Introduction to Solvang, California
Founded in 1911 by midwestern Danes, the replica Danish town of Solvang is just 35 miles north of Santa Barbara. It seems right out of a Hans Christian Andersen tale, and some people have described it as “more like Denmark than Denmark.” Its downtown features authentic Danish architecture, complete with thatched roofs, hand-carved storks nesting by chimneys, and windmills. This charm is now locked into new construction by town ordinance.
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| Honen streetcar in Solvang, CA |
It is a popular shopping destination, with hundreds of specialty shops offering a wide variety of gift items, and it is an especially satisfying destination around Christmas when seasonal decorations add to the festive air. Many of the boutiques operate inside buildings that are themselves of interest, with beams and other architectural details. With kids in tow, you might want to work out a trade where one parent browses while the other plays with the kids in a park, and vice versa.
Many restaurants and outdoor cafes offer Danish menus, and four thriving bakeries turn out excellent breads, cookies, and pastries--meaning you’re never very far from a sweet and a cuppa. Part of the fun is walking around and selecting an appealing spot to dine.
Benches are everywhere in this clean little town, making a visit especially easy on elderly visitors and those with young children. Pile the whole family onto a surrey-covered bike to tour the town, or ride the Honen--a replica 1800s Danish streetcar pulled by two blond Belgian draft horses. Don’t miss touring the town again at night, when it is lighted up like a fairyland.
image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
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