"A Tourist Trap - But Worth a Visit" a Solvang Travel Page by trvlrtom

My wife's grandmother lived in Solvang, so we like to go here occasionally for a trip to memory lane. I get to hear stories about how much the area has changed, and who owned what store and what restaurants used to be good, etc.
The thing about Solvang is that of course it is a Tourist Trap. Maybe the original residents didn't know that this would be their legacy, but it is. The good thing is that despite the commercialism, the town does a very good job at keeping it from getting so bad that the charm is lost. The European looking buildings may not fool you into thinking that you are near the Baltic coast, but they make a pretty good impression. And you might find in interesting to have lunch in a place that portrays Viking roots and hear nothing but Spanish being spoken by the kitchen workers. Most shops are locally owned, and the chain stores haven't moved in. It isn't just another shopping mall with themed storefronts.

My wife says that when she was a child, her aunt said, "Just look at all these ranches. Someday they'll be wineries." How she know that we will never know, but it turned out to be true. Even before the movie "Sideways" came out, this area had evolved into a new economy based on tourism and wine. A trip to Solvang can include wine tasting in town, or an easy trip to some of the many nearby wineries.

There are several decent places to eat in Solvang. Be prepared to pay more than you would at home for a similar meal.