We just went to Solvang to check out their Julefest and Christmas decor! However I’ve been to Solvang a few times and wanted to share via blog my combined visits and why you should go too!
Christmas in Solvang
If you love Christmas markets and the spirit of Christmas then definitely go to Solvang anytime from Black Friday to New Year’s Day. The Julefest goes on during that time and the whole town transforms into a Christmas town. Travel Tip: If you can stay the night and check out the town at night then do! We went during the day and got to see all the beautiful decorations but the caroling and other holiday activities happen primarily at night.
We did the historic trolley ride, 20 mins. It was kinda pricey for a 20 min ride but they give a great historic overview of Solvang. If you don’t have time to check out one of their many museums then it may be worth it if you’re interested in local history.
Solvang in Springtime
On my bucket list for this summer is to go and explore more of what this beautiful state has to offer including all the little hidden gems. Last fall I chased waterfall throughout Northern California and went across a few beaten paths, if you missed it read it here. This summer I’m planning on finding a few more places. Spoiler Alert: I started with two pretty well known spots, Solvang and Hearst Castle…
Having been to several Japantowns, Chinatowns, Koreatowns, Little Italys, and Little Armenia I thought the Danish community of Solvang would mirror some of those developments. Welp was I wrong! Solvang is a cute Danish town located 45 minutes northwest of Santa Barbara, CA.
Founded by a group of Danish immigrants who wanted to leave the cold Midwestern winters (can you blame them) in 1911. The downtown area has grown significantly over the last decades and filled with restaurants, merchants, and bakeries that give you a ‘Taste of Denmark’. They do a great job of maintaining their facades and architectural style to represent their Danish heritage.
Travel Tip: There are a lot of stores and merchants to keep you busy shopping and eating during the day, but there isn’t a significant amount of stores open at night so I would suggest heading to Solvang early to eat some delicious danishes and breakfast to avoid the tourists and keep your day open for other activities nearby.
As you stroll through Solvang you’ll see statues of well-known Danish and Danish-American figures, including Hans Christian Andersen, a famous Danish author. You’ve all probably read or seen some movies which he originally wrote such as The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and most recently Frozen. There is a small Little Mermaid statue located in Solvang near the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (inside of a library, how cool!).
Eating My Way Thru Solvang
If you’re going to have any meal in Solvang make sure its breakfast! There’s a ton of bakeries and brunch spots in Solvang so make sure to get their early. One of the main reasons, in my opinion, to get there early would be to check out Paula’s Pancake House, it is so delicious! Its pretty small restaurant that gets PACKED fast, so come early! I had a Danish Pancake, which was very similar to a crepe (which is similar to a pancake lol- I see what they did there). They do serve breakfast all day so you can always come back later if its too busy.
Of course you cannot leave Solvang before grabbing yourself some Danish Pastries from Mortensen’s Bakery. Note! You cannot leave Solvang before grabbing an Ebelskiver!
<3 Happy Traveling