Solvang

but I wouldn’t recommend it if you have to drive more than an hour or so to get there. Unless you really like to shop in little gift shops.

The last part of the drive from the 101 was very pretty. Take 154 through Santa Ynez Valley on your return drive if you’re coming from the south.

Photo: Cool painting in the Hans Christian Andersen museum, upstairs in the Book Loft.

my husband and I took advantage of the musicals during theaterfest and saw Godspell on sunday night. beautiful show! we got a cheap hotel room at the svensgaard jodge, which was modest and adorable with delicious danishes fresh every morning. there are plenty of places to eat and some of them are ridiculously expensive and some are just right. the places with cheap food also have delicious food. so not once did we feel like we had to pay a lot for a better experience or whatever. the nine million bakeries became art galleries to us. the book store and museums and what not were fun and we ended up buying a lot of books for the baby. we got massages and met some wonderful people along the way. i had a blast and i didn’t spend a crap load of money. sure there are places to go to spend lots of money. for instance, IZOD. WTF?! who shops at IZOD when they are on vacation?! sad thing is, i saw a lot of people walking around with IZOD bags. i don’t understand. you can go to almost any outlet near home and shop at IZOD or go online, but noooo, all the money they COULD spend on Solvang-specific adventures… they spend at IZOD. whatever. consumer whores. god bless america.

i had a blast and i am so glad i live not too far away. we are already thinking of doing another trip up there before the baby comes around. i found an aura photographer and thought it would be neat to take a pic of me while i was still pregnant. and do one with me and my husband too. yay fun!

Don’t look for alot of excitement out in Solvang…its just a cute little town with good danish baked goods. Its cool if you want to go for a nice walk.

We arrived at Solvang a little after 12 noon and started to wander around the streets. Half a dozen tour buses pulled up and small groups of Japanese tourists piled out, snapping pictures at all the buildings and chatting politely to each other. The first impression of this little town is ‘hokey’. Then ‘touristy’. After peeking through a few shops filled with the best junk that money could buy I was about to call it a day, but knew my boyfriend (Jake) wanted to see more. As we walked around to more of the shops I wondered what it would be like to live in a place like this. It was the ultimate tourist-driven town. Every shop was filled with glass baubles and little Danish themed nicknacks. Then we arrived at the food section. Yummy deserts that we didn’t get and overly priced meals that we also didn’t want. Finally Jake found a decent priced cafe called Mandarin Touch and we started to enjoy the atmosphere. I even got to see the Clydesdale horses I remembered from so long ago.

The town is worth a visit just to see. You need to come with an open mind and just enjoy it for what it is: A touristy spot with nice people to guide you along the way. Everything is kept clean and freshly painted. The public toilets are everywhere and kept clean and stocked. The town maybe a tourist trap, but it’s a well done tourist trap. I’m glad we went.

It’s a quaint little town, great place to escape the city. Lots of great wineries to visit, but the tastings have gotten a bit epensive since “Sideways”.

Get there early because shops close early.

From the adorable Dutch houses, to Andersons Split Pea Soup resteraunt (mmmm!) & knick knack shop… it has adorable B&B’s, and has a good vibe & good fun. The drive there is fun!

I thought it was pretty neat. A Danish town between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Pretty random.

Bizarre Scandinavian-themed town in the middle of the Santa Barbara wine country. Last time we went there, the town was full of people with greyhounds. It’s that kind of place. A greyhound kind of place.

I love coming here. The only thing to please keep in mind is everything closes EARLY here, so make sure you eat or shop by 5pm or else you will have to leave the town to get something to eat.

Many hotels, oodles of shops, restaraunts, danish bakeries, pancakes, mmmmm! Visit Paulas Pancake House and get Danish Pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and whip cream!

Try the Sarah Berhardt cookies at the Danish Bakery, omgosh they are the best!

The place has an outdoor theatre with plays

Horse pulled trolley rides

The newest thing is all of the Wine Tasting rooms! I spent a weekend having a blast! You can book a room and literally walk to all of the wine tasting rooms and there are plenty!

My kids love coming here, the toys stores, the book store, the park, there is a little something for everyone, but its not the place to go if you are looking to “Party”

Also take a tour of Mission Santa Ines which is beautiful! Its right along the edge of Solvang. Drive up the road further and see the Ostrich Farm and Hitching Post as featured in the movie “Sideways” take drives off other roads and go to Los Olivos, and many other various wine tasting rooms scattered in the hills.