Solvang might be the strangest little town in California, and that's exactly the point. Founded in the early 1900s by Danish immigrants escaping brutal Midwestern winters, this Santa Ynez Valley settlement was designed as a self-sufficient colony complete with a folk school, college and church. It stayed under the radar until a newspaper headline in the late 1940s showcased its Danish-style architecture, and tourists have been rolling in ever since. These days the town leans hard into hospitality, mixing bakeries, half-timbered buildings and full-on kitsch with genuine history.

If you're planning a stay, hotels here tend toward the dated and expensive side, so TravelAwaits recently rounded up the five Vrbos worth booking instead — and the picks cover a nice range of travellers.

The standout is the Hygge Tower Apartment, a one-bedroom built inside Solvang's replica of Copenhagen's famous Rundetårn round tower. Designed by actual Danes, it embraces its odd floor plan with a spiral staircase, curved kitchen counters and minimalist modern decor. It's about as close to Copenhagen as you can get without a passport.

Travelling on a budget? Studio Bella is a small one-bedroom right in the centre of town, with a parking spot and a little outdoor sitting area out back — rare value in a town where prices run high. For couples, Alisal Cottage Daisy #2 offers a 1920s craftsman-style cottage near Old Mission Santa Inés, with a generous outdoor area made for morning coffee or an evening drink. The same host runs two other nearby cottages if it's booked.

Groups of up to four have two options: Magnolia Cottage, a two-bedroom with a queen in one room and a king in the other (no one draws the short straw), and Suite 2, a professionally managed two-bedroom in a multi-unit building with hotel-style service, garage parking and an EV charger.

The town itself rewards a slow wander — pastry-hopping between bakeries is basically the national sport — but the surrounding valley adds real range. Horseback riding and hot-air ballooning are both easy to arrange nearby, and Santa Barbara wine country is on your doorstep.

Solvang works for a weekend escape from Los Angeles, a romantic detour on a California coast road trip, or a base for exploring the Santa Ynez Valley's wineries. Book one of these rentals and you get walkable access to the whole town without paying resort prices.