the year to protect nesting Snowy Plovers.

2. Ampelos Cellars

9.98 MILES

Danish grower Peter Work and wife Rebecca display their passion for the vine through biodynamic farming techniques and encyclopedic knowledge of their…

4. Jalama Beach County Park

13.19 MILES

About 60 miles west of Santa Barbara, this beachfront park is much quieter than others in Santa Barbara County. There's good birding and whale-watching,…

5. Babcock

15.5 MILES

Hillside, family-owned vineyards overflowing with different grape varietals – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet…

6. Melville

15.81 MILES

This beautiful Mediterranean hillside villa gives tastes of estate-grown, small-lot bottled Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay made by folks who believe in…

7. Sanford Winery

16.55 MILES

Be enchanted by this romantic tasting room built of stone and handmade adobe bricks, embraced by estate vineyards on historic Rancho La Rinconada. Watch…

8. Presqu'ile

18.52 MILES

Come for the wine, stay for the architecture, the views and the (occasional) live music. The sweeping panorama across this relative newcomer's vineyard to…