40 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: SOLVANGUSA.COM / CALIFORNIA NATURE ART MUSEUM {due west} Solvang is having a moment. Famous for its Danish architecture and traditions, Santa Barbara County’s quirky homage to Scandinavia was named “Best Small Town in the West” by USA Today readers earlier this year. Think hygge wedded to a sun-soaked Wine Country vibe. With its quaint halftimbered buildings and windmills, this Santa Ynez Valley town is stuffed with oversized charm in a pint-sized package. Founded in 1911 by Danish immigrants, Solvang’s month-long Julefest features Christmas festivities like nightly light-andmusic shows, craft markets and walking tours with guides in Danish folk costume. There’s even a parade and visits with Santa Paws therapy dogs. These holiday happenings were enough to get the town ranked on the “Most Magical Christmas Towns and Villages in the World” list by Oprah Daily last December. Befitting a Scandinavian outpost, Solvang is home to California’s first troll by Thomas Dambo, the Danish recycled materials artist who’s created over 100 of the giant wooden sculptures in 17 countries (including six displayed at Woodside’s Filoli estate this summer). It’s perfectly suited to its spot in the California Nature Art Museum, which features mosaic landscapes, quilts with nature designs and photographs. Each Dambo troll is unspeakably quirky and has its own legend. His trolls all live outdoors, with the exception of Solvang’s. “Lulu Hyggelig,” made from wooden pallets, is squashed inside a room because she got overfed by Mortensen’s Bakery and can’t get out the door. Arriving in town, I checked in at The Winston, a boutique suitesonly hotel with a Danish-style half-timbered bell tower that was belied by the bold colors and quirky art within. My living room was 1940s lipstick red, adorned in butterfly prints. A blue suite next door featured armchairs in whimsical dog and monkey patterns, and there was a lovely lounge with an honor bar and library. Its central location facing Solvang Park makes it perfect for exploring. Eat & Drink For breakfast, I wanted ebleskivers, the Danish pancakelike balls topped with raspberry jam and powdered sugar, so I ate at Solvang Restaurant, where carved wooden booths display the coat-of-arms from different cities in Denmark, like Odense
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