Things To Do

By Kellie Searle From L.A.’s California Science Center to MOXI in Santa Barbara and all the way up to the STEAM-focused San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, Southern California is home to dozens of fun, fan­tastic science-related activities and opportunities. But there’s another place where you can actually see and feel true scientific exploration happening, in about the most exciting way possible: Vandenberg Space Force Base. Where visitors can experience the power, ingenuity, and magnificence of a rocket launch, up-close and personal. Located near the city of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, Vandenberg Space Force Base (or Vandenberg, as the locals call it) is one of the country’s most important military and space installa­tions, overseeing several unmanned test missiles and satellite launches each year. Because it’s the closest city to the base, Lompoc is the best vantage point for viewing rocket launches on the West Coast. Consider this friendly city as your front-row seat to see an Atlas rocket light up the morning sky — and feel the thunderous rumbling through the ground, for miles around. Vandenberg is host to many public and private aerospace entities, including NASA, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and others. In fact, it’s the only military base…

The grand summer-long celebration, Knott’s 100th Anniversary: A Knott’s Family Reunion, has been in the works since 2018, according to Cherie Whyte, direc­tor of communication for the park. The park’s Grand Opening was May 21, marked with a special appearance by Steve Knott, grandson of Walter Knott, the park’s original owner. The festivities, which conclude September 6, pay homage to the park’s storied history and bring back some of the guest favorites in different configurations. For instance, the popular ‘80s ride Soap Box Racer returns in the form of a 3D photo op with a newly built car from that beloved attraction. While guests sit in the car, the moving backdrop gives the appearance that the car is being driven. Guests often inquire about the Haunted Shack which had its debut in 1954. A photo op has been created from that attraction, as well as the beloved Kingdom of the Dinosaurs.  The oldest piece of nostalgia returning is Cordelia’s Tea Room.  “In the 1920’s Cordelia started serving chicken dinner out of her own kitchen,” Whyte says of the Knott matriarch. “With that, she created this tea menu with little ham sandwich­es because they saw that Beach Blvd., the only thoroughfare…