From the professionals
For more information about booking Secret Solvang tours, visit secretsolvang.com. Follow @secretsolvang on Instagram and TikTok for all the behind-the-scenes fun. Email info@secretsolvang.com with questions.
Secret Solvang, an infamous Instagram and TikTok page, went viral for revealing all the charming bits of a town that some people view as two-dimensional.
“I think people think of Solvang as being a monolith,” Wes Leslie told the Sun. “A town of bakeries and windmills and architecture and wine, maybe. But I think there’s a lot more to it than that.”
On his social media sites, Leslie has interviewed Mayor David Brown, chatted with restaurant owners, and explored funky small businesses. He started Secret Solvang as a tour guide company a little more than a year ago, walking with people throughout the city to expand their perceptions and posting about his discoveries.
In March, the company introduced Viking tours geared toward kids.
“As much as Solvang seems like a kid-friendly town, there weren’t a lot of definitive children’s activities,” Leslie explained. “I wanted to create a really fun, immersive experience where kids get to be the star of the show. Parents get to relax for a little bit.”
Best for ages 5 to 12, kids begin their experience by decorating a Viking crown they get to wear for the next hour and 15 minutes. Then the tour takes them to the Solvang Viking Museum, a bakery for a fresh aebleskiver, and the arcade at Peasants Deli and Market. Along the way the tour guide shares stories of Solvang and leads students on a scavenger hunt.
Viking tours start at Solvang Park. One adult is required per booking, and there are two sessions available to choose from on Saturdays.
Four tour guides currently work for Secret Solvang. Leslie had the idea to bring the concept to town after leading tour groups in San Francisco and Los Angeles. When he first visited Solvang, he knew the concept would transfer well.
“I just kind of fell in love with the place, thought it was so whimsical and quirky,” Leslie said.
He blended his knack for storytelling with the fantastical elements of the popular tourist destination. Within the past year, the food and culture tour has taken off.
Guests hear untold stories of the town’s history while meeting restaurant owners and tasting food from places like Ramen Kotori and Peasants Deli and Market.
“Our goal is to help skip the lines at most of these places, meet the chefs and owners where possible, and just expose people to a lot of the things they would want to experience in Solvang,” Leslie said.
The founder formed partnerships with many of his personal favorite places in town. Customers enjoy the personal touch, and everything is accessible for families and kids, too.
“The food tour used to have a lot more focus on wine, but now wine is an optional add-on, which I changed so that people understand it’s a family-friendly tour,” Leslie said.
Though there’s a big market for tourists, Secret Solvang guides also love showing locals around. Leslie said one couple has taken the tour multiple times, bringing different family members out during their visits.
“It’s fun to see that locals are excited about the tour when they hear about all of the places we go,” Leslie said.
On social media, he enjoys sharing all the positive things Solvang has to offer, although the city needs no help with branding. People have started to recognize him around town and thank him for celebrating the Danish Capital of America.
If you ever catch Leslie roaming the streets of Solvang, don’t forget to ask him for a piece of his favorite town lore and a Secret Solvang sticker.
Highlights
• A new Humvee exhibit in partnership with the Santa Maria Police Department was revealed on June 17 at the Children’s Resource and Referral Discovery Museum in Santa Maria (705 S. McClelland St.). The interactive learning exhibit is meant to evoke curiosity while exposing kids to careers in public service, transportation, and engineering. “Your local police department is always looking for positive ways to engage with our community, and this is a great opportunity to do that,” Police Chief Christopher Williams said in a press release.
• Join the community for a rock ’n’ roll bingo fundraiser on June 26 at the Boys and Girls Club of the Mid Central Coast in Santa Maria. Food, drinks, and a live dessert auction are also part of the fun, which benefits Good Samaritan Shelter. For more information, call Kirsten Cahoon at (805) 354-9307.
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in June 25 – July 2, 2026.
