From Solvang to Golden Globes award… almost!
Jan 19th, 2011 | 12:37 PM
#1
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From Solvang to Golden Globes award… almost!
The 4 of us had 3 days to travel to Solvang (Southern California) and back. Our lunch stop was Salinas with it’s “First Awakenings” – I just had to check out this religious-sounding place! They had 2-3 dozen of omelettes and a dozen of sandwiches on the menu. The food was not bad, but nothing memorable, could’ve just taken a photo and moved on.
Solvang is a Danish town. It looks very unreal, made for tourists, probably like Venetian hotel in Vegas is a fake replica of Venice, Italy. I still liked it, Danish houses, gift shops, windmills, restaurants and bakeries. The town shuts down early, the kids went out for after-dinner drinks, and they were laughing being “kicked out” at 9 pm for closing.
We stayed at King Frederik Inn. While we had basic rooms, the bed was comfortable, shower with soap dispenser over a deep bathtub, separate sink with some shelves for cosmetics, mirrored closet doors, coffee in room, what was lacking is a small fridge to keep the drinks cold. The office had small breakfast: pastries, bread for toasting, but coffee and juices are available all day. The best thing was the location – our son’s comment: “I really appreciate being able to walk to a restaurant for dinner after a day of driving.”
Horse carriage rides board right outside of our hotel! It’s always nice to have a narrated tour to learn some history and local gossip. On this ride we heard the legend of aebelskivers. Those are round, as a sphere, dessert pancakes! Tasty, but a bit too rich. As the legend has it, the Vikings made pancakes on their voyages. Once a Viking didn’t have a frying pan, so he used his dented shield. The pancake came out thick and round.
We had dinner at the “Viking Garden,” tucked in behind a gift shop. The price was surprisingly low for Solvang, I expected everything to be overpriced. My salmon and husband’s chicken were excellent, the portions were large enough to skip dessert. The next day dinner, keeping up with the garden tradition, in “Beer Garden” – we were tired after a day of sightseeing, and this restaurant is across the street from our hotel, once again, good choice.
Next day off to LA. The Getty Center is excellent! Admission is free if you arrive by bus, the bus stop is right there, I saw a woman getting off the bus and walking to the entrance. If you arrive by car it’s $15 parking – not bad for 4 people! From the parking lot (remember where you parked!) you take the elevator up to the air-conditioned monorail for a 4’ ride. The center is a bunch of buildings in the gardens. As it’s usually hot and sunny, they provide umbrellas for walking around or from pavilion to pavilion. Each building has a bin for umbrellas, just take if you need it, and leave in any bin. Inside you see paintings, sculpture, furniture, porcelain. There are several places to eat or get a drink. I could easily spend the whole day there!
On the way back we drove through Bell Air – to see the area, down Sunset Blvd, made a right turn, and… found ourselves in the line of black limos with a sign flashing mid-block: street closed… guests with invitations only… Golden Globes award… After a U-turn we started laughing, and went back to take photos of the protesters with cardboards where a word “moron” was the least offensive. Close to them – screaming fans. We didn’t see any celebrities, of course, and wouldn’t try to. Down the Rodeo Drive to a very different area – our son was determined to show us Watts Towers.
We live in the area that is becoming Tenderloin, but I would not be afraid to walk by myself. There was an area that was so dangerous, I didn’t even want to get out of the car, so scary it was. The towers are in a small public park, the security guard walked out of his hut to tell us about tours and to thank us for being brave to visit this area
On the way home we stopped at the Ostrichland. They sell the feed for ostriches in what looks like a frying pan that you must hold with both hands – the ostriches are strong! The kids had fun, and we had even more fun watching our adult children feeding the birds. I wanted to buy ostrich jerky, but the 2 kinds they had were mixed with beef. So disappointing!
Our lunch on the way back was at Madonna Inn. This place is so pink!! Pink paper napkins, pink sugar in the sugar shakers, even the cash receipts in the gift shop printed on pink paper. The food was good, and once in a lifetime it’s OK to visit, just to have the bragging rights. If you can, go to the men’s bathroom. There is a sensor when you walk in, it starts a waterfall that is used for sanitation. Lady’s bathroom is just pink and kitschy.
On to the bubble gum alley in Saint Lois Obispo. If you saw this disgusting place on TV, it’s it! People just put their chewed-out gum on the walls of a narrow alley between 2 buildings. Kids had a ball taking photos of each other, and of us not wanting to even walk in.
We had so much fun, and I will post photos a bit later.
