Road Trip to Solvang: Wine and Happy Hour
by Maren Swanson This crazy LA heat wave has made me sluggish, tired and unmotivated. Not that I'm surprised - these symptoms bother me every year around August. So instead of complaining about it, I'm making an impulsive decision to take a cool drive up the PCH and head to the Danish town of Solvang. Solvang has become one of my favorite road trips to make while I've been living in California. About two and a half hours drive up the coast, one can escape to wine country for tastings, shopping and even "happy hour." Once you enter town, you can't help but notice the large windmills, red and white flags and wooden clogs that decorate the quaint area. Tourists, local and international, feast on ethnic dishes and visit tasting rooms laced throughout town. Let's just say "charming" is an understatement. Usually my boyfriend and I stay at the same place, The Wine Valley Inn. We love it there; cottage style rooms, coi ponds, fireplaces in the rooms, free breakfast and a friendly staff. Last time we arrived, the concierge recommended that we check out their wine bar in the side lobby room. During the weekdays, 5pm - 8pm and on the weekends, 5pm - 9pm, you can sip and mingle with other hotel guests at the Wine Valley Inn with glasses of wine available for $8. However, from 5pm - 6pm nightly they host a happy hour with $3 glasses of wine - now you're speaking my language! The lobby has cozy sofas, a crackling fireplace and complimentary cheese and crackers available for noshing. Antique furniture with modern embellishments create an inviting atmosphere with a romantic tone that sets the mood for most of the couples attending. Everyone just seems a little more in love than usual (and possibly just warm and fuzzy from their earlier tastings). One of the pairs we met shared their love story of meeting in high school and gave their advice for sustaining a long-lasting relationship - I definitely took notes. The bartender, whom had worked there for years, offered us recommendations for the best local restaurants and activities. After chatting up some of the other guests, we returned to the bar a few minutes past the hh, but we were still allowed a $3 pour. Everyone we met was super friendly and the lobby get- together was a great idea, considering most of the tasting rooms in Solvang and neighboring towns close around 4 or 5pm. Plus, you can purchase bottle of local wine in your room for as low as $15! Besides our hotel happy hour, we will be excited this weekend to hit up some other local wineries in Lompac, Los Olivos and Buelton. Tasting rooms including Lincourt, Foley, Epiphany, Qupe and Consilience are definitely on our list. After booking an affordable room for your visit, you can pay anywhere from $10 - 20 (higher for premium wines) for individual tastings and after hitting a few vineyards, sharing is not only economical, but a good idea all together. If you are the adventurous type, hit up the newly renovated Chumash Casino right in town with excellent food and plenty of slot machines. So, what are you waiting for? The words: ROAD TRIP are calling your name. Take a break from the heat, get in your car and take a picturesque drive up north. Plenty of wine, stellar views and friendly people may just be in your short term future. Wine Valley Inn - Happy Hour 1564 Copenhagen Drive Solvang, CA 93463 (323) 662-9024 Follow me @MarenSwanson