Solvang, Santa Ines Mission & Los Olivos California

Solvang is a neat little town in the Santa Ynez valley just north of Santa Barbara, CA. The town got it's beginnings from the Spanish Missionaries who founded the Mission Santa Ines in 1804 to relieve the overpopulation of the Mission La Purísima Concepción near Lompoc, CA. The mission housed mainly the local Native American Chumash. In 1911, a group of Danish settlers, seeking a location far from the harsh winters of the Mid-West, founded the town adjacent to the existing mission. In 1947, the town started to take on the Danish "theme" with its many Denmark-inspired buildings and established itself as a tourist destination. Today you can stroll through the town visiting the numerous bakeries, restaurants, shops and wine tasting rooms. Just up the road is the quiet town of Los Olivos which mostly consists of one main street but is home to many wine tasting options and restaurants and is well worth stopping by for lunch or dinner.