The Copenhagen of California has more to it than Danish architecture, bakeries and windmills.
Go to see a replica of the famous Little Mermaid statue, as well as a bust of the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Stay for the vast terrain, peaceful wildlife-I spotted some deer and a bobcat on an early morning horse ride-and incredible wine tasting opportunities that Santa Barbara County wine country has to offer.
I spent a couple nights in Solvang with a girlfriend, at Alisal Guest Ranch. It's the perfect girls' weekend getaway when you want to decompress, just a two-hour road trip from Los Angeles.
Tucked away in the serene Santa Ynez Valley, Alisal is a 10,000-acre ranch and resort with a 100-acre spring-fed lake, two 18-hole championship golf courses, tennis courts, a pool and hot tub, a spa and 50 miles of riding trails. The resort's Western-inspired rooms are designed with total relaxation in mind; there are no TVs or phones in the suites or studios and WiFi service is spotty.
But, this is a great excuse when you're looking to disconnect from the outside world. With fireplaces in each room, that's not hard to do here. A perfect chilly evening is best-spent fireside with a local bottle of red purchased from the hotel's General Store.
Hungry? The nightly room rate at Alisal includes breakfast and dinner for two at the Ranch Room. The rotating menu by Executive Chef Anthony Endy is comprised of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and is made up of dishes like Cedar Plank Salmon with roasted beets and sauteed spinach, Tortilla Soup and Butternut Squash Risotto with duck confit, sage, parmesan and pumpkin seeds.
Save room for wine and dessert. Anything with chocolate in it is always a good idea.
Hang around at the Oak Room before or after dinner for cocktails and live music. Unlike included meals, drinks are a la carte, but worth it. This bar offers some great people watching the later it gets in the evening.
You can also pamper yourself with a massage or facial. Alisal's signature Trailblazer massage includes a full body exfoliation with aromas of ginger-lime in a special scrub. Exfoliation is followed by a massage that focuses on relieving tension and stress from your neck, back and shoulders. Schedule yours post-horseback ride, when you'll more than likely have some soreness (the good kind!) that needs tending to.
One of the highlights when staying at Alisal is the ranch's bi-weekly breakfast ride (three times a week in summer). Hop on your favorite horse and head to the resort's historic Adobe Camp for a ranch-style buffet breakfast with a campfire, live music and lots and lots of buttermilk pancakes. If riding isn't really your thing, no worries. There's also a hay wagon available to get you to the breakfast ride effortlessly.
Another highlight: meeting and spending time with Jill Rivoli, the ranch's first ever female head wrangler. Rivoli leads a specialized horsemanship program for guests, which includes horse care training, an intro to roping, casual lead arounds and more. Schedule an early morning ride with her and carve out a little time to hang with the rest of the animals on the property.
Besides horses, you'll see goats, chickens, pigs and Rivoli's yellow lab, Cedar. If you aren't super comfortable on a horse before this trip, you will definitely have changed your mind toward the end. Rivoli is an excellent instructor who goes out of her way to pair you with a horse fitting for your personality and level of experience.
Arguably the best part about your stay at Alisal, besides the fresh air and all the animals, is the wine. Over 20 wineries and distilleries in the area, including Foley Estates, Lincourt and Carhartt Vineyard, offer complimentary tastings for Alisal guests.
I had the pleasure of meeting Brooke Carhartt, of the family-owned Carhartt Vineyard. She came out to the resort and hosted a private tasting that included a 2016 Estate Grenache, a lighter-bodied red with notes of Rainier cherry, dried rose petal, chai spice and vanilla bean. A word of advice from Carhartt, "If you like the wine, it's good." For her, it's all about personal preference.
And I think when it comes to traveling, same goes. In Solvang, you can tailor your itinerary to be as jam-packed or as loose as you'd like. All that really matters is that you have a good time.
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