Solvang, California: Christmas Julefest; things to do

Julefest Christmas celebration in Solvang, California

I first heard of the replica Danish town of Solvang, which is located in California on Highway 101 in between Los Angeles and San Francisco, in reference to it being a great place to go for Christmas shopping.  And though I have visited it many times through the years to enjoy its charming authentic Danish architecture complete with thatched roofs and windmills, it is just within the last few years that I made it there for its annual December Julefest.

Julefest Christmas tree in courtyard in Solvang, California

The town’s hundreds of specialty shops offer unusual gift items year-round, but they add more goodies plus seasonal decorations and a festive air around Christmas.  An annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony is held in Solvang Park with live entertainment, caroling, and the arrival of Santa Claus, and a Julefest Parade features hundreds of participants marching, trotting, cruising, and strolling along festively decorated streets.  Additionally, the family-friendly Solvang Nativity Pageant is an elaborate stage presentation that includes narration, music, and live animals.  Visitors during this time also can win a prize while exploring the town in search of the hidden Jule Nisse (mischievous elf-like Danish figures).  When I visited, I witnessed Santa leave a bar, mount a motorcycle, and chug down the street singing “Jingle Bells,” although the singing might be a false memory.”

Christmas decor in Solvang Restaurant in Solvang, California

More things to do in Solvang. 

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: two shops; things to do

●Knit Fit  

473 Atterdag Rd., (805) 688-0686.  M-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5:30.  Fee for most classes.  This cheery crafts shop purveys a vast and colorful array of crafts supplies and kits.  You’ll find puffy paint, felt, yarn and plenty more at Knit Fit.  Best of all, classes are scheduled regularly for learning all kinds of techniques—working with air-dry clay, wood burning, painting on silk—and you can for sure learn to tie-dye on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3.  My favorite project is the decorated flip flops.  Check website for current schedule. 

workshop at Knit Fit shop in Solvang, California

●Atterdag Village Serendipity Shoppe  

448 Atterdag Rd., (805) 688-7895.  Tu-Sat 11-5, Sun 11-3, closed M.  Located in a sweet little enclave holding several restaurants and a flower shop, this thrift store is set up much like a gift shop.  Most items in the Atterdag Village Serendipity Shoppe are in excellent condition and at a good price.  You’ll find fine china, carved crystal goblets, linens, and more.  Adding to the pleasure, fresh-baked cookies are usually available.  All proceeds benefit low-income seniors in a local senior living residence.

interior of Atterdag Village Serendipity Shoppe in Solvang, California

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Wine Valley Inn & Cottages; hotel review

Wine Valley Inn & Cottages  

1564 Copenhagen Dr., (800) 824-6444, (805) 688- 2111.  65 rooms; 3 stories.  Some gas fireplaces & kitchens.  Fitness room; hot tub; massage room.  Breakfast.  Pets ok.

clock tower at Wine Valley Inn & Cottages in Solvang, California

This inn kept its Old World charm and Danish architecture when it merged from two previously existing lodgings into one.  Located on a quiet back street, it is still close to shops and restaurants a plenty.  It wraps around its landmark clock tower, which had a part in the movie “Psycho,” and when the clock chimes it can be heard throughout the small town.  The quiet grounds are beautifully landscaped with winding paths, a koi pond and waterfall feature, and a secluded hot tub.  From 5 to 9 p.m. daily, wine is available for purchase by the glass and bottle at the lobby lounge; cheese and crackers are complimentary.

guest room at Wine Valley Inn & Cottages in Solvang, California

Each room is unique.  Some connect, some have bunk beds, and a few are specialty rooms.  They do not have phones.  My favorite is #204, which features dramatic Danish architecture and a vaulted ceiling and has steps from the entry down to a bedroom holding two queens.  It can optionally open to room #205, which has bunk beds—making the two rooms perfect for a family.  Several half-timbered cottages that sleep up to six are also available.  Bikes can be rented on site, including surreys and mountain bikes.

