Minuteman Beach(Vandenberg Air Force Base)

Located in the city of Lompoc, Minuteman Beach is a very long, wide, and private beach situated on the Vandenberg Air Force Base in the small town of Vandenberg.  Minuteman Beach is a perfect birdwatching spot between October and February as there are a couple of wetlands behind the beach.

Dunes are the only amenity offered at Minuteman Beach.

There are a couple of fun activities at Minuteman Beach including fishing, birdwatching, and beach walking. Swimming and surfing are not recommended here because of high waves and strong rip currents.  Minuteman Beach remains closed from March to September to protect nesting spots for the Snowy Plover. Please note that Minuteman Beach is accessible to Vandenberg pass holders and their guests only – and not to the public.

Getting to Minuteman Beach is very easy – after you get off of Highway 1, drive west on Point Sal Road to get to the beach’s free parking lot that is within walking distance to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Minuteman Beach, you can drive 55 minutes to Art, Design & Architecture Museum, also known as University Art Museum, features many architectural drawing, historic photographs, writing, scrapbooks, three-dimensional objects in the Architecture and Design Collection, and over 8,500 original works of the museum itself. Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa is a nature preserve center and home to thousands of monarch butterflies that visitors can see starting from late October to February. If you like golfing, Sandpiper Golf Club is a waterfront 18-hole golf course that has been rated among the top 100 public golf courses in the US and the top 25 public golf courses in California. Another great golf course near Minuteman Beach is Twin Lakes Golf Course, a 9-hole golf course with a casual restaurant and an onsite shop.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 30-minute drive of Minuteman Beach. The Club & Guest House At UC Santa Barbara is an upscale waterfront fine dining restaurant that serves appetizers, salads, entrees, beverages, and desserts. The organic restaurant Room 217 offers chicken sandwiches, cheese bread, wraps, rolls, and fries. Another good restaurant near Minuteman Beach is Woodstock's Pizza Isla Vista, a pizza restaurant featuring homemade pizza, breadsticks, and chicken wings.

If you are looking for a hotel near Minuteman Beach, you can drive 40 minutes to many nearby hotels. The 5-Star pet-friendly hotel El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara features an infinity pool, lounge, poolside bar, spa, sauna, restaurant, and fitness center. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort is a 4-Star pet-friendly hotel that is spread across 24 acres and has many amenities including a pool, bar, spa, café, and three tennis courts. If you are looking for affordable hotels near Minuteman Beach, the 3-Star Hampton Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta offers a pool and fitness center – and the 2-Star Best Western Plus South Coast Inn has a pool, gym, and ping pong table.