Solvang also known as the "Danish Capital of America" was a no miss stop on our trip. I've been to Solvang before and it really is, well, quaint. It doesn't look much like modern Denmark, but it certainly does look like the Denmark that goes with a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale - so good enough. Surprisingly to me, there were also quite a few Danes in town this time. Solvang has an interesting tourist demographic, its visitors can be divided into to roughly 3 categories:1. Senior Citizens or air-conditioned bus trips
2. Danes who've seen Solvang on TV at home and want to check it out (one of those great tourism mysteries: why go around the world to see something that looks like home?)
3. People who are only there for the Wine (country)
Seems that after the movie Sideways the latter category is slowly taking over, which is a bad thing for people like me coming for the abundant Danish treats , but probably a good thing for the towns general economic development.
Speaking of treats, we were proud to say that we did make it to Mortensen's Danish Bakery. This was a key destination on our trip, as it is run by relatives of one of my Mom's friends. They weren't there to meet us in person, but their Rom-kugler get two thumbs up. Another important Solvang treat destination is Ingeborg's where they take pride in feature almost any possible kind of Danish licorice candy - a feast for the licorice connoisseur, and probably horrifying to anyone else (i should note that they also sell Danish chocolates, which are probably more agreeable to most).
While in Solvang we had the great luck to stay in the "Denmark Cabin" featured here - lucky us - imagine if they had given us the Sweden cabin? (silly Danish joke - sorry ;)
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