Going Dutch in dog-friendly Solvang
Solvang has to be one of the cutest towns in California and is the 'Danish Capital of America'.
We stopped here for the day on our way from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo and it was so worth it! It’s a relatively small town that was very dog-friendly and easily walkable. The town itself is full of traditional Danish style buildings that look like they’ve time travelled from a fairy tale, including the obligatory windmills, so have your camera ready. Oh, and if you have a sweet-tooth then you’re in luck as Solvang has lots of bakeries that are full of buttery, flakey Danish pastries and other goodies.
THINGS TO DO
Solvang Town Centre
There are too many interesting buildings to list, so I'll just recommend that you find a good spot to leave the car and then head out on foot to explore as there is no wrong way to go... You'll be amazed at how many Danish themed buildings there are in close proximity and it’s so much fun to just walk around the streets..
If you do want a starting point, then I’d recommend Copenhagen Drive (lots of bakeries and small shops) and then branching out as you see things that catch your eye. Explore the streets until you reach Mission Drive, which has lots of colourful buildings and places to eat.
Many of the stores are dog friendly, especially the boutique / giftware style stores and we saw plenty of water bowls out on the street too.
Solvang is very photogenic!
Solvang Park
Nestled in the middle of town is the very pretty Solvang Park, it has lots of seating, some sculptures and lots of grassy space. In terms of amenities, it has public bathrooms and dog drinking fountains which can be handy if you’re just visiting for the day. We found the park was a great spot to take a break from the midday heat, but the views from here are pretty good too - as the park is also surrounded by interesting shops and buildings.
Little Mermaid Statue
This statue is replica of the iconic one in Copenhagen (but without the crowds!) and is only a five minute walk from the centre of town.
Danish Bakeries
You’ll definitely work up an appetite walking the streets of Solvang. While your dog might not be able to go inside a bakery to pick out a yummy Danish treat, they will be welcome on the many patios outside. Even if their begging eyes don't convince you to share, the flakiness of the pastry means they'll probably be busy hoovering up scraps before they can even hit the ground…. Some bakeries display their goodies in the window and the buildings are super cute too, so lots of opportunities to window shop and get some cute snaps while you’re trying to choose what to taste first.
Sooo many amazing Danish Bakeries to try out!
Windmills
Solvang has five windmills and walking (or driving) around to see some, or all of these with you dog is a must do and offers some great photo ops:
The Blue Windmill - this smaller sized windmill is located in Hamlet Square on Copenhagen Drive and is surrounded by a small open air shopping area that you can wander through.
Solvang Brewing Company - have a smaller sized windmill in their beer garden on Mission Drive. They weren't open when we were there, but it looked like it would be a fun spot to have a beer on a hot day.
Kronborg Inn - this windmill is located outside the Kronborg Inn on Mission Drive
Paaske or Solvang Windmill - can be found on Alisal Road in downtown and its also nearby the Round Tower (a 1/3 replica of the one in Copenhagen).
Sorenson Windmill - is a bit further out of town, on Old Mill Road and is located at the bottom of the hill near the Mission
Now that’s a big fan!
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Wine Tasting
If you are staying a bit longer in or have a designated driver then you’re in luck as Solvang has a number of wine tasting rooms that also welcome well behaved dogs. You can find a list of these at SolvangUSA.com
Hans Christian Andersen Museum
The famous fable writer from Denmark has a dedicated museum in Solvang that is not only free, but dog friendly! We didn't have time to go on this visit, but it would definitely be a fun activity to do with your dog.
GETTING AROUND
While we found there was ample parking that was inexpensive, Solvang is very much a walking town. While there may be parts that you want to drive to see, such as some of the windmills, for the most part the central area is very flat and compact.
EAT
Apart from indulging in plenty of pastries, we also had a delish lunch at Peasants Feast who had a large outdoor courtyard. The portions were generous, the staff were lovely and Beatle enjoyed lounging under an umbrella with a bowl of water. As we weren't in town for very long we didn’t get to try any other restaurants, but we did spot some other great looking 'on theme' places that had outdoor seating options, including Solvang Brewing Co and Brod & Kage Danish Mill Bakery
IN SUMMARY
In terms of travel times, Solvang is a pretty easy 2.5 hr drive from LA or only 45 mins North of Santa Barbara. While you can easily see all the main sights in a day, it would also be a perfect weekend destination as there is so much to see and do. For more info on dog-friendly accommodation, shops and restaurants visit SolvangUSA.com