America

Cozy streets, bulb-shaped roof mills, enthusiastic tourists, the aromas of coffee and rolls - this description is more suitable for villages in northern Europe. But this is the California city of Solvang, built with love and care to preserve Danish culture. Today's Travellizy article is about the unofficial Danish capital of the Americas.   City of immigrants Solvang is a city in southern California, which boasts a rich North European cultural heritage transported across the ocean. At first, immigrants arrived on the East Coast of the United States, but pretty soon, they became disillusioned with the climate and moved to the West of the country. Snowless winters, warm off-season and 287 sunny days a year attracted several dozen Danish immigrant families here in the early twentieth century. After the cold and cloudy Scandinavia and the East coast, the warm slopes of the Santa Ines valley became native to hardworking Danes very quickly. The population of Solvang is less than 5500 people, but about a million tourists come here annually.   Danish architecture with an American approach Solvang was founded in 1911, but did not immediately take on an appearance that attracted many tourists to these picturesque lands. At first, the settlement was built in the usual style for the American West, but already in the 30s. The twentieth century, citizens began to stylize their homes in a characteristic Scandinavian spirit. Wood is a material that is very often used in the design of traditional Danish houses. Not all residents of Solvang could afford to decorate the facades of their dwellings with the characteristic beams of a tree, so they got out of position by simply drawing stripes on the walls. Such a trick adorns the street, but does not require additional expenses. Also with stylized roofs: some of them look like tiled, but if you look closely, you will see that modern materials are used for the roof.   European atmosphere The streets of Solvang are so charming with their cosiness, so they set up for a relaxed vacation. Fans of quiet shopping come here to walk around small shops. But those who like huge shopping centers with world-famous brands will be disappointed: there are no such stores in the city. Those who enjoy an active holiday will enjoy renting bicycles through the hills, or choose a walk along the hiking trails. And if you want to give rest to your feet, you can buy a ticket for a trip on a wooden horse-drawn cart. Such entertainment is always a delight for children.   Photogenic city Due to the fact that the third generation of the city’s residents already works together on the image of Solvang, its streets look as if from pictures of brochures. The most recognizable and popular symbol of the region is mills. Signboards emphasize the fashionable trend of the bearded Viking: It turns out, that even the publishing house can be in the Viking style. The city is very clean, there are many colors and flags of the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States on the streets: Neat buildings look good both in photographs and in life.   Cultural life There are several museums in the city. One of them is the Vintage Motorcycle Museum. Motorcycle enthusiasts will spend a lot of time here looking at the chrome-plated iron horses: Those who are fascinated by the tales of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen will be happy to visit a small museum dedicated to his work. The city even has its own statue of the Little Mermaid: it adorns a fountain at the intersection of Mission Drive and Alice Road. Skipping it is quite simple: the size of the statue is half the size of the original set in the Gulf of Copenhagen.   Sausages and pastries But it is not only spiritual food that welcomes the guests of Solvang! If you like juicy and spicy sausages, then restaurants, cafes and bars will be glad to see you. There are many options in the city, how and where to eat for a reasonable price: about 30 restaurants are at guests' disposal! It is not surprising that you may be confused with such a choice. Therefore, hundreds of hungry tourists choose a restaurant with a name that speaks for itself: “Copenhagen Sausage Garden” at 1660 Copenhagen Drive. Fresh meat goes well with beer, which is plentiful for every taste. After a hearty and nutritious dinner, you can enjoy pastries: Danish pastries are famous all over the world. Snail rolls with cinnamon or raisins, braided from puff pastry, are the Danish sweets traditionally eaten with coffee.   Preserving uniqueness Arriving in Solvang, do not waste your time looking for Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, or other chain coffee shops and fast food establishments. The city does not allow the opening of McDonalds and similar food services, even if they are ready to make a design in the Danish style. Thus, the community helps to maintain a unique atmosphere, and city guests get a unique gastronomic experience. A cheerful mood is set for tired tourists by local coffee houses, each of which tries to surprise sophisticated coffee lovers. Rare varieties of coffee, home-made roasting, fashionable brewing methods: make sure to have a fragrant drink here, taking your time and enjoying the moment. If you do not know what nitro cold-brew or pour over is, the barista will enthusiastically tell you about the intricacies of cooking.   Danish monarchs and Solvang On public signs, an attentive traveler will notice signs of royal regalia, and this is for a reason. In 2011, Solvang solemnly celebrated the centenary of the city, and Prince Consort Henrik, husband of Queen Margrethe, became the guest of honor. Prior to this, members of the Royal Family paid official visits to Solvang three times: in 1939, 1960, 1976.   