La Purisma Mission State Park

It must be approaching low tide to complete this hike! This hike begins at the Jalama Beach Campground. Head out on the beach a couple of hours before low tide and follow it until you reach the lighthouse. It is important to note that the land above the high-tide line, the top of the cliffs, and the lighthouse itself are located on private property and not accessible to the public.  Be sure t...

Take the 101 North out of LA and follow it till it meets back up with the 1 just south of Lompoc where you make a left turn onto Jalama Rd. If you forgot supplies, continue to Lompoc where you can buy whatever you need.Follow the winding road all the way to the beach, where your only option is the campground. The Jalama Beach Store is known for its burger, so stop in during dining hours for a b...

Hike, mountain bike, or trail run the Rice Ranch Trail in Orcutt, CA. This park is relatively small, but a great place for a hike or run. I did a 3 mile loop and could easily have added on a couple more miles. Hike up to water towers at the top and enjoy views overlooking Santa Maria Valley and out to the ocean on a clear day.  Pro Tip - If you end up parking at the community center, take the p...

You can't go wrong with cycling around the Santa Maria Valley area. There is an abundance of interesting roads to ride along with scenic hills meandering through wineries.  I started my ride at the Los Flores Ranch Park parking lot and headed east along Dominion. Take a right on Palmer and follow it down to the 101. Ride south along the 101 for about a mile until you reach Cat Canyon Road. (The...

I'm a sucker for a good ridgeline trail, and Los Flores Ranch Park has lots of them. For a solid 5ish mile loop with about 600 ft of elevation gain, take the Manzanita Trail to the Ridge Top Trail for sweeping views of the valley, vineyards, and out to the ocean on a clear day. The Solomon Trail is a super fun single track that will wind you back down to the Visitor Center. I came in the spring...

Enjoy meeting ostriches and emus alike!  Located just outside of Solvang, near Santa Barbara, you get the chance to stroll through a farm and feed the ostriches and emus.  Entrance is free, but there is a fee to feed them.  There are scenic hills and flowers all around the farm.  This is a great stop if driving down the coast on Hwy 1.