In downtown Solvang, the Solvang Farmer's Market continues every Wednesday on First Street, near the park. (Spring changes the opening time to 3 pm.) Fresh produce direct from the grower, much of it organic, dried fruits, nuts, sprouts, popcorn, fruits, eggs, mushrooms, vegetables, flowers and occasional entertainment are all a part of the weekly event each Wednesday. A great place to see all your friends.

Events continuing during spring begin with the Story Hour honoring Hans Christian Andersen on March 30th and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the same day. The Egg Hunt takes place in Hans Christian Andersen Park at 10:00 am.

On April 2 Solvang will celebrate Hans Christian Andersen's Birthday, and On April 20th the Gourmet Century Bike Ride will take place, a 100K bike ride through the Valley with gourmet food throughout. On April 20-21 the famous Vintner's Festival is held at one of the Valley's beautiful farms. Food, wonderful local wines and entertainment. Advance tickets only. On April 26th-28th the Solvang Custom Knife Show takes place at the Solvang Royal Scandinavian Inn. A world-renowned event sponsered by Solvang's Nordic Knives.

On May 4th the famous Los Rancheros Vistadores, said to be the largest riding group of its kind in the world, starts their annual ride with a stop at the Old Mission Santa Inés for the blessing of their horses by the Padres. Hundreds of riders make the annual pilgrimage. On May 26th Art Under the Arches is held at Old Mission Santa Inés. Arts and crafts, food and live entertainment.

The PCPA Theaterfest Season officially opens in June in Solvang and continues through October. Presenting critically-acclaimed, live theater under the stars in Solvang. Share professional theater at its best. On June 8th the annual Old Santa Ynez Day is held. The Old West comes to life as our neighbor the frontier town of Santa Ynez celebrates its birthday. Parade, food and entertainment.

In Solvang you can find wonderful shops filled with every conceivable type of merchandise. Many shop owners are first, second and third-generation descendants of Danish immigrants. The town is an authentic Danish-American blend. Visit Solvang's Elverhoy Museum, to learn more about the town's heritage.

If you start your visit from Alisal and Mission Drive, proceed south to 467 Alisal Road and you will find Chris Hanson's Clock Shop Jewelers, celebrating their 30th year in Solvang. Chris Hanson has been working in this shop, which belonged to his parents before him, since he was a young boy. Hanson carries all kinds of clocks, and estate jewelry. The intriguing music-box clock&emdash;a favorite &emdash;is a blend of traditional and modern design. Music-box clocks are incredibly popular. Ask Chris, his Irish-born wife Catherine, or their associate Jilly, to "play" one of these clocks for you.

Cross the street to The Solvang Bakery, at 460 Alisal Road. Owned and operated for over two decades by Susan Halme, this bakery has supported Valley school teams, clubs, charities and residents in many different ways. (See story this issue on page 20)

Near Solvang Bakery, on the same side of the street at 466 Alisal Road is Bear Necessities. Stop in to see a fabulous selection of stuffed animals, known as "collectible plush" unique dolls and of course stuffed bears. They carry artist bears and dolls, the Boyd's collection and LTD collectibles for law enforcement and fire fighter professionals. They also have one of a kind creations by famous artists from all over the world. A perfect place to get that very special gift.

South on Alisal Road &emdash; directly across from the post office at 433 Alisal Road, and celebrating their tenth year anniversary is Gaveaesken. The name means "gift box" in Danish, and Danish-born shop owner Marianne Larsen takes buying trips to Denmark every year, where she finds the latest in Danish style for Gaveaesken. Be sure to stop in and see the large selection of Danish papercuts and Danish Christmas elves here.

Across the courtyard from Gaveaesken is Morovino Wine Tasting. Stop in and see their friendly staff who can explain all about the wines you taste. Morovino is a small production winemaker producing premium quality wines from Santa Barbara County. (See Wine section too on pg. 42)

Down Alisal Road (south) on the same side of the street at 425 Alisal is The Clothes Horse, a lovely shop owned by Pam Coble. Featuring contemporary women's fashions and accessories, The Clothes Horse is where many of the best-dressed local women shop. Featuring a wide variety of large sizes, The Clothes Horse is Solvang's most complete women's clothing store.

Across the street is Meadows Restaurant and Bar, with a wonderful new decor, menu, wine list and outdoor patio. They have a great chef and offer creative cuisine, friendly service and a huge reasonably priced California wine list. Live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. See dining guide pg. 76.

Continue south (about two blocks) on Alisal Road to the large building complex on the east side at 320 Alisal Road, and you'll find the Solvang Village Square, owned by Dr.Virgil Elings and his sons Jeff and Mike. The Elings have a Vintage Motorcycle Museum here. The museum will be of particular interest to the motorcycle buff. There is a large selection of vintage motorcycles, with stories about each bike and many rare racing motorcycles.

