Pet-Friendly Weekend in Solvang: Our Memorial Day Getaway With Dogs

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Solvang has always felt like one of those easy California weekend getaways that gives you a completely different atmosphere without having to travel too far. Over Memorial Day weekend, we finally visited with our dogs, and it ended up being such a cute and easy pet-friendly trip from Los Angeles.

Between the Danish-style buildings, bakeries, shops, tasting rooms, and walkable downtown, Solvang is a fun place to explore without needing a packed itinerary. That was especially nice since we were traveling with dogs and wanted the weekend to feel relaxed.

We stayed right in town, parked the car at the hotel, and didn’t move it again until we left. That alone made the trip feel so much easier.

Here’s what our pet-friendly Memorial Day weekend in Solvang was like, including where we stayed, what we did, what worked well with dogs, and a few things I would plan differently next time.

Getting to Solvang From Los Angeles

We drove to Solvang from Los Angeles, and since it was Memorial Day weekend, the drive took longer than usual. That was expected, but it was still an easy road trip overall.

Leaving Los Angeles

Once we arrived in Solvang, the weekend immediately felt simple because we were able to park at our hotel and walk everywhere. Restaurants, bakeries, shops, tasting rooms, and cute little courtyards were all close by.

Getting Closer to Solvang

If you are visiting Solvang with dogs, I highly recommend staying somewhere central. Not having to constantly load the dogs into the car or search for parking made a huge difference.

Where We Stayed: Corque Hotel, Solvang

We stayed at the Corque Hotel, Solvang, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, and it worked really well for a dog-friendly weekend.

The location was the biggest highlight. It was close to everything we wanted to do, including restaurants, bakeries, Petersen Village Square, and the main shopping areas. The hotel also had complimentary on-site parking, which was especially nice during a busy holiday weekend.

Pet-Friendly Corque Hotel

The hotel felt very pet-friendly during our stay, and we saw other dogs around the property too.

For our visit, the hotel’s pet policy included a non-refundable pet fee, a pet weight limit, and a maximum of two pets per room. Since hotel pet policies can change, I always recommend checking directly with the hotel before booking.

Corque Hotel Lobby

Corque Hotel Entrance

Overall, I would stay here again for a pet-friendly Solvang trip. It made the weekend feel easy, comfortable, and very walkable.

Why Solvang Is Great With Dogs

Solvang ended up being a really nice town to visit with dogs because so much of the experience is outdoors.

We spent a lot of time simply walking around, looking at the Danish-style buildings, browsing cute shops, and stopping for photos. We saw dogs everywhere, which made the town feel very pet-friendly.

The Little Mermaid Fountain

There were also a lot of little outdoor areas where you could pause for a few minutes, which is always helpful when traveling with pets. Petersen Village Square was especially nice because it had a cute atmosphere and places to sit.

I also loved that Solvang had public bathrooms near the public parking areas. That might sound like a small detail, but when you are walking around with dogs, it is so nice not having to find a restaurant, bakery, or shop just to use the bathroom.

Mini Windmill

Sunset Stroll

Those little conveniences made the whole weekend feel much easier.

Walking Around Town

One of the best things to do in Solvang is simply walk around town.

There are so many cute storefronts, bakeries, windmills, courtyards, and photo spots. We saw a spice shop called Solvang Spice Merchant, a year-round Christmas shop, and plenty of places that made the town feel charming and fun to explore.

Danish-themed architecture of Solvang

This is also why Solvang works well as a dog-friendly trip. You don’t have to rush from attraction to attraction. You can walk, stop, sit outside, grab a pastry, and just enjoy the town at a slower pace.

Solvang Visitor Center

Walking around town

I would also recommend stopping by the visitor center when you arrive. Sometimes they have coupons you can use around town, so it is worth checking before you start shopping or eating.

The Reality of Visiting on Memorial Day Weekend

Since we visited over Memorial Day weekend, Solvang was busy.

The Solvang Bakery

Mortensen’s Danish Bakery

We originally wanted to go to Brekkies for breakfast, but the line was way too long. We also considered Paula’s Pancake House, which is one of the classic Solvang breakfast spots, but that line was also really long.

Colorful Solvang

Another restaurant I really wanted to try was Peasants Feast. I had my eye on it before the trip, but big surprise, the line was super long there too.

That was probably the biggest lesson from this trip. If you are visiting Solvang on a holiday weekend and there are specific restaurants you really want to try, go early or be ready to wait.

For us, the better option was to stay flexible.

Hamlet Square

Our Favorite Backup Plan: Danish Pastries Outside

Instead of waiting in long breakfast lines, we grabbed pastries, and honestly, that ended up being such a nice Solvang experience.

