Solvang, the Danish Capital of America!

Date/Time

Saturday, October 7th, 2023 | 3:00pm - 7:15pm

Where We Will Meet

Meet and the front entrance of the Santa Ines Mission

Where The Walk Will End

Meet at Copenhagen Sausage Garden

About This Walk

Hello WorldWide Photo Walk Walkers!

Last year I led a walk at the Lompoc Mission and several who attended said it would be fun to do Solvang, so, here we go…Our walk this year is in the quaint Danish Village of Solvang.

Many wanted the walk to be in the evening to capture the town with its beautiful sparkling lights, however several also wanted to walk during the day, so we’ll split the difference and the walk will include both. I didn’t want to scare anyone off with a huge timeframe for the walk, but I’ve set the start and ending time in a wide range so we can take photos during the day and when the sun has set as Solvang is beautiful after sunset. This will allow us to take photos in and around the mission and gardens, through the quaint streets of Solvang where there are parks, small museums, restaurants, etc. We’ll meet up at 3:00pm, take our group photo, (we can take our group photo either in front of the Mission or a brief walk, over to the next corner and take it with the famous Little Mermaid Statue/Fountain), plan our walk, some may walk in groups, some may want to wander on their own. We’ll meet for dinner and conversation at 7:15ish, at Copenhagen Sausage Garden. Don’t let the name sway you, they have everything from Pretzels to Burgers, Salads to Schnitzel and Sausages at affordable prices and it fits our Danish theme of the day! After we eat we can continue walking for anyone who would like to take night shots!

The walking path you want to walk Solvang is up to you. Wherever your creative powers take you that will best capture your vision of Solvang is great. Some of us may walk as a group, others not. It’s up to you!

Shoot as long as you like, but please meet back at 7:15 at Copenhagen Sausage Garden for a quick bite and storytelling about your day and your images. Then, feel free to go back out again to shoot night scenes.

There are a lot of great things to see and photograph in Solvang. Here’s a list of some highlights that are all within walking distance from our starting point at the Mission.

Santa Ines Mission and Gardens
Little Mermaid Fountain Statue (replica of the statue displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen, Denmark
Statue of Hans Christian Anderson (author of the Little Mermaid, the Ugly Duckling, the Emperor’s New Clothes, the Princess and the Pea and more).
Trolley and Horse Carriage (not only to photograph but fun to take the 25 minute ride, a bit pricey, but fun and informative).
Danish Architecture, beautiful facades, many buildings with thatched roofs, rooftops with stork nests, the Tower a replica of the Rundetaarn in Copenhagen, several Windmills (there are five scattered around town)
Solvang Clock Tower
Many Picturesque restaurant patios with umbrellas
Danish Pastries. Lots of great bakeries with beautiful Danish treats such as the famous Aebleskivers, a traditional Danish dessert (you may want to try those if you’ve never had one!)
Lots of interesting shops, from antique stores and a Shoe Store with a giant clog out front, to the Jule Hus (Christmas House) building, with its red facade, beautiful from the outside but you won’t want to miss going inside to experience Christmas any time of year!
Wine Tasting Rooms, lots of them!
Olive Tasting Room
WindHarp  (a bit of a walk, 636 Atterdag Road. From the Mission it’s about 0.8 mile, about a 15/20 minute walk) you’ll pass the historic Bethania Luthern Church on this walk
People watching! Tourists from all over the world and much more!

It will be great to see many of you that I only see once a year and hope we can also make some new friends!

Digital – film – mobile – photographers at all skill levels are welcome and we’re excited to see you!

PS If you are so inclined you may want arrive earlier in the day to enjoy one or more of the museums Solvang has to offer. Make sure you check for opening and closing times!

Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, 1624 Elverhoy Way
Hans Christian Andersen Museum, 1680 Mission Drive
Vintage Motorcycles in Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum, 320 Alisal Road
Wildling Museum, 1511 Mission Drive Many of you may know some of our local photographers that have been showcased here!
Amber and Viking Museum, new and small housed within a Modern Danish shop, but interesting  1660 Copenhagen Drive

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