Best Small Towns to Visit This Holiday Season

Newsweek magazine recently named the Danish village of Solvang the best Christmas town in California and the second best in the nation. During its annual Julefest celebration, the entire village is illuminated with twinkling lights, celebratory scenes, and Instagram-able holiday vignettes. The festivities for the month-long holiday celebration will run from November 29, 2024, through January 5, 2025. Special events include a tree lighting ceremony (December 6), the Julefest Parade (December 7), an open-air Christmas Market (first three Wednesdays in December), and holiday carolers (first three Saturdays in December). There are also ongoing events throughout Julefest, like the Light & Music Show, a city-wide gnome hunt, and a selection of holiday tours. On New Year’s Eve, the town comes together for a European-style countdown to midnight in Denmark (3:00 p.m. Pacific time).

Where to stay in Solvang

Boutique hotels in Solvang range in design from the Old-World Danish storybook style to modern Scandinavian cool. Great choices for a holiday getaway include downtown’s Wine Valley Inn & Cottages, the hip yet affordable Viking Inn, the intimate The Winston, the retro-glamorous Mirabelle Inn & Restaurant, the well-appointed New Haven Inn, the inviting Vinland Hotel, the playfully refined Corque Hotel, the garden-enveloped The M Solvang, the bright and airy The Landsby, the budget-friendly hipster haven Hamlet Inn, or the modern minimalist

Scandinavian aesthetic of Atterdag Inn.

Artisan Excursion offers wine tours in Solvang CA, which include a range of exquisite wines ranging from rare vintage ones to new bridle ones to help you branch out and discover new, unique tastes.

 Our wine tour packages also include a delicious dinner in the vine, and small group tours so you can enjoy your privacy. What makes the tour more memorable is the added advantage of the scenic views that Solvang offers.