The Other Side of Solvang: The Garden Lover’s Guide to California’s Danish Village

I’ll admit it: I had never spent a full 24 hours in Solvang. My visits had always been more of a pastry pit stop during a wine-country frolic or a quick shopping detour through the Santa Ynez Valley. Grab a Danish, wander past the windmills, maybe pick up something cute, and keep moving. But recently I slowed down and walked the streets of downtown, paired with a few side-quest adventures not too far away from the little town’s center square. Suddenly Solvang revealed a very different personality: natural wines paired with a vinyl soundtrack, amazing Thai food just a short, darling walk from my hotel, a spice shop that has inspired future meals back home, and more.

The beauty of this itinerary is that you don’t have to choose between classic Solvang and the agricultural side of the destination. Spend the morning wandering downtown with a pastry in hand, then use this guide to discover the flower fields, vineyards, gardens, nurseries, and working farms tucked into the valley. Along the way, there are plenty of unexpected little discoveries that reward you for lingering a little longer.

Let the surrounding flower farms, vineyard-dotted hills, and horseback rides through the countryside be your inspiration to slow down and see Solvang’s botanical beauty a little differently.

Flowers and Farms

Courtesy of Highline Adventures

Highline Adventures Protea Flower Tour

Get an up-close look at one of California’s most unexpected crops on a guided tour through Highline’s protea fields. These sculptural, otherworldly flowers thrive in the region’s Mediterranean climate. If you’re a thrill-seeker, you can even add a zipline experience to get an unexpectedly wild areal bloom view.

Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm

Follow Highway 246 west from Solvang to a fragrant farm filled with rows of lavender and seasonal flowers. Visit during bloom season for the full sensory experience, or time your trip around the farm’s lavender festival and seasonal events.

Lavender Fields Forever Farm

Add another dose of lavender to your itinerary at this family-run farm, where the focus is on growing, harvesting, and distilling lavender into products made right on the property. It’s a particularly good stop for anyone who likes their garden inspiration with a little retail therapy—not to mention plenty of photo ops if you decide to u-pick in the fields. 

Horseback Riding at Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard

Saddle up for a scenic horseback ride through Buttonwood’s vineyards and farm, taking in the landscape from a decidedly different vantage point. The experience includes a complimentary wine tasting, making this one of the most memorable ways to experience Solvang’s agricultural side. Check out their seasonal events which include music nights and cooking classes. 

Courtesy of SolvangUSA

Gardens and Plant Shopping

Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden

Take a break from tasting rooms at this living showcase of plants suited to the Santa Ynez Valley. It’s an easy, low-key stop for garden inspiration and a reminder that there’s much more growing around Solvang than grapes.

Manzanita Nursery

If you’re a traveler who can never resist a good nursery, this is your excuse to make room in the car. Browse plants suited to the region and get a closer look at the kinds of Mediterranean-climate landscaping options that thrive here.

Meadow Studio Flowers

This newer floral shop brings a fresh, contemporary sensibility to Solvang’s flower scene. Stop in for a beautifully arranged bouquet, or simply to see what local flowers and seasonal stems are inspiring the shop right now. Grab a scoop around the corner at Santa Ynez Valley Creamery when you’re done.

Forage Florals

More than a flower studio and beautifully curated gift shop, Forage doubles as an intimate, design-forward gathering space for small events, workshops, showers, retreats, and creative get-togethers. Think beautifully styled tables, abundant floral details, candles, and the studio’s signature moody, romantic aesthetic.

Courtesy of Solvang Spice Merchant

Picnic and Pantry

Solvang Spice Merchant

A tiny-but-mighty stop for cooks who like their souvenirs edible. Pick up spices, blends, and pantry finds to extend the flavors of the valley long after your weekend is over.

SYV Pantry

A garden-inspired road trip deserves good provisions. Browse a curated selection of local and specialty foods to stock up for a picnic, pick up take-home for dinner, or simply snack between farm stops.

Stica

Make this design-forward market your grab-and-go stop before heading out into the countryside. Pick up prepared foods, picnic provisions, and thoughtfully sourced market finds to pack for a garden-hopping afternoon. Or stock up on something delicious to bring back to your hotel.

Colin Brady

Eat and Drink

peasants FEAST

Make dinner part of the agricultural itinerary at this farm-minded favorite, where seasonal ingredients and produce-driven cooking keep the focus on what’s growing around the region. It’s the perfect place to end a day of farm hopping.

KANOK Thai Cuisine

When you need a break from Danish fare, make a beeline for KANOK. The eggplant dish and larb were genuinely life-changing—bold, deeply flavorful, and exactly the kind of meal you’ll find yourself thinking about long after the garden tour is over.

Ramen Kotori

For a break from wine-country fare, tuck into a bowl of comforting ramen at this cozy Japanese spot. It’s an easy, casual option after a day of hiking, horseback riding, and garden hopping. Their unexpected and frequently-rotating dessert menu is a welcome change of pace from the Danish bakeries downtown.

Analogue Room

A gathering place for music lovers in the Santa Ynez Valley, this intimate listening room revolves around a high-fidelity sound system and curated, vinyl-only music program. Settle in with a rotating selection of wines, craft beers, and thoughtfully made nonalcoholic drinks. The perfect way to wind down after a day of shopping and farm hopping.