Today, I am finally getting around to posting photos from our Solvang trip last August.  I had debated sharing this post because I had waited so long to share.  So, I decided to share it today.  Why? Because one, better late than never.  Secondly, summer is just around the corner, which means many people are scheduling trips and making plans for the warmer months.  Lastly, even though it’s a lot of work, writing these travel diaries has quickly become one of my favorite topics on the blog.  It’s nice to be able to look back at all the moments and relive these precious memories for years to come. That said, we were only there for four days, but I thought I would share highlights from our brief time including where we stayed, what we did and where we ate. So, without further ado, here is our Solvang Travel Diary! 

About Solvang

Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is one of Southern California’s hidden gems.  This quaint little village is full of charm, culture, and history.  It is a city that is easy to fall in love with and the perfect place to escape for a change in scenery.  Everywhere you look, there is so much beauty.  The best part, it has a very down to earth vibe that makes you feel right at home.  

Why We Chose Solvang

Like many families, we usually travel somewhere for summer.  We had originally envisioned traveling somewhere internationally.  Unfortunately, due to the current situation with COVID-19, we weren’t comfortable getting on an airplane.  But we still wanted to celebrate the little guy’s last hurrah before school started.  In the end, we figured a road trip was the answer and we decided to do a little vacation to Solvang.  Fortunately for us, it’s not too far of a drive and the perfect way to satisfy a bit of our wanderlust.  

Where We Stayed

For this trip, the hubby found a vacation rental in Hidden Valley through VRBO, and it was perfect for us! I love how it felt like home away from home and we had a pleasant stay.  There was plenty of room for two adults and a child – 1 bedroom, 1 bath, dining room area and a decent size kitchen that came fully stocked with all the essentials needed for us to cook all our meals in.  Additionally, there is a private deck that had unobstructed views of the valley.  On top of that, it had a great location.  It was less than 10 minutes from the downtown, so it was a quiet and peaceful place. 

What’s more, the little guy loves water.  So, one of our main stipulations when booking this trip was that we wanted to find a vacation rental that had a pool or at least a hot tub.  This place checked that box! 

What We Did

Day 1

This day was mostly a travel day.  

We set out Saturday morning after 11 am and the drive is about 5 hours.  However, we did stop by a couple of places along the way to help break up our time in the car and stretch out our legs.  So, by the time, we arrived at our rental home, it was almost 6 pm!  

Upon settling in, it was off to the pool for my guys while I made myself right at home.  Soon after, we made it to bed and slept like a baby for the next several hours! 

Day 2

The next day, we had plans to meet one of my friends and her family.  We began our adventures at Ostrich Land in Buelton.  It is a small ranch full of ostrich and emus! Up until our visit, we had never seen these incredible creatures up close, and I must say, it was a unique experience. 

Jumpsuit | Chambray Shirt | Shoes | Sunglasses

If you’ve never seen an ostrich before, they are big in-person! I was shocked at how tall they really were.  Along those lines, they are also quite strong! So, if you do decide to feed them, make sure that you hold on to the food tray or they will knock the feeder out of your hands because they peck really hard and pretty fast.  Though there’s not a whole to do here, if you are in the area, I would recommend stopping by.  In my opinion, it’s worth a trip and a must do at least once! 

Button down shirt | Tank top | Shorts | Shoes | Sunglasses

From there, we headed to downtown Solvang.  We didn’t have anything specific on our itinerary and just wanted to relax and go with the flow.  Of course, with restless kids in tow that often means running around!  Luckily, right across from the main parking lot, there is a park, so we spent some time here to let them expend their excess energy.  To say they loved it would be understatement! It was the perfect way to let them have their fun while the adults caught up for a bit.  

After about an hour of play time, it was time for refuel.  We ate at Osteria.  We showed up with no reservations, but they did not have any problem seating us.  They have plenty of outdoor seating available.   In fact, we had the entire back section to ourselves.  My travel companions and I had chicken sandwiches while the kids had their chicken nuggets.  It had been a while since I’ve enjoyed a chicken sandwich and it hit the spot! They also give you so much food that I could only eat half of my sandwich.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get any food pictures as we were visiting with friends, and it was important to me to be present.  