Across the street at 293 Alisal Road is the Solvang Gardens Lodge. Owners Ron and Julie Paladino (who also own Solvang Antiques) have given the Solvang Gardens Lodge a fresh, quaint appeal. In a quiet location near town, the museum, Theaterfest and the golf course, this lodge is friendly, affordable and peaceful.

Back to the center of town, and west to 1684 Copenhagen Drive you will find the Danish-family owned and operated restaurant The Red Viking. Thomas Olsen operates this restaurant that serves aebleskiver all day. (See story on page 74 and dining guide)

Next door at 1682 Copenhagen Drive is another Danish owned and operated eatery, the Danish Mill Bakery. Torbin Petersen is the baker of the present generation (they've been bakers for as far back as anyone in the family can remember) and he's there before the sun comes up making his specialty pastries, petit fours and breads. They also serve European-style breakfasts and lunches and a nice smorgaasbord.

A few steps west, at 1676 Copenhagen, on the same side of the street, is Gerdas Iron Art Gift Shop. Another Danish family owned and operated store, this place carries an astonishing number of fine laces as well as copper, brass and porcelains. This is where local Danes get the material for those lovely lace curtains found over the windows of nearly every Danish descendent household in Solvang. They also carry fine Royal Copenhagen B&G collectible plates and figurines.

A few steps away, on the same side of the street at 1672 Copenhagen, is the Solvang Restaurant. In the Santa Ynez Valley for generations, Solvang Restaurant has charming Danish theme decor and art work and opens at 6 am daily, seven days a week, including holidays. The home of Arne's famous Aebleskiver, you can get those Danish round pancakes here. (See dining guide.)

Across the street on Copenhagen Drive at 1683 -B you'll find Frogmore House Antiques, owned by Lynne Keck for the past 29 years. Lynn has everything in her antique store; from vintage clothes, to estate jewelry, to silver, to the complete apothecary set she recently acquired; as Lynn says "from the sublime to the ridiculous." (In a charming garden location, down the walkway, directly off Copenhagen)

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Next door to Family Coats of Arms is Solvang's Plam Vineyards/Mission Meadow Winery Tasting Room. Currently building Solvang's first winery and planting a vineyard too is owner/winemaker Ken Plam. He offers local Santa Barbara County wines that he has made here, along with his Napa Valley wines. (See Wine section on page 42) Tasting room open daily from 11am to 6 pm.

Down First Street - to south side of Copenhagen at 446 First Street you will find A.E. Wilkinson Fine Jewelers. This little shop is a real "find" for the person seeking unusual quality, one-of-a-kind jewelry. Alan Wilkinson and Dick Montgomery are the master jewelers, true artists creating fine jewelry to last for generations.

North on First Street and across from Solvang park, at 486 First Street, is one of the most interesting building complexes in Solvang, Old Mill Shops and Solvang Antique Center. Known as California's finest antique collective, Solvang Antique Center has literally thousands of quality antiques, and new arrivals daily from over 50 specialized dealers. They also provide a locator service for hard-to-find items.

On to Mission Drive, across the street, at the corner of First Place and Mission is Prestige Properties of the Santa Ynez Valley, locally owned and operated Real Estate office with friendly hometown service. If you're interested in buying or selling a home in the Valley they can help you out.

Right next door you will find Steve and Emily Sikes place, The Quilt Shoppe. The Quilt Shoppe has one of the largest collections of hand-made quilts and quilt related items you will see anywhere. The Sikes have two locations &emdash;one at each end of town. See Quilts Galore and More at 1582 Copenhagen Drive, (near the corner of Atterdag Rd. and Copenhagen Dr). They carry a nice selection of home accessories too.

A few steps east from the Quilt Shoppe on Mission Drive on the corner of Mission and Alisal is Denmarket Square. With Backdoor Board Shop, the perfect place to get the latest surf, skate and snowboard stuff and just across the way is their sister shop Bellagio Ladies Apparel and Lingerie.

Back into the courtyard behind Backdoor is Solvang Graphic Arts Gallery Art & Framing. This long-time business at 1693 Mission Drive is owned and operated by Susan Granger. Watch for their Art in the Courtyard Shows this Spring on April 2 and June 1.

At 1623 Mission Drive # 7, by appointment only on Tues, Wed, Fri or Sat, is Lets Face It providing Skin Care and Facial treatments by Kimberly Skytt. (See Health & Beauty pg. 59)

At the corner of Fourth Place and Mission Drive at 1557 Mission Dr. is WOODards. Here is an incredible array of everything made from wood including toys, novelty gifts, signs and furniture for the home and garden. Across Mission Drive is the elegant four-diamond award Petersen Village Inn with the world-famous Thomas Kinkade Gallery next door.