Solvang is a Danish town. It looks very unreal, made for tourists, probably like Venetian hotel in Vegas is a fake replica of Venice, Italy. I still liked it, Danish houses, gift shops, windmills, restaurants and bakeries. The town shuts down early, the kids went out for after-dinner drinks, and they were laughing being “kicked out” at 9 pm for closing.
We stayed at King Frederik Inn. While we had basic rooms, the bed was comfortable, shower with soap dispenser over a deep bathtub, separate sink with some shelves for cosmetics, mirrored closet doors, coffee in room, what was lacking is a small fridge to keep the drinks cold. The office had small breakfast: pastries, bread for toasting, but coffee and juices are available all day. The best thing was the location – our son’s comment: “I really appreciate being able to walk to a restaurant for dinner after a day of driving.”
Horse carriage rides board right outside of our hotel! It’s always nice to have a narrated tour to learn some history and local gossip. On this ride we heard the legend of aebelskivers. Those are round, as a sphere, dessert pancakes! Tasty, but a bit too rich. As the legend has it, the Vikings made pancakes on their voyages. Once a Viking didn’t have a frying pan, so he used his dented shield. The pancake came out thick and round.
We had dinner at the “Viking Garden,” tucked in behind a gift shop. The price was surprisingly low for Solvang, I expected everything to be overpriced. My salmon and husband’s chicken were excellent, the portions were large enough to skip dessert. The next day dinner, keeping up with the garden tradition, in “Beer Garden” – we were tired after a day of sightseeing, and this restaurant is across the street from our hotel, once again, good choice.
Next day off to LA. The Getty Center is excellent! Admission is free if you arrive by bus, the bus stop is right there, I saw a woman getting off the bus and walking to the entrance. If you arrive by car it’s $15 parking – not bad for 4 people! From the parking lot (remember where you parked!) you take the elevator up to the air-conditioned monorail for a 4’ ride. The center is a bunch of buildings in the gardens. As it’s usually hot and sunny, they provide umbrellas for walking around or from pavilion to pavilion. Each building has a bin for umbrellas, just take if you need it, and leave in any bin. Inside you see paintings, sculpture, furniture, porcelain. There are several places to eat or get a drink. I could easily spend the whole day there!
On the way back we drove through Bell Air – to see the area, down Sunset Blvd, made a right turn, and… found ourselves in the line of black limos with a sign flashing mid-block: street closed… guests with invitations only… Golden Globes award… After a U-turn we started laughing, and went back to take photos of the protesters with cardboards where a word “moron” was the least offensive. Close to them – screaming fans. We didn’t see any celebrities, of course, and wouldn’t try to. Down the Rodeo Drive to a very different area – our son was determined to show us Watts Towers.
We live in the area that is becoming Tenderloin, but I would not be afraid to walk by myself. There was an area that was so dangerous, I didn’t even want to get out of the car, so scary it was. The towers are in a small public park, the security guard walked out of his hut to tell us about tours and to thank us for being brave to visit this area
On the way home we stopped at the Ostrichland. They sell the feed for ostriches in what looks like a frying pan that you must hold with both hands – the ostriches are strong! The kids had fun, and we had even more fun watching our adult children feeding the birds. I wanted to buy ostrich jerky, but the 2 kinds they had were mixed with beef. So disappointing!
Our lunch on the way back was at Madonna Inn. This place is so pink!! Pink paper napkins, pink sugar in the sugar shakers, even the cash receipts in the gift shop printed on pink paper. The food was good, and once in a lifetime it’s OK to visit, just to have the bragging rights. If you can, go to the men’s bathroom. There is a sensor when you walk in, it starts a waterfall that is used for sanitation. Lady’s bathroom is just pink and kitschy.
On to the bubble gum alley in Saint Lois Obispo. If you saw this disgusting place on TV, it’s it! People just put their chewed-out gum on the walls of a narrow alley between 2 buildings. Kids had a ball taking photos of each other, and of us not wanting to even walk in.
We had so much fun, and I will post photos a bit later.
Jan 19th, 2011 | 01:21 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,020
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Great report as usual Dayenu. We loved the Getty, but barely made a dent in it. We went there in July when we spent a week in SoCal visiting our niece who's going to college in Fullerton. Hope to get back someday to visit more buildings.
Jan 19th, 2011 | 03:12 PM
#6
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,253
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Excellent report! One day I'll actually see more between the big cities over there. You have given me some ideas, Dayenu.
I know there are bubble gum allies and walls and bars other places too. I've seen one or two on my baseball trips. ECK!
