Animals first, wine later: the Santa Ynez Valley with kids starts at OstrichLand at 9am, where every kid gets a feeding bowl ($1). Then nets or ziplines next door and an afternoon in Solvang. Day two, a weekend: Nojoqui Falls, the Folded Hills goats and Kunekune pigs, then lunch at Vega, where $5 of lettuce feeds the animals.
The short version
- Under 5: the Pony Encounter from age 2, or Highline's net playground
- Ages 10 and up: the zipline tour, 75 lb minimum
- Parents on a budget: the Botanic Garden in Buellton, and the Vega animals for $5 of lettuce
- Rainy day: the Viking Museum and the Nature Art Museum, free under 13
- Picking a day: Saturday and Sunday, when the Farmstead and Pop's Place are open
This week
- Nov6–8Buellton Fall Festival · Visit Buellton
Avenue of the Flags; Fri 4-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm; carnival rides, live music on two stages; Ales on the Avenue beer and wine tasting Sat (tickets) · Free · by City of Buellton
- FriNov 6NatureTrack Film Festival · Visit NatureTrack Foundation
8th annual; reception 6pm, program 6:45pm at the SYV Grange Hall · $25 · by NatureTrack Foundation
- SatNov 7SYV Historical Museum Vaquero Benefit Dinner & Auction · Visit Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
42nd annual · Tickets (early bird from Aug 1) · by Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
- SatNov 7Alma Rosa Fall Harvest Dinner · Visit Alma Rosa Winery
Winery event; check access on the listing · Not published · by Alma Rosa Winery
Go for
- Watching the game: Solvang Viking Museum
- Families: Vega Vineyard & Farm, Nojoqui Falls Park and Highline Adventures
- Bringing the dog: Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden
- Brunch: Vega Vineyard & Farm
- A picnic: Folded Hills Farmstead and Nojoqui Falls Park
Map
Map loads here. Each listing also has a Directions link.
Scroll the list and the map follows.
The 2-day plan
Built for a Saturday and Sunday, starting from Solvang. Drive times assume no traffic.
Day 1: birds, nets and the village
- 9am: OstrichLand, 5 minutes from Solvang Park. Hold the bowl with both hands.
- 10:30am: Highline Adventures, next door to OstrichLand off Highway 246. Little ones get the Skynet Playground; kids 10 and up who weigh at least 75 lb can do the zipline tour, about 2.5 hours. Book ahead.
- Lunch: back in Solvang, 5 minutes away. Our Solvang restaurants and bakeries guides have the hours.
- 2pm: Mission Santa Inés (self-guided until 4:30pm), then the Viking Museum or the Andersen Museum.
- 4pm: a surrey from Wheel Fun Rentals, open until 7pm on weekends, with the last rental an hour before close.
- Evening: see this season below for what is on after dark.
Day 2: falls, farm animals and ponies
- 10am: Nojoqui Falls Park, 18 minutes south. The short trail to the falls, then the playground. Bring snacks for later.
- 11:15am: the Folded Hills Farmstead, 7 minutes away, open Saturday and Sunday from 11am. Pigs, goats, mini donkeys and a mini Highland cow.
- 12:30pm: lunch at Vega, 6 minutes on. Pop's Place has the playground and food truck (Sunday until 4pm), and lettuce for the animals is $5.
- 2:30pm: a booked Pony Encounter or river ride in Buellton, 4 minutes from Vega, or the free Botanic Garden in the same park.
What's happening this season?
From November 27: Julefest. Solvang's Christmas season runs Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The light and music show, which needs no ticket, plays in Solvang Park on the hour, 5pm to 9pm, every night; Santa poses for photos at Santa's Village on weekends from Nov 28 to Dec 20, noon to 4pm; and kids can hunt for hidden nisser with a clue list from the Visitor Center. The tree lighting is Friday, Dec 4 at 5:30pm and the parade Saturday, Dec 5 at 11am. See our Solvang Christmas guide.
Any time of year: the Lompoc flower fields bloom from April to September, and Surf Beach, 49 minutes west, allows leashed dogs from October through February. More in things to do in Lompoc.
