Going Sideways in Solvang

These rooms were impeccable. From the Hans Grohe showerheads (top-notch!) to the elegant bedroom furniture to the framed artwork, this place has warmth, class, and style. My mother, who was visiting me in California all the way from Florida, was ecstatic. She's a butterfly and hummingbird fan, and these gardens were beautiful - full of flowering plants and loaded apple trees and tomato vines, and all within walking distance of the downtown Solvang village without being TOO close.

The management was courteous and pleasant, and the morning breakfast was perfect, from cereal to the fresh, warm pasties from the local bakery. I can't say enough wonderful things about this place! It would be a GREAT romantic getaway!

We began talking to the Solvang Gardens Lodge owner about any wine tours that he recommended, and he offered to call his friend who does private wine tours. She picked us up the following morning in her new/comfortable minivan, along with another young couple, and off we went to the Santa Barbara Wine Country. She told us the wineries that she recommended and had called ahead, and they all knew her well. Our first stop was Sanford Winery, which was also the first stop for the two stars in the recent hit movie Sideways. Beautiful and quaint, this winery has a lot of character, and they have great wines as well. Another Sideways winery we visited--just because--was Fess Parker (aka "Davy Crockett," aka "King of the Wild Frontier") Winery, which was called the highly commercialized "Frass Canyon" Winery in the movie--sort of fitting, since many people visit Fess Parker because they can't pass up going to Davy Crockett's own winery! The wines are okay, but the ambience is very lovely, yet crowded, due to the name. I've heard the same can be said about Firestone Winery; thus the reason we did not go there.