Solvang Itineraries
Explore Solvang with our 1-4 day suggested travel itineraries. Breakfast at an authentic Danish restaurant, wine and dine your way through the village. Play golf, go fishing or take a nature cruise at Lake Cachuma, stroll the European-style streets around the village of Solvang; hop aboard the historic horse-drawn Solvang Trolley, ride your bike on scenic country roads. Looking for a place to have your Happy-Ever-After Destination Wedding?
4 Days in Solvang
Enjoy several relaxing days in the Santa Ynez Valley
DAY ONE
Stroll the European-style streets around the village of Solvang; hop aboard the historic horse-drawn Solvang Trolley for a tour or rent a "surrey cycle" to roll through the village.
Sample the Danish bakeries and foods and shop for art and antiques.
Learn about history at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art or the 1804 Old Mission Santa Inés.
In the summer, enjoy professional theater productions under the stars from PCPA at Solvang Festival Theater. Year-round entertainment happens nearby at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez offering 24/7/365 gaming and weekly top-name concerts and live entertainment in the Samala Showroom.
DAY TWO
Do some delicious wine touring and tasting throughout the Valley with more than 70 vineyards and tasting rooms to choose between. Go on your own or sign up for a limo, van or even a jeep tour with professional area guides. Have a picnic lunch in a vineyard or next to a waterfall at Nojoqui Falls County Park. Choose from dozens of dining options from wine country-inspired or international cuisine.
DAY THREE
Absorb local lore at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Carriage House in Santa Ynez. Then, meander through wine tasting rooms, boutiques and art galleries of Los Olivos plus the latest exhibits at Wildling Art Museum. Check out collectables and western history in Los Alamos (the vintage train depot is now an Antique Mall & Wine Pub) and have lunch in a café/art gallery.
DAY FOUR
Bicycle country roads or take a short hike into the Los Padres National Forest. Enjoy a guided nature cruise on Cachuma Lake or angle for fish from the dock. Tee off in style at The River Course at the Alisal or Rancho San Marcos Golf Course. Relax and enjoy the sunset. Plan to return soon.
Visiting Solvang With Your Dog
Solvang is very pet-friendly – so bring your best friend with you!
If you like to travel with your dog, then Solvang is the perfect destination for your next adventure. From tasting rooms in our historic village, to plenty of patio dining options, Solvang excels in pet friendliness and people friendliness.
Here's a quick itinerary for a dog-friendly visit to Solvang to help you plan your trip!
Solvang's Dog-Friendly Restaurants
Fresco Valley Café
442 Atterdag Road
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 688-8857
Fresco Valley Café emphasizes fresh California cuisine with excellent craft beer and local wine selection. The house made deserts are truly decadent and they offer a dog menu too! Dog Menu-Fresco Valley Cafe.
Two of other great stops for dog lovers include Greenhouse Café for breakfast, and Chomp for burgers and fries. Pro tip, ask the chef if your furry friend can chow down on a chicken breast from the kitchen at Chomp.
Pet-Friendly - Wine Tasting Rooms
Solvang's location in the Santa Ynez Valley makes it one of the top destinations for California wine tasting. Many of the tasting rooms right in the village welcome four-legged friends too. Here are a few dog-friendly wine-tasting rooms to try:
Lucas & Lewellen Wine Tasting Room
1645 Copenhagen Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 686-9336
Lucas & Lewellen Tasting Room Manager, Andrew Moore, and his wife and Wine Club Manager Anjie Park welcomed us to their tasting room. Their dog Angus comes to the tasting room every day too!
Toccata Tasting Room
1665 Copenhagen Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 686-5506
Wandering Dog Wine Bar
1539-C Mission Dr.
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 686-9126
This laid-back bar welcomes you and your pets on their patio.
Royal Oaks Winery Tasting Room
1582 Mission Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 693-1740
Managers Maura and Kathy, who are pet parents themselves, welcome families with fur babies of all types.
Casa Cassara Wine Tasting Room
1607 Mission Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 688-8691
Pet-Friendly – Shops
As you walk through downtown Solvang, you will find plenty of doggy water bowls and friendly shop owners.
