SOLVANG:

  

Solvang is known as “Little Denmark,” the Danish capital of America.

Solvang will be celebrating the 100^th year of the town’s founding in 2011.  Aaborg, Denmark is Solvang’s sister city.  The population of this rustic Danish town is only 5,332.  The altitude is 495 feet.  Los Angeles is 132 miles away and San Francisco is 297 miles away.

MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN SOLVANG:

Third weekend of March: Taste of Solvang and Wine Festival: a culinary-wine event and walking smorgasbord dessert reception

April: Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tale Festival

June 1 – mid-September: Outdoor Solvang Theaterfest features plays and musicals

Mid-September: Danish Days - concerts, torchlight parades, colorful flags and costumes, street dances

TIME ON YOUR HANDS IN SOLVANG:

  

As you might expect, Old-World Danish architecture (half-timbered walls, steeples, cupolas, stained glass windows, copper and thatch roofs) and Danish public murals dominate the landscape.  This architectural look prevails throughout the community.

If you look closely, you’ll see wooden storks decorating several roof lines - the Danes believe that a stork gracing a roof brings good luck.

SAVVY TRAVEL TIP: For a good overview introduction to Solvang, hop aboard the Solvang Trolley, a Belgian draft-horse-drawn replica of a 1915 historic wooden streetcar.  You’ll tour the town’s major sights.  Board at Copenhagen drive near the visitors’ center.  Prefer to do it yourself?  Rent a bicycle for six at Wheel Fun Rentals.  For more information, please call 805-688-0091.

  

View the replica of Copenhagen’s famous seventeenth century Rundetaan (round tower) and the town’s four windmills.

An ornate clock-tower plays seasonal tunes.

The Velkommen til. Elverhoj Museum of Danish History and Art displays a permanent collection and changing heritage exhibits of Scandinavian art and crafts.  The museum offers a nice gift shop with Swedish dining linens, jewelry, crafts, glassware, ornaments, and decorator items.  The museum offers very limited hours.  The Velkommen til. Elverhoj Museum of Danish History and Art is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, while open Wednesday and Thursday: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday: noon - 4:00 p.m.  The museum is located at 1624 Elverhoy Way and can be reached by calling 805-686-1211.  There is a suggested donation of $3.00 per person in lieu of admission charge.

  

The Hans Christian Andersen Museum is what you might expect, a museum dedicated to Andersen’s works.  The museum is open daily: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Book Loft Building, located at 1680 Mission Drive and can be reached by calling 805-688-2052.

See the Hans Christian Andersen Statue.

The Little Mermaid bronze statue, a 1:2 scale replica of the original in Copenhagen’s Harbor, was dedicated on July 20, 2011, at Denmark Square, at the corner of Mission Drive and Alisal Road.  The fountain and statue are a centerpiece of Denmark Square and were dedicated on July 20, 2011.

  

Old Mission Santa Ines, established in 1804, is a National Historic Landmark.

Tour a lavender farm or several area wineries.

The area, for inexplicable reasons, seems to attract animal farms.

Quick Silver Ranch, a miniature horse farm, is located 30 miles north of Santa Barbara, between Solvang and Ballard.  The ranch is open daily 10:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  

Democrats looking for donkeys have found “da place”: Seein’ Spots Farm (thought it was dangling chads) specializes in raising miniature donkeys!  The farm is located at 2599 Baseline Avenue and can be reached by calling 805-686-1458.

There’s more: Ostrich Land is a 23-acre compound with over 100 roaming ostrich and emus.  Ostrich Land is located at 610 East Highway 246 in Buellton and can be reached by calling 868-686-1456.

More??  Pacific Breeze Alpacas is at 1590 Edison Street in Santa Ynez and can be reached by calling 805-717-0046.

  

You wouldn’t expect to encounter a motorcycle museum, but there is one, the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum, during weekends-only 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Call to arrange for mid-week visits: 805-686-9522.

