Solvang, CA
 

My wife and I are heading up to The Wine Valley Inn in Solvang, CA for a weekend get away. Anyone have info on the property and surrounding town??

Nothing on the property, but I loved the town. Adorable. Great cheese stores. Very quaint and laid back atmosphere. I enjoyed it and would have liked more time to just hang out and take it all in instead of just passing through.

Be sure to go beyond Solvang to the wineries for real tasting! Los Olivos is a charming, tiny town on the wine path. My favorite wineries are Foley and Longoria, espensive and worth every cent.

The Hitching Post is outside the town; the food was very good! The Belgian Cafe had a delicious breakfast- We had crepes filled with fresh fruit. They were sooo good!
Next to the book store is a little cafe; they had excellent chai tea!

A tip from Lonely Planet Road Trip book took us to Arne's Famous Aebleskivers - 1672 Copenhagen Drive in Solvang in July 2005 - FABULOUS!!!! Enjoy!

Take your own umbrella tour--stop and have a beverage at each place that has umbrellas out front! Don't miss Sunstone Winery--one of the most beautiful.

Here is a handy check-list for things to do in Solvang:
http://www.solvangstorybook.com/activities.html

Sideways Tour:
http://www.santabarbaraca.com/docs/sideways-map.pdf

The center of this next wine trail map is Solvang. This map makes it clear how to take scenic Alamo Pintado Road to Los Olivos:
http://www.santabarbara.com/winecoun...ayneztrail.asp

Some interesting facts about the small town of Los Olivos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Olivos,_California

From Los Olivos, you can jog west on 154 to Zaca Station Road to catch Firestone Winery. Then catch Foxen Canyon wine trail all the way to Betteravia Road in Santa Maria. That puts you on the 101 (in the middle of nowhere) and you can head back south to Solvang (about 40 minutes).

I like this site because it shows the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in black and white and is easy to read. (click area map):
http://www.foxencanyonwinetrail.com/

Zaca Mesa winery has carved out a couple of easy trails to the top of a great lookout over the valley below. I have taken a number of people up the trail and they all enjoy it.

Just west of Solvang on hwy 246 is Lompoc noted for its fields of flowers and downtown murals.
\http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/84871124xhbmLx

La Purisima Spanish Mission is on 246 West out of Buellton. It’s more spread and I feel more interesting then the Mission Santa Ynez in Solvang:
http://www.lapurisimamission.org/

Solvang is very unique and fun. Check out the Hans Christian Andersen museum there, especially if you're a fan of children's literature. :)

Los Olivos is a really cool place to spend time in. Arthur Earl and Andrew Murray are two places I would recommend for wine tasting. We also enjoyed wine tasitng at the Gainey Vineyards. A meal at the Los Olivos Cafe would be a nice way to end the day in the area. Enjoy your travels! ***kim*** ((f))

Keep a look-out for David Crosby (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) who lives nearby and occasionally drops by the Los Olivos Café.

Los Olivos (and all the area around it) is a magically beautiful spot. It is also the location of Neverland.

Great info, I really don't have anything else to add but to say I love the area also. :-)

Don't miss FOley Vineyards on Alamo Pintado Road and Lucas Lewellyn, which is right in Solvang. YOu won't be sorry. The Hitching Post and Mattei's Tavern are local favorites and you can't go wrong.

The forecast WAS for rain but now it's for light clouds.. so it should be nice.

Try to visit Mission Santa Ynez just east of Solvang. The setting is lovely.

Drive west to Lompac to see the flower fields. A flower seed producer maintains these fields and they are incredibly beautiful. There is an overlook (which I dont remember how to get to...requires a right turn somewhere past the center of town...sigh; locals can prob help you find it) where you can view them from above; they look like a patchwork quilt.

Hi there,
We stayed at this property several years ago when it was the Chimney Sweep Inn. It's a nice location right in town but at the end of a cul de sac so it was pretty quiet. The rooms are quite large. We liked it and I'm sure you won't be disappointed since it has been updated.

I highly recommend The Brother's restaurant at Mattei's Tavern for dinner http://www.matteistavern.com
You may need reservations.

you can find great Italian food at Grappolo Trattorio
3687 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez. 805 688 6899

For breakfast, we can't break the habit of Paula's Pancake House. It's on the main street coming in. It's always busy but worth the wait.

For red wine, we really enjoy Rusack. A beautiful location too, with nice tasting area. Right in town there is a tasting room (you can walk from the hotel) for Lucas & Lewellen.

Have fun, wish I was going!