Unique Bowtique
1603 Copenhagen #2
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 686-0724
Don't miss Unique Boutique, offer clothing, accessories, and a bakery just for your pets!
Solvang Knives, Inc.
442 First Street
Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: 805.691.9877
This is a truly pet-friendly shop! They offer a water bowl and dog treats on hand and we love meeting our customer's furry companions!
For more dog-friendly travel tips, check out the latest visiting journalist blog post, “ Doggies Dig Road Trip to Solvang ,” about the pet-friendliness of Solvang. Thank you to bloggers Susan & Todd Montgomery (and their dogs Calie & Chester) for visiting.
A Solvang Walking Tour
Meander through the tidy, flower-lined streets of this pedestrian-friendly village to view the Danish architecture and large European style windmills, a clock tower plus statues of Hans Christian Andersen and the Little Mermaid fountain.
You can spend a peaceful day strolling the streets of Solvang.
MORNING
Start your day with breakfast at an authentic Danish restaurant or bakery. Don't miss the popular aebleskiver-deliciously light and airy Danish pancake balls dusted with powdered sugar and served with raspberry jam. Take a stroll around the pedestrian-friendly village enjoy picturesque architecture including several windmills, a clock tower that plays seasonal tunes plus statues of Hans Christian Andersen and the Little Mermaid. Be sure to look for ornamental storks perched on roofs-they are considered good luck in Denmark and Solvang!
AFTERNOON
Savor a smorgaasbord to taste frikadeller (meatballs), medisterpolse (sausage), and other Danish favorites for lunch. A shopper's paradise, Solvang's streets are filled with more than 150 stores offering unique treasures, handmade lace, music boxes, clocks, jewelry, porcelain, Danish arts and crafts. To learn more about Solvang's history, visit the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art with its delightfully decorated period rooms, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum , the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum , or the national historic landmark 1804 Old Mission Santa Inés .
EVENING
Wine and dine your way through the village with a variety of cuisines to choose - from Danish of course, to Italian, Chinese and gourmet California wine country fare. There are more than a dozen wine tasting rooms downtown (segments of the Oscar-winning movie Sideways were filmed in Solvang), so be sure to sample some of the local wines. In the summer, take in a performance at the acclaimed PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theater outdoor theatre. Stay, play and relax in the California's "Little Denmark."
Ongoing Events and Exhibits
Wildling Museum of Art & Nature
The Student & The Teacher:
Theodore Waddell & Isabelle Johnson
October 27, 2017 – February 5, 2018
Theodore Waddell, Marini's Mare, 1999
Overview: Aerial Photography of Bill Dewey
October 27, 2017 – January 2018
Bill Dewey, Morro Bay, Permanent Collection, Wildling Museum
The River's Journey: Artists Exploring the Santa Ynez River and Watershed
February 17, 2018 – July 9, 2018
Libby Smith, Waterline, gouache
Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Closed Tuesday
Elverhoj Museum of History & Art
Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Open Wednesday through Sunday
Wine Tasting Winter Pass
October - March
The Summer Pass gives you 14 wine tastings, to be used any time this winter!
Cachuma Lake Winter Cruises
November - February
Public Cruises for families, friends, singles, groups
Friday, 10 AM - Noon & 2-4 PM; Saturday, 10 AM - Noon & 2-4 PM; Sunday, 10 AM - Noon.
Annual Events
January
January 17
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
January 21 - 27
Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week - 3 course tasting menus $20.18 (excluding tax, tip & beverages)
February
February 14
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
Last weekend in February
Farstrup-Mortensen Lecture Series
March
March 10
Solvang Century, Metric & Half Century - A premier cycling event with 100 mile, 62.5 and 50 bike rides.
March 14-18
Taste of Solvang - Foodies will delight in this multi-day celebration featuring a chef's walk, sip & savory, tasting trail, wine walk and more!
March 21
Solvang Third Wednesday - This reoccurring monthly event is tons of fun. Don't miss out on special sales and the wine walk. solvangthirdwednesday.com/
April
April 20 - 23
Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend - Wine enthusiasts attend the Festival Grand Tasting and stay in Solvang!
