Travelers4Fun Visit the Charming Village of Solvang

Posted by Nina

Tours4fun sent our Travels4Fun Team on the exciting 3-Day San Francisco, Hearst Castle, Yosemite Tour! Enjoy their adventure as they chronicle day 1 of the trip and their visit to Solvang!

The bus picked us up from LA, and then the Travelers4Fun Team was off! First stop: Solvang, a Danish village nestled about an hour north of Santa Barbara. A sunny spring day was a perfect backdrop for the colorful red, green, and yellow buildings and charming, wood-thatched wind mills. Once off the bus our tour group quickly dispersed, each of us following our noses toward a medley of delicious scents coming from all directions. From freshly-baked, authentic Danish pastries, to chocolates made on the premises, to home-made ice cream shops on every corner, Solvang was a sugar-lover’s dream.

I personally couldn’t resist Ingeborg’s Handmade Danish Chocolates, their display of giant chocolate Easter bunnies was too enticing to pass up. Two friendly chocolate-makers were kind enough to take me on a tour of the shop, letting me sample delicious confections along the way. After getting my fill of chocolates, Anna and I headed out into the sunshine, ready to explore everything Solvang has to offer.

Wine lovers could happily spend a day or two tasting wine at several of the wine bars, all showcasing specialty wines from local vineyards. Rent a surrey bicycle and sightsee with a buddy, making sure to check out the Hans Christian Anderson Museum, Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, and the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. Depending what time of year you go, you can plan on attending a Solvang Special Event or Festival, such as art exhibits, the farmer’s market, or the wine walk.

Before we boarded the bus, we ducked into a few of the unique gift shops lining the main street. Adorable trinkets and gorgeous jewelry immediately caught our eyes. However, if you come away from Solvang with just one souvenir, I would definitely recommend stocking up on is traditional Danish butter cookies.