Great Dane

What could be considered Central California’s biggest tourist trap, the quirky Danish-themed village of Solvang hit the map with wine enthusiasts when the cult movie Sideways came out. Now, there’s a new landing spot called The Landsby, a 41-room boutique hotel located on Mission Drive, a main thoroughfare of Solvang, putting it close to both the Hans Christian Andersen park and Paula’s Pancake house, the breakfast stop. How’s that for kitsch? Visitors come to the town because of its close proximity from Los Angeles to the wineries of Santa Ynez Valley…and the amazing Danish pastries, of course.

The newest and most innovative hotel in Solvang, The Landsby was completely renovated from its other incarnation as The Petersen Village Inn and was designed by an LA-based firm in the Scandinavian style. The contemporary decor is more in line with what you would find in Denmark today, not 500 years ago. Which is a good thing. The menu for the hotel’s Mad + Vin restaurant- Food + Wine in Danish- features wine country cuisine flavors to be served alongside locally produced wine. And no windmills in sight. www.thelandsby.com