I was brought up where you don’t question authority. Where you do what you were told.
After becoming a mother I realized that it was a wrong way of thinking. Elders and authorities should be respected but they were human. They were flawed. They did not know it all. Pastors were not saints. Police officers weren’t perfect. Doctors did not know everything. I learned to stand up for my children. I learned to say no to procedures. Doctors did not like me. I was respectful and always asked if I could decline something. Homeschool advisers might have made an opinion about my child but it did not affect my opinion on all the great things I knew my child could do.
I had a voice. My voice mattered. I asked lots of questions. I read lots of books.
Today I’m trying to raise children who are not intimidated by authority. Who are respectful but have their own voice. Who know how to say no or question things. Who don’t go with the flow. I’m teaching them to make their own decisions.
There are lots of beautiful, but very touristy and crowded places in Santa Barbra county. On this trip we decided to go on the very far west side and on purpose avoided going to the most known areas of the county. And to tell you the truth it felt like stepping back in time when most of the southern California was not as crowded and still had small towns. We got to see the beginning of the settlement. We got to taste the fruits of the land, enjoyed a small towns children museum, got to see local art, and got to camp out on the beach that is probably the most tucked away beach in Santa Barbara County.
The Berry Stop
The Berry Stop is a local berry farm which has a very fresh selection. While we were purchasing berries there was a truck full of strawberries picked that day being unloaded into the stand. The field where the berries grow is huge and the taste of the berries was so fresh. This is a seasonal location so before making your way out here we recommend you make sure they are operating when you arrive.
Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum
My ten and seven year old loved this spot. They loved it so much that I had a hard time getting them back in the van when we were ready to leave. But even though this discovery center was mostly for elementary school children my teenagers enjoyed it as well.
Located at 705 S McClelland St, Santa Maria, CA 93454.
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
On every trip to southern California we try to visit at least one mission. And this mission is tucked away on the west coast of Santa Barbara county. That we never made it out here on our previous trips. We were quite surprised with how large and well restored this mission is. And even if we were not in the area this would be totally worth the trip.
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park was established in 1935 having 1,934 acres that they protect. It is the eleventh mission in California which is also one of most restored mission with 10 building fully restored. It was founded in 1787 but was mostly destroyed in 1812 by a earthquake. Today it is difficult to imagine that it was damaged so badly. Because now it truly looks beautiful and is so large for a mission. There are fully furnished buildings and the church had been so well decorated. There are plenty of places to look at like fountains and there is a uphill sand trail that leads to a lookout of the mission.
Located at 2295 Purisima Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436.
The Murals of Lompoc, CA
The Murals of Lompoc are vast and there is a large enough of a selection that you couldn’t count that high using a full set of fingers and toes. There are 36 different murals all of which where interesting in one way or another. Lompoc Pioneers is a piece which tells a historic story while having a very colorful color palette. Monarch Magic has a very atmospheric aesthetic which beautifully conveys Children being captivated. This is only a little bit of what this collection has to offer. It is difficult to find so many murals in a singular area.
Jalama Beach County Park
Jalama Beach County Park was a surprisingly relaxing experience. To get there we had to drive on a road which takes 30 minutes of driving to get to the campground. This is very far away from any place with a large population. When we arrived here we realized we didn’t pack well for going to the beach. Thankfully it was all available at the general store. Our time on the beach was very enjoyable we made sand castles, threw Frisbee, and skipped rocks. The beach was very large we walked around on it for easily 30 minutes. They also have plenty of showers which we felt that we needed after getting all that sand on ourselves. A restaurant and a playground are both near the general store. We can’t think of anything that was missing at this park. Definitely worth visiting if you are traveling around and end up entering Santa Barbara County.
Located at 9999 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436.
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