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Elverhoj Museum of History & Art; things to do

Elverhoj Museum of History & Art  

1624 Elverhoy Way, (805) 686-1211. W-Sun 11-4; closed M-Tu.  By donation.

Elverhoj Museum of History & Art in Solvang, California

Hand constructed by a local artist in the 1950s to resemble a brick farmhouse in Denmark, this converted residence is now a community museum devoted to Danish culture and the Danish-American experience.  The Elverhoj Museum of History & Art covers the history of Solvang, the colorful heritage of Denmark, and Danish arts.  In addition to answering questions and providing personal tours, docents sometimes demonstrate lacework.  The museum is freshly painted and its beautiful pale pine floors are newly refinished, making this the perfect time for a visit. 

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard; things to do

Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard  

1500 Alamo Pintado Rd., (805) 688-3032.  Tasting daily 11-5. 

Set on the outskirts of town in the splendid Santa Ynez Valley, this farm produces more than grapes.  Formerly devoted to horses, then to growing organic vegetables, the Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard has settled now into vineyards plus olives, pomegranates, peonies, herbs, summer vegetables, and peaches.  To fully enjoy a visit, bring a picnic to eat under the shady buttonwood trees the property is named for (actually California sycamore trees).  Begin with a tasting, select a wine to go with the picnic, and then pick up some fresh fruit at the adjacent farm stand.

winemaker Karen Steinwachs conducts a tasting at Buttonwood Farm Winery
in Solvang, California

Wine tasting occurs in a pleasant open room decorated with paintings by one of the owners (some of the art also appears on the labels).  One of the oldest wineries in this area famous for being where the movie “Sideways” was shot, Button’s vineyards were planted in 1983 and first harvested in 1991.  According to winemaker Karen Steinwachs, Merlot has not recovered since release of the movie which celebrates its 10th anniversary is this year.  “ ‘Sideways’ was good for Pinot Noir people, not so good for Merlot people,” she says.  “We don’t grow Pinot Noir grapes here.”  Wines we tasted including a fresh, aromatic 2013 Zingy Sauvignon Blanc blend and a smooth and peppery 2010 Cabernet Franc (100%).  “We’re known for Blanc and Franc,” quips Steinwachs.  We also sampled a 2012 Pinot Noir made with grapes from Hibbits Ranch in nearby Lompoc, but no Merlot.  

farm stand at Buttonwood Farm Winery in Solvang, California

After leaving this informative tasting room, we visited the farm stand and picked up a lug of beautiful ripe peaches to take with us.

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Peterson Village Inn + Cafe Provence; hotel review + restaurant review

The Landsby  

(Formerly the Peterson Village Inn) 1576 Mission Dr., (800) 321-8985, (805) 688-3121.  40 rooms.  Breakfast included. 

high four-poster bed at Peterson Village Inn in Solvang, California

Centrally located, this Old World-style hotel has some high four-poster beds that are almost as high as the one celebrated Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote about in his princess and pea story.  Breakfast in the dining room features pastries from the town’s Olsen’s bakery, and special packages sometimes include dinner plus tickets to a Pacific Conservatory Theatre performance. A renovation will occur in early 2015, with all rooms and public areas being refreshed.

I continue to be surprised by the good restaurants found in hotels.  Cafe Provence, which features European and Mediterranean cuisine and an award-winning chef, was empty when we entered, and I immediately had second thoughts.  

house-cured salmon at Cafe Provence at Peterson Village Inn
in Solvang, California

Our delightful server and my spectacular starter course of house-cured salmon with pickled cucumbers and crostini—a nod to Danish cuisine--put me at ease.  

 

salmon dinner at Cafe Provence at Peterson Village Inn in Solvang, California

For my main course I enjoyed perfectly prepared fresh wild-caught salmon with scalloped potatoes that could have benefited from a tad longer cooking.  Oh well, it’s always unusual for everything to be perfect.

 

pork schnitzel at Cafe Provence at Peterson Village Inn in Solvang, California

My husband also chose well--a crispy Danish pork schnitzel topped with tasty creamy mushroom sauce.

oeufs a la Neige at Cafe Provence at Peterson Village Inn in Solvang, California

At a time when I often find myself bored with dessert selections, I was blown away by “oeufs a la Neige.”  Translated as “eggs in the snow” and often called “floating island” it is a wonderful concoction of meringue atop crème anglaise.  OMG, it is so good!  Midway through, more diners did come in and join us, but it was a light night apparently because the local Pacific Conservatory Theatre stage company was on a short hiatus. 

