Carol Highsmith
Nestled in Southern California's Santa Ynez Valley, a 45-minute drive north of Santa Barbara and a bit over two hours from Los Angeles, this small town of just over 6,100 offers visitors a unique blend of nature and culture. One of Solvang's top attractions is its unique Danish, which you can explore by strolling its charming streets. Founded in 1911 by Danish immigrants, and its downtown remodeled in the 1940s to reflect that country's architectural heritage, Solvang has a rich cultural heritage delightful to both the eye and stomach. Apart a self-guided walking tour to learn more about local history and architecture - including landmarks like the Little Mermaid Fountain, Round Tower, a giant red clog, and no fewer than five windmills - visitors can explore the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, which showcases the town's Danish heritage, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which of course focuses on the 19th-century Danish author most famous for his fairy tales. Other notable local attractions narrated tours on the horse-drawn Solvang Trolley, the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, the Vintage Motorcycle Museum, the Amber Museum, and the early-19th-century Spanish Old Mission Santa Inés, still a Roman Catholic parish church.
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