WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 265
California · Couples · Two nights

Solvang & Santa Ynez Valley

Danish pastries and Santa Barbara wine.

Solvang was founded by Danish settlers in 1911, and its windmills, half-timbered bakeries and gift shops sit in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Land at Santa Ynez Airport a few minutes away, stay at a boutique hotel in Solvang or at the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos, taste along Los Olivos’s main street, have dinner at the Hitching Post II from the movie “Sideways,” and visit the 1804 Mission Santa Inés.

WineSmall townRomance
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
A Danish-style windmill and half-timbered shops with Danish flags in Solvang
Danish-style Solvang.
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to IZA
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~2031 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~13 hr 49 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car or wine driver

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

A small valley airport.

IZA, Santa Ynez Airport/Kunkle Field, is a non-towered county airport at 674 feet with a 2,803-foot runway, about five minutes from Solvang.

The FBO

Santa Ynez Airport

Santa Ynez Airport, Santa Ynez, CA

805-688-8390

A short runway with glider operations off the dirt approach zone to Runway 26; noise-abatement heading on departure from Runway 26 when safe. Santa Maria (KSMX) and Santa Barbara (KSBA) have long runways about 30–40 minutes away. No live fuel price is shown.

Southern California flying: coastal marine layer and low ceilings on many mornings (especially May to July), Santa Ana winds and turbulence in fall, busy Los Angeles airspace, and mountains between the coast and the desert. About 2030 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.

02 / Where to stay

Boutique hotels, a historic inn and a ranch.

Rates and availability need travel dates. Book weekends early.

03 / Where to eat

Wine-country dinners.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

Wine, windmills and a mission.

Tasting rooms are busiest on Saturday afternoons.

05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Solvang events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample wine-country weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at IZA, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    Pastries and a walk around Solvang.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at Bar Le Côté.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    Wine tasting with a driver.

  2. Afternoon

    Los Olivos tasting rooms.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at the Hitching Post II.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    Mission Santa Inés.

  2. Before leaving

    Compute takeoff performance and allow time at the FBO.

  3. Fly home

    Coastal fog lifts by late morning; afternoon winds build.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging, then a wine driver.

Very long flight

About 2,030 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.

Short runway

2,803 feet; use KSMX or KSBA if you need more.

Best seasons

April to November.

Reviewed · Destination 265

Reviewed November 6, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.