New Line Cinema

This California town is perfectly picturesque, but not amazing for man-scaping

Bakeries, beer and windmills, oh my! While I enjoy all three aforementioned things, it’s unfortunate that they completely sum up the Southern California city of Solvang. This quaint and picturesque spot is a tourist’s wet dream, but unless you get really lucky or are wandered off a tour bus from the Midwest, you won’t be meeting the man of your dreams here.

In no way do I mean to be derogatory about such a fantastical place I’m simply stating a fact. While the community does have its assets, being a prime pick up spot for the unattached isn’t one of them.

Solvang is literally a slice of Danish heaven right smack dab in the midst of SoCal. There is a bust of Danish fable writer Hans Christian Andersen, as well as a museum and park in his honor. There is a copy of Copenhagen‘s infamous Little Mermaid statue, and its architecture mimics the buildings and windmills of Denmark perfectly.

By day, Solvang is nothing short of adorable. It’s unexpected. There are mom and pop fudge stores. There are fabulously kitschy restaurants like a Bit O’ Denmark (which is also a bit O’Irish I suspect, as well), Paula’s Pancake House and Viking Garden all call the city home.

Fox Searchlight

However much you may not meet a young single stud here, you may just find a middle-aged wine aficionado. Conversely, this could be a great romantic vacation spot for the couple who pride themselves on their wine snobbery.

You see, the city – along with neighboring town Buellton – were the prime shooting locations for 2004′s Oscar-winning homage to the wine industry, Sideways. Because of the film’s success, vino connoisseurs have flocked to the town to sip Pinots, Chardonnays and Cabernets galore at spots like Los Olivos, the Ballard Inn, Hadsten House and Root 246.

Just make sure you don’t admit to having a thing for drinking “any f***ing Merlot!”