Bellies full, we made our way to Rideau! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area, like me, Solvang is home to many wineries.  It is a wonderful place to spend a relaxing day sipping wine and enjoying the scenery.  They do offer tastings here, but we just got a bottle of wine and sat outside for the rest of the afternoon catching up.  Additionally, they have a huge grassy lawn area, so the kids were happy to play and run around.  After several hours, we said our goodbyes and went on our separate ways.  We ended the day by firing up the grill back at the house and unwinding in the hot tub.  

Day 3

On Monday, we headed to the beach in Santa Barbara! It is about a 45-minute drive from Solvang.  Not only were we blessed with beautiful weather, but it was calm and quiet.  There were only a handful of people, so we literally had the beach to ourselves.  We had packed a couple of my son’s beach toys and he spent some time building sandcastles, pits or whatever came to mind.  He also tried to swim in the ocean with the hubby’s help, of course, but it didn’t last long.  Unfortunately, the water was a bit cold.  So, the little guy settled for being buried under the sand instead!  

Swimsuit | Sunglasses

After our beach shenanigans, we made our way over to the Funk Zone and stopped at Finney’s Crafthouse for lunch.  They did not disappoint! The atmosphere is laid back and this place has some seriously good food.  We filled up on pizza, hamburgers, sweet potato fries and tacos.  It was definitely yummy, and I would eat there again in a heartbeat.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it! 

T-shirt | Jeans | Shoes | Bag | Sunglasses

T-shirt |Jeans | Shoes | Sunglasses

Post-lunch, we decided to head back to the house, and we finished out the day super low key by lounging in the hot tub.  

Day 4

We kicked off Tuesday with a visit to Mortensen’s Bakery because have you even been to Solvang if you haven’t had Danish baked goods? I think not!

So, eating pastries at Mortensen’s Bakery was a must! They had lots of pastries to choose from which makes it very hard to pick.  Besides their wonderful pastries, they also offer cookies and coffee.  We eventually decided on the almond Danish as well as the custard one and it was delicious! They were very tasty, fresh and flaky.  Though it was a hot morning, we sat outside for fresh air.  

Once we were finished with our Danish treats, we spent some time just walking around the shops, exploring antique stores and taking in the beautiful architectures.  Since Downtown Solvang is quite small, everything was within walking distance, and it took us about two hours to explore from end to end.  In my opinion, just the right amount especially if you have a little one in tow.  Along those lines, if you are visiting Solvang in the late summer like we did, I would recommend visiting the downtown as early as you can so that it’ll be less hot.  It was in the high 80s at 9 am during our visit! 

T-shirt | Shorts | Shoes | Sunglasses

Dress | Sandals | Bag | Sunglasses

We then took a drive to Sunstone Winery for ambiance and wine tasting per the hubby’s request.  We spent some time in their courtyard area and it was the perfect way to just relax.  If you visit, make sure to bring a picnic and soak in the stunning view of this naturally beautiful area. 

Afterwards, we headed back to our place to relax a bit before dinner.  Once we got back to the apartment, everyone took a much-needed siesta.  Later, we decided to go back to Osteria for dinner as we really enjoyed their food the last time we visited.  Then, it was back to jumping in the pool! 

Final Thoughts

All in all, our quick escape to Solvang was just the getaway that we all needed! We had a wonderful trip, and I honestly didn’t expect to love Solvang as much as I did! It’s unpretentious, kid-friendly and is the perfect place to spend a relaxing couple of days.  If you haven’t been, I highly recommend a trip.  You won’t be disappointed! Now if I can only convince the hubby to go back during the holidays.  I hear it’s decked out and pure Christmas bliss in December! 

Do you have any summer trips planned?

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my travel page for more tips and vacation ideas!

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