1 Day Solvang Itinerary – 24 Hours in the Santa Ynez Valley

Feed the Ostriches at Ostrichland

Your next stop will be a pretty interesting zoo: Ostrichland! This 33-acre zoo located in Buellton features over 100 different birds, all of which are either ostriches or emus. When you arrive, you’re given an option to purchase a pan of bird feed for $1. Personally, I thought this was well worth the price, especially for the experience of feeding these creatures yourself. 

After paying, you exit into the zoo itself, which has these large enclosures that are just full of ostriches and emus. Walk downhill to get a closer look at them and, if you bought the bird feed, this would be the best place to do it. 

I had a really fun time when I was there. I bought a pan to feed the birds so I was going up to them and feeding them by placing the pan above or through the middle of the fences that made up the enclosure. The workers and signs will tell you to hold your arm outstretched as sometimes they might peck you, but that didn’t happen to me. It was definitely one of the more unique and fun things I did in Solvang and should be on every 1 day Solvang itinerary.  

Go on an Olive Oil tasting at the Olive and Lavender Farms

Next, we’re heading to the town of Los Olivos to visit an attraction that just opened recently: the Olive and Lavender Farms (yes, that’s the real name). Opening in April of 2022, the Olive and Lavender Farms are dedicated to all things Olive Oil. California produces 99% of the olive oil of the United States, so coming here is a must to try their unique flavors. You can also do an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting here, and the best part is that it’s totally free!

Just go up to the counter in their store and say that you want to do a tasting. They’ll give you some bread and a tray filled with different olive oils and balsamic vinegars. You then go to their patio where they have some tables and chairs for you to do the tasting. 

The olive oils tasted phenomenal. They were so rich and came in about 12 different flavors. The balsamic vinegars were a little strong for me but still very good. If you liked any of them you can then buy some at their store. This is one of the best free things to do in the Valley so I’d recommend stopping by. 

Next, head to Santa Ynez for your next stop on this 1 day Solvang itinerary. 

Enjoy Wine Tasting at Sunstone Winery

After feasting on olive oil, head to the town of Santa Ynez and to Sunstone Winery. As wine is a big part of the culture of the Santa Ynez Valley, you need to do a wine tasting while you’re here. The absolute best place to do that is Sunstone Winery. Opened in 1989 and starting out as a family owned business, Sunstone Winery’s location and landscaping makes you feel like you’re in Tuscany. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy some wine, and their wine is also top-notch. 

I would highly recommend making a reservation on their website, especially if you’re visiting at a very busy time. The best part is they allow you to bring your own food to the tasting (I won’t recommend doing this though as you will be eating in Solvang a little later). Spending an hour enjoying the atmosphere and sipping wine is the best way to spend a mid-day break. 

After finishing the last of your wine, head next to Solvang for the rest of the itinerary. 

Explore the Danish Architecture and Eat Your Way Around Solvang

Now it’s time for the meat of the itinerary. Head on over to the last (and probably best) town on this itinerary: Solvang! From the moment you enter, you’ll see the striking and beautiful Danish architecture that every building in the main area of Solvang was designed with. 

Solvang started when Danish families from the east coast wanted to find an area to settle down in that was more west than where they came from. They settled on this little slice of the valley, mostly because it was close to the Mission Santa Ynez. The rest, as they say, is history. Fun fact: while Solvang was instituted in 1911, the Danish style buildings only popped up after World War II. 

For this part of the 1 day Solvang itinerary, I would recommend walking through the town as you make your way to the Mission Santa Ynez. I recommend stopping at the Solvang Bakery and the Copenhagen Sausage Garden for lunch. The Copenhagen Sausage Garden in particular has authentic Danish sausages, which were incredibly tasty when I had them, so I’d recommend stopping by. 

As you walk around, be sure to admire the architecture and step into any stores that interest you. There’s one store in particular that I’ll highly recommend you visit (and it is mentioned in this itinerary below), but you can visit after touring the mission. Try to find every single windmill in the area as well! There should be one by the Solvang Bakery which makes for good photo spots. 

Then, after you’ve had a good look at the area, head to the Old Mission Santa Ynez for the next part of this 1 day Solvang itinerary. 

Wander the Historic Grounds of the Old Mission Santa Ynez

On the edge of town sits the Old Mission Santa Ynez. Founded in 1804 and named after St. Agnes of Rome, the mission was chosen to be a halfway point between Mission La Purisima Concepcion and Mission Santa Barbara. It was the third to the last mission to be built and is thought to be one of the best preserved missions, although it was destroyed by an earthquake in the early 1800s. Solvang was actually built where it was because of the mission, and developed around it in the early 1900s. 

Once you enter its grounds head for the entrance of the museum. After paying the entry fee, head into the door right beside the counter. This is the church’s museum, which includes some pretty interesting artifacts like priest vestments, old church bells, rare art, ancient songbooks, and even a small altar.

After viewing the museum, you’ll then enter the main church itself, which is still being used for services today. It has a simple but beautiful interior. The main altar is simple but striking, and the green and red flower motifs that are inlaid throughout the main hall make the space seem a lot more inviting. 

You’ll then exit onto the grounds, where you can see a small cemetery, as well as a nice garden area with a pretty fountain. Take as many pictures as you want, then head outside. All in all it should take you about 30 minutes to tour the mission. Once you’re done, head to the other side of Solvang to the Elverhoj Museum. 

Learn More About Solvang in the Elverhoj Museum

All the way on the other side of town, the Elverhoj Museum is THE place to visit if you’re looking to learn more about Danish culture and the history of Solvang. Elverhoj’s building was built in a style derived from large farmhouses that were found in Denmark two centuries ago. It’s the town’s preeminent art and history museum.

Exhibits include a small section on glass figurines, a room modeled to look like the typical Danish-American household from a century ago, and another room full of antique furniture and machines used by Danish-Americans. Plaques provide interesting information on the formation of the town. It’s a small museum and should only take you about 30 minutes to get through. It’s also a free museum, but the suggested donation amount is $5. 

Once done, head back into town and to the Book Loft!

Learn About Hans Christian Andersen at The Book Loft

After leaving the museum, head on over to the main street of Solvang. About halfway up the left side of the street is the Book Loft, an independent bookstore. The ground floor is like a regular bookstore. They sell books of different genres and, while it’s not the largest store, it’s still a pretty great place to spend a few minutes browsing. 

But this store is in this itinerary because of its second floor. On the second floor is a small museum dedicated to Denmark’s most famous author: Hans Christian Andersen! They’ve got copies of his books on display, including some old editions of his most celebrated works, as well as some of his artwork (he was both a celebrated author and visual artist). 

I didn’t even realize until I toured the museum myself that he had written some of the most recognizable stories of all time, such as the Little Mermaid and the Ugly Duckling. The museum is a great little tribute to his life and work, and anyone wanting to learn about his life should definitely visit.