Svendsgaard's Danish Lodge, Solvang

Solvang, CA is a funny place. Originally settled by Danish immigrants, it still feels like you wandered into a countryside nook of Denmark when you enter this California Wine Country town. Photo of Solvang, CA by 5000! via Flickr.

You'll find Danish diners offering pastries and bagels, Danish stores and hotels and houses and windmills and just about everything, even the names of all the people and the businesses, are straight out of a Danish telephone book. Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, just outside Santa Barbara, so it doesn't get too many people who want to stay here more than a day or so. The main attraction in Solvang is the Danish Village, which is more like a Denmark theme park.


Even so, there might be some visitors who don't want to put up in the tourist traps better known as Santa Barbara hotels. For such travelers, hotels in Solvang offer a peaceful enclave or getaway at relatively lower prices than you would pay for a hotel with comparable amenities and services in Santa Barbara. Svendsgaard's Danish Lodge, located at the corner of Mission Drive and Alisal Road, is one of these hotels, which looks like its been picked up out of the Danish countryside and placed in Solvang. The quaint exterior, with sqaure box windows facing out on to the street and the neatly paved pathways are nothing like any other hotel, anywhere in California.

The 48 guest rooms, including 18 suites with gas fireplaces, are well equipped with the usual amenities, including refrigirators, cable TV with HBO, in-room coffee, iron & ironing board and hairdryers. The lodge serves a complimentary breakfast in the lobby for its guests each morning, with an assortment of Danish pastries, bagels, fresh juice and hot coffee. There's also a heated swimming pool and a jacuzzi. The rooms are pretty neat and spacious and comfortable, if not very luxurious. Room rates start at $74 during weekdays and $99 during weekends.

Info: 1711 Mission Drive Solvang CA 93463; (800) 733-875; www.svendsgaardslodge.com