Ages, prices and hours
What each place publishes for kids. Times are by car from Solvang Park.
| Place | Ages | Kids price | Open | From Solvang |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OstrichLand USA | All ages | $7 + $1 a bowl (reported May 2026) | Daily 9am to 6pm | 5 min |
| Vega animal feeding | All ages | Free; lettuce $5 | Daylight; Pop's Place Sat and Sun | 8 min |
| Folded Hills Farmstead | All ages | No fee listed | Sat and Sun 11am to 5pm | 13 min |
| Pony Encounter | 2 to 12 | $114 | By appointment | 9 min |
| Skynet Playground | 2 and up | $20 kids, $10 adults | Up to 90 minutes | 5 min |
| Zipline tour | Suggested 10+; 75 lb minimum | From $139 | About 2.5 hours | 5 min |
| Nojoqui Falls Park | All ages | No fee listed | Daily 8am to sunset | 18 min |
| SYV Botanic Garden | All ages | Free | Sunrise to sundown | 9 min |
| Lake Cachuma | All ages | $10 per vehicle | Daily 6am to sunset | 20 min |
| Mission Santa Inés | All ages | $5 ages 6 to 12; under 6 free | Daily 9am to 4:30pm | 2 min |
| Solvang Viking Museum | All ages | $5 ages 8 to 12 | Daily | In town |
| California Nature Art Museum | All ages | Free, 12 and under | Closed Tue and Wed | In town |
Animals to feed and ride
Four places where kids get hands-on with animals, from a feeding bowl at the ostrich farm to a pony ride at age 2.
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Ostrich and emu farm, Highway 246 · Outside Solvang
OstrichLand USABook
Every kid gets a feeding bowl and the birds come to the fence: more than 80 ostriches and 70 emus on 32 acres. The farm's own advice is to stand back and hold on to the bowl. Rates rise on most holidays and three-day weekends, and the paths are dirt, so skip the sandals.
Go if the kids want ostriches first: start here, then head into Solvang for pastries.
- Open
- Open every day. Daily 9am to 6pm; gates close 5:45pm
- Price
- $7 a person, $1 a bowl (SLO Tribune, May 2026)
More details
- No alcohol on the farm
- Dogs on a leash, kept away from the feeding fences
- 5 min (2.5 mi) from Solvang Park
610 E Highway 246, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-686-9696
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Editor's pickFarm restaurant with an animal feeding zoo · Edge of Buellton
Vega Vineyard & FarmReserve
94 pts Vinous on the 2023 Dal Prato
An 1853 ranch where kids hand-feed chickens, goats, pigs, emus and sheep for the price of a $5 bundle of lettuce. On weekends Pop's Place adds a playground, cabanas and a food truck, and there are tractor rides. The animals sleep after sundown, so go in daylight. Inside the restaurant and tasting room, kids stay at the table.
Go if you want a weekend farm lunch: Pop's Place runs Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
- Open
- Lunch daily from 11am; weekend brunch from 10am
- Price
- Animal visits free; lettuce $5 a bundle
- Getting there
- Just south of Highway 101 on Santa Rosa Rd, about 2 min by car from Avenue of Flags
Go for Brunch
More details
Press Billy Norris gave its 2023 Dal Prato 94 points. Vinous, Aug 29 2025
- Tractor rides at weekends
- No animal visits after sundown
- 8 min (4.3 mi) from Solvang Park
9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-688-2415
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Ranch farmstead with walk-in animals · Gaviota
Folded Hills Farmstead
The Farmstead, across the road from the Folded Hills tasting room, is open to walk in on weekends. Kids can scratch ears and feed Kunekune pigs, goats, miniature donkeys, llamas, sheep and a mini Highland cow named Hubba Bubba. There are U-pick fields and a farm shop, and room for a picnic.
Go if it's a Saturday or Sunday and you can pair it with Nojoqui Falls, 7 minutes away.
- Open
- Open Saturday, Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Farmstead Sat and Sun 11am to 5pm
- Fee
- No fee listed
Go for A picnic
More details
- Walk in; no admission price or booking listed
- U-pick fields and farm shop
- 7 min from Nojoqui Falls; 13 min (8.3 mi) from Solvang Park
2323 Old Coast Highway, Gaviota, CA 93117 · 805-694-8086
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Pony rides and river trail rides · Buellton
Santa Ynez Valley Horseback RidesBook
The one horse outfit here built for small kids. The hour-long Pony Encounter is for ages 2 to 12, kids 6 and up can join a parent on the Family Fun Ride, and trail rides along the Santa Ynez River take riders 8 and up. There is a petting zoo too, $15 for 30 minutes.
Go if your kids want to ride, not just look. Book ahead; long pants and closed-toe shoes.
- Open
- Daily year-round by appointment, except major holidays
- Fee
- Pony Encounter $114 per child
More details
- Pony Encounter: ages 2 to 12, about an hour
- Petting zoo $15 for 30 minutes
- Helmets provided; cancel 48 hours ahead for a full refund
- 9 min (4.6 mi) from Solvang Park
151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-693-4600
Outdoors and burning energy
A waterfall trail, nets and ziplines, a free garden, a lake with boats and a surrey to pedal around town.
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Ian Shadford, CC BY-SA 3.0 County park with a seasonal waterfall · South of Solvang
Nojoqui Falls Park
A short trail leads to a seasonal waterfall, and the park has a playground, ball fields, picnic tables and barbecue grills, so it works even when the falls are a trickle. The water depends on recent rain; call County Parks if you are driving out just for it.
