Solvang. We might just have to move there.

If you ever have a chance to go to Solvang, California you just have to.  I went into it thinking that it would just be a little street of Danish shops and that I would get bored of it within 20 minutes and wish I was at the beach instead.  I was so very wrong.  There were blocks and blocks of the cutest little shops and I am positive that we walked by (and went into) at least 25 Danish bakeries.

Brooke is already quite the traveler.  I think Solvang was her favorite of all of the places we went yesterday.  How do I know this?  She kicked her legs around the most when we were there.  Kicking legs is her way to show that she is extremely excited about life.  Billy does the same thing.

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Finally someone else that thinks that a hot dog and ice cream cone makes the best meal ever.

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One of the bakeries we went into had rows and rows of the most amazing looking fudge.  We sampled the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter.  BILLLLLLLYYYYYY why didn’t we buy the $30 block of fudge while we were there?!?!

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She just wanted to relax for a little while outside of the bakery.

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Yelp wins again because it told us to go here:

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We did not actually try this cake but I am just putting this in to remind myself to buy 3 boxes of white cake mix and food coloring so that I can recreate this for my upcoming birthday.

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What we did end up getting was a coconut macaroon, the best eclair looking thing and some sort of sweet bread (haven’t tried it yet because we were too full).

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If you like bakeries.  Go to Solvang.  If you like ice cream cones.  Go to Solvang.  I am pretty sure every single person that we saw there either had an ice cream cone or pastry in their hand, my kind of town.

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Have you ever ridden a horse before?

-Yes! We used to go on horse back riding tours in Park City when we were growing up.

Anyone ever been to Denmark? Anywhere in Europe?

-No.

Where was the last place that you went on vacation?  Last place you took a road trip to?

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71 comments

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Omgosh. Went to a wedding there 4 years ago…..fell in love. Amazing.

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That is so cool!! It really is amazing!

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We popped into Solvang for ice-cream in November. Kind of ridiculous but so much fun as well!! It made me feel all Euro-sick!!! The Husband and I went to Copenhagen for our first ever weekend away together, many years ago. It was December – cold and dark but all the shops were lit with candles (real burning ones) and there were hot braziers round the city for people to warm themselves on. We loved it so much.

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WOW… that sounds so romantic:) I love it!

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We weren’t allowed to ride horses when we were little… my dad thought they were too dangerous. It looks like fun though! I haven’t been to Europe but my husband went to Switzerland and said it was the most beautiful place he’s ever been! Right now we’re in Crested Butte, CO to ski. Is there good skiing in Utah and have you ever been? That cake looks really cool btw!

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You are in Colorado skiing?!? I am very jealous! YES… I love skiing and really got into it in high school. My favorite resort is Deer Valley and Alta is my second favorite. Have so much fun:)

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That cake recipe is from Cakespy! I’m also dying to try it, I just need to buy more cake pans: http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2011/09/cakespy-rainbow-layer-cake.html

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OH MY GOODNESS!! Thank you so so much for the link, I need to make that! Let me know when you try it:) Have a great day!

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Our last road trip was through various parts of France and Spain! I love love love trying different food and Spanish food is especially close to my heart. Would love to road trip to Italy one day…

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WOW… that sounds like the best road trip ever. I want to do that now! Now you have me craving Spanish food!! I hope you get to take that road trip to Italy someday!

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I love Solvang and you must run the Wine Country Half Marathon that starts and ends in Solvang. The course is beautiful and was one of my most favorite races! You would love it.

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Okay, that race sounds absolutely perfect. Are you going to do it this year?!?!

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It IS a perfect race…I’m signed up! Mothers Day Weekend :)

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I’ve done that race 3 years in a row!! I love all the vineyards, cows, etc. you see along the way. There is also an amazing restaurant called “The Hitching Post” which is perfect for post race splurging =)

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My last vacation was to NYC for the marathon, but I’m off again in just under two weeks to visit my family back in the states (hitting NYC, Washington state and California in the process). I was supposed to go to Sweden (Oslo) a few years ago but was burnt out by work and didn’t make it, but am hoping to hit up Denmark (Copenhagen) and Sweden (Stockholm) later this year by signing up for races there (I’m in London…which makes the Europe travelling a bit easier, although work still exhausts me enough that I don’t make it that often!).

I was also a horseback rider for years, and had my own (Rosey, Junior and Jyp) who I spent everyday at the barn taking care of :)

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I am so jealous of all of your traveling! I hope that you have a great time with your family. Can I come with you to Denmark and Sweden!??!? You will have to let me know how all of the races go.
YOU HAD YOUR OWN HORSES…I want your life:)

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Also, I love the Brooke-in-a-shoe photo! It reminds me of the oversized clog I posed with in Amsterdam the other year :)

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I have family in Sweden so I actually got to go with my Grandma for the 16th birthday. It was incredible! We flew into Copenhagen, Denmark and spent a short amount of time there. I am dying to go back. It’s so worth it!!

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Yes, I have been on a horse but I wasn’t crazy about it.
That is an amazing looking macaroon. I have been to England and that is it for Europe. So far.
Last place we went on a “real” vacation was St Lucia. Boston. Last road trip was Vegas.

