In the Little Women: LA episode “Welcome to Solvang,” the ladies and their husbands (sorry, Tonya!) travel to the picturesque village Solvang, California for a weekend getaway. The charming small town (population 5,802) is in the Santa Ynez Valley, about 140 miles north of Los Angeles. Solvang is known for its Danish-style architecture (there are plenty of windmills!) and wineries. Solvang was established in 1911 by a group of Danes who bought the nearly 9,000 acres, paying an average of $40 per acre. Now a tourist attraction, Solvang welcomes more than one million visitors a year. The number one employer in town is Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort. Nightly rates start at $575 which includes two meals (breakfast and dinner) and complimentary wine tastings.
The busiest day of the year in Solvang is its annual “Danish Days” event which is usually held during the third weekend in September. A parade is led down Main Street with folk dancers and singers. If you’re a fan of Danish culture and Michael Jackson, you’re in luck. The King of Pop’s former home, Neverland Ranch, is about ten miles north. More fun facts: The ska punk band Mad Caddies are from Solvang; and Alfred Hitchcock‘s only child, Patricia Hitchcock (who’s now 89) lives in town. Little Women: LA airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Lifetime.
