La Purisima Mission is universally acclaimed as “the most interesting of the 21 Spanish missions” created by the Franciscans 200+ years ago. You can visit a dozen buildings in the fully reconstructed mission… there are fountains, lavanderías, an extensive water system, and the same livestock, poultry, and flora species found there in 1820. This is an ideal picnic stop on the trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you are driving on the 101, take a 15-minute detour west on the old El Camino Real (246) to Lompoc. The mission is in a 1,860-acre state park filled with roaming deer and hiking trails.