The Kidless Kronicles

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Looks like such an awesome place! I’ll be in Cali Labor Day weekend for the Disneyland Half… I wonder how far Solvang is from there!
My last trip was to Germany the week before Christmas and my last road trip was to Philly this past September.
Can’t wait to read about the next stop on your trip!

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That is so so fun that you are running that half!! It is about 2.5-3 hours from Disney!

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I just spent the summer in Denmark this past year! It was AWESOME. The cinnamon rolls were incredible!! You HAVE to go if you ever get the chance. It’s the most gorgeous city and it’s so active, too. Lots of bakeries but you burn all the deliciousness off with the miles and miles of biking, running, and walking you do on a daily basis. I can’t say enough good things about that country! I had no idea there was a city that’s all Danish in the U.S!

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I live in England and was born and raises in The Netherlands so yeah I’ve been to many places in Europe, never Denmark though! I love a good Danish pastry… :)

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Omg!!! I love Brooke’s face

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I’ve never been to Europe but I am going to San Francisco for the first time in a week!!

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How about you come visit me in San Jose:)

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Well if Solvang is all about their ice cream and pastries, then I certainly belong there. ;) That fudge looks incredible!

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My husband’s from a farm in KY, so we always take road trips there (only four hours). Bonus, we can always ride horses there too. His uncle also builds carriages, so he takes us on carriage rides with the horses. I much prefer that to actually getting on a horse (had a traumatic childhood experience). And, yes, we force our kids to take pictures in front of everything when we travel. They are way cuter than us.

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I agree about horses–beautiful!! I grew up with horses (I mean owning horses not really WITH horses haha). I miss them so much!

That fudge looks amazing. I would not have been able to pass up a $30 block.

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My family grew up there and my grandma/aunts+uncles still lives there! They have a festival called Danish Days every third weekend of September and everyone wears the traditional Danish outfit am dances in Copenhagen street and they serve ablesikivers (a pancake ball) and eat lots of Danish treats! It is a ton of fun

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Brooke’s face when she is in the shoe is classic!

We have a town by us that was settled by Germans and has become a big tourist town. They don’t have Hot Dogs and Ice Cream though :( They have fried chicken and fudge.

Last trip was Disney in November for our big family vacation and the Wine & Dine Half. Last ROAD trip….does a 4-5 hr trip away to the National AirForce Museum this past summer count?

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Where did you get those great boots?

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Thanks! They are Steve Madden and I got them at Nordstrom rack!

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Oh my goodness, that eclair. Wow. It reminds me of this MASSIVE cream puff I had in Columbus, Ohio a while back. It made me so so happy. :)

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That looks like a profiterole – one of my favorite desserts!

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I love Europe!! That place looks awesome <3

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Loving your trip! I’ve eaten at Tower Pizza (first picture), had fudge and tons of sweets from the many bakeries in Solvang. I also have a picture with that shoe (I’m kneeling next to it, not IN it!) The Vinhus has wonderful cheeses when you need a break from sugar… I don’t think that applies to YOU!!!

We went to Europe 2 years ago – cruised to Spain, France and Italy. Tried Gelato at every Italian port, but my favorite was cannoli in Venice!

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I have a friend that lives in Cali and he ALWAYS tells me I need to visit Solvang. I can see why now!

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Love Solvang!! We were stationed at Vandenberg AFB, not to far from Solvang. Husband’s family is from San Fran and San Jose. We now live in the Horse Capital, Ky!! Horses everywhere, including in my neighbourhood!!

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I was born in Denmark but live in NorCal now. I am actually 100% Danish, all my family (except parents and sister) still live there. I love visiting Solvang because I get a little taste of home without the long plane ride :)

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Yummmmmm what a fun day!!

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Next time you’re in Solvang, go get evelskivers! They are a danish filled pancake, and they are delicious!

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oops, meant to type ebelskivers.

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Omg! I grew up eating those! Homemade. Soooo yummy :)

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I went horseback riding for the second time this past summer. It was a wonderful and embarrassing experience because I cried out of frustration when the horse kept holding up our group.

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My mom is Danish so I’ve been to Denmark twice and Solvang many times :) Denmark is awesome and Solvang is so darn cute! Looks like a really fun litte family trip!

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This looks like my kind of town. I love cutesy little places like this! I have been to a few places in Europe and am dying to go back. I am a HUGE fan of horses. I was obsessed as a kid and have been itching to go riding for months now!

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I studied abroad in Denmark….go!!! (during the summer….) I loved it and you would too…

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My Grandma used to own 5 horses that were all broken and we’d get to ride them every weekend when I was a kid. It was SO fun.

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I’m currently on a roadtrip! As of this morning, I am journeying from Chicago to San Diego where I’m moving to. Definitely the longest roadtrip I’ve ever taken!

