Nojoqui Falls, Solvang, CA

Last June when we went to Solvang, we took a ride out to see the Nojoqui Falls in Solvang.  It was a beautiful drive through the Santa Ynez valley and countryside.  We walked through the woods for a about a mile.  We were all a bit nervous because the sign at the park said to make a lot of noise so as to not startle a mountain loin.  We had our dog, Leo so we hoped that would help.  When we finally got to the falls, they were dried up.  Apparently, there is more water when there is more rain.  As we were walking back, my daughter, Daphne was a bit nervous about the mountain lion sign.  She was anxious to get back to our van.  All of sudden, Daphne stopped and said, "Mom, is that a mountain loin?"  I looked at where she was pointing and it looked like a mountain lion crouched down and ready to pounce.  My heart sank a little.  Then I looked a little closer and it looked a little too dark for a mountain lion.  We started to walk closer and we realized it was a log made to look like a mountain lion with ears and everything.  Maybe the forest ranger made it.  We laughed with a sigh of relief. 

Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant, Buelton, CA

When we stayed in Solvang, Ca we visited the famous Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant in Buelton, CA.  The original Andersen's restaurant was founded in 1924 by Anton Andersen, born in Denmark purchased property in the town of Buelton, CA. The restaurant is known for their famous pea soup.  We ate there for dinner and of course, I had the unlimited pea soup for dinner.  It was good.  The restaurant had a cool Danish coat of arms as you walked in.  It was also a neat building.  We all enjoyed the large gift shop inside.

Hans Christian Andersen Museum, Solvang, CA, June 2013

There was a Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Solvang.  Marina was very excited about this because she had done a report on the famous author and poet in school.  We went into the museum and it was really interesting.  They had a big statue of him and a model of the home that he grew up in Odense, Denmark.

Royal Copenhagen Inn, Solvang, CA, June 2013

When we visited Solvang, CA we stayed one night at the Royal Copenhagen Inn.  It was a Danish looking hotel with a cute building where you checked in. There was a stork on the top of the building which the Danish believe is good luck.   It was located in the town so we were able to walk around the town.  The hotel had a pool which the girls enjoyed.  We were travelling with our dog, Leo.  The hotel had a secret garden which was a dog area where dogs could run around and go to the bathroom.

Solvang, CA, June 2013

We visited Solvang, CA this past June on our way home from visiting my in-laws near Sacramento.  Solvang is located in the heart of Santa Barbara's wine country near the Santa Ynez mountains.  The Danish village of Solvang is 132 miles north of Los Angeles.  Solvang is Danish for "sunny fields."
Founded in 1911 on almost 9,000 acres of the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata land grant, by a group of Danes who travelled west to establish a Danish colony far from the midwestern winters.  When you drive into the town there is a tree lined part of the highway which is really neat.  There are a lot of Danish buildings and windmills in the town.  There are a lot of shops and restaurants in this quaint town.