Solvang Attractions
Santa Barbara County
Location and origin
If you take the U.S. 101 coast road south, and turn off at Buellton on to the CA 164, after a few miles you will reach Solvang, the biggest Danish settlement in the United States of America. It was given its name by the Danish-American Corporation in Chicago, who thought the Danish word "solvang" (sunny meadow) was a fitting description of the little town founded in 1911. Several professors involved in founding the town also set up a college, but this no longer exists.
Danish ambience
Tourism flourishes in this little town with the Danish character on the edge of the Santa Ynez mountains. There are houses in the Danish style and four windmills, and visitors can enjoy cakes and pastries made in the Danish manner and sold in several bakeries and patisseries. In the restaurants you can order karbonader and blomkal and hakkelof med løg (egg). Even a large Sheraton Hotel which opened a few years ago is decorated in the Danish style with Scandinavian furniture. Other hotels in the main street Mission Drive, Copenhagen Street or Alisal Road have such names as Kong Fredrik, Dannebrog, Hamlet, Kronborg and Royal København. A stroll through the little town makes a "velkommen" change.
Every year a three-day Danish Festival is held in the middle of September. The Santa Ines Mission, founded in 1804 in Mission Drive, contrasts with the general ambience of the town.
Location and origin
If you take the U.S. 101 coast road south, and turn off at Buellton on to the CA 164, after a few miles you will reach Solvang, the biggest Danish settlement in the United States of America. It was given its name by the Danish-American Corporation in Chicago, who thought the Danish word "solvang" (sunny meadow) was a fitting description of the little town founded in 1911. Several professors involved in founding the town also set up a college, but this no longer exists.
Danish ambience
Tourism flourishes in this little town with the Danish character on the edge of the Santa Ynez mountains. There are houses in the Danish style and four windmills, and visitors can enjoy cakes and pastries made in the Danish manner and sold in several bakeries and patisseries. In the restaurants you can order karbonader and blomkal and hakkelof med løg (egg). Even a large Sheraton Hotel which opened a few years ago is decorated in the Danish style with Scandinavian furniture. Other hotels in the main street Mission Drive, Copenhagen Street or Alisal Road have such names as Kong Fredrik, Dannebrog, Hamlet, Kronborg and Royal København. A stroll through the little town makes a "velkommen" change.
Every year a three-day Danish Festival is held in the middle of September. The Santa Ines Mission, founded in 1804 in Mission Drive, contrasts with the general ambience of the town.
Elverhoj Museum
The Danish influence and history of this town are highlighted at the Elverhoj Museum. It is one of only a few museums outside the home country that focuses on Danish culture.
Elverhoj Museum
Box 769
Solvang, CA 93464-0769
United States
Box 769
Solvang, CA 93464-0769
United States
Phone 1 (805) 686-1211
Fax 1 (805) 686-1822
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 13:00 | 13:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Hans Christian Anderson Museum
The Hans Christian Anderson Museum in Solvang has displays and exhibits from the life of the popular writer of children's fairy tales. There are first editions of his works and a model of his childhood home.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
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