Go if it rained recently and you've packed a picnic: that's when the waterfall runs best.
- Open
- Open every day. Daily 8am to sunset
- Getting there
- Down Alisal Rd, about 18 min by car from Copenhagen Dr in Solvang
Go with The kids
More details
- Playground, ball fields, BBQ grills, restrooms
- Bikes not allowed on the trails
- 18 min (6.7 mi) from Solvang Park
3250 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-568-2460
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Ziplines and a kids' net playground · Buellton
Highline AdventuresBook
Two ways in, depending on age. The Skynet Playground takes kids 2 and up for up to 90 minutes, at $20 for kids and $10 for adults. The zipline tour wants riders between 75 and 275 lb, suggests a minimum age of 10, and needs a parent or guardian on the waiver for anyone under 18.
Go if you've got a mix of ages. Closed-toe shoes only, and tie long hair back.
- Price
- Skynet Playground $20 kids, $10 adults; ziplines from $139
Go with The kids
More details
- Skynet Playground: ages 2+, up to 90 minutes
- Zipline: 75 to 275 lb; suggested minimum age 10; plan 2.5 hours
- Entrance off Highway 246 just past OstrichLand coming from Buellton
700 E Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-556-4049
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Free native-plant garden, RiverView Park · Buellton
Santa Ynez Valley Botanic GardenBook
A free garden of plants native to the Santa Ynez River watershed, inside RiverView Park in Buellton, where the pony rides start. It is open sunrise to sundown every day, and leashed dogs are welcome. In December it runs its Holiday Lights Festival, a ticketed night event.
Go if the kids need a run-around before the drive home.
- Open
- Open every day. Sunrise to sundown daily
- Fee
- Free
Go with The dog
More details
- Free; donations encouraged
- Leashed dogs welcome
- 9 min (4.6 mi) from Solvang Park
151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-245-5603
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Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0 County lake park, Hwy 154 · Lake Cachuma
Cachuma Lake Recreation AreaBook
Nobody swims here: it is a drinking-water reservoir, so there is no body contact with the lake. Kids come for the boats and the Neal Taylor Nature Center. The county's naturalist-led lake cruises are out of service until further notice.
Go if you want boats and a nature center; the lake cruises are out of service until further notice, so call 805-686-5055 before counting on one. The lake is drinking water, so no swimming; the park pool opens around Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Open
- Day use 6am to sunset
- Fee
- $10 per vehicle
More details
- No swimming or wading in the lake
- Boat rentals: renters 18+ with a license
- 20 min (11.9 mi) from Solvang Park
2225 Highway 154, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 · 805-686-5055
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Surrey and bike rentals, downtown · Solvang
Wheel Fun Rentals SolvangBook
Rent a surrey cycle and pedal the family around downtown Solvang, a block from Solvang Park. The last rental goes out an hour before close, and everything depends on the weather. The single, double and triple surreys are $35, $45 and $50 an hour. Hybrid bikes are $45 for a half day and $55 for a full day, and e-bikes are $60 for a half day and $65 for a full day.
Go if it's a weekend afternoon and everyone wants wheels. Closed Tuesday.
- Open
- Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday. Mon, Wed and Thu 10am to 5pm; Fri 10am to 6pm; Sat and Sun 10am to 7pm; closed Tue
More details
- Closed Tuesday
- Last rental 1 hour before close
- On First Street, a block from Solvang Park
475 First Street, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-0091
Rainy-day Solvang
Four indoor stops within a few blocks of Solvang Park, each with its own kids price.
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Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0 1804 mission, self-guided · Solvang
Old Mission Santa Inés
Founded in 1804, a two-minute drive from Solvang Park. The self-guided tour is open every day, kids 6 to 12 pay $5 and under-6s are free.
Go if you need a mid-afternoon stop between OstrichLand and the bakeries.
- Open
- Self-guided tours daily 9am to 4:30pm
- Price
- $5 ages 6 to 12; under 6 free; adults $9
More details
- Self-guided tours 9am to 4:30pm daily
- Closed New Year's Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas
- 2 min from Solvang Park
1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-4815
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Viking ships and costumes, downtown · Solvang
Solvang Viking Museum
Two Viking ship reproductions, Snorri and Godfred, plus dresses from the TV series Vikings: Valhalla. Ages 8 to 12 pay $5, and it is open every day, on Copenhagen Drive.
Go if your kids are into ships or the Vikings shows.
