An hour up the coast from Santa Barbara sits Lompoc, a small city on the edge of the enormous Vandenberg Air Force Base. Most of the commercial activity in Lompoc is clustered around Cabrillo Highway through the center of town, with a good mix of national chains and locally-owned restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues.

Vandenberg is a closed base, but the public does have access to certain areas at certain times. Numerous parks are scattered around town, including the scenic River Park, which runs much of the length of the eastern city limit. For a quick day trip out of town, La Purisma Mission is a beautifully preserved relic of the Spanish colonial period, several wineries can be found in the surrounding area, and many beaches can be accessed through and around Vandenberg.