Solvang is a small village 35 miles north of Santa Barbara in California. It is situated admist the rolling Santa Ynez hills providing a scenic backdrop to the small colourful village. The road to Solvang is lined on either side with green trees. Admist the trees as one passes through are several horse stables and ostrich/emu farms, a rare sight in the cities. Travelling a little further one enters Solvang. The windmill greets visitors and has become the landmark of Solvang on magazines and postcards. Small one storeyed buildings, decorated with bells and flower pots hanging from the windows mark the village giving it the Danish look. The village is really small, as big as 4 streets by 4 streets. Little flower clusters add more colour and beauty at every street junction.
There are only a few things one can do at Solvang and so helps to cut back the pace of life. One of the temptations in Solvang are the pastry shops. The pastries fill the air with a sweet buttery aroma that leaves you with no choice but to indulge in them. One can go wine tasting and wine yard visiting around the village as well. If you are with a family you can rent one of the pedal vehicles (called surrey) and go around the place together. Its a lot of fun and also helps to cover the small village with a bit of excercise.There are a number of trails around Solvang (near the mountains) to go hiking and biking.
A trip to Solvang is a visit off the beaten track. One can enjoy nature, animals and the idyllic life which we tend to miss while living in the city. The serene atmosphere helps us to reflect and rejoice at the simple things in life.
