Skip to main content

California Travels: Solvang, CA

Solvang CA

Solvang: The Denmark of the West

Revised 4/2021
Recently, my dear sis wanted to spend her sixth birthday with the fam in Disneyland (review).  Never one to miss a chance of sharing time with the crazy clan, my hubby and I packed up our Honda—including plenty of dark chocolate peanut M & Ms--and sped out of our cozy hamlet of Davis, CA for the long 400+ miles to the gray skies of Anaheim. 

Note: Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.


On the Slow Road

After our Disneyland visit and sad farewells, my husband and I decided that instead of jumping back on I-5 north and drive straight home the next day, we’d opted for a slow road trip home beginning with breakfast in the quaint, must-see Danish town of Solvang.   Thus, early the next morning, we drove the 128 miles northwest—mostly on the scenic highway 101. 

Danish style buildings of Solvang Ca

Famous for many reasons, Huffington Post recognized Solvang as the number two “Place to Travel to Europe Without Leaving the USA.”  Even without Huff’s recommendation, I have always wanted to see the Danish-style buildings of Solvang--some adorned with windmills--but never had the time to stop.  However, this morning we made time because even though the Danish specialty aebleskiver is most popular, Danish pastries called my name. 

Our Experience

We planned to overnight in nearby Buellton due to our timeline so our time was limited.  Once we arrived, we found free parking in the center of town with a helpful visitor center just steps away.  The cheerful attendant provided maps to assist us in our Solvang adventure, even offering bakery suggestions.  
Danish Mill Bakery in Solvang, CA
With our newly acquired knowledge, we now walked the quaint streets confidently and quickly found one of her favorites, The Danish Mill Bakery and Coffee Shop.   A long pastry-filled case welcomed us as we entered.  Making our selections took much longer than downing them, as the choices were diverse and mouthwatering.  It’s safe to say that I needed a long walk after that visit.  Yum.  
A Danish inside the Danish Mill Bakery and Coffee Shop

Restaurants, shops of every sort and enticing lodging line the streets of Denmark.  I mean, Solvang.  We ventured inside a few boutiques and were amazed at the fine crafts artwork and handmade lace.  Unfortunately for us, it was too early in the day to visit any of the more than 120 wineries within the area.  Even so, I was tempted by the abundance of tasting rooms—over 20! 
Next Time

It is my sincerest hope to visit again soon.  Next time, we will base ourselves in this lovely little hamlet and indulge in all the beauty, wine and culinary delights for a nice long visit.

What are your experiences?

Please Read

Motel Review: Quality Inn in Buellton

Disneyland Review

Review: Buellton, California 


Labels:

Comments

  1. TheJerseyMomma4/30/2016

    How adorable!! I would love to visit there! We haven't made our way out to California yet. One of these days...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ThePoliteOne4/30/2016

      Thank you for your comment! I hope you do make it out here. I also hope your visit is in my area. Coffee and cupcake time :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Review

Art, Excellent Service & Penguins...Oh My My Dear Polite Travelers, Maui has experienced some horrific natural disasters, including a devastating fire and, more recently, torrential rain that caused severe flooding.  However, none of that was visible during my last visit.  The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort is a huge, richly landscaped, multi-building beauty.  It includes a 40-acre oceanfront lagoon and a waterslide into a children’s splashpad.  However, I saw many more adults enjoying the splashpad than children.  It did look inviting.   Directly adjacent to the lobby is a penguin den.  Guests are invited to watch a daily penguin presentation.  I enjoyed watching them play.  They are quite adorable.     Dining & Shopping In the main building, you’ll find multiple shops, including a gallery filled with unique and quite excellent art.  My favorite shop was actually Honolulu Coffee .  As a family-owned,...
1 comment
Read more

A Few Days in Palm Springs

Palm Springs Activities Hello, my Polite Travelers, As an older couple, we often just want to relax and enjoy our favorite places at a leisurely pace. This was the case during our recent revisit to Palm Springs. For the most part, we explored downtown, stopping for coffee and chatting with the locals. Additionally, we embarked on a few other excellent adventures. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum As a Smithsonian Affiliate, I found this museum to be outstanding.  This museum is a mixture of immersive video, sound, and visuals (including lifelike exhibits) to tell the story of America’s rich—and many times heart-wrenching—indigenous story.  The permanent gallery begins with the 360-degree immersive video of the Agua Caliente “Creation & Migration” story.  The quality of their digital animation and sound is impressive—there’s even a screen on the floor.  I found their creation story to be fascinating. Don’t Miss! For the Love of Art! Don’t Miss The Palm Springs Art M...
Post a Comment
Read more

Did that really happen at this Hampton Inn?

Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert, CA—Hotel & Room #330 Review Hello, my Polite Travelers. We are now in sunny Palm Desert, and it is a grand place.  Everything looks clean and new.  Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the Hampton Inn.  It pains me to say it, but this hotel needs some love…and perhaps a good handyman.  Our room is an accessible room for hubby.  On first glance, it’s adequate, with space between furniture and grab bars in the bathroom.  That’s only the first glance.   Blink once more, and there are a few issues for both the mobile and mobility-challenged .  First, although the bathroom features plenty of grab bars, the toilet is too low, and accessible toilets require taller seats.   The shampoo bar is too high, and there’s no pull-down seat in the tub.  Those in wheelchairs would require a different room, and most mobility-challenged people can’t reach up to access the shampoo bar.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more