加州的丹麥小鎮 Solvang A Danish Town in California

今次我會介紹一個叫做Solvang的丹麥小鎮。

I went to a Danish Town called Solvang after my Disneyland visit.

上一篇我去了萬聖節的迪士尼，然後就飛往丹麥？不是的不是的。我是去了一個位於加州，極具丹麥特色的小鎮。說穿了，就像到唐人街具有華人特色一樣。

Last story, I went to Halloweened Disneyland, and immediately went to Denmark? Nope. I am talking about a town in California that was built to be Danish. Just like going to Japan Town that have Japanese style buildings. (China Town often don't have Chinese style buildings....)

地理位置

Solvang位處於LA西北面，由迪士尼開車大約2.5小時，主要是由101公路轉154公路再轉246公路就會到達。Solvang在丹麥語是解作有陽光的地方，由丹麥人於1911年所建立，今日有超過5000人居住。每年遊覧人數高達100萬人次，是加州其中一個旅遊景點。

我到這裏的原因都是一個字：便利。兩個小時多的車程在美國距離算是很近的了，要是到了迪士尼不到Solvang，必定是我的損失。

Solvang is located in the north west of Los Angeles. Driving from Disneyland takes 2.5 hrs, route from highway 101 to 154 and then 246. The meaning of Solvang in Danish is the sunny field. This is a town established by the Danish in 1911, with population of over 5000 now. It is one of the major tourist attractions of California with over 1 million visitors per year.

The reason for my visit was very simple: it was close to my previous destination Disneyland.

四周景色 Views in the town

說到丹麥，一定會想起風車。在Solvang也可以找到它們的踪影。

Talking about Denmark, I think of windmill.

Sevtap Tasting Room

我在遊客中心停車後，在附近找到這一個細小的風車。現在這個風車是一間紅酒試飲室。紅酒試飲室？為甚麼會開在這裏？Solvang除了是以丹麥特色而出名外，它亦是一個有名的紅酒出品地。你可以隨時進內試飲附近酒莊出品的紅酒（當然要店鋪開門營業，及要付錢），要試完全部的話都需要點時間。

I parked my car in the visitor center, and immediately saw a Windmill. It is a small Windmill. I looked around outside the building and found that this is a wine tasting shop. What? Why there is a wine tasting shop in this area? In fact the surrounding area of Solvang is full of winery. You can conveniently taste the local made wine in the shop, but it takes some time to complete your tasting....

King Frederik Inn

因為我怕大家會喝醉，所以找了家酒店給大家，等大家可以盡情𣈱飲。記緊，不要喝醉了開車，可大可少的。

Just a friendly reminder, after tasting all wine, don't drive. Take a rest. There is a inn nearby.

Solvang Windmill

另一個風車就大一點，而且亦是當地地標。基本上遊客都會到這裏，從這個角度拍照留念。要拍得好都要講運氣。我跟同行的朋友拍了很久才拍到滿意的照片。~~拍了接近二十張......明明不是很繁忙......~~

There is another windmill in the town, and it is the landmark. Basically, all tourists would take a picture in this angle. Well....you have to be experienced photographer to take good picture in this T intersection. I took pictures for my friend, but it took me 20 times to get a nice picture that no car was blocking the views.

Solvang Farmer's Market

當日剛好有農貿市場，城市人都可以感受一番。我逛了一會就離開了，沒怕太多照片，因為當時很享受輕鬆的氣氛呢。

There was also farmers market in Solvang. Go to take a look urban guys! Didn't take photos because I was so relax.

a typical store front

一個在外國來說很普通的商店街景觀。

Well, this was just a typical store front in US.

找點東西吃 Gotta eat something

後來到丹麥小鎮，當然想吃點丹麥食品。我原本想食的那一家店鋪在我到達的時候已經休息，真後悔不早點來。我發現很多餐廳都只在中午營業，我三點十五分到達已經算很晚。真失敗。

In a danish town, I obviously would like to get some danish food. Unfortunately, the shop I planned to go has been closed. It was 3:15PM. Closed so early.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

在肚餓的時候就找到這一家甜品店。我當時還以為是丹麥特色的甜品店，但後來我當然知道這是一家以美國為主的連鎖店。我現在再看一次它的店鋪分佈，美國以外就只有韓國及菲律賓有分店。

So, I found this store. Well, for guys who live in US, you should probably be laughing. This is actually a chained sweetie shop in the states. Who will go outside the US to eat McDonald's?

當時一看，見選擇有很多，非常吸引（現在想起也想食），所以就隨便買了一塊朱古力來食。

They all looked tasty. I picked up a chocolate "bar", and confirmed it tastes good.

從中間分開兩塊，一看就知很美國了 - 又大塊，又多果仁。食了一半之後就不想再食了，其餘的也變得沒機會食了。

I split it and found that there were full of nuts inside. Ate half of it and I was full, not able to try others.

Birkholm's Solvang Danish Bakery & Cafe

走了一轉，還是找一家必定是丹麥的店鋪坐下來休息一下。買了這個「雪山」，非常甜的，咬了一口就吃不下去。朋友說我最好買杯檸檬汁，果然味度就不同了。

Walking around the town, I picked a danish bakery that has seats available in the shop. Bought this "snow mountain", and found that it was sickly sweet..... At last, I bought a lemonade and the "snow mountain" became great immediately.