Yesterday we drove to Jalama Beach in Santa Barbara County, California. This beach is just below Point Arguello and south of Vandenberg Space Force Base and City of Lompoc.
The beach is about a 30 minute drive (weather permitting) from the turn off of the scenic California Highway 1. As you wind through the farmland and countryside you go through a mountain pass and the view of the ocean and beach lay before you. It is very rural and to come across this emerald beach in the springtime after sufficient rain is like you arrived in Hawaii.
It is a County park and admission is required. A day pass as of this post is $10.00 There is a Jalama Beach Store on the premises and it is full of old photos and history. They have a cafe and it is known for its famous Jalama Burger. Don't miss that opportunity to feast.
This beach was home to Native Americans and there is a palpable feel as you walk along the small stream which runs to the beach.
Interestingly, this beach is also the site of the worst non-wartime US Naval disaster in U.S. history. You can read about it at the link posted in this thread. It was the Honda Point Disaster.
The photo below is a cell phone photo. I was unfortunately not carrying my camera as I was with family and friends on a fast trip to the nearby town of Solvang. Next time I will take my tripod, camera and a good panoramic lens. Springtime is always the best time to visit and grab a photo like this.
I totally agree and I think it is one of the prettiest places on the Gold Coast. In the winter it is also one of the nastiest places in terms of wind and ocean conditions. It is a great area to watch rockets launch from the Space Force Base.
luvmypets
Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC
Nice photo!! Thank you for the link to that interesting story.
Dodie
luvmypets wrote:
Nice photo!! Thank you for the link to that interesting story.
Dodie
Dodie thank you and you are welcome. I would not have known that story if I had not visited the store. They had the original 1923 Lompoc newspaper with headlining story on it.
Jim
Nice photo. I think I read about this while taking a Coast Guard navigation course where they ran up on the rocks due to faulty navigation maybe during poor visibility or at night. Something like that. Probably still have the book with the photos in it.
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