How to Spend a Day in Solvang, California: The Danish Capital of America
Solvang is one of the most charming towns in California. All the buildings are Danish-style, and there are yummy Danish bakeries, tons of Danish restaurants, and so many more fun Danish things.
It’s a magical place to visit during the holiday season because it has the wonderful small-town feel, a cheerful energy, and countless holiday decorations. I love feeling like I have been transported to Europe while still being in California!
There are so many unique things to do in Solvang, California and it’s the perfect place to visit for a day trip from Santa Barbara.
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Get Breakfast at a Bakery
For a great start to the day, grab a bite and some coffee (or a delicious chai latte) at a bakery! You can eat there or take it to go and stroll around town while you sip and snack.
Birkholm’s is a great one! They have a huge selection of pastries, cookies, and breads that are just so good! I highly recommend grabbing a tub of Danish Butter Cookies to take home with you.
We got some delicious cherry danishes at Solvang Bakery as well! They have the cutest millennial pink tables and chairs out front that make for some adorable photos.
According to solvangusa.com, these are the local favorites:
Visit The Shops in Downtown Solvang
There are tons of shops throughout downtown Solvang and if it isn’t too crowded, it’s fun to walk down the street and just pop into the ones that catch your eye! Below are a few I’ve been to, but there are so many more great ones too!
Jule Hus
Jule Hus sells Christmas cheer-filled items all year round! Solvang is a popular spot to visit during the holiday season, but no matter what time of year you go, you’ll be able to pick out the perfect Christmas ornament from this shop.
Solvang Spice Merchant
This charming shop has more spices than I knew existed, and has their own special mixes too. I stocked up on cinnamon, star anise, and cloves for some homemade mulled wine — yum! On our recent visit, I also grabbed a lemon pepper spice mix for fish, tofu, and salads.
Hats Unlimited
There are tons of hats to choose from at this hat store. Hats are not only practical, but I really love them for photos. They just make photos feel more put together! I didn’t have any luck finding a hat here because most were “one size fits all” and my head is abnormally tiny, but anyone with non-tiny heads should be able to find something.
Solvang Shoe Store
This is a local store where you can try on and purchase traditional clogs, as well as modern shoes and brands.
Admire the Danish Sights
Giant Clog
Outside of the Solvang Shoe Store is a giant clog! It’s not the most exciting site in town, but it is most definitely not something you see every day—or ever.
Windmills
What’s a Danish town without windmills? There are four wooden windmills in Solvang, with the most popular, called Solvang Windmill, on Alisal Road.
Addresses of Solvang windmills:
436 Alisal Rd.
1622 Copenhagen Dr.
1547 Mission Dr.
1440 Mission Dr.
Little Mermaid Fountain
This fountain with a statue of the Little Mermaid is a half-scale replica of the famous one in Copenhagen. It’s unassuming and doesn’t draw the crowds that the original one does, but it’s a lovely little statue worth a stop.
Address: 1693 Mission Dr.
Hans Christian Andersen Park
Stroll down to the park to check out the skate park, visit the playground, or have a picnic at one of the benches. The entrance to the park is a castle arch! Inside the park you’ll also find a large grassy field, trails with bridges, and large oak trees.
This is probably an ideal spot if you’re visiting with kids, but it’s also a pretty spot for adults too!
Atterdag Square
Tucked away from the main downtown is the quaint Atterdag Square. It has a couple restaurants and a winery, but really it’s just a cute spot to stop and walk around.
Go Olive Oil Tasting For free
There are a few olive oil shops in Solvang where you can taste various olive oils for free! We visited Solvang Olive Press and were wowed by their large selection of both olive oils and vinegars.
They even have oil and vinegar pairings for you to try together — many I never would have thought to pair! If you find one you like, you can buy a bottle! I really loved the Tahitian Vanilla olive oil and the mango balsamic vinegar.
Get Lunch at a Local Solvang Restaurant
Solvang Restaurant: Home of Arne’s famous Aebleskiver (see below)! This is one of the more popular restaurants in town, and I haven’t eaten here yet. It is on my list for our next visit!
Copenhagen Sausage Garden: They have a variety of sausages to choose from with tons of self-serve sauces, plus beer! I got a vegan sausage and it was delicious. They have a large outdoor garden where you can enjoy your meal, or you can take it to go It was crowded the day we went, so we opted for a to-go order without beer and ate it in the nearby park.
Panino: For a casual lunch, grab some sandwiches and drinks at Panino and eat in their outdoor seating area. The sandwiches were yummy and we enjoyed the sunshine outside. They also have soups and salads, but we opted for bags of chips with our sandwiches.
Eat Aebleskiver for Dessert
Head to Solvang Restaurant (if you didn’t already eat here for lunch) to get some of their famous Aebleskivers! What is aebleskiver? Well, it tastes like a cross between a pastry and a donut, and it is topped with raspberry jam and powdered sugar.
They have a walk-up window outside for to-go orders of aebleskiver, sausage, coffee, and drinks. We waited in line for 20 minutes to get ours, and they were worth it! You can even get an excessively generous portion of vanilla ice cream on top.
Try Local Solvang Wines
The Santa Ynez Valley is wine country! There is a great selection of wineries in downtown Solvang where you can try all the local wines. If you visit during fall/winter, they even have my favorite: mulled wine!
Explore the Art Galleries
Solvang has many art galleries throughout the downtown area that you can stroll through. Some have contemporary art, others have modern art, and some even have older art (like Dalí sketches).
Tour Old Mission Santa Inés
If I’m near a mission and have time for a tour, I will always take it! Maybe it’s my interest in California history, or just the beautiful Spanish architecture, but I love missions (despite not being religious at all!).
This is the 19th of 21 missions in California. It’s a pretty tiny one compared to others like Mission Santa Barbara or Mission Carmel, but it does have some cool historical artifacts inside and a lovely fountain outside.
It also has a cemetery, which is morbidly one of my favorite parts of the missions.
Feed Ostriches at Ostrichland
I had no idea how much enjoyment feeding ostriches and emus would bring me, but this was by far the best part of my day.
There is an entrance fee per person to get in and see the dinosau—I mean, ostriches, plus an additional $1 if you want a feeding bowl.
These birds are ginormous and so unbelievable up close. My brain could not make sense of these truly prehistoric animals that it was staring at one foot away. They were so cute and majestic!
While they do sell ostrich meat in the gift shop (I was really bummed about this), the ostriches at Ostrichland are pets, not used for meat.
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