As I previously mentioned in my Mt. Baldy post, my quest to seize my home state has been a goal of mine this year, and so far I’m not doing too shabby.  This past Valentine’s Day, my wonderful, sweet boyfriend took me on a trip to Solvang.  Literally the cutest little Danish town dropped in central California, and it’s only a two hour drive from L.A.  Surprisingly, I had never heard of this place, but it quickly became one of my favorite getaways.

Here are a few of my favorite things from the trip:

• Solvang Gardens Lodge – we stayed at this cute little boutique inn that was simply perfect.  It’s at the end of the main drag in Solvang, so it’s a lot more peaceful.  It came with a free continental breakfast, and our room had a back door that opened up to a beautiful garden strung with lights, to relax and have a blissful glass of wine.
• Wine tasting at Demetria Estate Wines, one of the best wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley.  The wine is delicious and the views are breathtaking.  We purchased 5 tastings for $20 per person.  I suggest going earlier in the day, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy.
• The chocolates and baked goods?  Yep, they are to die for.  Head over to The Solvang Bakery, and pick up  a couple of danishes.  No pun intended.
• Mad & Vin.  Where do I begin?  Located in The Landsby hotel, this is the best resto in Solvang.  Not only is the Scandinavian decor on point and ripe for Instagram photos, the food is mouthwateringly delicious.  Chef Seth Nathan does a great job of fusing cultures and tastes, and I love that he keeps vegetarians in mind, so there is something for everyone.  There wasn’t one thing we did not like.  We can’t wait to go back!

The whole trip was awesome, and I definitely plan to take more trips to Solvang.  Next stop, Joshua Tree!

Have you visited the Santa Ynez Valley? What are your favorite spots?   Share with me in the comments.
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