The Official Site of Rebecca Ross Klosinski

Beaches and Burgers at Lompoc's Jalama

The Lompoc Vision, 2011

I don’t know about you, but as soon as summer makes it’s first appearance I feel obligated to go to the beach.  It’s like it’s not really summer unless I have sand between my toes (and wind whipping through my hair – this is Lompoc after all).

My mom and I (who are now addicted to the Book Club at the Lompoc Library) had a few morning hours to burn before we had to be in the Grossman Gallery to watch The Thin Man, so we decided to head out to Jalama Beach.

If you’ve ever been to Jalama, you know the long, scenic road that leads to it.  The rolling hills, the beautiful groves, the cowboys.  Only on the coast would you find cowboys and surfers within a mile of each other… I love that.

I tend to get a little bit carsick on roads that throw a good curve or hairpin turn, but any nausea I felt on the way out was completely worth that first glimpse of the ocean.  The morning, which had started in that typical gray fog, transformed and opened up into a bright blue sky.  I like to think that was just for us.

We paid our $8 day-use fee and found a spot to park.  The campground, which has 110 spots, was full of activity.  That restful, mellow kind of beach activity.  People walking their dogs, setting out picnics, lounging on the tailgates of trucks.

Our first order of business was to check out some of the nature trails.  We walked past the former Chumash settlement (you can read all about them on the plaques) and down to the creek.  For my money, this was the best view of the area as a whole.  If you stand with your back to the water (I know this seems like a silly thing to do when you’re at the beach) it’s like you’re looking at a postcard.  With a little bit of careful editing you wouldn’t even know what year it was.

The Jalama Beach brochure calls it a ‘hideaway’ and I think that’s the perfect description.  Away from the hustle and bustle, it has its own kind of energy.

If you plan to stay all day, all weekend, or even all week there are plenty of things to keep you occupied.  Besides some quality hammock time, beach-goers can sunbathe, play in the water, canoe, surf, bird watch, fish, and even whale watch if it’s the right season.

Of course, no exploring would be complete without a stop into the General Store.  As with any good general store, Jalama’s offers bait and tackle, bags of ice, miscellaneous grocery items, and t-shirts.  You can mail a letter, pick up some grown-up beverages, or you can buy a World Famous Jalama Burger magnet like I did.

Oh, have a neglected to mention the World Famous Jalama Burger?  Forgive me.  If you ask anyone in town (or anyone out of town for that matter) they will tell you that you haven’t lived until you’ve had a Jalama burger.

Now, I am not much of a burger person.  I know, I know.  And I’m embarrassed to say that I had never had a Jalama burger.  But you can relax, that all changed when I picked up my very own juicy 1/3 pound patty of lean ground beef nestled cozily between two toasted sesame seed buns and topped with the super secret Jalama sauce.  Now I can say from experience that the Jalama Burger is one magical burger.  I have never tasted a more delicious specimen.  The grill at the Jalama Grill must have special flavor-inducing powers.  I am converted.

And the best part is that once you roll back into Lompoc you don’t have to jones for another one, wondering when you will get your next fix, because we have the Jalama Beach Café.  Sitting proudly underneath its bright red “Hi!  Let’s Eat” sign, the Café serves up the same, you-have-to-eat-it-to-believe-it Jalama Burger.  Plus you don’t have to worry about getting sand in your sneakers and the waitresses wear festive shirts.

To get your beach and burger on, visit Jalama Beach and the Jalama Grill at 9999 Jalama Road or stop by The Jalama Beach Café at 400 East Ocean Avenue.