L I F E ÑT r a v e l
Ennis, Texas
Feels like The Legend of the Bluebonnet
Solvang, California
Solvang, California
Feels Like Thumbelina Meets The Little Mermaid with a sprinkle of Pinocchio This Danish village built in tribute to legendary author Hans Christian Andersen is storybook perfection. In Solvang, just outside of Santa Barbara, families can pass under a castle arch to a lush park named for the fairy-tale master,
say hello to a replica of the famed Little Mermaid sculpture atop her fountain, and visit one, two, or all five of the Danish bakeries to pick up sweet aebleskiver (round balls with raspberry jam and powdered sugar) to nibble in the town’s
Solvang Bakery
PA R E N T S
90 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
2022
flower-filled courtyards or take on a horse-drawn trolley. “We made our own scavenger hunt to find several windmills downtown,” says Portia Gorman, founder of the Inspired Chick Blog. Channel Rapunzel by staying in the grand and vibrant Clock Tower Suite at the boutique hotel The Winston, built inside the village’s intact historic Old Mill Clock Tower, a replica of those found in Copenhagen. It features a clockface mural so you’ll never forget where you’re staying, and small kids can sleep in a pop-up tepee. With high vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, and kitschy décor, other guest rooms feel fantastical too. Starts at $325 per night; the Clock Tower Suite is $645 per night.
Nothing guarantees a good mood like a giant field of wildflowers. Every April, Ennis—Texas’s official bluebonnet city—doles out happiness and channels the happy ending of this Comanche tale retold by the legendary children’s author Tomie dePaola. In the story, a girl sacrifices her doll to end a drought, and the next day, the land is covered in bluebonnets. Thirty-two miles south of Dallas, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails are an annual attraction, featuring more than 40 miles of driving trails where the delicate blue blooms are prolific, as are horses, sheep, and donkeys. “My kids learned about bluebonnets in school, but they never imagined there would be so many,” says Dallas mom Kiran Syed. “They ran around in a field with the flowers nearly waist-high and would stop every now and then just to get a whiff of their light aroma.” The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival takes place the second or third weekend (April 8 to 10 this year), with souvenirs and treats emblazoned with bluebonnets plus live entertainment and arts exhibitions. Afterward, take a nature hike at Kachina Prairie or, on a festival weekend, a guided Wildflower Walk there. And catch a fairy-tale or superhero flick at the authentic Galaxy Drive-In Theatre, a charmingly retro destination. Stay in an Airstream camper next to a twinkle-lighted porch at The Range Vintage Trailer Resort. The property has a private entrance to hiking trails and a pool. Rates start at $198 per night.
Ennis, Texas
