Solvang
offers small-town charm
By Mandy Wright
Special to the On-line Forty-Niner
Travelers
do not need a passport to get a taste of
Denmark. The small Danish town of Solvang
offers all the novelty and quaintness of
a visit to a village in Denmark without
the hassle and cost.
Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez valley,
a three-hour drive from Long Beach. The
rolling hills, lush greenery, horse ranches
and the occasional ostrich farm along Highway
246 leading into Solvang give the area a
distinctly relaxed and peaceful feeling
more than many Southern Californian towns.
Even the pace along the highway slows as
visitors take in the sights and prepare
themselves for a weekend of relaxation.
Once in town, visitors can take advantage
of the fun and relaxing activities Solvang
offers. A stroll through town can allow
visitors to become better acquainted with
their weekend getaway. The center of town
is filled with windmills, village-style
shops and thatched roofs. Almost every corner
boasts a quaint Danish bakery filled with
cheese breads and shortbread cookies. At
the Solvang Bakery, cookie lovers can buy
a plastic bucket filled with six different
varieties of cookies that doubles as a Solvang
souvenir.
Visitors to Solvang can also experience
authentic Danish food. Bit O’ Denmark, the
oldest restaurant in town, offers a smorgasbord
of Danish-American foods, such as sausages
and meatballs. For travelers who prefer
a bistro-style dining experience, there
is also Café Angelica, which offers
pasta, steak and fish in a cozy but elegant
setting.
Solvang offers more than just good food.
Twice a year, the sleepy town comes alive
with the vibrantly colored helmets and jerseys
of cyclists from all over the country.
“It’s kind of fun,” said long-time Solvang
resident Maurie Phillips. “It’s like watching
hot air balloons to see that many cyclists.”
The Solvang Prelude bicycle ride takes place
the first Saturday in November of each year.
For this ride, cyclists can choose either
a 25-mile, 50-mile or 100-kilometer route.
The Solvang Century, which takes place in
early March, offers a 100-mile and a 50-mile
route. The bike rides are sponsored by SCOR,
a nonprofit organization which promotes
cycling as a rehabilitation for heart disease.
The profits from the rides go toward the
American Heart Association and other related
organizations.
Although visitors to Solvang will find plenty
to occupy their time, travelers should be
aware that the town shuts down early. Many
restaurants close between 8 and 9 p.m. and
some even close as early as 3 p.m. The nearby
town of Buellton is a perfect solution for
night owls who visit the area. Buellton
is the home to famous barbecue restaurant
A.J. Spurs, which is open late, and travelers’
haven Pea Soup Andersen’s, which is open
24 hours.
However, this same quiet, calm atmosphere
that causes many businesses to close early
is what makes Solvang attractive to so many
residents.
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