Scott and I met some friends in Solvang on Saturday. (Hi Ryan and Lisa!) It was an unplanned trip which I find make some of the best. We mosied around the Danish town noshing on cheese plates, marveling at the decor, giggling at horse drawn trolleys, sipping wines at some of our favorite tasting rooms and dancing to tunes at the Solvang Brewery. On the way home, we made a quick stop to say hey to a few hungry ostriches and emus. Below are my musts for Solvang and Insta moments from the trip. Enjoy, and don’t forget to check out the pics from our last trip to Solvang!
Solvang Musts
Succulent Cafe: Share a cheese plate and the spicy fried chicken sandwich laced with Point Reyes blue cheese and Sriracha. Wash them down with a couple glasses of the local Viognier.
Cali Love Wine: Start your tasting room tour at this laid-back spot offering live music and friendly people (and friendly puppies). My favorite of their wines is the Pink Moon Rosé, but the others are also really tasty. The labels are beautiful and always don a cute name like Pony Boy Pinot Noir. Say hi to the owner Amanda for me and be sure to join the cool club aka their wine club. You get free tastings every time you’re in town and a shipment of wine quarterly. They’re also happy to send you in the right direction of other great spots in town. Speaking of…
Sevtap: Amanda at Cali Love suggested that we stop by Sevtap for a tasting. The owner Art is hilarious and more than happy to chat with you about his lovely wines. Feel free to let your inner artist out and draw messages for future visitors on their chalkboard walls. My favorites on this visit were the Nola Merlot and Precious Chardonnay (and I’m not usually a Merlot or Chardonnay fan.) Arturo set me straight.
Dascomb Cellars: Another great spot suggested by our friends at Cali Love! Scott and I just love to stop in and say hello to Nate. (Hi Nate!) The other wine peeps are quite nice too. My top choices are the Viognier, Meritage and Port. Scott joined their wine club so we’re excited to enjoy more of their wines. They’re puppy-friendly too!
Solvang Brewing Company: A good place to stop into after the tasting rooms close. We were a bit sad at first to learn they didn’t have karaoke that night (only Thursdays), but the live music made way for some memorable dance moves. Special thanks to Scott and Ryan for heating up the dance floor.
Cafe Dolce: Kick your day up a notch with some espresso and ice cream at this cute little cafe.
Solvang Restaurant: Stop by the walk-up window to pick up an order of the famous Danish treat — Aebleskivers!
Paula’s Pancake House: Sit out on the patio to enjoy some yummy grub in the sunshine, or sit inside to experience the bustling restaurant with waitresses dressed in traditional Scandinavian garb. Save this spot for brunch the morning after.
Mystic Merchant: My friend Lisa will read your aura, tell you all about your sign and help you pick out a crystal your spirit is drawn to. This last one I didn’t know until we dropped into this colorful shop. They have crystals, Ganesha statues, incense and readings in the back. If you like shiny things, you must stop in.
Hamlet Inn: Scott and I stayed here the last time we were in town. The rooms are minimal with vividly colorful walls, and they offer the basics for a night or two in town. Bonus: Cute bikes you can borrow to cruise around! Unfortunately they were booked up, which happens quite frequently so reserve as soon as you think to go visit! We ended up staying at the Solvang Inn & Cottages, a simple place that was perfect for an affordable one-night stay. They have a pool too!
Ostrichland: OMG! This was so fun and so terrifying! On our way out of town we stopped by Ostrichland to feed and squeal at emus and ostriches. A visit for two including two bowls of food was $10. We laughed so hard at seeing these birds up close. The females are super aggressive so you really have to hang onto those food bowls with both hands! I am still laughing as I write this.
There are a ton of other great places in this quaint town. Really you can’t go wrong. Don’t overplan. Just get your butt to Solvang now!
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