Wineries and cinema If you like good wine no less than leisurely walks in picturesque places, then a trip to Solvang will become your Mecca. The best wines of the Santa Inez Valley are at your service. But do not hope that you can taste at least a tenth of the local wines during a short trip: there are more than 120 wineries and beautiful vineyards in the valley! A scene from the movie “Sideways” To get the most pleasant experience from wine tastings, before a trip to Solvang, watch the movie “Sideways”. The film premiered in the fall of 2004. The film has received numerous awards, including an Oscar and two Golden Globes. A lyrical comedy intertwined with a road movie tells the story of two middle-aged men and women whom they meet in a week-long wine tasting adventure. Filming was carried out in these places, and although 16 years have passed since the film was released, thousands of tourists are still inspired for travel by it. The wineries of the hospitable region, sincerely shown in the film, were so loved by the audience that the fans made a special online Google map, which marked the location of the shoot. Therefore, if you consider yourself a true connoisseur of wine, add some wonderful locations to your visit plan. You can watch the trailer by clicking on the link.   Route recommendations Solvang is a popular weekend getaway for Los Angeles residents. The distance between cities is less than 200 km, so having left for it in the morning, you can enjoy the Danish atmosphere and go on the return trip in the evening. A visit to Solvang can be combined with a beach holiday: the city is located about halfway between the famous beaches of Santa Barbara and the resort town of Pismo Beach. This city is known for beaches, a colony of monarch butterflies, and wineries. Unlike Solvang, the architecture and lifestyle here are fully consistent with the standards of the West American resort city. The wide pier is a special attraction of the city: the length of the structure is 365 meters. Unlike the piers of Santa Cruz or Santa Monica, there are no stalls or restaurants. Nothing distracts passers-by from walking and enjoying the cool ocean wind. Fishermen make themselves comfortable, enjoying their hobby and a view of the city: If you plan to visit California on September days, make sure to check the timetable on Solvang's official website at https://www.solvangusa.com/. At this time, Solvang celebrates the days of Denmark, holds many cultural events, concerts, exhibitions. We hope that our readers will be able to experience the amazing atmosphere of the city, where Danish and American roots are forever intertwined. Our experienced Travellizy Team will always help you plan your trip in advance!

If you imagine that Hollywood with its centuries-old history can fit in a limited area and you only have one day to get acquainted with the world of cinema, then Universal Studios in Los Angeles is the perfect solution. A tour of the studios and locations, fun for the whole family, breathtaking turns on the rides, shows all day, whole blocks of souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants - this is what awaits you here. Today, Travellizy Team will tell you about the main joys of this famous amusement park, as well as give tips on how to spend time here with the maximum payoff.   How to navigate Universal Studios The studio is located in northern Los Angeles and is divided into two parts: the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot, between which the audience moves on escalators. The Upper Lot offers mountain views. Before entering the park, you will definitely want to walk along the streets with more than 60 shops, cafes and restaurants, six nightclubs, a concert venue and a huge cinema with 19 cinema halls, including IMAX. This shopping and entertainment site is called "Universal CityWalk". The climate in Los Angeles is hot, so it is not surprising that both adults and children take the opportunity to cool off in the fountain. People come here for a unique opportunity to plunge into the world of carefree fun, which is loved by both adults and children. About 50,000 people stroll here a day, and the city provided law enforcement officers to maintain security. Universal Studios has its own police station, where 17 people work around the clock.   How much it costs to visit Universal Studios in Los Angeles The cost of a ticket to the park is $ 109 for an adult and $ 103 for a child of 3-9 years old. This is the price for a standard ticket purchased online on the park's website. You can buy it at the entrance, which will increase the cost by $ 30 on weekdays and $ 10-20 on weekends and holidays. The price includes all attractions (so-called rides) and shows. Food, drinks, souvenirs are paid separately. The park is very large, moving from one lot to another takes 5-10 minutes, and the waiting time in lines for a ride can reach an hour and a half in the hot season. In normal weekdays, you will have to wait 10-15 minutes. You can monitor the current waiting time on large monitors arranged in the park, but it is much more convenient to download a special application to the phone. In the application, you will see the start time of all available shows, and you can navigate through interactive maps. The creators of the app took care of other nuances: it will show, where the nearest restroom is and remind you, where you parked your car. Throughout the studios, as well as in the CityWalk area, there is free Wi-Fi, so your friends and relatives can instantly see, how much fun you have without them. If you do not want to queue for a ride, you need to buy an additional service called an express pass. This will allow you to minimize the waiting time for each ride and show but will devastate the family budget by another $ 60 each (for a child the price of an express pass is the same as for an adult). Also, this