Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SCENIC DRIVE: HWY 1 SOUTH OF PISMO BEACH
WHAT TO SEE
Hwy 1 ends its fling with Hwy 101 at Pismo Beach, veering off toward the coast. Some
truly wild, hidden beaches beckon along this back-door route to Santa Barbara.
GUADALUPE DUNES
You almost expect to have to dodge tumbleweeds as you drive into the agricultural town
of Guadalupe. Five miles further west at
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve
(
www.countyofsb.org/parks
;
off Hwy 166; 7am-sunset), enormous Egyptian-esque film sets
from Cecil B DeMille's 1923 Hollywood epic The Ten Commandmentsstill lie buried in the
sand. Learn more about the 'Lost City of DeMille,' the ecology of North America's largest
coastal dunes, and the mystical Dunites who lived here during the 1930s back at down-
10am-4pm Wed-Sun) museum.
SURF & OCEAN BEACHES
These wind-whipped beaches, one with a lonely Amtrak train whistlestop platform sta-
tion, sidle up to Vandenberg Air Force Base. On the 10-mile drive west of Lompoc and
Hwy 1 (take Hwy 246/W Ocean Ave), you'll pass odd-looking structures supporting spy
and commerical satellite launches. Between March and September,
Ocean Beach
County Park
(
www.countyofsb.org/parks
; Ocean Park Rd, off Hwy 246; 8am-sunset, closed Mar-
246; 8am-6pm, subject to closure Mar-Oct) is also often closed to protect endangered
snowy plovers during their nesting season.
JALAMA BEACH
Leaving Hwy 1 about 5 miles east of Lompoc, Jalama Rd follows 14 miles of twisting tar-
mac across ranch and farm lands before arriving at utterly isolated
Jalama Beach
County Park
( recorded info 805-736-3616;
www.countyofsb.org/parks
;
9999 Jalama Rd, Lom-
poc; per car $10). As you soak up the views, munch on a grilled seafood or beef burger from
mer). To stay overnight, reserve a cabin in advance or arrive by 8am to get on the waiting
