Things To Do in Solvang, California

Solvang sits at the center of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), one of California's most celebrated and approachable wine regions. Downtown Solvang alone has more than 20 tasting rooms concentrated within a few walkable blocks — making it possible to sample wines from a dozen different producers without moving your car. Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive are the main corridors.

The valley grows a wide range of varietals. Cooler-climate grapes — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Burgundian-style whites — thrive in the fog-influenced western stretches near Lompoc. Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rhône-style blends do well in the warmer eastern vineyards closer to Solvang. The movie Sideways (filmed extensively here in 2004) put Pinot Noir on the map, but the diversity of what's poured today goes far beyond it.

For a broader wine experience, the five-mile drive to Los Olivos adds another dozen tasting rooms and galleries in one of California's most charming wine villages. Many visitors do both towns in a single day.

Solvang was founded in 1911 when a group of Danish-American educators purchased land in the Santa Ynez Valley to establish a Danish folk school community. More than a century later, the city still bears a striking resemblance to a Danish village: half-timbered facades, thatched-roofed buildings, copper-green spires, and gas-lit lampposts line the main streets.

Food is central to the Solvang experience. Aebleskivers — round, puffy pancake balls dusted with powdered sugar and served with jam — are the town's signature dish. Kringle (an oval Danish pastry) and Wienerbrød (the original 'Danish') are also widely available. Architecture enthusiasts will want to stroll both sides of Mission Drive slowly. Look for decorative stork and swan motifs, Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale imagery on building facades, and the nisse (Danish gnome) figures that appear in shop windows year-round.

Solvang is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Santa Barbara County. The compact, walkable downtown is safe for young children, the Danish fairy-tale aesthetic captures kids' imaginations immediately, and several top attractions are free. Start at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (free, above the Book Loft on Mission Drive) — the connection to The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Ugly Duckling makes the stories tangible for kids who grew up with these tales.

Two miles west on Highway 246, Ostrichland USA is an experience unlike anything else: visitors feed ostriches and emus using long-handled bowls from a raised platform. Ostriches stand 7–9 feet tall — the scale surprises every first-time visitor, adults included. Back in town, the windmill photo stops, pastry shops, and horse-drawn trolley rides are inherently kid-friendly. The Solvang Festival Theater (late June–October) runs family-accessible open-air performances most summers — an outdoor evening show with blankets and snacks is a memorable experience for older children.