The holidays have passed and with that many have been well reestablished into their day to day routine. Working their nine to five, catching up with the latest series, or perhaps visiting their usual café to get some studying done. Along with my readjustment, I use my time now to reflect upon my visit back home to California over the break. Of course, being able to see family and friends is always a joy, but visiting new places or even familiar places with a newfound perspective is important as well. This time, that place took the form of a small little Danish village known as Solvang.

The drive leading to Solvang seemed basic enough. Long stretches of freeway, occasional restaurants and gas stations, as well as some hotels. There was a nice stretch of the highway that followed along the coast, offering a splendid view of the ocean. After a few hours of driving, we checked into our hotel, leaving the exploring for the next day. The following morning, we headed towards the main area. After passing the welcome sign, we were afforded a view of a “The Danish capital of America”: Solvang!

The architecture of the buildings is that of a small Scandinavian village, akin to what one might imagine in a fairytale. Memories of walking through Fantasyland floated to the top of my mind, and a sense of childlike amusement spread throughout as we walked down the charming streets.

As it was early, we decided it would be best to pursue a café for some coffee, and possibly some baked goods. The front part of the town, however, proved to be considerably crowded, with long lines and little seating. Though I am someone who enjoys their morning coffee immensely, The minor setback was not an issue. The opportunity to walk and view the establishments, comment on the delightful names of some, and savor the splendid weather made for a fine stroll as we leisurely searched for a café.

After some walking, we came upon a suitable place simply called ‘The Coffee House’. Procuring our warm beverages along with some peanut butter cookies, we found a nice secluded table outside the building. As we sipped our drinks, we could really begin take in our surroundings. Blue skies without a cloud to be seen joined with cool weather made it all the more enjoyable.

When we were ready, we decided to head towards a book store we had passed by, but on the way we came across a Swedish candy store. Peering in form the outside, we could see the workers making their candy, what seemed to be long peppermint sticks (later we would find out they were a sort of ‘hard taffy’).

Eventually making it to the bookstore, we spent a good amount of time perusing the aisles, flipping through pages, exchanging comments about what we saw. Venturing upstairs, we saw what was referred to as a ‘Hans Christian Andersen Museum’. The area had many exhibits and items related to the famous storybook writer. There was also a library portion which was entertaining to wander through, with some of the shelves dedicated to books written in the Scandinavian languages. Though we couldn’t speak or understand any of it, it was amusing.

Soon after departing the bookstore/museum, it felt like a good time to find some lunch. Of all things in a Danish village, we found a nice Irish pub with served our need for food quite nicely. The service was a bit slow, but we later found that two of their employees had recently walked out on the job, and they were in the process of training new staff. We ordered a four cheese macaroni, and when it finally did come, it was well worth the wait.

Feeling recharged, we continued to walk down the streets, passing all the different stores. Some seemed to fit the theme, such as a shoe store and a clock shop, while others such as the hot sauce shop seemed a bit random (though welcomed!).

Along with baked goods and candy, Solvang is also known for wine, so of course a bit of wine tasting was a must. For anywhere between $15 and about $30, you are given a glass and five different samples of wine, based on the list of your choice. Though I’m not much of a wine drinker, the experience is nice every now and then, and given the atmosphere, it felt quite satisfying.

After wine, it was time to search for some food. ‘Solvang Brewing Company’ was our choice, easily spotted from the main street by the large windmill towering over the building. We took our seats and surveyed the menu. With so many good choices, it was difficult to decide, but ultimately we went with some nachos along with some pulled pork sliders, as well as a couple of beers (an ‘Odin Stout’ and ‘Dansk Amber’ to be precise). The beer was pleasant, and once the food came it was a perfect experience. The nachos were perfectly enjoyable, but the explosion of flavor from the pulled pork really stole the show. As we started to leave, a band began playing, which added to the charming atmosphere.

The next morning we would make our depart, but not before stopping by a bakery and taking some pastries to go. We also took the opportunity to have a nice morning stroll before leaving. It was difficult to go, but the time spent there was memorable.