Out and About in Solvang

California is a huge place. I am sure this is not news to you. Since it is such a massive state sometimes things can fall through the crack. For example: Did you know there is an entire town dedicated to all things Danish? Apparently in 1911 a group of Danish settlers decided to plant their stakes in the Santa Ynez Valley. Of course they had to make sure a group of Native Americans, this time the Chumash, lost their claim to their land but eventually it was taken over by the Danes. So now, when you travel through the mountains of central California, you may stumble upon a small town that makes you think you’re in the middle of Denmark. Below is a series of highlights of what makes Solvang, California a truly bizarre place:

PitstopA small pitstop through the mountains before Solvang. Specifically Los Padres National Forest.

SolvangWelcome to Solvang!

Main Street

Lots of windmills in this area

Closest I’ll ever be to Denmark…

I want this bench!

Not a tourist trap. No sir.

No Photography? I don’t play by your rules creepy figurine woman!

Interrupting tea time.

More windmills!

Not a windmill.

Shockingly the only gnomes I saw during my whole stay.

Sponsored by Range Rover!

You can see the native dish of Subway in the distance!

Solvang Park

The Solvangs are big on Hans Christian Andersen.

More Hans Christian Andersen! He has a museum!…Randomly…in California? (Honestly it is a nice, incredibly small and independent museum. But I don’t wanna spoil the museum so you’ll have to come in there yourself to see it.)

And now for the real reason you’re here:

TREATS!Looks innocent…

Never mind.

Their food is pretty sweet though. Get it?

                             No crazy bunnies in this bakery.

 

The last bakery shown but there are SO MANY bakeries and chocolate shops. Like war it never truly ends.

And that’s it! Obviously there is more to the town than just these pictures. Honestly it is so arts & craft, shopping, and wine tasting heavy this is the kind of place your significant other or mother would enjoy. Despite that statement I still had a ton of fun with this culture shock of a town. Especially since, in a special Monday edition of ‘Out and About’, you will see a look into something COMPLETELY different that is right next to Solvang.