Solvang is a touristy little Danish community of around 5,000 residents in the middle of Santa Barbara County and we decided it would make for a great short trip for Memorial Day weekend. Much like the Chinese-American community has their Chinatowns and Italian-Americans have their…Read More

Solvang is a touristy little Danish community of around 5,000 residents in the middle of Santa Barbara County and we decided it would make for a great short trip for Memorial Day weekend. Much like the Chinese-American community has their Chinatowns and Italian-Americans have their Little Italy communities, the Danish have Solvang. Solvang’s "touristy" downtown area is quite small and easily to walk. The middle of downtown seems to be roughly centered about Mission Drive and Alisal Road and Copenhagen Drive. There is an information booth with a map and directory and public restrooms on Alisal Road between Mission and Copenhagen Drives.

There are all sorts of restaurants, Danish-themed and otherwise, in the immediate vicinity. There are also countless Danish bakeries, each one selling delicious Danishes and other pastries, and always the ubiquitous buckets of Danish cookies. A lot of these traditional Danish restaurants are breakfast and lunch restaurants, and close early. Unfortunately we found this out during dinnertime when we noticed a lot of the traditional Danish restaurants and bakeries were closed by 8pm. There are a bunch of newer restaurants, such as Root 246, Solvang Brewing Company, and Succulent Trading Company that are open late into the evening. The only issue is that since not that many restaurants are open late, they get packed pretty full.

The downtown area is full of references to Danish culture, from the Hans Christian Anderson Park and statue, to the Little Mermaid statue that’s a miniaturized copy of the real one in Copenhagen. There are several large ornamental windmills around town, as well as smaller copy of Copenhagen’s Round Tower observatory. There are plenty of places to walk and interesting things to see. This whole area is a great opportunity to learn a little about Denmark itself.

One of my friends has previously visited Solvang about 15 years prior, and noticed that there are a lot more wineries and wine tasting shops. Solvang is evolving to a wine destination as well, being in the middle of Santa Barbara’s wine country. During our Friday late evening walking search for a dinner restaurant, we noticed a lot of these wine tasting shops open, some quite packed with people tasting wine. Unfortunately, none of these served food as well. We even ran across a wine tasting place off Copenhagen Drive that had a live band playing. I would estimate that after 8pm, about half the shops still open are wine tasting shops. It seemed like there was at least one wine tasting shop every block around downtown, sometimes more.

The entire downtown area’s architecture is built to reflect traditional Danish architecture, and I think that’s very cool and adds to the ambiance. It helps you step out of the California mentality and helps place you in a little slice of Denmark. These buildings are decked out in half-timbered architecture, meaning the beams for the structure are exposed and stucco or other building material fills out the spaces in between. You can see that most of these are facades, as the "timbers" appear to be stucco molded to look like timbers. I’m guessing there must be some sort of Solvang city ordinance for the building style in the downtown areas. When we wandered to the end of downtown, we noticed the building styles seemed to conform back to the usual California stucco construction.

As far as hotels go, we stayed at the King Frederik Inn, which was in the middle of the downtown area. It didn’t have a spectacular complimentary continental breakfast, but that was no big deal. There are a plethora of bakeries and Danish breakfast restaurants within very easy walking distance. And if you’re in a Danish themed town, you might as well sample the goodies.

Solvang seems to be a nice place to take a family to step out of contemporary California life and step into a snapshot of Danish culture. For us, one day just about summed it up, as the downtown area was rather small. For somebody into wines and wine tasting, this would be a great destination to spend a weekend of wine tasting and dining. Just make sure to plan out where you’re going to eat dinner beforehand. I’d definitely return to Solvang again for a visit sometime in the future. They say a lot of people of Danish heritage flock to Solvang for Danish festivals. I’d definitely like to visit then.
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What it is: small-town festival, with a Danish twist. As you may already know if you've searched the town on google, Solvang was established in 1911 by Midwestern Danish farmers who moved here to start a community, which would highlight their Danish heritage.…Read More

What it is: small-town festival, with a Danish twist.

As you may already know if you've searched the town on google, Solvang was established in 1911 by Midwestern Danish farmers who moved here to start a community, which would highlight their Danish heritage. A college was started here, and over the next several decades, the community grew around it. While Atterdag College is gone, the community survives it, and takes full advantage of its Danish heritage with lots of windmills, farmhouses built in Danish style, and costumed characters throughout.

Danish Days takes that to the extreme, with a horse-drawn carriage carrying the towns chorus group, a traditional breakfast of aeblskiver and sausage, Danish dancing . . . the whole works. The town square also hosts several shows, including a comedy/juggling team, a band, singing, and more, with carnival-style booths surrounding it. It's an enjoyable time, especially if you have kids, who will definitely get a kick out of the over-the-top Viking-associated activities and souvenirs. Hans Christian Andersen was walking around handing out stuff and telling stories.

