A Danish Christmas in Solvang CA

In 1911, a small group of Danish teachers founded a village in the heart of the Santa Ynez Mountains in Central California. This village is named Solvang, which means "sunny field." It is about an hour south of Santa Barbara, off highway 246, near Lompoc. It is considered the Danish capital of the U.S. The town boasts charming Danish architecture, with windmills and tasty Danish bakeries and restaurants around every corner. The shopping is great, and it is a fun way to immerse yourself in a little bit of Danish history and culture while trying to find a great Christmas gift. During the holidays, the whole town is decked out with beautiful Christmas decorations guaranteed to help you find the holiday spirit. Keep in mind that the parking can be a bit tricky, and you have a choice between trying to find a place in the free parking areas, or paying to park closer to the main downtown area.

Of the more than 300 great shops in Solvang, one of the best is Gaveaesken. (Try to say that three times fast!) It is one of those stores where you can quickly lose track of time browsing among their unique treasures. Gaveaesken actually means "gift box," and once inside, it is easy to see that the store is appropriately named. You will definitely be able to find a gift or two for yourself and for someone else, as well. Many of their items are imported from Europe. They have many decorative items, such as copper from Denmark, glass from Scandinavia, ceramics from Belgium and china from England. The items are of excellent quality, and the array of choices is a sight to behold.

The store is attractively arranged, with rugs, candles and flowers and other items in every nook. It is a fun place to wander around, with new surprises around every corner. This Danish store also sells traditional costume dolls, beautifully clothed in original costumes. They even sell paper cuts, which the Danish author, Hans Christian Anderson, would make for his friends. They range from the very simple to the overwhelmingly intricate.

In a corner of the store where it is always Christmas, they have traditional Danish "Nisser Elves." These are all handcrafted. They are part of a Danish legend. In Denmark, these elves are said to live in the barns, and would help with the work and bring the family good luck. Families would leave the nisser elves rich pudding on New Years Eve as a way of saying thank you. These handcrafted elves are a welcome addition to anyone's Christmas collection.

Solvang is not just for Christmas shopping. Solvang has plenty of other things to do, as well. The Santa Ynez valley is famous for it's wines, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Solvang has tasting rooms for many of the area wineries. The Hans Christian Anderson museum is interesting, and a great way to spend some time. You can walk the streets of Solvang and sample Danish treats, ride a bicycle built for two or more, and when you are tired, there are plenty of lodging choices, from bed and breakfasts to charming hotels. But whatever else you do in Solvang, don't miss Gaveaesken, one of the best shops in the place.

Gaveaesken is located at 1576 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang, California, 93463.
Their telephone number is (805) 686-5699.