Tucked away in the San Ynez Valley lives a hidden piece of Denmark. As if lifted and transported by a flock of geese across continents and oceans. Solvang offers Californians an affordable, weekend trip to Scandinavia, sans the sartorial dilemma of winter wear (a wardrobe facet we know little about in this land of eternal sunshine), and the inevitable discomfort of a long flight.

OK, so Solvang isn't really an authentic replica of Denmark, but with bakeries, a windmill and souvenir gift shops with plenty of wooden clogs for sale; you'll get your fill of tourism and a slice of "It's A Small World" without the exorbitant entrance fee. Did I mention the town is in the middle of wine country?

We booked a boutique hotel, walking distance from everything, called the Mirabelle Inn. The rooms are small, but lovely and well decorated. Nothing about the hotel screamed: "Wow, Denmark!" but they did have an affiliation with one of the many local wineries; a notable "takeover" reality of Solvang.

We spent our first day walking around and eating. The weather was perfect - no wind and a clear, sunny sky. The popularity of wineries in recent years has definitely made its imprint on Solvang. My dad mentioned visiting when he was younger, around the time of The Ice Age, and said there was a Danish bakery on almost every corner. There are a few bakeries left, more tourist geared than authentic feeling, and the rest of the shops are all-things-wine. Every street has multiple tasting room options from local vineyards.

I opted with skipping the adult beverage sampling and set off to satisfy a different palate. Paula's Pancake House is a Solvang staple. As the most authentic breakfast you can hope for; I highly recommend indulging at Paula's. The Danish pancakes are twice the size of your head and worth every bite.

The short road trip getting there is also remarkable. With a few scenic overlooks to stop and enjoy, the views are beautiful. Santa Barbara is an unavoidable stop, but with the excitement of entering perpetual Christmas, stopping on the way might be difficult to muster. On your way back to Los Angeles it is a no-brainer. After all, there's nothing like that ocean air.