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THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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Solvang
Danish Village
Day Trip
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Solvang
Danish Village
was
established in 1911 by a group of Danish teachers. Solvang
means "Sunny Field" in Danish. Today the village
is a major tourist destination and jumping off point for
visitors exploring the Santa Barbara wine country.
In town you will find Danish bakeries, restaurants, antique
stores, museums and friendly shop keepers dressed in authentic
Danish costumes.
The rolling hills of the Santa Ynez valley and surrounding
Santa Barbara wine country are home to 9,500 acres of
vineyards and 34 wineries. If you are in Solvang for a
day trip there are several wine tasting cellars right
in town where you can sample the local wines.
Thanks to its Danish lifestyle and architecture, Solvang
has become a major tourist attraction in California with
over a million visitors a year.
Every third weekend in September Solvang holds its Danish
Days festival. Initially tourists were attracted by Prince
Frederik's visit to the village in 1939. But in 1947,
following a feature article in the Saturday Evening Post,
they began to flock into town.
Today visitors come to see the Danish windmills, half-timbered
houses, the Danish rural church, Round Tower as well as
Danish music and folk dancing. Partly as a result of the
film Sideways in 2004 which featured wines from the Santa
Ynez Valley, there are now numerious wine bars in the
city.
Solvang is a scenic day trip which lets you explore the
back country of Santa Barbara . Have lunch, stock up on
pastries, and enjoy the drive. |
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Solvang
Danish Village |
After you
arrive at Solvang there are plenty of things to do and places
to see. Your fist stop might be to one of the Danish bakeries
or check in to your hotel if you plan on spending a day
or two. From there you can explore town and the surrounding
Santa Ynez Valley
Solvang Quicksilver Ranch a short drive up Alamo Pintado
Road and is a renowned miniature horse farm. They are open
to the public daily from 10am to 3pm and host groups by
reservation for a fee. People come from all over just to
visit these little ponies and get up close and personal
with them. Quicksilver Ranch 1555
Alamo Pintado Road Solvang, California 93463
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in downtown
Solving offers 300 varieties of chocolate that you can watch
them create right before your eyes. The mouthwatering samples
will make this a shop you will want to visit every time
you make your day trip to Solvang. Rocky
Mountain Chocolate Factory 1655 Copenhagen Drive Solvang,
CA 93463
Ostrich Land on
Hwy 246, just west of Solvang. They offer chicks and fresh
eggs, feeding times where you can get involved, and field
trips for groups. People drive from all over to watch
and feed these amazing creatures. There are also emus
on the property and a small shop with collectibles.
Ostrich Land 610 E. Highway 246, Buellton
Information: (805) 686-9696
The Elverhoj Museum is
a popular attraction for those history buffs and the
Mission Santa Ines is nestled among the shops.
1624 Elverhoy Way Solvang, CA 93463 Open 1 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday Noon - 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday,
Sunday
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Solvang, California |
Royal Inn Solvang |
Solvang Park has live entertainment
many evenings and some weekends. It is quite relaxing to
take a break in the park and eat your lunch to some live
music and bands. The atmosphere in Solvang is always happy
and carefree. Close enough to the ocean and beaches to the
west, and campgrounds to the east, Santa
Barbara to the south, and Santa
Maria to the north, it makes a great daytime getaway
or an even longer stay.
Wheel Fun Bike Rentals. These fun bikes are
how many people get around in town to shop. The free parking
lot in the center of town on Hwy 246 will put you close
to this shop so you can go over there, rent your bike for
a very reasonable fee, and ride around to the shops. These
unique bikes can seat an entire family and mom and dad get
a workout pulling the kids around town. The kids absolutely
love it. Wheel Fun Bikes 475 First
StreetNext to Solvang Park Solvang, CA. 93463
Directions : Solvang is easily reached
from Highway 101 at the Highway 246 turnoff in Buellton.
From Santa Barbara, visitors can also take Highway 154 to
the Highway 246 turnoff. Solvang is a great place to stay
while you explore the Santa Barbara wine country and the
San Ynez Valley. While in the area an interesting little
side trip is Neverland
Ranch former home of pop star Michael Jackson. |
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Lake
Cachuma is a popular Santa Barbara
County destination for camping and fishing. |
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| Solvang
Gardens
Quaint 24 room Boutique Inn at walking distance
to shopsand restaurants. |
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