What it isn't: Denmark

Not that it wants to be, either, so I don't think it’s a criticism by any means. It’s also not as educational as one would expect, although they make an attempt at this by having a video of Denmark and Danish history available for continuous viewing. While the kids will have a great time, it’s a bit thin on adult-level enjoyment, and beyond eating and looking around, there's not much for adults really to do. The entire time would make for a very enjoyable afternoon or entire day, but unless you know someone there or are involved in the festival, there's probably no reason to make an entire weekend of the festival itself. We had planned on going to the festival in the morning and having a wine-tasting trip in the afternoon, which I think worked out well for us, enjoying both without getting too much of either.

Bottom Line: It's fun, definitely something new, and very enjoyable for kids especially. It's not enough to carry an entire weekend, though.

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In the heart of Santa Barbara wine country lies the charming town of Solvang which offers both wine lovers and travelers a Danish cultural experience in a setting central to local vineyards. Located 132 miles northwest of Los Angeles, travelers feel transported back to Old World…Read More

In the heart of Santa Barbara wine country lies the charming town of Solvang which offers both wine lovers and travelers a Danish cultural experience in a setting central to local vineyards.

Located 132 miles northwest of Los Angeles, travelers feel transported back to Old World Europe as soon as they enter the unique town. The streets are filled with buildings reminiscent of Copenhagen and a variety of windmill adorned shops and restaurants. It’s easy to pretend that you’ve escaped to Europe without the long 14-hour flight and expensive plane ticket.

Known as the Danish capital of America, Solvang is full of quaint restaurants, bakeries and cafes built using old-world Danish methods and styles. Time your weekend right and dancers, singers and musicians fill the streets. Check out their website at www.solvangusa.org to view their calendar of events.

While walking through the city, one of our favorites places to visit was a wine tasting room called "The Secret Cellar" located in an attic. The intricate decorations and warm personality of the owner makes this unconventional cellar a must-see place to visit. In a small bakery we sampled aebleskivers, which we didn’t even recognize as food by the name but are a popular Danish dessert shaped like golf balls that taste like pancakes. The skivers are topped with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar.

We found a few wine stores within the town which offered wine tasting and especially enjoyed meeting the owners of two vineyards which had their own dedicated tasting rooms in town. We enjoyed the Plam wines and liked the owners so much that we joined their wine club. We prefer to drive to the vineyards for the full experience but it was a nice option to sample the wines in town and then walk back to our hotel.

There are over 35 vineyards within a 15 mile radius so you need to plan your day wisely. You can pick up a great free map of the vineyards in the area by stopping by Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau. In fact this should be the first place you stop by to pick up some of their free information. They have a few different free guidebooks of the area and can also give you a list of events.

Don’t plan on visiting more than six vineyards in one day, it just gets to be too much and your palate is killed by the end anyway. We’ve visited quite a few of the vineyards but we’ve done it over multiple trips.

Firestone has the biggest tasting room and the most expansive selection of wines and local gourmet sauces. They’re also the only place we’ve found with a formal tour of the vineyard and winemaking facilities. They recently purchased Curtis Vineyards next door to them which has some of our favorite wines.

Zacca Mesa has a great trail that leads up a hill with an expansive view of the surrounding valley and some picnic tables in a small meadow. Speaking of picnic tables, make sure you pack a lunch and buy some bottled water before you head up to begin sampling wines. None of the places we visited offered food to purchase other than gourmet crackers and sauces. Many of the local stores will make sandwiches for you and if you want to go generic there is a Subway on highway (246) in Solvang.

Sunstone has a terrific picnic area decorated in the old west style overlooking the Santa Ynez River below and green rolling hills above.

Once you’ve been to the main areas it’s worth a journey over to the west side of the 101 Freeway along the 246 to visit a few wineries that we’ve even overlooked on previous trips. The first one you arrive at coming from Solvang is Mosby where the winemaker produces Cal-Italia wines from estate grown fruit which totally amazed us. One red variety he describes as an almond joy due to the wonderful similarity to the chocolate bar and is named Roc Michelle. We bought two bottles priced at only $18.00.

Sanford is the next winery you come across as you head west on the 246. We loved the beautiful drive through the vineyards and across a small river that leads to the tasting room. The wines here have a grandma looking label but we love the Pinot Noir - Vin Gris (this speaks volumes about the wine since neither of us usually like rose wines). Further down the highway we stopped at Lafond which had awesome desert wines and gourmet chocolates.

Solvang is a place for a relaxing weekend since the entire town closes up at 6:00 p.m. except for a few bars and restaurants. We enjoyed the bar at the Royal Copenhagen which has a wonderful fireplace and cozy atmosphere even though it is fairly large in size. Most of the people visiting Solvang are older (we’re in our mid-30’s), so if you want to party, bring along your own friends to play with.

The best place to stay that we’ve seen is the Inn at Peterson Village. It is centrally located and charming with prices ranging from $110-$275. We’ve never booked far enough in advance to get a room but we’re going to make sure we do for the Celebration of Harvest on October 12th. There is a Best Western is in the center of town that we’ve stayed in but it’s basic and the Marriot is a few miles out of town. The Royal Copenhagen seems to be a wonderful place to stay as well but we haven’t seen the rooms. We suggest checking out the solvang.usa website to figure out which one is right for you, we’re still figuring it out.

