Solvang has built its reputation on rolling vineyards and cozy tasting rooms — and for good reason. But this little Danish village tucked into the Santa Ynez Valley has a lot more going on than what's in your glass. Whether you're visiting for a weekend getaway, a girls' trip, or a slower-paced Central Coast escape, here are five experiences worth building your itinerary around.
1. Say Hello to the Ostriches at OstrichLand USA
Just outside town, OstrichLand USA lets you walk right up to full-grown ostriches and emus and hand-feed them from a cup of pellets. It's a little unexpected, a little chaotic, and genuinely fun for both kids and adults — the kind of stop that turns into everyone's favorite photo from the trip.
2. Pedal Through Town on a Surrey Bike
Rent a surrey bike — those old-fashioned, canopy-topped four-wheelers built for two, four, or more riders — and cruise through Solvang's windmill-lined streets and Hans Christian Andersen Park. It's an easy, low-effort way to see the whole town at a relaxed pace, and it's a fun group activity if you're traveling with friends or family.
3. Step Into Local Art and History
The California Art and Nature Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum), right on Mission Drive, focuses on landscape art and conservation and often features hands-on activities, making it a great rainy-day option or a nice change of pace between wineries. It's also where Sol Aromatics has hosted perfume-making workshops for many years, so keep an eye out for seasonal events pairing the two. A few minutes away, Old Mission Santa Inez offers a quieter look at the region's Spanish colonial history, with gardens and a small museum worth wandering through.
4. Sample Something Other Than Wine
Solvang's food scene goes well beyond Danish pastries (though the kringle and æbleskiver are worth the stop). Several local shops offer free olive oil tastings. If you time your visit right, the town's seasonal events — from Danish Days to the holiday lights of Julefest — add an extra layer to a trip that might otherwise revolve entirely around vineyards.
5. Create Something to Take Home: A Private Perfume-Making Experience
If you want a stop that's interactive rather than another tasting room, a private natural perfume-making experience with Sol Aromatics is one of the more memorable ways to spend a few hours in Solvang. Led by Susan Farber — a natural perfumer and certified aromatherapist — small groups are guided step by step through blending top, heart, and base notes from a curated collection of botanical essences, and every guest leaves with a signature scent they made themselves.
It's a favorite for bachelorette parties, birthdays, couples' date nights, and girls' getaways throughout Solvang, the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, and Montecito — and unlike a wine tasting, it's something you'll literally carry home with you. Best of all, it's mobile: Sol Aromatics comes to you, whether that's your vacation rental, a local winery, museum, or gallery, or another venue of your choice, so it fits neatly into an existing wine-country itinerary rather than requiring you to add another stop.
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Planning Your Solvang Trip
The best Solvang trips mix a little of everything — wine, yes, but also history, nature, and something hands-on you can't get anywhere else. Whether you build your day around ostriches, art, or a bike ride through the village, leave room for at least one stop that isn't a tasting room.