We tried Mortensen’s Danish Bakery at Petersen Village Square and Olsen’s Danish Bakery. Mortensen’s had a nice area to sit down, which made it a good option with dogs. Olsen’s had the wider and better pastry selection, so if you want more choices, I would put Olsen’s higher on the list.

Olsen's Danish Village Bakery

Olsen’s Cinnamon Crisp

Grabbing pastries and then going to a park or Petersen Village Square to sit outside is such a nice option when you are traveling with dogs. You still get the bakery experience Solvang is known for, but you don’t have to deal with a long restaurant wait.

Bear Claw Pastry

Mortensen’s Danish Bakery

It also feels more relaxed, which is exactly what we wanted for this trip.

Where We Ate During the Weekend

We kept meals pretty simple during this trip.

For our first dinner, we ate at Craft House at Corque, which is located at the hotel. This was very convenient after driving in from Los Angeles, and it was nice not having to go far after checking in.

Prime Rib Entree

Craft House at Corque

For lunch, we ate at Panino’s Sandwiches, which was a great casual option while walking around town. It was easy, convenient, and not too heavy.

Panino’s Sandwiches

Another night, we had dinner at Cecco Ristorante, an Italian restaurant with pizza and pasta. It was a short walk from the hotel and worked well for a casual sit-down dinner.

Cecco Ristorante

Chicken Alfredo

There were several other pet-friendly restaurants I had saved, including:

• Peasants Deli

• Cafe Dolce

• Peasants Feast

• Copenhagen Sausage Garden

• The Gathering Table

• Whiskey ’N Rye

• Solvang Brewing Company

• Brekkies

• Paula’s Pancake House

We didn’t make it to all of them, and some were too crowded during the holiday weekend, but it was nice to have options saved in case we needed a backup.

Whiskey ‘n Rye

As always, I recommend checking current hours and pet policies before going because patio rules can change.

Wine Tasting With Dogs in Solvang

Wine tasting is one of the most popular things to do in Solvang, and many tasting rooms are pet-friendly.

I had planned to check one out during this trip, but due to certain circumstances, we had to scratch that plan. Even though we didn’t end up wine tasting this time, I would still keep it on the itinerary for a dog-friendly Solvang weekend.

Sanger Family of Wines

One tasting room I personally recommend is Sanger Family of Wines. I visited in 2019 with Crystal when they first opened their doors, and we really enjoyed the generous tasting. It is also right next to Petersen Village Square, so it is very convenient if you are already walking around town.

Zooey ready for a wine tasting

zooey and Captain

A few dog-friendly wine tasting options I had saved were:

• Clean Slate Wine Bar

• Toccata Tasting Room

• Lucas & Lewellen

• The Good Life Cellars

• Casa Cassara Winery

• Vega Vineyard and Farm in nearby Buellton.

Vega Vineyard and Farm is not in downtown Solvang, so you would need to drive there, but it looked like a fun option because it has wine tasting, food, and farm animals.

What Made This Trip Easy With Dogs

The easiest part of this trip was how walkable everything was.

Once we parked at the hotel, we could walk to almost everything. That made the weekend feel low-stress, especially with dogs. We didn’t have to worry about loading them into the car, finding another parking spot, or planning the day around driving.

The public bathrooms near the public parking areas were another detail I really appreciated. When you are out walking with dogs, it is so helpful to have convenient bathrooms nearby instead of needing to rely on a business.

The town also had plenty of outdoor areas, patios, and places to pause, which made it feel more comfortable with pets.

Tips for Visiting Solvang With Dogs

Stay in town if you can. Being able to walk everywhere made the trip much easier.

Check your hotel’s pet policy before booking. Even pet-friendly hotels can have pet fees, weight limits, and limits on the number of pets allowed per room.

Expect crowds if you visit on a holiday weekend. Popular breakfast spots and restaurants can have long lines, so go early or have a backup plan.

Do not underestimate the bakeries. If restaurant lines are too long, grabbing Danish pastries and eating outside can be a really nice option with dogs.

Zooey eyeing my pizza

gorgeous lobby at Corque hotel

Look for public parking areas and public bathrooms. This made walking around town much more convenient.

Keep your itinerary flexible. Solvang is a great place to wander, and some of the best parts of our weekend were the unplanned moments.

Final Thoughts

Solvang ended up being a really easy and charming pet-friendly weekend trip from Los Angeles.

The town was walkable, our hotel was dog-friendly, and there were plenty of bakeries, shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and outdoor areas nearby. Even though we didn’t get to do everything I had planned, the trip still felt relaxed and fun.

Solvang Brewing Company

If you are looking for a dog-friendly California weekend getaway that feels cute, easy, and different from home, Solvang is a great option.

I would just keep your plans flexible, especially if you are visiting during a holiday weekend. Sometimes the best plan is grabbing pastries, finding a place to sit outside, and enjoying the town with your dogs.

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