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Downtown Solvang, by Jefferson Graham for the PhotowalksTV series
If you shop well, you can fly non-stop from LAX to Copenhagen, and it takes 11 hours to get there, and depending on when you fly, the round trip costs more than $700.
That sounds “wonderful, wonderful*” (who got the reference?) but even cooler, if you live here in the South Bay, it’s a short two hour and 30 minute drive from the most beautiful country in the world. Visit America, the self-proclaimed “capital of Denmark”.
I learned about Solvang by admiring local photographer George Rose’s daily photos posted on Facebook and Instagram. I reached out to him, and asked him if he would meet there to show me around for a class.
Fortunately for all of us, he was only too happy to oblige!
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Here’s what you need to know about Solvang:
-Solvang is about 30 miles north of Santa Barbara and just an hour south of Pismo Beach. Although it is 14 miles inland from Gaviota Beach, it is considered part of the “California Coast.”
– The city is surrounded by wine country, which was explored in the 2004 movie “The Side.” There are wineries all over Solvang and especially in the nearby town of Los Olivos, 5 miles down the road.
-“We are not a Danish Disneyland,” confirms Kirsten Klitgaard from the Solvang Visitor Center, but a real town built by Danish immigrants in 1911. The architect is faithful to the Danish ways, and descendants of the Solvang bakers continue to operate the five bakeries. Serving a city of over 6,000 people.
Danish Aebleskiver is a ball-shaped pancake served locally in Solvang. By Ruth Stroud for the RuthTalksFood series
So what should you do in Solvang? Walk, eat, drink and photograph. right? I’m not a drinker, so I can’t help you with the wine, but I can definitely point out good places to walk and photograph.
Start on Alisal Street and head to the classic windmill. There, turn right and explore the city center on Copenhagen Avenue. (This is the visitor center. I went inside, and was amazed by the sound and sight of Keltgard and her father, Dean, playing folk songs on the accordion.)
You’ll also see Danish shops, cafes, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and stunning architecture.
Photos must be shown:
–Windmill. It’s a Solvang sign, and there are five in town. The most famous is Alisal and Copenhagen, 1618 Copenhagen, to be exact. Try to get a shot in the early evening when the sky turns blue and the windmill lights are on.
– Look at the old one Mission Santa Ynez (1760 Mission Drive) One block downtown, which was built in 1804. It is one of the 21 missions throughout California, has classic architecture, and a beautiful courtyard overlooking the valley. This is where George and I shot the morning sunrise.
Solvang Wine Country, by Jefferson Graham for the PhotowalksTV series
–Ballard Canyon For your wine country tour. Take the Atterdagh Road out of town for about 4 miles to see the picturesque scenery and rolling hills.
–Armor Ranch Road. This is one of George’s favorite places, the classic Backroads, an off-road, lonely country road that, he says, is “a perfect straight east-west road… one of the most beautiful places in all of California.” He said. George is not kidding. I loved it too. To get there, take Highway 246 out of town and turn left when you hit the roundabout at about 7 miles and prepare to be amazed.
Jefferson Graham on Armor Ranch Road, by George Rose
Best time to visit? right now! Truly. Solvang is available after April and the summer months and the traffic doesn’t die down until Christmas, locals told me.
PS: * In the 1952 film “Hans Christian Andersen” starring Danny Kaye as a Danish children’s story writer, he sang the first line of the song. How can I object?
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