service allows you to enter the park an hour earlier, which means that you will have time to make one or two rides before the bulk of the people come. There are no free parking spaces in the park, so be prepared to pay for parking from $ 10 to 50, depending on the distance from the entrance to the studio and the time of day. In order not to cry because of wasted money, remember that it's not necessary to buy an express pass in advance (online or at the entrance). If you are planning a trip for the winter off-season, it might rain, which means that there will be very few people in the park and there is no need to overpay. But there are days when you definitely have to stand in line. Here is a sample list of these dates:    - the first week after the New Year    - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the third Monday of January    - President's Day, the third Monday of February    - spring break and Easter, March-April    - weekends in May     - June-August    - opening of Halloween Horror Nights (September)    - Thanksgiving Week, November-December    - Christmas week from December 25 until the New Year   Universal Studios attraction list Each ride is based on the plot of popular films or cartoons. Here is a list of attractions that Universal Studios Hollywood offers in 2020:    -  “Despicable Me”    -  “Kung Fu Panda”    -  “The Fast and the Furious”    -  “Hippogryph's Flight” (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter)    -  “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey”    -  “Jurassic World”    -  “King Kong”    -  “Revenge of the Mummy”    -  “The Secret Life of Pets”    -  “The Simpsons”    -  “Transformers”    -  “Waterworld” The great pride of the park is a tour of the studio itself. It lasts about an hour, but be prepared to stand the lines here too. All guests are seated in special wagons and sent to meet adventures. During the tour, the guides will tell you and show you interesting moments from the film studio's life. This is the plywood quarters with frames from the film “Bruce Almighty”:  The crash simulation used in Steven Spielberg’s film “War of the Worlds”: And fuel explosions on the movie set “Jaws”: And the whole motel from the classic Hitchcock's horror movie “Psychosis”: And even much more, including a powerful earthquake and a small flood. After the tour, you can visit the playgrounds and entertainment shows for every taste. Someone will like modern dances, and someone will be glad to see how they remove special effects or work with trained animals. On weekends and holidays, the park extends working hours, so always check the schedule on the website, the difference is very significant: it is until 6 p.m. on some days, or until 10 p.m. and later on others. A large influx of visitors falls on America's most popular and spectacular holidays: Halloween and Christmas. Visiting Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is every horror or thriller movie fan's dream. Every September and until the beginning of November, hangars are equipped here, each of which has several rooms (mazes), decorated in the style of a popular horror movie or thriller. Every visitor has a rare opportunity to feel immersed in the atmosphere of a nightmare familiar from a film or series. The maze dedicated to the TV series “Stranger Things” is very popular. Also on the streets of the studios, there are fenced areas decorated with awesome statues and installations. In order to impress already excited visitors, actors hide in nooks and crannies. Sneaking up on the onlookers, they scare them, so do not be surprised that screams are constantly heard from different parts of the park. An entrance ticket for Horror Nights is paid separately. This entertainment is absolutely not suitable for families with small children, although some parents come with three-year-olds. Ghouls, maniacs with chainsaws, werewolves, vampires, zombies - all these characters will not bring much joy to your kids. But if you like to tickle your nerves, then this is a perfect opportunity to plunge into the abyss of horror and fear.   Watch the show at Universal Studios By the way, about the abyss: in the afternoon, an amazing show based on the post-apocalyptic film “Waterworld” (1986), is offered to the attention of the park's guests. Try not to miss it (it lasts only 20 minutes), and you can see amazing acrobatic stunts, real explosions and gunfights, races on jet skis. All stunts are performed by professional stunt athletes. Spectators also take part in the entertainment, so choose places carefully. If you are not ready to get wet, it is better to sit away from the first row. If you like roller coasters, then remember that they are not in this park, except for a small “Hippogryph Flight” and some elements in other attractions.  Almost all rides are based on modern digital technologies and unexpected visual effects. On some rides, you will have to wear special 3D glasses. If you love books and movies about Harry Potter, immediately reserve at least three hours to explore the Hogwarts Magic Castle and the villages near it. Happy magic wand owners will be able to use their spells, and acquire another one in the appropriate store: In the evenings, during the hot season, a light show called “The Hogwarts Dark Art” is organized near the castle. There are few details so far, as this is a seasonal performance. But in the afternoon, you can listen to the choir of toads: You can relax after the rides and refresh yourself in small taverns, which also serve the famous butterbeer. The castle is very photogenic and attracts Potter's fans. The studio takes care of the guests and prepares new attractions and shows almost every year, attracting millions of visitors. Universal Studios will forever be remembered as the magical world of cinema and fun.

