Just two hours from Los Angeles, this Danish-inspired village offers a charming weekend escape filled with family-friendly attractions, distinctive shops, delicious food and Santa Ynez Valley adventures.
Sometimes, you need to escape to old-world charm without spending a whole day getting there. Just two hours north of Los Angeles, Solvang offers a little taste of Europe: Danish-inspired architecture, vintage shops and bakeries serving up pastries you’ll be thinking about long after you leave.
I’d visited this “Danish Capital of America” before, but had never stayed overnight. Recently, I had two days to discover more of what the quirky village and its surrounding wine country have to offer.
Art and culture on foot
With a couple of hours to spare before checking into my hotel, I stopped by the California Nature Art Museum. Named the Santa Ynez Valley News’ “Best Art Gallery of 2024,” this museum boasts three floors of exhibits, educational resources and a hands-on learning center for kids. Its mission is to “inspire love and care for nature through art exhibitions and programs.”
Because downtown Solvang’s streets are narrow, driving can be cumbersome. If you’re able, I suggest exploring the village on foot. Everything is within walking distance, and the streets are well-marked, well-lit and well-populated.
Planning a Solvang Getaway?
- Distance: Approximately two hours north of Los Angeles.
- Where to stay: The Winston Solvang, a 14-suite boutique hotel in downtown Solvang.
- Family activities: California Nature Art Museum, Solvang Toyland, Solvang Park, Ostrichland USA and a local ghost tour.
- Where to eat: Paula’s Pancake House for Danish pancakes and V-Lounge for sushi.
- Nearby excursion: Zaca Mesa Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, which welcomes families and offers outdoor games and play areas.
- Getting around: Downtown Solvang is highly walkable, making it easy to explore shops, restaurants and attractions on foot.
A boutique stay with a colorful personality
My home-away-from-home was a beautiful gem of a hotel called The Winston Solvang, sandwiched between Fitzpatrick’s Tavern and Solvang Fine Art. The Winston’s rustic building fits the town’s aesthetic, but once you step inside, you are surrounded by surprising modernity: colorful walls, three-story-high ceilings and an open, airy foyer.
In lieu of a reception desk, the hotel adopts an “invisible service” concept, meaning everything is keyless, automated and controlled by you, the guest. From checking in to guest services to checking out, everything is done online and with the ease of your smartphone, tablet or laptop. It’s an eclectic and forward-thinking concept. And it works.
The two-story boutique hotel offers stairs and an elevator and comprises 14 suites (all larger than standard hotel rooms). The prominent feature, The Clocktower Suite, is a whimsical, split-level apartment perfect for anniversaries, honeymoons and other special occasions. It is also literally inside a clocktower, complete with chimes every hour on the hour.
What The Winston lacks in volume, it makes up for in style and individuality. All 14 suites are uniquely designed, with vibrantly colored interiors, varying themes and artwork courtesy of the owners. Some pieces are sweeping and grand in scale; others are tailored for each room. I especially loved my six-panel display of butterflies native to central and Southern California.
My suite was expansive and impressive. With 20-foot ceilings, deep-turquoise walls and furnishings in calming shades of brown, copper and gray, the aesthetic struck me as an interesting mashup: a little Native American-inspired art here, a little neoclassical influence there. The spacious patio offers a semi-private, peaceful retreat and the suite’s large windows offer views of nearby rooftops.
The Winston spares no expense on your sleeping experience. King-size and deeply comfortable, the bed is a dream. For families or larger groups, alternative sleeping options are available. Just text the number provided upon checking in, and the staff will work to meet your requests.
The bathroom is a completely open plan; privacy is more of a suggestion than a guarantee. If you’re traveling with a partner, friend or family, you may want to establish some bathroom boundaries before settling in.
Fun fact: Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards Tasting Room offers guests of The Winston a complimentary charcuterie board and wine on Saturdays! Plan your stay accordingly.
Dining, wine and a little mystery
Later that evening, I met up with travel colleagues for dinner at V-Lounge, a newly reconfigured sushi restaurant and bar attached to The Vinland, a sister property just a three-minute drive west of The Winston. The lounge is operated by Chef Karoline Schwartz, corporate director of food and beverage for a portfolio of Highway West Vacation properties.
All Highway West properties in the Santa Ynez Valley offer guests access to the other hotels and their amenities, like pools, hot tubs, gyms and restaurants! Sharing is caring with this chain. Schwartz indulged us in a specially curated tasting menu of sushi and cocktails concocted by alcohol-chemist extraordinaire Gavin. The V-Lounge is currently the only sushi restaurant in the Santa Ynez Valley and is not to be missed.
To cap off our night, we got to partake in a 90-minute ghost tour of the village! Things got spooky, but I think the chills were mostly from temperatures that dipped into the 50s. The activity was a great way to uncover Solvang’s historical lore.
After the food and the fun, returning to my room was like a hug that I didn’t know I needed but was so grateful to receive. My shower was hot with perfect pressure, and the bed may have been the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on.
Beyond Solvang: Exploring the Santa Ynez Valley
Day two began early with a very short walk to the famous Paula’s Pancake House. Pro-tip? Get there before 9 a.m. to secure a table, as this place fills up fast. The menu is packed with goodness, including easy options for kids. The Danish pancakes are perfection. Wear loose pants.
After breakfast, we visited Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos, a 25-minute drive north into the Santa Ynez Valley. Gorgeous is an understatement. Sweeping views provided the scenery for this exquisite winery. There is no restaurant or café on site, but Zaca Mesa allows guests to bring their own food at no extra cost. The vineyard prides itself on being family-friendly, with giant games (chess! Jenga!) and play areas. The best part? No reservations are required. I could’ve stayed there all day, but there was more to see in the village.
We spent the rest of the day walking the streets of Solvang. Everything is practically a stone’s throw from The Winston. Solvang Toyland is an absolute treat for kids from 1 to 92, and Pebble People specializes in classic cuckoo clocks and other neat souvenirs. We checked out a cool consignment store, The Clique, which teens and Gen Xers will undoubtedly love, but as a Millennial, I side-eyed its “Vintage 2000s” section.
Other great stops: the countless sweet shops and bakeries, clothing stores, bookstores and parks, including the postcard-worthy Solvang Park (1st Street and Park Way), just across the street from The Winston. Oh, and I fed llamas at Ostrichland USA! A high point for any member of the family who’s an animal lover like I am.
There is truly so much to do in Solvang, and two days are just not enough. Even after dinner and a tour around the grounds of yet another Highway West property, Sideways Inn in Buellton, and its adjoining luxury RV resort, Flying Flags, all I wanted to do was plan a trip to come back.
As the night came to a close, my belly was full of s’mores and my mind full of all the sights, baubles and best-kept secrets of Solvang. Still, the event I looked forward to most was returning to my room at The Winston Solvang, a hotel that captures the unique charm of this enchanting little town.
Tiffany Hobbs is a teacher, photographer and radio talk show host in Los Angeles.