Dayenu, when I see you in person- MOST likely on my next baseball trip to CA- I want to tell you some REAL scary neighborhood stories. Or the time about 10 years ago when my our car broke down on the Dan Ryan on the way home from the Sox game at midnight.
We had that happen in Detroit too. A person walking back to our car (5 blocks- we wanted to see some old GM buildings SO had visited numerous times in his life)- thanked us for visiting.
I know there are bubble gum allies and walls and bars other places too. I've seen one or two on my baseball trips. ECK!
Dayenu, when I see you in person- MOST likely on my next baseball trip to CA- I want to tell you some REAL scary neighborhood stories. Or the time about 10 years ago when my our car broke down on the Dan Ryan on the way home from the Sox game at midnight.
We had that happen in Detroit too. A person walking back to our car (5 blocks- we wanted to see some old GM buildings SO had visited numerous times in his life)- thanked us for visiting.
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Jan 20th, 2011 | 08:12 AM
#8
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Yep. This is what we are. Wide array of interests 
Kea, this was done way before - fort Ross for example, I don't care to compete with russians.
Sandi, Volcano, Giovanna - thank you!
JJ, I like the places nobody wants to visit (if safe) - small towns, small museums. Living in a large city, looking for something different I guess.
Kea, this was done way before - fort Ross for example, I don't care to compete with russians.
Sandi, Volcano, Giovanna - thank you!
JJ, I like the places nobody wants to visit (if safe) - small towns, small museums. Living in a large city, looking for something different I guess.
Jan 23rd, 2011 | 04:09 PM
#14
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Jan 23rd, 2011 | 04:59 PM
#15
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 13,491
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Great report, Dayenu!
I can so relate to the Watts Towers. We lived in the LA area and one year decided to take a day to see things others considered tourist attractions but that we'd never seen. So, off we go to a few places, the Holocaust Museum, Farmer's Market, and Watt's Towers. We were there later in the day, got a bit lost (before GPS) and circled several blocks before we could see the towers. Then we discovered we were facing a roadblock. And really, no where to turn around except a driveway. And on the porch were some rather large, really scary looking men, who started approaching us as we tried to turn around. We managed to get turned around and down the street and saw them in the rear-view mirror, standing menacingly in the street. Still, who knows, they might have just looked scary and been perfectly harmless. But this was in the days not too long after the riots and it was prudent of us not to stay around and find out if they were friendly or not.
I will say that I was very, very rarely afraid of anywhere in the LA area. I drove all over, day and night, using common sense, but really had no issues. We were definitely uneasy this one time, though.
I can so relate to the Watts Towers. We lived in the LA area and one year decided to take a day to see things others considered tourist attractions but that we'd never seen. So, off we go to a few places, the Holocaust Museum, Farmer's Market, and Watt's Towers. We were there later in the day, got a bit lost (before GPS) and circled several blocks before we could see the towers. Then we discovered we were facing a roadblock. And really, no where to turn around except a driveway. And on the porch were some rather large, really scary looking men, who started approaching us as we tried to turn around. We managed to get turned around and down the street and saw them in the rear-view mirror, standing menacingly in the street. Still, who knows, they might have just looked scary and been perfectly harmless. But this was in the days not too long after the riots and it was prudent of us not to stay around and find out if they were friendly or not.
I will say that I was very, very rarely afraid of anywhere in the LA area. I drove all over, day and night, using common sense, but really had no issues. We were definitely uneasy this one time, though.
Jan 25th, 2011 | 10:12 PM
#16
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,306
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Thanks for the trip report. Very enjoyable. Know all the places except for bubblegum alley!
I've been to Watts Tower once in the early 70s during a Christmas Break, though I have driven by several times since more recently. I enjoyed our visit to the towers that day; it is such an unusual place with its strange sculptural forms. It had been raining the whole vacation and on the day we went the sun finally came out. The place was full of tourists sitting and walking about and taking photos. My memory was a very relaxed place; I guess the neighborhood felt more benign then. Sorry that the neighborhood turns so many away, but there is no denying that it is a dangerous part of the city. I would not be so casual about visiting Watts Tower now.
I've been to Watts Tower once in the early 70s during a Christmas Break, though I have driven by several times since more recently. I enjoyed our visit to the towers that day; it is such an unusual place with its strange sculptural forms. It had been raining the whole vacation and on the day we went the sun finally came out. The place was full of tourists sitting and walking about and taking photos. My memory was a very relaxed place; I guess the neighborhood felt more benign then. Sorry that the neighborhood turns so many away, but there is no denying that it is a dangerous part of the city. I would not be so casual about visiting Watts Tower now.