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Chomp Burgers, Fries, and Shakes; restaurant review

Chomp Burgers, Fries, and Shakes  

1693 Mission Dr., (805) 688-7733.  No reservations. 

root beer float at Chomp Burgers, Fries, and Shakes in Solvang, CA

For a quick break from everything Danish, head to this all-American burger spot situated behind the Little Mermaid fountain.  (This is a half-size model of the Copenhagen Little Mermaid and was made by the same foundry.  The grandfather of Chomp owner Aaron Peterson shipped it here long ago and placed it here in 1975.)  Featuring a diner vibe with metallic tabletops, comfy booths, and a counter with swivel chairs, this spacious cheery spot serves up juicy burgers on exceptional buns plus crispy fries and onion rings.  The hula burger and tri-tip sandwich are popular, and shakes and floats and tiny little donuts are also available. 

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Special Shops; things to do

Special Shops in Solvang, California

●Edelweiss  

1692 Copenhagen Dr., (805) 686-4671.  Though the brick exterior is charming, it does not prepare you for the amazing and exciting collections displayed throughout inside—elaborate hats perfect for a wedding, collectible dolls and children’s tea sets, adult tea pots and fine-china cups, silver charms, tiaras, and much, much more.

cuckoo clocks at Hanson's Clock Shop in Solvang, CA

●Hanson’s Clock Shop  

467 Alisal Rd., (800) 939-5426.  Cuckoos go cuckoo here on the hour.  The collection is vast and includes rhythm clocks and cat clocks, not to mention elaborate beer steins.  

Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society thrift shop in Solvang, CA

●Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society  

393 Alisal Road, (805) 686-9521.  W-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-3, M 10-2, closed Tu.  Purchases from this small shop help the area’s needy animals. 

●House of Treasures Thrift Shop  

393 Alisal Rd., (805) 686-9521.  Also benefiting the humane society, this larger shop is just across the street.  I purchased a darling painted tin giraffe Christmas ornament marked down from $1 to 50 cents!

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Old Mission Santa Ines; things to do

Santa Ines

(#19)  1760 Mission Dr., in Solvang. 

bell tower at mission Santa Ines in Solvang, CA

Founded in 1804 and located in a rustic setting about 40 miles north of Santa Barbara, mission Santa Ines is referred to as the "hidden gem."  Fully restored, it has hand-painted murals and lovely gardens where you can rest for a while and enjoy the sounds of chirping birds.  It has a bell tower and a museum with a notable collection of vestments, church records, and missals.  You can activate a recording that explains the artifacts you are viewing in each exhibit room.  My favorite room is the Madonna Chapel, where depictions of the Black Madonna and the Virgin of Guadalupe are among the artworks.  The mission has always been an active Catholic Church and holds public Mass in the tiny church.

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

Article about all 21 California missions.  

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Greenhouse Cafe (CLOSED); restaurant review

Greenhouse Café  

CLOSED  487 Atterdag Rd., (805) 688-8408.  No reservations. 

open-face sandwiches at Greenhouse Cafe in Solvang, CA

Set within a remodeled greenhouse with plenty of windows, this bright spot also has a delightful patio offering a town view—my own choice in good weather.  When I visit this atmospheric town, I like to indulge in the Danish foods—for breakfast aebleskivers, and for lunch petite open-face sandwiches (the roast beef here is tops).  More menu options at Greenhouse Cafe include the Nordic Combination (Danish sausage and Swedish meatballs with pan-fried potatoes, gravy, and red cabbage) and the Nordic Lobster Wrap (fresh lobster with avocado, tomato, and lettuce wrapped in a flour tortilla), and a cup of the housemade pea soup is especially nice on a cool day.

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Hamlet Inn; hotel review

Hamlet Inn  

1532 Mission Dr, (805) 688-4413.  15 rooms; 2 stories.  No pets.  Free parking.  Free loaner bikes and bocce ball court. 

This gussied-up strip motel features well-priced large rooms decorated in Euro-chic contemporary style.  Beds are covered with a white duvet topped with a fleece cover bearing the white cross-on-red background Danish flag.  The Hamlet Inn's minimalist decor pops with royal blue carpeting, a wood-block nightstand, and light bulbs hanging low via a squiggly cord.