A half-block away at 1529 Mission Drive, is Olsen's Danish Bakery. Bent Olsen came from Denmark some 30 years ago and opened this very successful Solvang bakery. He continues today to bake a creative line of delicious pastries and cakes. Named by Sunset Magazine as one of the best bakeries in the West. A wonderful selection of pastries, cookies, breads and other sweet delicacies.

A few steps further west at 1525 Mission Dr. is Pamela's Country Cupboard. Pamela's has some 3,000 sq. ft. of space and it's chock-full of wonderful gift items, women's dresses, children's clothing, home accessories, kitchen items, gourmet foods, cards and books, furniture, antique furniture and seasonal decorations.. Be sure to see their new line of Yankee Candles&emdash;an entire wall of every scent, size and color you can imagine. They also have a great coffee bar with delicious snacks and indoor and outdoor patio seating. Its a good spot to take a shopping break or to enjoy an evening meeting over espresso on Friday and Saturday nights when they are open until 9 pm.

Back into the center of the Village on Copenhagen Drive's West End you'll find Bella of Solvang at 1580 Copenhagen Drive. This cozy shop, celebrating 18 years of business this year, is filled with simply beautiful gifts that will lighten the spirit. Whether it's home decor, linens porcelain or jewelry and more you'll find it here.

De-Stress Cafe, at 1636 Copenhagen Drive, is one of the best businesses to come to Solvang in years. They offer chair massage, reflexology and aromatherapy&emdash;a full menu of stress-relieving options from five and ten minute back, neck and shoulder massage to Pure Indulgence that features a 20 minute seated massage and a 30-minute reflexology treatment with an aromatherapy foot soak. They have recently expanded and added a new treatment room for aromatherapy and massage. And, they will soon be offering Hot Rock Therapy. De-Stress Cafe is also an exclusive distributor for our own local, Miss Rona Barrett Lavender Company line, with a full assortment of bath, body and skin care products. Massage prices range from $8 to $75. Open from 10 am to 6pm without an appointment, and until 8pm with an appointment.

Next door at 1638 Copenhagen Drive you'll find a delightful shop known as Inspiration Point. Step inside and you'll see the name fits. A wonderful selection of gift items and you could spend hours here. Angels, fairies, carousel horses, porcelain dolls of all kinds are only a few of the wonderful quality items. They have recently added a new collection of Holly Yashi Jewelry.

And at 1640 Copenhagen Drive journey within The Mystic Merchant, a mystical paradise in the heart of Solvang. The Mystic Merchant features a wide variety of spiritual books and music to inspire and enlighten your soul; crystals, candles, incense and oils to ease your body and mind. The Mystic Merchant is also proud to feture healing gemstone jewelry, hand-crafted in unique designs by local and international artists.

Upcoming features at Mystic Merchant will include workshops and sessions, intuit`ive readers, a crystal healing bed and more. New merchandise arrives daily. Owner Joelle Stapleton encourages everyone to stop in for a mystic-fix and say hi to the resident store cats, Ernest and Lightning Bug.

Follow Mission Drive east, outside the village is Old Mission Santa Inés. With a gift shop and self-guided mission tour you can learn a lot about this "Hidden Gem of California Missions." The gift shop carries an incredible selection of religious items, books, jewelry and collectibles. They also have a great website at www.missionsantaines.org.

Take Mission Drive east out of the village, down the hill to the signal at Alamo Pintado Road. Turn left and immediately on your right is the Nielsen's Shopping Center. Inside the center, on the left, is Photo Heck Imaging Center, the Valley's best one-hour photo and digital output center. Here is customized, one-hour film processing by professional photographers who really know what they're doing. There is assistance at Photo Heck for every creative idea involving digital output, color copies, posters and photography. They now have a new machine that can make high quality prints from slides instantly and also make professional photos on quality paper from your digital camera. We go there to get it done right.

Around the is Nielsen's Market. Being run by third generation grocer Rodney Nielsen and his father Roger, (Nielsen's Market has been in the valley since 1911) they carry just about everything you need, and at great prices. Nielsen's offers a deli area with salad bar and fresh-daily hot food, plus a far-ranging variety of fresh salads, deli meats, cheese and desserts. A healthy, delicious alternative to cooking. They also carry Kanoloa Seafood, fresh six days a week and Harris Ranch Natural Beef. Their new produce department and the store's recent redesign make Nielsen's a relaxing and pleasant place to buy groceries. Stop in and try their freshly made sandwiches. The Southsider, the Italiano, The Great Dane, The Californian or The Veggie Delight are among those sandwiches regularly offered by Nielsen's, or you may have they make any combination you desire.