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I’ve been to Europe a few times. I actually studied abroad in Prague for a semester during my undergrad. It was incredible. I’ve become more inclined towards outdoor/adventure type vacations lately, though (Europe has gotten so expensive!). My last road trip (and last vacation, really) was in March and my two best friends and I road tripped from our homes in Colorado to Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Arches National Park and went camping and hiking at all of them. It was one of the best (and cheapest) vacations of my life!

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I used to show horse competitively when I was younger it was so much fun and they really are the most beautiful creatures!

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I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that hot dogs and ice cream is the finest meal EVER. My last vacation was Las Vegas almost a year ago, I’m definitely in need of some travel in 2013! Sounds like I’ll need to check out Solvang!

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Does Billy really kick his legs when he’s excited about life? Because my boyfriend does that and I am pretty sure that it’s the most adorable thing EVER but he always tells me that it’s just weird.

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Janae, I’ve been reading your blog for a while (and love every picture of Brooke!) but this is my first time commenting– I couldn’t help myself. I just returned home from a semester abroad in Copenhagen… what funny timing with your trip to Solvang! From your pictures it looks like a mini Denmark. CPH was the most beautiful (and happy!) city, I loved every single day of it. I traveled to 10 other European countries and still came back to Copenhagen after each weekend so glad I chose to study and live there. I’m heading back to school in DC tomorrow morning but really wish I could go back to Copenhagen instead– any excuse you find to go, I am your biggest supporter! And if Denmark is not in the cards right now… see you in DC for the RnR USA?! I’ll be running the half for my second time :)

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That little town looks beautiful! And you put me in the mood for pastry now, although I just ate…
My last road trip was in Greece – we rented a car and drove around Greece and spent three weeks in Athens. Oh, and shorter road trips in Germany, but I don’t know if that counts.

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Looks like you guys had a blast! I used to ride horses when I was younger, it was alot of fun :)

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SUCH a fun day!! I’m Canadian but currently studying in The Netherlands so I’ve seen about 60% of Europe so far as my family did two trips there before my exchange.
I used to spend my life riding horses actually haha… I had two and competed on a national show jumping team before I left for university actually. I miss it so much :(

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My last vacation was NOW! I’m in Spokane visiting family. Going on vacation makes me realize how little I like work.

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What fun! I used to ride horses quite a bit as a kid- too bad I can’t remember how to anymore!!

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love this! we LOVE solvang!!!!

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There are so many of thos little dutch town along California coast but Solavang is the best! If you love horses, you’d freak at living in our town: horse racing capital of UK. I got to run most of my long run around the horse routes Sat morning. I agree- they are beautiful. Our girls fell in love with Newmarket because of the horses so we had to find a place here!

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Horseriding: only a couple of times, when I was little, it was exciting/terrifying!
I’ve been to a few places in Europe being from Ireland the flights are cheap enough thankfully, means you’re able to leave the island sometimes and go on adventures! :)
The last place I went on vacation was California!! and I WENT TO SOLVANG!! Me and the man did a road trip from LA-Joshua Tree-Big Bear-Dogwood-Lake Cachuma-Ojai.
Solvang was a definite favourite stop, I remember going to the Jule House to get a million christmas tree decorations to bring home and I had amazing waffles in a place where people queue up for ages outside, I think it was opposite the Jule House, near the windmill. So glad you loved it as much as I did!

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When I was a kid, I rode horses a lot, but I haven’t in recent years. They are so much fun, though!

The best vacation I’ve been on was probably to the caribbean.

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Solvang is such an awesome place. LOVE. The pastries, all the bakeries, the atmosphere. Totally a fun little trip. Did you get split pea soup in the town across the freeway? I think that’s Buelleton (sp).

I have always loved horses. Wanted one ever since I was a little girl. Such majestic and expressive creatures. There’s a little horse sanctuary around Solvang. My mom just sent me pictures of the miniature horses. My heart melted.

I’ve been to Hungary, Germany, austria, croatia, Italy, Slovenia. . . and maybe two more in there. All the countries are gorgeous and each have their own cultural beauty, but I really love the Adriatic coast along Croatia. I highly suggest it. And Hungary of course :)

Oh, I think Solvang has a couple of big races through the year… something to look into perhaps?

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That’s the most adorable town I’ve ever seen! Also, I want some of that cake.

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Solvang is so cool. I went up there for the afternoon after running a race in Santa Barbara last summer. I was expecting something a lot smaller… I figured it would just be a little 1 street tourist trap. But its like a real, full sized town! Definitely a neat place to check out if you’re in that area.

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I went there a few years ago on a lil road trip with my mom and sister. Such a cute town!

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I used to work in a fudge shop! The only problem is that I got sick of the fudge and didn’t want to eat it anymore. It still doesn’t have the same appeal it did before working there. Oh well, it was still a cool job!

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That cake is happiness. I am so making one too…I don’t think I can wait til my birthday, I think I will need to make it tomorrow and celebrate…Tuesday!

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My boyfriend and I took a little quick trip to Solvang a few days before Christmas. We did some wine tasting and of course indulged in many culinary delights. I hadn’t been since I was a kid, it was a bigger than I remember. We saw that giant shoe and commented about how I’m sure every tourist wanted their picture with it. Haha

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