Nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley, a two hour drive north of Los Angeles, Solvang boasts the charm of a small European village. To be more specific - a Danish one. So how did this fairytale village come to be in Santa Barbara County, California?
In 1911, a group of Danes traveling west sought to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters, taking advantage of 9,000 acres provided by a Rancho San Carlos de Jonata Mexican land grant (Elverhoj Museum). Over the years, this land was built up to include a number of bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California. And since Solvang first attracted major media attention in 1947, the village has become a popular California getaway.
Here's a fun fact: see the little elf house at the top right of this bakery storefront? These little elf houses are dotted throughout Solvang, and were designed to serve as speakers! They were originally put in place for announcements, music, and other public messages to be simultaneously heard throughout the village. While they are sadly not in working order, there have been talks of potentially restoring them (Solvang USA Instagram).
I was able to indulge in some really delicious food during my weekend in Solvang, from traditional Danish fare to more classical American options. As pictured below, I enjoyed a decadent Irish egg's benedict with crispy hashbrowns from Paula's Pancake House. This popular brunch spot has a long wait on the weekend (30+ minutes/walk-in only), but the food really delivers on flavor.
If you're in a beer & bratwurst kind of mood, Copenhagen Sausage Garden is your spot. This beloved beer garden is composed of picnic tables with its crown jewel being the sauce tower containing 30+ options to accompany your brats. Here, I ordered a beer sampler (I asked the server for her recommendation of light, medium, and fruity options), Bavarian pretzel, and the sausage sampler. While I definitely could not finish it all by myself, I wanted to taste *everything*!
To round out the fantastic foodie experience, I highly recommend having lunch at Peasant's Feast. Featuring another attractive patio, this place is particularly known for their fried chicken sandwich and smashburger. I opted for a light beer on draft and a smashburger, as I was quite hungry after my hike to Nojoqui Falls (more on that later). It was incredibly satisfying. I even thoroughly enjoyed the salad that came with the meal, composed of purple and green lettuces, finely-sliced radish, and a refreshing vinaigrette.
As we transition from food to bev, it is to be noted that Solvang is well-known for its wine tasting. There are countless tasting rooms available all throughout the village. And while I doubt you could go wrong with any of them, I did a little research and opted to visit a winery just outside of the village center to expand my experience. A short ~10 minute Uber ride away, I arrived at Sunstone Winery.
Strolling through arches of star jasmine, sunbeams cascaded around the gardens where patrons can sit down and enjoy a tasting of Sunstone's very best vino. I felt like I received generous and personalized attention from my server Megan. She had worked at the winery for seven years, and I kept leaning on her to verify if my tastebuds were accurate. The winner of the tasting for me was undoubtedly Sunstone's Sauvignon Blanc - it was crisp and offered a scrumptious summery flavor profile of lemongrass, grapefruit, pineapple, and melon.
After indulging in Solvang's alcoholic offerings, you may find yourself needing a little pick-me-up in the afternoon. My recommendation for a caffeinated bev is Good Seed Coffee Boutique. They offer quality coffee, all the milk options you could desire, and even serve special lattes like rose and butterfly pea flower. Check out my beautiful almond milk latte below, garnished with rose petals.
Once you've consumed all the yummy things, another great activity in Solvang is the gift shopping! Beyond the normal souvenirs and trinkets, Solvang offers many unique shopping experiences, and I'll be sharing my favorites. For something mystical; crystals, essential oils, tarot cards, and the like, visit The Mystic Merchant. And for more fantastical bits, fairy houses, and fairy postcards - check out Fairy & Frog. I could not get over the beautiful and sweetly scented wisteria that framed the storefront.
Next up: Jule Haus. This is an all-year-round Christmas themed shop! As I wandered the Christmas tree and ornament-laden aisles, I overheard the store owner sharing with another customer that the shop had been in business for 54 years. As a lover of all things festive, I spent quite a lot of time here (the air conditioning on blast during a particularly hot afternoon might've been a nice perk as well).
Clocks seem to be a hot commodity in Solvang, just check out some of the clock shops photographed below! The sweet little cuckoo clocks make for fantastic gifts. HRS Clock & Watch Repair also offers some very fancy timepieces, from gold-plated vintage pieces, to towering marble grandfather clocks - all for quite the pretty penny I definitely didn't have.
Some more of my favorite gift shops are shown below: Solvang Spice Merchant, The Mole Hole, and The Book Loft - which also houses the Hans Christian Anderson Museum.
I've never visited a spice shop quite like Solvang Spice Merchant - they sell everything from savory spices for cooking and barbequeing, to sweet spices for cocktail rims and candy. It was a truly enchanting experience browsing their selection. If you are feeling spicy but can't make it to Solvang, you can peruse the shop's offerings online here.
Solvang is also synonymous with something else located just outside of the main village. These dinosaur-like beasts walk on two legs, lay eggs, and are covered in feathers. You can photograph and feed these magnificent bird beasts at the marvelous Ostrichland USA. With a larger property and more enclosures than I had first imagined, this ostrich sanctuary is truly awe-inspiring.
Admission is very affordable at a mere $5 a pop (tickets can be purchased upon arrival or reserved ahead of time via the Ostrichland USA website). I additionally bought a bucket of ostrich feed for $1. It is undeniably hilarious watching these creatures eat - see these precious moments captured below!
I could've been entertained by these birds for hours, but I had an airbnb to check in to.
While Solvang makes for a great day trip out of LA, some opt to stay for a few nights or so at one of the many inns available throughout the village. I, however, stumbled upon the most irresistable airbnb, located on a property complete with horse stables and a vineyard! From the moment I punched in the keypad to unlock the iron gates, I knew I had arrived somewhere special. Staying at the Papillion Rouge Stone Cottage made me feel like I was living in Snow White's cottage on a vineyard.
Everything about the stay was magical. From drinking my morning coffee on the deck overlooking the pond, listening to the bird's chirping, to taking a walk around the property and finding the friendliest, cutest goats. The owner, Elisa, had even left a bottle of her vineyard's wine for me in the fridge.
When I arrived for the weekend, I realized that my airbnb was located adjacent to a gorgeous park, and signs to the "Nojoqui Falls Trailhead" intrigued me. On Sunday, after checking out of the airbnb, I hopped right over to the park to complete the short hike. The waterfall was much taller than I had pictured and it was truly impressive. Lush green moss lined the rockface as water cascaded and trickled through it, tumbling over the pearly stones below.
After an incredible weekend exploring Solvang, I left feeling rejuvenated and satisfied with completing another solo trip unscathed. There's something I really enjoy about going places alone - you can kind of stop and contemplate things to your heart's content. You can pay attention to your own breath; the sounds, the feelings, the birds, the trees, the sun on your shoulders... with little distraction. And while I also enjoy traveling with others, I find it wholly gratifying to partake in an an itinerary designed to my very own whims.
So long, Solvang. Thank you for being so good to me!
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