- Open
- Open every day. Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm; Sat 10am to 5:30pm; Sun 10am to 5pm
- Price
- $10; $5 ages 8 to 12
Go for The game
More details
- Open daily
- Groups of 5 or more: 20% off
1660 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-693-5000
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Fairy-tale author's museum, upstairs · Solvang
Hans Christian Andersen Museum
Upstairs at The Book Loft, a small museum about the Danish author of The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. The bookstore downstairs sells his stories, which makes an easy souvenir.
Go if you're downtown anyway; it's open every day.
- Open
- Open every day. Daily 10am to 5pm
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Nature art museum, formerly the Wildling · Solvang
California Nature Art Museum
Art about California's wild places, in the museum that used to be the Wildling. Kids 12 and under get in free, so it costs one or two adult tickets for the whole family.
Go if it's a weekend; it's closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Mon, Thu and Fri 11am to 4pm; Sat and Sun 10am to 5pm; closed Tue and Wed
- Price
- Kids 12 and under free; adults $7
More details
- Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
- Museums for All: free with a CalFresh/EBT card
1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-1082
Wineries that welcome kids
Only adults 21 and over taste, but some estates are built for a family afternoon. Sunstone in Santa Ynez allows supervised children and picnics, Buttonwood has lawns and vineyard trail rides for riders 7 and up, and Brick Barn in Buellton hands out free bubbles. Vega and Folded Hills, above, have the animals. Hours and rules for each are in our family-friendly wineries guide.
Where to stay with kids
Solvang hotels with kitchens or lofts are in the rentals section of our Solvang hotels guide. Flying Flags in Buellton has cabins, vintage trailers and pools (see camping and RV parks), and Lake Cachuma rents yurts. Want a whole house? Read vacation rentals in the Santa Ynez Valley first: the rules depend on which town the house is in.
Plan your day
- MorningBreakfast first: Breakfast in SolvangDanish pancakes to bear claws
- MiddayGo tasting: Wine tasting in SolvangNebbiolo to Rhône in an adobe
- EveningBook dinner: Solvang restaurantsBib Gourmand chicken to aebleskiver
- LateNight out: Solvang happy hoursSpritzes, Industry Night, 8pm deals
- OvernightFind a bed: Solvang hotelsNordic rooms to a 1946 ranch
Good to know
Where can kids feed farm animals near Solvang? OstrichLand USA on Highway 246 hands out feeding bowls daily. Vega Vineyard & Farm on Santa Rosa Road sells $5 bundles of lettuce for its goats, pigs, sheep and emus, in daylight only. The Folded Hills Farmstead lets kids feed its animals on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 5pm, with no fee listed.
What is free to do with kids in the Santa Ynez Valley? The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden in Buellton is free every day, sunrise to sundown. Visiting the animals at Vega is free (lettuce is $5), the Folded Hills Farmstead lists no fee, and the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang is free for kids 12 and under.
How old do kids have to be to ride horses near Solvang? Two, for the hour-long Pony Encounter at Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides in Buellton ($114). Its Family Fun Ride takes kids 6 and up with a parent, and its river trail rides take riders 8 and up. Buttonwood's vineyard trail rides require riders 7 or older and at least 48 inches tall.
Quick answers
What can you do in the Santa Ynez Valley with kids?
Feed the birds at OstrichLand (daily 9am to 6pm), book a Pony Encounter for ages 2 to 12 in Buellton, feed goats and pigs at Vega or the Folded Hills Farmstead, and walk the short trail at Nojoqui Falls. In Solvang, the Viking Museum charges $5 for ages 8 to 12, and the California Nature Art Museum is free for kids 12 and under.
What is there for toddlers near Solvang?
The Pony Encounter at Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides starts at age 2, and so does the Skynet Playground at Highline Adventures ($20 for kids, $10 for adults). OstrichLand, the Vega animals, the Nojoqui Falls playground and the free Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden suit any age.
Can kids swim at Lake Cachuma?
Not in the lake. It is a drinking-water reservoir, so swimming and wading are banned. Kids can still rent a boat with a licensed adult, visit the Neal Taylor Nature Center or watch for wildlife from the shore; the county's lake cruises are out of service until further notice.
Sources
tap to open
- OstrichLand USA: visit and FAQs; SLO Tribune (May 16, 2026), prices
- Vega Vineyard & Farm and Folded Hills
- Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides
- Highline Adventures; Skynet Playground prices (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Santa Barbara County Parks: Nojoqui Falls Park and Lake Cachuma
- Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden
- Old Mission Santa Inés, Solvang Viking Museum, Hans Christian Andersen Museum, California Nature Art Museum
- Wheel Fun Rentals Solvang
- Visit Solvang: Harvest, Haunts & Happenings 2026 and Visit Solvang: Julefest
- Drive times: OSRM car routing (routing.openstreetmap.de), without traffic.
Last updated Oct 26, 2026. We never copy reviews or business photos. Prices, ages and hours change, so confirm with each place before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