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

5 great bakeries in Solvang, California

This tiny town has five busy bakeries.

raspberry buttercream pastry at Danish Mill Bakery & Coffee Shop

●Birkholm’s Bakery & Cafe  

460 Alisal Rd., (805) 688-8188.  Both cinnamon bread and cinnamon crisps are available here, and don’t miss the owl eyes cookies.

●Danish Mill Bakery & Coffee Shop  

1682 Copenhagen Dr., (805) 688-5805.  With charming architecture and a cozy interior, this cute little bakery is the perfect place to enjoy a cherry boat pastry and cuppa.

●Mortensen’s Danish Bakery  

1588 Mission Dr., (805) 688-8373.  Daily 7:30am-5:30pm, to 8pm in summer.  The popular pretzel-shaped Danish Kringle coffee cake here is filled with custard, marzipan (sweet almond paste), and raisins, and you’ll also find all-butter shortbread, napoleons made with real whipped cream, and chocolate eclairs. 

●Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery  

1529 Mission Dr., (800) 621-8238, (805) 688-6314.  Operating within a large, open room and featuring little atmosphere, this bakery is known for its butter cookies and breads (it makes the delicious pumpernickel bread used at the Greenhouse Cafe).  How can you go wrong with a fourth-generation master baker in the kitchen?

counter at Olsen's Danish Village Bakery

●The Solvang Bakery  

438 Alisal Rd., (805) 688-4939.  The specialty here is Scandinavian pastries and gingerbread.  Gingerbread houses are created for holidays year-round, and do-it-yourself kits are available.  Tables are provided should you want to sit for a spell and enjoy something right on the spot. 



More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Hans Christian Andersen Museum + The Book Loft; things to do

Hans Christian Andersen Museum  

1680 Mission Dr., (805) 688-2052.  Daily 10-5.  Free. 

Located upstairs in The Book Loft--a wonderfully browsable bookshop with a delightful selection of books for children--the tiny Hans Christian Andersen Museum holds the largest collection of Hans Christian Andersen books outside of Denmark.  You’ll see a 5/8-scale Gutenberg Press built by a local craftsmen as well as some original journals and artwork by the well-known author.  Don’t leave here without purchasing a souvenir book for tonight’s bedtime story, perhaps The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, or The Princess and the Pea. 

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates; things to do

Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates  

1679 Copenhagen Dr., (800) 621-1679, (805) 688-5612.  Daily 9-7.  

Chocolates and candies galore are made at Ingeborg's Danish Chocolates with original Danish recipes and no preservatives.  Danes especially like the nougat logs and marzipan pigs.  Peek in the back to see an assembly-line machine similar to the one used in that famous, and hilarious, “I Love Lucy” chocolate factory episode.  Pick out a sweet treat or opt for something from the soda fountain counter with swivel stools.  Or, if you’ve been really good and it’s not too close to mealtime, maybe they should have both!  

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

video ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

updated 7-2023

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. 

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. 

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Solvang, California: Solvang Restaurant; restaurant review

Solvang Restaurant 

1672 Copenhagen Dr., (800) 654-0541, (805) 688-4645.

customer reads menu in comfy booth at Solvang Restaurant
in Solvang, California

Home to famous round aebleskivers (they taste like waffles), fresh-squeezed lemonade, and open-face sandwiches, the Solvang Restaurant lets you choose between sitting inside in a charming Old Country-style carved-wood booth and ordering from an expansive menu, or purchasing some Danish fast-food through a sidewalk window outside for take-away. Local specialties and coffee shop-style sandwiches and soups are on the menu, plus, of course, plenty of pastries, and counter seating on swivel stools is available in the back. It is particularly popular with locals at breakfast, when they gather for friendly chatter and a plate of sour, crepe-like Danish pancakes with a side of mild, unfatty, and flavorful white sausage served with housemade mustard. Owner Jeff Paaske, whose great grandfather helped found Solvang, uses some of his mother’s recipes and says “every pancake on the menu is made with a different flour.” A children’s menu offers up a reliable hot dog, hamburger, and peanut butter & jelly sandwich. Aebleskiver mix and the special pan to cook them in are available for purchase.

open-face sandwich at Solvang Restaurant in Solvang, California

ableskiver pan for sale at Solvang Restaurant in Solvang, California

More things to do in Solvang.

More information on Solvang.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

image c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated April 2014; July 2023