Less than 150 miles north of Los Angeles and 300 miles south of San Francisco, Solvang is ideally located to explore California’s Central Coast. Santa Barbara is a 40 minute drive either through the scenic San Marcos Pass (Highway 154) or by Highway 101 route, along some of California’s last remaining undeveloped coast. AMTRAK now connects Solvang by bus from its stop in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. Santa Barbara and Santa Maria airports both have connecting flights to international airports, and private planes are welcome at the Santa Ynez Airport. Weather in Solvang is almost perpetually pleasant, days are generally warm, averaging 75 degrees and nights cool with an average low of 55. Locals quickly learn to dress in layers to accommodate the cool mornings and nights and the warmer days. Average rainfall is less than 17 inches per year, and in winter, snowfall graces only the tops of surrounding mountain ranges occasionally.

Solvang, meaning sunny fields, was founded in 1911 by a small group of Danish educators wanting to establish a Danish-type folk school in an area where settlers could farm the rich river bed soil. Along with the teachers came farmers, carpenters and artisans who constructed the first shops, homes, hotel, Lutheran church, and the original folk school.

Danes from the Midwest and Denmark continued to migrate west to Solvang bringing their skills as farmers, teachers, carpenters, merchants and artisans. In 1936, as part of Solvang’s 25th anniversary celebration, the future King and Queen of Denmark visited and more interest in the community developed. By the end of W.W.II tourists were coming and more shops, bakeries, hotels and restaurants were built to make their visits more enjoyable.

Over the decades Solvang has continued to evolve, yet Danish tradition and heritage continues to be an important part of this community. Danish and Danish-American fraternal social organizations are active. Danish is still spoken by many residents and customs and traditions are still practiced such as rejsegilde, the tradition of celebrating the raising of the highest rafter on new building construction and the prevalence of artificial storks on roof-tops and chimneys (thought by Danes to bring good luck and ward off lightning).

Architecturally, Solvang reflects an all Danish style. Visitors from Denmark frequently comment on Solvang’s architectural authenticity reflected in half-timbered walls, simulated thatch and copper roofs, dormers and decorative use of tile, stained glass in the buildings and cobblestone walkways. Gas street lamps originally used in Copenhagen still light some portions of Solvang. Four country-style windmills are scattered around town, and a half-scale replica of the Little Mermaid, Denmark’s national symbol sits on one corner of the major intersection of town. The Hønen, a replica of a 1915 streetcar powered by two huge Belgian horses, takes visitors on a tour of the city. The town grew up a short walk from the Santa Inés Mission, founded in 1804 one of the twenty-one missions established by the Spanish Padres in the 18th and 19th centuries. The town itself was built on land that was formally part of Rancho Jonata, a Spanish Land Grant. Spanish and Mexican influence is evident in many parts of the valley and descendants of the Chumash Indians still live on a reservation in nearby Santa Ynez and have recently opened a casino there. Consequently, the area has an interesting blend of Spanish-American and Danish-American cultures. Many of the Valley’s population today can still claim a multi-generational residency.