Is Solvang Worth Visiting? - What To Do In Solvang
Solvang is a small Danish town located in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California. It was originally inhabited by the Chumash before it was established by a group of Danes who moved to Southern California to avoid the harsh winters in the Midwest.
Today it is known for being in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country, as well for its unique Danish heritage. We’ve visited the town a few times in late summer/autumn and put together a list of things to do in Solvang and surrounding areas. Whether you’re there for the Danish bakeries, windmills or California wine, this is a great place to visit for the weekend or day trip to get a change of scenery especially in 2020.
Old Mission Santa Ines
Located on the edge of town stands one of California’s 21 Spanish missions. This was a Franciscan church that was mostly destroyed due to an earthquake in the early 1800s. It was later rebuilt and remains of a wall from the original mission are still standing there.
The grounds around Old Mission Santa Ines are well-kept and there are really nice views of the mountains in the distance. These missions hold a lot of history, especially with regards to the treatment of Chumash Indians, but it is still interesting to see when you drive into Solvang.
Shops & Where To Go In Town
In European towns, people do a lot more walking or biking around than driving. This Danish town is similar despite being set in California. The best way to see Solvang is by heading down streets like Copenhagen Drive and stopping into the little shops as you go. Listed below are our suggestions for shops and attractions to visit.
The Mystic Merchant (a cool place to buy gifts, incense or check out their huge crystals)
Jule Hus (a popular Christmas shop)
Solvang Park (busy on weekends, but great to visit during autumn or the holiday season)
Elverhøj Museum (possibly closed due to Covid-19 so check before visiting)
Tivoli Square (similar name to Tivoli Gardens, a popular amusement park in Copenhagen, Denmark)
Food
There are so many food options to choose from in Solvang! Most people head to one of the Danish bakeries in town, but our favourite place to go is Cecco Ristorante because they make great pizza. We also tried out Cafe Dulce as it was in the same little square that we were in for lunch, and you can get a gelato here for dessert or coffee, shakes, and boba tea.
Wine Tasting
We did a wine tasting at Casa Cassara on a Friday afternoon. There was a small, casual outdoor seating arrangement behind the building where we sat and tried some excellent Santa Ynez Valley wine! This is busier on the weekend so you may have to wait, or if you continue on Mission Drive, you’ll find quite a few wineries to try out.
If wine isn’t your thing, there are plenty of places to get beer or coffee nearby!
Los Olivos
Another great (maybe better?) option for wine tastings is the small nearby town called Los Olivos. This has a different feel to Solvang, especially on the weekends and is definitely worth stopping by. In Los Olivos, we opted for olive oil over wine and headed to Olive Hill Farm shop to do an olive oil tasting.
Olive Hill Farm makes local olive oil and vinegars that are amazing. We tasted some at the counter before leaving with a few different types like jalapeño olive oil, lemongrass vinegar, and local honey. Supporting local businesses is very important to us, and is also the best way to discover more when you travel.
Bonus fact: Michael Jackson’s former home that used to be known as ‘Neverland Ranch’ is located about 8 miles from the town.
Nojoqui Falls Trail
Later, we drove south of Solvang to Nojoqui Falls Park and did a short 1 mile loop that leads to a waterfall (that was dry when we went). It was nice to get out into nature after spending the day in Solvang, but going here isn’t a must-do. This would be good for kids or for a picnic spot as they had tables and benches around. There is also a winery as you drive off the main road to get to the park.
If you want to go on a proper hike near Solvang, then definitely check out Gaviota State Park where there is various hiking trails, camping, a beach and hot springs.
Thanks for reading and if you would like to see more, check out our Solvang video on YouTube here.
Did you find this post useful? Save this pin to your California Travel board on Pinterest!
More blog posts below!
