To the small group of Danish refugees from Midwestern winters who arrived in 1911, the 9,000 acres of former Spanish land grant near the Mission Santa Ines must have looked like heaven on earth with its warm sun, grassy knolls dotted with oak trees and sheltering mountains. Food lovers will appreciate Solvang's famous bakeries and varied cuisine, wine tasting rooms, yet it's the Danish dishes and smorgasbords that give this charming community its unique culinary reputation. .
Fine art abounds in the galleries.
Painting is typically representational and California plen-air painters, impressionists, noted seascape artists, water colorists, wildlife, and western artists are all well represented. The Hans Christian Andersen Museum documents the life of the father of the modern fairy tale with books, sketches, and personal artifacts. The museum at Mission Santa Ines, the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum and the Parks-Janeway Carriage House offer history and memorabilia from Chumash Indian implements to clothing and furnishings from the European settlers for hours of enjoyment. Solvang is surrounded by a playground of things to see and do. All Rights Reserved.