Weekend Family Getaway in Solvang

Arrive in Solvang, where you'll find a variety of hotels at different price points. No matter where you stay, you'll be within walking distance of plenty to do. We stayed at the Royal Copenhagen, and my kids absolutely loved the secret garden in the back lot!

Check-in at most places is around 3 or 4 pm, but ask your travel advisor if you'd like to request an earlier check-in. If you're working that day, taking a half-day allows for a smooth arrival around 4 pm.

First Look at Solvang

Stretch your legs after the drive and take in the sights of the town with your family. Avoid going into any stores (the impulse to buy is real) except for the clock and music machine stores, where you can show your kids a music box the size of a refrigerator. If it's winter and the sun is setting, the twinkle lights will start to come on all around, and you'll feel like you’ve been transported to another world.

Dinner: The Hitching Post II

A visit to Solvang isn’t complete without dining at this iconic steakhouse, made famous by the movie Sideways. Everything is cooked over an open flame, and since this is country cooking, stick to the tried-and-true cuts of meat. Quail is on the menu, and while it’s delicious and somewhat rare, it’s also incredibly cute. Ordering it might be a bit heartbreaking for some. If you decide to try it, I recommend the appetizer portion, which comes with a fantastic sweet mash that my girls couldn’t get enough of!

The restaurant has a full bar and a wine list featuring well-priced local wines. Feel free to indulge a little, as the restaurant offers great value on regional bottles with little to no markup, so you’ll get a great deal for your money.

Feed ostriches, ride in a horse-drawn trolley and do crafts

• Early Riser? The bakeries start opening at 8 am. The shops generally open between 10 and 11 am. That said, it’s magical to walk around at daybreak, before the streets fill up with tourists and traffic. You can stroll every street in about an hour at a leisurely pace. My six-year-old and I discovered a great little coffee shop where we grabbed our morning tea and hot cocoa. They also make incredible ham-and-cheese and Nutella croissants to share. Casa Dulce opens at 6 am

• Go for Æbleskivers: All the bakeries in town feature adorable animatronic bakers working away, and window-watching is a fun activity in Solvang. One must-try treat is the æbleskiver, a doughnut-hole-like pastry filled with sugary cooked apples. It’s sure to be a hit with the kids, and you can justify the sugar rush as part of your cultural experience. :)

• Check out Ostrichland USA: Head over to Ostrichland USA to feed ostriches and emus. Buy a small handheld feeding pan and enjoy walking around the farm while feeding these quirky, dinosaur-like creatures. It’s only a few dollars per person, and you’ll find it hard not to laugh and be fascinated by the birds up close. Kids will love it!

• Cruise Over to Los Olivos for Wine Tasting: There are plenty of great wineries to explore in Los Olivos, all within walking distance of one another. We’re members at Stolpman and always enjoy their outdoor tasting room, where the kids can join us while we sample local wines.

• Take a Horse-Drawn Trolley Ride: Hop aboard a horse-drawn trolley for a scenic tour of the town with a quirky cowboy guide who’ll tell you all about Solvang’s history. Your ticket also acts as a coupon for discounts at various spots around town. The horses only run on Saturdays and Sundays. During the week, it's a gas-powered trolley. You can buy tickets at the street corner.

• Make Something at Craft and Create: Visit Craft and Create to pick out something to decorate, like sunglasses, wooden boxes or flower vases. Then go wild with their vast selection of paints, glitter, stickers, glue guns and wood-burning tools. It’s a fun creative outlet and a quieter, seated activity to unwind.

• Dinner: Walk to a Restaurant in Town: By now, you’ve probably noticed the many Dutch-themed restaurants around Solvang. It’s a fun experience to take the kids and try traditional foods, though don’t expect haute cuisine. For something different, check out Peasants Feast (lunch or dinner.) You'll find delicious, locally sourced, seasonal dishes, plus a great kids' menu with a coloring sheet.

• In our case, we had lunch at Peasants Feast. By evening, the girls were so exhausted from the day's adventures that we ended up grabbing takeout burgers and enjoying a relaxing dinner in our hotel room!

• The California Nature Art Museum: After picking up a breakfast pastry of your choice, head over to this charming little museum. The art is inspired by and created from nature. The gift shop on the first floor was perfect for some early Christmas shopping, and the third floor has an activity center for kids, which kept my girls entertained!

• The Elverhøj Museum: Experience traditional life from the early days of Solvang at the Elverhøj Museum. It’s a short walk across town from the art museum, a nice way to stretch everyone’s legs before the drive home. When we visited, there was a kids' scavenger hunt in the art exhibits, and my girls were even gifted Swedish Legos ("because Danish ones are just Legos") for completing it.

• Get some lunch and drive home to get ready for the week! We live about 2.5 hours from Solvang, so after lunch and a treat of ice cream, we packed into the car. Within 20 minutes, my 4- and 6-year-old were fast asleep, and the rest of the ride home was silent. Now that’s a successful kids' vacation!