Planning a trip to Solvang, California? This small Danish village in the Santa Ynez Valley is known for its windmills and wine tasting rooms — but there's a lot more to fill a day (or a weekend) with. Whether you're visiting for a weekend getaway, a girls' trip, or a day trip from Santa Barbara, here are 5 things to do in Solvang beyond the tasting room crawl.
1. Say Hello to the Ostriches at OstrichLand USA
Where: Just south of Solvang on Highway 246, between Solvang and Buellton
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. Budget about 30-45 minutes here; it's an easy add-on if you're already driving between Solvang and Buellton.
2. Pedal Through Town on a Surrey Bike
Where: Rental stands near Solvang Park and along Copenhagen Drive
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. Best done earlier in the day before the afternoon heat picks up.
3. Step Into Local Art and History
Where: Mission Drive (California Art and Nature Museum) and Old Mission Santa Inés
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 Ines 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
Where: Downtown Solvang, along Copenhagen Drive and Alisal Road
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
Where: Mobile — comes to your vacation rental, hotel, or venue in Solvang, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, or Montecito
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 — 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, 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.