Farther afield from Solvang, you can visit Hearst’s Castle in San Simeon, a 110-mile one-way scenic coastal drive from Solvang via picturesque Pismo Beach and Morro Bay.  To reach Hearst’s Castle, travel along Highway 246 west to Highway 101 North to San Luis Obispo, then take Highway 1 to the castle.  See separate alphabetical listing for San Simeon.  There are no known tour operators providing tours from Solvang to San Simeon.

TASTY DINING IN SOLVANG:

While all cuisines are available, you did not visit Solvang to have dim sum.

Danish cuisine consists of:

Breakfast: Ableskiver is small, light and airy Danish pancake balls filled with jam.  Medisterpoise are huge pancakes and Danish waffles are hot dog-shaped stuffed with buttercream and raspberry jam.

Lunch and dinner: Danish sandwiches coated with powdered sugar.

Frikadiller are meatballs, medisterpolse is Danish sausage, and smorrebrod are open-faced sandwiches.

 

There are a number of Danish cuisine restaurants including:

Bit O’ Denmark: The restaurant is open Monday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.  Bit O’ Denmark is located at 473 Alisal Road and can be reached by calling 805-688-5426.

Red Viking is known for its Danish smorgasbord that is served daily.  Danish Aebleskiver and jam is available at breakfast.  The restaurant is open daily 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Red Viking is located at 1684 Copenhagen Drive and can be reached by calling 805-688-6610.

  

The Little Mermaid: serves Danish Ableskiver and pastries, Danish pork or roast beef sandwiches.  The restaurant has a Danish décor and is open daily 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.  The Little Mermaid is located at 1548 Mission Drive and can be reached by calling 805-688-6141.

IN SEARCH OF A GOOD NIGHTS REST IN SOLVANG:

You would be hard-pressed to find more elegant lodging locally than Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort.  Alisal is a 10,000-acre luxury resort property with everything from horseback riding, two 18-hole golf courses, a stocked lake for guests to fish, tennis, fine dining and spa treatments.  A two-night minimum stay is required.  Alisal is located at 1054 Alisal Road and can be reached by calling 805-688-6411.

The Hadsten House, formerly the Vagabond Inn, located at 1450 Mission Drive, is a good moderately priced, small hotel, popular with tourist couples.  Hadsten is nicely furnished with an indoor pool and restaurant on premises.  Breakfast is included in the room rate.  For more information, please call 1-800-457-5353.

WINDOW SHOPPING IN SOLVANG:

Solvang is a walker’s paradise.

The majority of shopping is along Copenhagen Drive and Alisal Road.  Some 150 unique shops, galleries, restaurants and bakeries line these two thoroughfares.  It’s doubtful that you can escape visiting a Danish bakery without sampling and purchasing some Danish pastries.  You’ll probably fall prey to purchasing an aebleskiver!  Other products include imports, collectibles, gourmet gifts, silver, crystal, pewter, fine linens, candles, music boxes, jewelry, toys, wine and antiques, to name a few.  The shopping area is easy to stroll.

  

Street cars pulled by Belgian horses also navigate the streets.

Art of Hollywood offering celebrity autographs and movie memorabilia, is located at 1682 Copenhagen Drive.

Solvang’s Farmers Market offers meats, produce, herbs, cheese, and other food items.

SAVVY TRAVEL TIP: If you plan to shop when visiting Solvang, try to plan your visit to time with the third Wednesday of each month.  Solvang’s third Wednesdays offers substantial discounts on purchases and dining at select merchants.

At 2:30 p.m., visit the Solvang Farmers Market and from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., enjoy the Solvang Wine Walk.  For $20.00, you visit and sample wine at five shops of your choice.  There are free music, artists receptions, open houses, and book signings.

A NIGHT ON THE TOWN IN SOLVANG:

The PCPA Theaterfest offers outstanding outdoor live theater.

  

Casinos are normally not listed on this website.  The Chumash Casino is operated in conjunction with the famous Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant and Inn, located at 3400 East Highway 246 in nearby Buellton.  24-hour slots, table games, bingo, and smoke-free entertainment are features.