A few miles South of town on Alisal Road is a wonderful state park (Nojoqui Falls Park) with a delightfully lush trail that leads to a waterfall. The drive itself is amazing. Trees reach across the road forming a flourishing canopy of greenery. As you travel further along the road make sure to notice the spanish moss dripping from the trees, an uncommon sight in Southern California.

While you’re here don’t forget to visit the Firestone brewery just off of the 101 freeway in Buelton. There is a Chumush Indian Casino for the gambler in your group (open 24 hours) and a mission for the historian (Mission Santa Ines). We haven’t gone on a historical tour but there are many opportunities available for those who are interested as well as a few museums. A trip to nearby Los Olivos is also wonderful for those who have a bit more time. The Pacific Ocean is only a short drive away as well as a beautiful lake. We love our trips to Solvang and manage to discover something new each time we visit.

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Several bicycling loops start from the center of town and head out through the countryside passing horse ranches and vineyards. It's a very relaxing place to ride and the scenery is wonderful. The meadows of wildflowers and the rolling hills on vineyards are very picturesque. Loops…Read More

Several bicycling loops start from the center of town and head out through the countryside passing horse ranches and vineyards. It's a very relaxing place to ride and the scenery is wonderful. The meadows of wildflowers and the rolling hills on vineyards are very picturesque. Loops range in distance from 2 to 12 miles (roundtrips) and follow the roadways. Some are bike paths separate from car traffic and some are in painted bike lanes. All are suitable for the average bicyclist. Children under age 18 must wear helmets. Rentals are available at Surrye Cycle Rentals (805( 699 0091 Mountain Bikes $25 per day Tandems $30 per day   Close

The Santa Ynez Valley has several large vineyards. Year-round tours are available which include visits to various tasting rooms. You can call ahead to make sure the tasting rooms are open and also to arrange for larger group tours. The countryside is beautiful. Contact # 800 218…Read More

The Santa Ynez Valley has several large vineyards. Year-round tours are available which include visits to various tasting rooms. You can call ahead to make sure the tasting rooms are open and also to arrange for larger group tours.

The countryside is beautiful.

Contact # 800 218 0881   Close

This beautiful old mission (1804) was built by Spanish Franciscan Priests. This was the site of the first european settlement in the Santa Ynez Valley. There a wonderful museum,lovely gardens, and a gift shop.…Read More

This beautiful old mission (1804) was built by Spanish Franciscan Priests. This was the site of the first european settlement in the Santa Ynez Valley. There a wonderful museum,lovely gardens, and a gift shop.   Close

There are 4 golf courses local to Solvang. They're called Rancho San Marcas, La Purisma, the River course at the Alisal, and the Sandpiper in Santa Barbara at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It appears that all of them have something special…Read More

There are 4 golf courses local to Solvang. They're called Rancho San Marcas, La Purisma, the River course at the Alisal, and the Sandpiper in Santa Barbara at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It appears that all of them have something special to offer. Check them out on the solvang.org website.   Close

Open 7 days a week, this Chumash Indian Casino in Santa Ynez is the place to go for cards and bingo. The casino is 30,000 square feet..no hole in the wall..and has restaurants and valet parking. They serve no alcohol and you must…Read More

Open 7 days a week, this Chumash Indian Casino in Santa Ynez is the place to go for cards and bingo. The casino is 30,000 square feet..no hole in the wall..and has restaurants and valet parking. They serve no alcohol and you must be 18 to enter. They paid out 200 million dollars in 1998 and give away cars and trucks, etc. Check out the solvang.org website for further information under 'activities'. It's located only 3 miles east of Solvang.   Close

There are a few wineries to visit in the Solvang area. My coworker enjoyed her day while her husband was at a conference by driving to a couple of local wineries. Her favorite was Los Olivos Wine/Spirits Emporium. You can taste several…Read More

There are a few wineries to visit in the Solvang area. My coworker enjoyed her day while her husband was at a conference by driving to a couple of local wineries. Her favorite was Los Olivos Wine/Spirits Emporium. You can taste several different brands at this site that are locally grown. It's located about a mile outside town on Grand Avenue and looks a bit like a roadhouse in the middle of a field. But inside is a stunning mahogany bar and a trove of select wine, pretty much everything good made in the county and some counties beyond, served and discussed by proprietor Bob Senn and his able colleague Rina Perri. For a set price ($5), they give you a virtual wine tour right on the spot. My co-worker had a blast, bought a few bottles and didn't want to leave. Her trip to this winery was the high point of her mini vacation. Check them out and other wineries in the area on the sbwines.com website.   Close

There are more than a few danish bakeries to choose from in this town. It's fun to just get out from your hotel and explore the town. And stop for danish and coffee when the mood strikes. I remember on my trip…Read More

There are more than a few danish bakeries to choose from in this town. It's fun to just get out from your hotel and explore the town. And stop for danish and coffee when the mood strikes. I remember on my trip back when, my sister and friend and I went to the Solvang Bakery, one of the old classics. The baked goods were delicious. What more can I say?   Close