Solvang

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.

Here’s the deal. Outside town, to the west a bit, is an ostrich farm. Don’t ask me why, there just is. Anyway, we were amusing ourselves with watching some of the ostriches when we noticed one of them by the wires of the fence who pretty much pecked a wire, determined it was inedible, thought a bit, and then pecked at the wire again. Now arguably it could just be showing its frustration at not being able to get any further than the bounds of the fence, but personally I just think it was rock stupid. Even the ground squirrels were laughing at this poor dope. But I hope he lived well before being turned into an ostrichburger.

Solvang is a quiet little town with lots of cute shops to look in. Its a great place to visit.