Solvang and the San Ynez Valley

Well I am very late posting this and for a very sad reason.  I was sick with the flu and a sinus infection.  Luckily I am better now and FINALLY able to post this!

Almost two weeks ago Femi and I took a weekend getaway to the San Ynez Valley.  It's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours away from LA so it's a nice place to go when you want to get out of the city.  We stayed there one night in the summer of '09 on our way to San Francisco via Pacific Coast Highway.  We stayed in Solvang which is a very charming Dutch town in the heart of Southern California's wine country.  The town is adorable!  It's about three blocks North/South and six blocks East/West so everything is within walking distance.  There are cute shops, Dutch restaurants, and wine tasting rooms all nestled in this adorable town with beautiful European architecture.  Throughout the town they have windmills and clock towers.  It's so quaint and charming and after staying there in '09 I knew this was a place I wanted to stay at longer once we moved to LA.

Our hotel

We got into Solvang on a Friday night around 10pm.  After checking into our hotel, we were starving so we headed out for food.  I didn't think finding food at 10pm would be difficult.  I was WRONG!  The hotel manager recommended a pub that across the street that might still have their kitchen open.  Nope!  Luckily they directed us to the ONLY place in town still serving food.  It was a Chinese restaurant that served food until midnight.  We made our way there and even though there wasn't a single Chinese person working in that restaurant, we ordered food and it ended up being excellent.  I was so hungry it tasted divine!

I woke up on Saturday knowing I was in trouble.  My allergies were bothering me and the first thing we did that day was go to the pharmacy.  After getting some Claritan D, we headed to a lavender farm a few miles away.  Unfortunately, the lavender wasn't blooming but we shopped for products they make right on the farm.  There were soaps, lotions and other body products.  I got lavender infused honey and Femi got lavender tea.  I also got some sachets to use in our drawers and cars to make everything smell wonderful!  I'll have to go back in June and July when the lavender is blooming.

Our Purchases

Next we drove a couple more miles to Los Olivos.  He heard this town was worth seeing and we were glad we checked it out.  It has a Western feel and was also very quaint.  We went to eat at a delicious restaurant, Los Olivos Cafe.  The food was good but pricy.

After lunch my chills and body ache set in.  I took some Tylonol and pressed on.  Next we went to a wine tasting room I really wanted to visit because of the name.  It's call Coquelicot which means 'red poppy' in French.  I have recently become obsesed with poppies and will soon be decorating my new place with a red and aqua poppy color scheme.

The wine tasting was great, our server was excellent, and we left with some wonderful wine.  After that we went to another tasting but didn't enjoy it as much because the woman was rude.  Before leaving we discovered some tasting rooms with interesting names!

They spelled the name wrong but I will forgive them!

In honor of his Best Man

We got back to our hotel exhausted.  I felt so tired and continued to have chills and body aches.  Before taking a nap I was determined to set out on a journey to find aebleskiver.  I read about them online and was told I simply had to try them.  They are like pancake mix, formed into golfball sized spheres, and covered with raspberry jam and powdered sugar.  I set out from the hotel and in a matter of minutes I passed a long line of people standing outside a restaurant.  I knew what the line was for.  Sure enough, in ten minutes I had my hands on some aebleskiver myself.  They were wonderful!  Just writing about it makes me want more.  After stuffing my face with deliciousness, I took my much needed nap.

That evening we ate at a Dutch restaurant and went out to the only place that is open late (until 10pm!)  It was also packed seeing as it is the only place open past 7pm.  It was a fun atmosphere and there was a live band which had a great sound.  I wasn't feeling well at all but I refused to let that stop me from seeing Solvang.  The bar had a vintage Vegas theme and overall it was very fun!

I'm sad I wasn't able to see much of Solvang.  Femi says we will just have to go back again sometime soon.  I took some pics of our hotel which I highly recommend.  We stayed at the Wine Valley Inn and Cottages and have no complains about the experience.  Our room even had a fireplace which feverish me enjoyed very much!