May
May 5
Rancheros Visitadores - A local tradition featuring horseman and wagons ride into Solvang to the Mission for a blessing.
May 12
Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon - Runners will earn a delicious glass of wine in this half marathon through beautiful wine country.
May 16
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
June
June 2
Los Olivos Olive & Jazz Festival - Come listen to live jazz and sample chef prepared foods and local wines.
June 9
Old Santa Ynez Days - Bring the whole family to the street fair and parade featuring antiques and arts & crafts. syvelks.com
June 16 - 17
Live Oak Music Festival - Beautiful weather and music from all over the globe - what could be more fun?
June 20
Solvang Third Wednesday - Third Wednesday event featuring FREE concerts, special sales, wine walk and more. solvangthirdwednesday.com/
June 24
6th Annual SYV Polo Classic - Hit the polo field for this fundraising event for People Helping People.
July
July 4
Independence Day Parade, Festival & Fireworks - Celebrate July 4th & Independence Day in Solvang with a parade and fireworks.
July 6 - 23
Lend Me A Tenor The Musical - Musical theater at its finest in Solvang at the PCPA Solvang Festival Theater.
July 19
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
July 27 - August 20
Disney's Newsies The Musical - A family-friendly musical showing at the PCPA Solvang Festival Theater.
August
August 16
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
August 24
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night - Treat yourself to classic Shakespeare in Solvang at the PC PA Solvang Festival Theater.
August 25
Wheels & Windmills Car Show - Car enthusiasts will love this local charity vintage car show.
September
September 15 - 17
81st Annual Solvang Danish Days - Celebrate Danish heritage and culture with three parades, living history exhibits, aebleskiver breakfast, music, arts & crafts. solvangdanishdays.org
September 20
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
September 23 - 25
70th Annual Los Alamos Old Days - Local history and heritage will be on view at this parade and festival featuring antiques, art, and music.
October
October 5 - 9
Santa Barbara Vintners Celebration of Harvest - If you attend the Festival Grand Tasting, stop over in Solvang at our hotels and restaurants.
October 7 - November 7
Scarecrow Fest - Celebrate the harvest season with this family friendly event!
October 21
Real Men Cook - Don't miss this tasty event featuring 50 chefs, 35 premier vintners and brewers, live music, and an auction.
October 30 - 31
24th Annual Solvang Halloween Haunted House & Street Fair - We do Halloween right in Solvang. Join the fun at the street fair! cityofsolvang.com
November
November 10 - 11
Queen of Arts Show & Sale - Art lovers will enjoy this show and special sale at Elverhoj Museum of History & Art.
November 10 - 12
Vaquero Show & Sale - Come to the Santa Ynez Historical Museum & Carriage House and take a step back in time at this special event and sale.
November 15
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
December
December 1
Solvang Julefest Tree Lighting - The perfect start to the holiday season! 5PM, Solvang Park
December 2
Solvang Julefest Parade - Spread holiday cheer at this fantastic parade - it's a local favorite! 11 AM; SolvangUSA.com
December 1 - 3, 8 - 10
Shop, Mingle, and Jingle - Find the perfect gift plus deals and discounts from local merchants.
December 9 - 10
Holiday Wine & Beer Walk - Visit more than 13 tasting rooms in Solvang.
December 9
Solvang's Community Live Nativity Pageant - Bring your family to this stage presentation at the Solvang Festival Theater
December 20
Solvang Third Wednesday - Special sales, wine walk; solvangthirdwednesday.com/
Featured Events
Featured Events happening in and Around Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley.
December 1
Solvang Julefest Tree Lighting
Julefest sparkles with the annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony
December 2
Julefest Parade
Julefest Parade, December 2, 11 AM
December 9
Julefest Nativity Pageant
Solvang Julefest Nativity Pageant
December 9
Julefest Wine & Beer Walk
Julefest Wine & Beer Walk
March 14
Taste of Solvang
In its 26th year, Taste of Solvang has become a destination event for food and… More Info
