Hotel at a Glance: Sideways Inn

Like many of its neighbors around Solvang, Sideways Inn has a traditional windmill out front. But things are decidedly more modern inside. A recent makeover refreshed the guest rooms with stylish elements including patterned cement tiles and sliding barn doors in the bathrooms, along with teal wingback chairs in the sleeping areas.

• Sideways Lounge: a place for friends, innovative cocktails, local beer, and fine wines.
• California sun shines on the outdoor pool and hot tub.
• Best way to unwind: lounging on an Adirondack chair by the fire pit
• Things to do: Guests get access to amenities like pools and a bocce-ball court at the inn's sister resort, Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground.

Solvang, California: Danish Village in the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Region

Often described as “more Danish than Denmark,” the city of Solvang is the place in California to find windmills, European bakeries, and half-timbered homes with gabled roofs. Families with names like Jensen and Nielsen stroll the quiet, tree-lined streets here, which wend past farms and the orange and walnut groves that once thrived in this part of California. Solvang (which means “sunny fields”) maintains its heritage with festivals such as Danish Days in September, where vendors dole out sausage and aebleskivers— famous Danish round pancake snacks. Along Alisal Road, there are gift shops lined with Scandinavian knickknacks and homages to Hans Christian Andersen.

In 2004, the hit oenophile movie Sideways was filmed here, thrusting the quiet town into the international spotlight. Though no stranger to wine culture—Solvang sits in the renowned Santa Ynez Valley wine region and boasts a handful of tasting rooms—the cameo did transform the town into a travel destination for wine lovers. Charming villages throughout this region have boutique wineries where visitors can sample award-winning chardonnays, sauvignon blancs, and viogniers.