Top things to do in the USA listed many attractions. But the beautiful town Solvang in California did not feature in this list. We reached Solvang by sheer chance.  Solvang is definitely among the most unusual places to visit in the US. But what all can one do here? Is Solvang worth visiting?

Unusual places to visit in USA – Solvang

This was last year summer and we were driving back from Los Angeles to Cupertino in the United States of America (US or USA or United States).  The very picturesque terrain across the highway, what with the blue sky and light green sea to the left of us, was a photographer’s delight. Except that, we could not stop randomly on the highway till our halt that night.

Our stop that night was at Mariott, Santa Ynez Valley.  Kids in our group wanted ice cream and they also wanted to see the Ostrich Land in the vicinity. We were referred to Solvang, a small town that was close to where we were spending the night. Little did we know that Solvang was what was known as the Dutch town of California. It turned out to be a whole new experience overseas, more of a culture travel, that was so unexpected.

Where is Solvang?

Solvang is a small town in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California. It is adjacent to Santa Ynez town and is surrounded by mountains. Located somewhat halfway between Los Angeles and Cupertino town in the Bay Area it is tucked inside from the highway. Solvang is known for the Dutch settlement since the early 1900s and draws residents from nearby towns who want to shop, eat, drink, take pictures or have a relaxed day out.

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Attractions in Solvang

Solvang is like steeped in another era. It maintains the ancient early Dutch ways of life. Old brick structures and flower box windows with gingham curtains are a common way of life here. Add to that windmills and horse-drawn carriage and you have a town straight from a fairytale. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful towns we have ever seen. Solvang’s quaint old worldly European feel draws discerning travelers from all over the United States.

Danish-style architecture in Solvang

When we drove into this town, the first surprise was the buildings. These were not the standard high rises or the timber country homes that are common in various parts of the United States. In fact, there was no high rise and all the single and double-storied houses were partially made of brick and partially of timber.  Every house had honey-suckled flower beds and the electronic calling bell was replaced by brass bells with hanging ropes.  There was a brick clock tower in the city square that could have been an artist’s muse. In fact, the Solvang Theatre was a similar staccato-type structure with a thatched roof. This look of the place was in deference to the Danish culture brought in by the settlers here. Given the ripples it created in the local areas and the boost in tourists this area experienced, the Scandinavian façade has been maintained all throughout the town. We were particularly excited to see a real windmill straight out of a childhood storybook!

Horse-drawn street car, Solvang

Talking about childhood storybooks, what we saw next made our eyes pop out. The traffic light had stopped to give way to a horse-drawn carriage! And before we could recover from the surprise, there was another one on the next street. Apparently, horse-drawn carriages were a common mode of selling stuff or ferrying passengers here. We took some photos but since we did not have much time on hand, we could not take a ride.

Ostrich farm at Solvang – Ostrich Land

While driving around in Solvang, we saw the board Ostrich Land. The juniors in the group unanimously voted for visiting this ostrich farm and we stopped.  Ostriches are kept in open pens here and visitors can food pelts and feed the ostriches and emus here. It is fun (and sometimes a little disconcerting) to see how the bigger birds come and peck the food away from the plate you are holding. They sell ostrich eggs and other souvenirs at the entrance of the farm.

Also Read: Ostrichland – A Fun Do in Solvang

Mission Santa Inez, Solvang

This is a Spanish Mission dating back to the 1800s. It is an array of stark buildings that now house a museum and a church. The ancient buildings need enormous maintenance and have been recently renovated. Apparently, this was the first educational institute of this area. This place could easily take a day but unfortunately, we were short on time.

Danish bakery and wineries, Solvang

Downtown Solvang is full of bakeries and wineries. We did not go for wine tasting but we did try some fresh fruit Danish pastries. These were melt-in-the-mouth good. It is a must-try here.

Unicorn theme Ice cream parlor, Solvang

Ice cream parlors seem to be another common hang-out zone in Solvang. We stopped at one which had a big brass bell in front. It had a big carousel horse inside and we loved the carousel theme lamp shades too. There were endless ice cream varieties with all sorts of toppings. We don’t remember exactly what we had – but we remember it tasted so very good.

What to buy in Solvang

Antiques

Given the artistic milieu of Solvang, there are a host of shops selling antiques and old-style products. We found old printed fabrics, ceramic crockery, old records, figurines of fairies and angels, brass candle stands, toy soldiers and many other charming items here. We bought a few candle stands, cut glass angels, and old records as souvenirs from here.

Handicrafts

We saw many unassuming shops selling handmade goods like curtains, cane furniture, painted planters and flower pots, and so on. We got tempted looking at a simple wood – cane chair and finding it very affordable at $20, bought that. We also bought a small side table with a cock painted on it. Luckily these items barely fitted in the luggage compartment of our car.

Dutch items

We saw many shops that sold Dutch dresses, wooden clogs, Celtic design ornaments, etc. We did not have any more shopping plans. But these stores looked very enticing from outside.

Is Solvang worth visiting?

When we think of US, we visualize New York, and Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Hollywood sign..so on and so forth.  We covered some of these places during our trips to the USA and also Disneyland. But nowhere did we read about this beautiful town Solvang still so proud of its tradition. Solvang is like time travel and it doesn’t seem an imposition. For instance, all the wineries, patisseries, shops, and restaurants shut early and the city is asleep by 8 in the evening. So unlike most other towns and cities in US, there is virtually no nightlife here.

The present-day USA is a migrant nation made from people all over the world. Solvang stands testimony to that. And also, it gives us a glimpse of a dreamy idyllic life the Scandinavian way.  If you want to know the United States beyond the high life, then find out unusual places like Solvang and go for it. It is culture travel at its best.

Pro-tip

Solvang is in a valley and there is a nip in the air all throughout the year. Do carry some light jacket, sweater or shawl to be comfortable.