September 27, 2025
Out in the middle of California is a little bit of Denmark. Between 1865 and 1914, 300,000 Danes immigrated to the United States. Three of those Danes acquired almost 9,000 acres near Santa Barbara and in 1911 they established Solvang (Danish for sunny field). The developers brought in Danish settlers from as far away as Iowa and Nebraska and set about building a village in Danish style architecture. The early settlement had a store, bank, lumber yard, barbershop and post office. A school was opened that taught a Danish and American curriculum. From what we could see, today the town appears to mainly cater to tourists who have a fondness for baked goods and beer.
By the 1860s, a road had been constructed across the San Marcos Pass from Santa Barbara to the Santa Ynez valley and Cold Spring Tavern was established as a stagecoach stop in 1865. Originally known as the “Cold Spring Relay Station”, it was a horse changeover and meals break station. Now the tavern is a popular spot to get a meal, a drink and to enjoy some live music. Tucked into forested hills it was almost like being back on the east coast, particularly when a light rain began to fall.
Mal and Lauren 