When you are in central California, a fun town to visit to enjoy some “old world” flavor is the small. Danish-themed town of Solvang. The town is very visitor friendly and you can easily explore the town’s windmills, see and listen to the chimes of the local clock tower and see statues of Hans Christian Anderson and his famed “Little mermaid.” Start your walking tour at the town’s Visitor’s Center to get maps and information on local celebrations and events. The town is filled with wonderful shops specializing in everything Danish from wooden shoes to chic garments to small trinkets that will delight young and old. The Danish restaurants and bakeries have wonderful items for every palette and meals can be leisurely and relaxed either inside or sidewalk café style. Explore the local history of the area at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art or visit the Old, 1804 Mission Santa Inez. The annual “Danish Days” event takes place in mid September and is complete with parades, colorful costumes and plenty of Danish food and fun.
Enjoy the peaceful parks in the area such as Nojoqui Falls park or Hans Christian Anderson park or spend some time at the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. Tour the many, wonderful vineyards in the area and sample the vintages in the local wine tasting rooms. Visit the local apple farms or spend some time enjoying the amenities of Chumash Casino Resort. The rolling and peaceful countryside of the Santa Inez Valley is well worth a drive and a few stops along the way.