Vandenberg is a 151 square mile Air Force Base located on the Pacific Coast about ten miles outside of Lompoc, California and the summertime temperature is wonderful! In the 50’s at night and the mid to high 70’s during the day in July and August! Seldom does one ever need air-conditioning. Hwy 1 and the road leading to the Lompoc gate is very hilly with a couple of pretty good grades. The turn off of Hwy 1 is at the bottom of a hill from both the North and the South approach. Be prepared to make a sharp turn at the bottom of the hill.
The base is an active NASA installation where on occasion minuteman missiles are launched. The main FamCamp is actually three separate campgrounds in one location. Twenty pull-thru sites, 29 back in sites and a fenced-in tenting area. Also there are 19 overflow sites with no hookups. The much sought-after black-top pull-thru’s are roomy full hook-up sites with concrete patios, real nice round-metal picnic tables, bar-b-que grills and a view of the open field "Ground Squirrel" condos. (deer and coyotes often wander through this area as well.) Nicely mowed green grass and well trimmed trees. Lots of hummingbirds if you put out a feeder. Site 11 was good for satellite by parking the coach all the way to the back of the site in order to elude the trees. If the pull-thru area is full, be sure to put your name on the waiting list. As for the "back-in area": It is a paved parking lot marked off with lines so as to stack in RV’s just a couple of feet from one another. It is so tight one can’t put out the slides on both sides at the same time or to extend the awning. It is only $2 a day cheaper than the much nicer pull-thru sites at $18 per day. Office is closed on Sundays and Holidays. Laundry room is open 1000-2200. The whole FamCamp is 50 amps, good water pressure, limited TV channels, no cable. Good Verizon cell phone as well as Verizon broad-band internet. Dial-up internet is available. Paved roads throughout the campground area and miles and miles of paved walking/jogging/biking roads. Cannot wash vehicles on site but can go to the dump-site with your own hose, etc. No clothes drying racks or hanging anything from the RV or from the trees.
Retirees can eat at the Breakers dining facility. Pretty good menu at excellent prices. Very good gym and a walking/jogging track. Machines and free weights. Commissary has good produce department. B/X is tucked away behind Burger King and a ways from the Commissary. Class Six at the Service Station. Most streets are named after states and California is the main drag. No emergency facilities on base, just clinics with appointments. There is a base ambulance that would take you into Lompoc’s hospital in a real emergency by calling 911 as usual giving FamCamp and site number as address. Pharmacy is at the medical center 48/72 hour turn around for prescription transfers. Gas station on base and fuel prices are better than off base. NO DIESEL. There is a Wal-Mart in Lompoc but not a super Wal-Mart. For the ladies there is a beauty shop that has a nail salon. Thrift Shop is open on Tuesdays. Can receive mail at the FamCamp office as well as out-going mail. Address is: Your Name C/O FamCamp, PO Box 5247, Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437. Can also receive UPS and FedEx by giving Site number as your address at the FamCamp.
Fun things to do around the area include a day trip up to Pismo Beach. Drive out to the pier area where there are several seafood restaurants. Along the highway prior to Pismo is a Mexican Cantina called Zorro’s that has an excellent Mexican lunch. Be sure to go to the farmer’s market for fresh veggies and fruits. Yum!!! Solvang is a really cool little town to explore with traditional Danish architecture, windmills, museums and bakeries. Everything Danish, even a streetcar drawn by blonde Belgian horses, that tours the town. Take a full day to do this so as not to miss anything. There are about 40 wineries in the area, some with tours and tasting rooms. Twelve are in the town of Solvang. Much of the nation\'s cut and seed flowers are grown here; the flower fields bloom May through September and they are BEAUTIFUL. Several beaches are accessible from the base but are closed during the summer because of nesting Plovers. Lots of things to do. Just ask your neighbors…..enjoy! We did!