What do you think of when California comes to mind? Do you think of the glamour of Los Angeles? The hustle and bustle of San Francisco? Or the amazing wine in Napa Valley?
There’s probably one California destination that doesn’t come to mind, but it’s worth the trip.
Solvang is a small Danish settlement in the heart of California’s central coast. Solvang was established in 1911 when the Danish were immigrating to California.
What you’ll experience is a European-style town where you’ll feel out of this world. The whole town was designed with Danish architecture and brings so much Danish culture into one little town.
Want to go to Solvang, California? Here are fun things to do!
Eat Danish Food
One of the highlights of Danish culture is their incredible cuisine. Start your day with a Danish breakfast. Paula’s Pancakes is the one place you should indulge in Danish pancakes.
Danish pancakes are similar to crepes — they’re round, thin and crisp. They’re fried on a frying pan with butter. They’re usually served with jam, fruit, and even ice cream!
Pair authentic Danish pancakes with a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. Other Danish breakfast staples such as sausage, Biksemad hash, eggs, and bacon.
What about dinner? Danish cuisine is famous for elaborate dinners. There are many restaurants like First and Oak that offer a variety of high-quality entrees.
Other Danish specialties include their pastries, cheeses, sandwiches, and seafood.
Wine Tasting
You can’t go to California without a little wine adventure! But this is especially important if you’re in Solvang. Have you ever seen the movie Sideways?
The character Miles loved the pinot noir. And it’s obvious why. Solvang is famous for producing delicious Pinot. They’re also famous for their Chardonnay and Syrah.
Take a Stroll
As mentioned before, Solvang looks like a town out of Denmark. Its architecture is fashioned in traditional Danish style. They even offer other Danish features such as windmills.
There are also other aspects of Danish culture, such as famous Danes. You can see a Little Mermaid statue in the middle of the city, obviously a celebration for the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.
Speaking of Hans Christian Andersen…
Check Out the Museums
The famous Hans Christian Andersen Museum is in Solvang. But Solvang also hosts a myriad of other interesting museums.
Some of these include the Vintage Motorcycle Museum, the Elverhøj Museum, Wildling Museum, Mission Santa Ines (Ynes), and Mendenhall’s Museum of Gasoline Pumps and Petroliana.
Stop at Vista Point
If you’re driving to Solvang, make sure you stop at Vista Point. This is a stop on highway 154. You’ll see an incredible view of the Santa Ynez Valley and all of the gorgeous mountains.
Get Ready for Your Solvang, California Trip!
Are you planning your Solvang, California trip? From the sites to the food, Solvang is a town you must visit in California.
For more travel advice and other destinations to visit, check out our travel section.
