Recently I took a seven-day road trip up the California coast.

While I was planning out the route and researching cities to visit and things to do along the way, I came across a few blog posts that recommended Solvang as a must-stop.

It seemed like everyone had different tips on what to do, where to go and what to actually see in the city, so to help you plan your trip, I’ve rounded up the 5 best things to do in Solvang for your visit.

A little history:  

Solvang is a cute, charming little village just outside of Santa Barbara known as the “Danish Capital of America.”

Surrounded by vineyards and farms, Solvang is the home to four Danish-inspired wooden windmills, a 1/3 replica of Denmark’s Rundetaarn (the one here is a pizza place), a handful of authentic danish bakeries and the historical Santa Inez Mission. 

Upon arrival, I was instantly taken aback by how captivating the little village was. I instantly felt like I was in Denmark rather than California. It was such a surreal experience the entire time I was there I felt like I was at a theme park. I constantly had to remind myself that hey, this is ACTUALLY a legit city in California. lol

Because I instantly fell in love with this place, I wanted to share with you guys a few things I did as well as give you a feel for what the small town has to offer.

What to do in Solvang

While Solvang is a small town that can easily be walked in its entirety in a few hours (the total area 2.43 sq mi and for reference, the population is estimated at 5,802) I found that there is still plenty to do for anyone looking to take a day trip or simply escape the city life for a much needed weekend getaway.

1. Shopping

First thing’s first, the shopping. There are a lot of boutique shops around the village that sell a handful of Danish-inspired souvenirs, authentic Danish clothing, decor, etc. 

Although I didn’t buy anything (aside from a few postcards lol) I did enjoy walking through the shops, seeing what unique items each store sold.  Like these strange troll things I found in one shop. 

2. Go Wine Tasting

Because the village is surrounded by vineyards, wine-tasting rooms can be found in almost every corner you turn.

After walking around for a bit we decided to stop by the Lucas & Lewellen tasting room.

To be completely honest, I’ve never done a wine tasting before so I didn’t know what to fully expect but the ladies that greeted us were so nice and everyone was so knowledgeable on the wines and wine pairings!

I literally don’t know anything about wines but felt like the experience was well worth it.

To top it off, a tasting (5 wines)  was only $15! Now I’m not much of a wine person but ya girl ended up walking out with a $65 bottle of bourbon barrel-aged wine that pairs PERFECTLY with some salted dark chocolate (they provided us with some locally made chocolate) and ohh my gahh!

If you’re a wine lover or simply curious or want to learn more about wines, I highly recommend checking out the Lucas & Lewellen wine tasting room. They were so nice and attentive, truly a great experience.

3. Stop by the Santa Inez Mission

As sad as I am that the gift shop was closed and I didn’t get to go inside the mission itself, I was scared off when I saw a group of nuns walk out of  the mission, something about having tattoos and looking like a heathen than makes me uncomfortable being around nuns, I did get to explore the gardens out front and they were nothing less than beautiful and peaceful.   

As you walk around toward the front of the mission, they have a little path where people can sit and overlook the farmlands below. There were a few older couples sitting there overlooking the area, taking in the scene which made the experience much more darling.  

They also had a little table where we sat to eat our danishes and just relax under the trees before we heading out to the next town.

While the mission isn’t much of an exciting thing like wine tasting,  it is pretty interesting getting to walk around and experience such a beautiful and historical Californian building. 

4. Visit Hans Christian Andersen Museum and Bookstore

From what I’ve read, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum is one of its kind here in America.

It’s the only museum that celebrates the life and work of the Danish author, Christian Andersen, which until I walked in there, I had no idea he wrote the The Ugly Duckling, the Little Mermaid, Thumbelina among other popular fairy tales.

You can find the museum on the second floor of The Book Loft store where you can find a bunch of Ugly Ducking references, a bust statue of Hans Christian himself among other images from his life including his childhood home, some of his notes and other interesting 

5. See and Feed Ostriches at Ostrich Land

Yes, there’s an ostrich farm! While I didn’t get to stop by to see what it was all about, Ostrich Land is a 33 acre farm that holds emus and over 100 ostriches.

On the farm, you can buy food to feed the animals as well as stock up on ostrich eggs, meat, eggshell paintings and other goodies.

Everything I’ve read about the farm points to  a family friendly environment that makes this unique experience worth the $5 entrance.  I totally geeked when we drove by and saw a some ostriches running around.  

Eating in Solvang:

If you’re anything like me, you’d eat your way through the world if you could. With that being said, I take my food just as serious as I take my coffee addiction.

There are so many restaurants and bakeries (especially bakeries) in Solvang that offer authentic Danish, Scandinavian and European food. Even though I wish I could stop by each place and eat everything they had, I couldn’t,  so I settled with an authentic Danish meal at the Red Viking Restaurant followed by a Danish bear claw for dessert from the bakery next door.

Don’t let the picture below fool you, the food at Red Viking was to die for! The mashed potatoes were so creamy and the meatballs were simply delicious! Now, I’ve never had Scandinavian food before but this meal so good. I got the sliced meatball open face sandwich and though my inner American wishes the serving was bigger,  it was definitely not disappointing. 

If you happen to go with picky eaters, the Red Viking does serve burgers and there are also a few places in the area that serve more Americanized food, along with a few cafes and a Subway.

When to Visit

Because Solvang is located in southern California, it is always a good time to visit. The weather seems to be nice year round (averaging in the 70s) making it a perfect weekend destination.

However, one of the best times to visit the city of Solvang according to locals is during September when their annual Danish Days festival takes place.

The festival is a three day celebration honoring Solvang’s Danish heritage with authentic food, live music, parades and a whole lot of family friendly activities.

If you’re anything like me and love wandering, sightseeing, eating new foods and just general exploring, then Solvang is definitely a bucket-list must. It’s a charming little town with so much history and I’m so glad I got to experience such an overseen part of California. 

Have you ever been to Solvang? Where did you eat? What did you do? Let me know in the comments below! I’d love to hear about your experience.