Solvang

Whew! This past weekend was a complete whirlwind of driving and seeing and eating and celebrating.  Two of my cousins graduated from college, so we trekked down the California coast once again to support their success.

Along the way we stopped in Solvang.  It's a super-charmy Danish town just above Santa Barbara.

Usually we just do a quick pit-stop for cookies and pastries, but this time we decided to walk around a little more.

Though the main thoroughfare of Solvang only spans a couple streets, I love how all the buildings fit the same style.  There's bakeries and little boutique stores spattered all over; touristy, but in a good way.

I particularly wanted to go to the Rasmussens store pictured below - I had heard that they sold imported fabric.  Though (predictably?) I walked in looking for Danish import fabric, I walked out with Japanese imported fabric.  >.>"  At $10 a yard, it was a bit pricier than my usual $/yard allotment, but I figure it's okay since it's not a run-of-the-mill Joanne's print.

While stopping for fudge to bring to Friend E (thanks to him for letting us crash at his place again!), we saw a horse trolley walk by.  We may have ran down the sidewalk chasing it for a picture...

And of course, the best part of Solvang is the pastries. Oh, shortbread, you delicious buttery thing you!

Pictured are almond and raspberry tarts, shortdough raspberry cookies (Penga-Sis and I refer to them as Danish Pop-Tarts),  and a Danish waffle with cream and jam inside.  So good.

Cultural towns are always a treat to visit, and we stop by Solvang nearly every time we go down south.  If only for the cookies!  Have you been there before? I've got to learn how to make an almond tart. Mmm.