When planning a trip and a route to the most interesting sights of a city, each of you will definitely make your own choice in favor of viewing platforms. Who wouldn't be happy to see the whole city at a glance. A bird's eye view opens up completely different fabulous pictures and landscapes. Such rises up the town hall or castle are very delighted. If you are much luckier and there are skyscrapers in the city you are in, this attraction is gaining even greater momentum in impressions! Travellizy will tell you about the tallest buildings on the planet. Perhaps among these lucky cities, you will see the one you are going to in the nearest future. Of course, it is immediately worth noting that these unique structures are definitely worth a separate must-see list.   10 tallest buildings on the planet For half a century, from 1931 to 1972, the tallest building in the world was the Empire State Building in New York. Today, this skyscraper is not even included in the top 45 of the tallest buildings, as it is in the 50th place on the list. The list of the tallest buildings in the world includes ultra-tall structures with a height of 350 meters and more. At the end of 2019, there were 73 such skyscrapers in the world. The 10 leaders of the world's tallest built and upcoming buildings look like this:   1. Burj Khalifa Location: United Arab Emirates, Dubai Height: 828 m Number of storeys: 163 Building completion: 2010 It's a multifunctional and the tallest building in the world. Inside the complex, there are offices, hotels, apartments, restaurants. The highest observation deck called At the Top is located at an altitude of 472 meters. On the 124th floor, there is an open observation deck, fenced with glass panels. On the 125th floor, there is a closed observation deck. Admission is $ 39. Tickets are usually sold out at least a week in advance. We highly recommend buying tickets to the observation deck as early as possible. You can do this on Burj Khalifa's official website.    2. Tokyo Skytree Location: Japan, Tokyo Height: 634 m Number of storeys: 29 Construction completion: 2012 The tower is mainly used for digital television and radio broadcasting, mobile telephony and navigation systems. In addition, it is a very popular tourist attraction. On the upper floors, there are two viewing platforms: at an altitude of 350 and 450 meters. Entrance ticket to the observation deck costs $ 17.   3. Shanghai Tower Location: China, Shanghai Height: 632 m Number of storeys: 128 Construction completion: 2015 It's the tallest building in East Asia and the tallest building in China. Inside the tower, there are shops, hotels, restaurants. The restaurant spinning on its axis is very popular. Resting here, visitors can not only treat themselves to delicious dishes, but also enjoy constantly different panoramas of the city. The lower floor of the tower is dedicated to the historical museum. The tower has several viewing platforms. The world's fastest elevator takes visitors to the 118th floor. At an altitude of 546 meters, there is a closed observation deck with a gorgeous view of 360 degrees. A ticket to the observation deck will cost $ 29.   4. Abraj Al Bait Location: Saudi Arabia, Mecca Height: 601 m Number of storeys: 120 Construction completion: 2012  It's the tallest hotel in the world, as well as the building with the largest and highest clocks in the world. The diameter of the clock is 43 meters: the clockwise is 17 meters, the minute hand is 22. At night, the clock face is illuminated and visible at a distance of 30 kilometers. Abraj al-Beit Towers accommodate a hotel, shopping arcade and garage for more than 800 cars. Those who want to see Mecca from a height have several options. For a perfect romantic dinner, you can reserve a table by the window in the tower restaurant and enjoy views. In addition, it is possible to rent one of the rooms with panoramic windows. In the towers of Abraj al-Beit, there is an interesting Islamic museum and a center for observing the moon, which are also open to all visitors.   5. Ping An International Finance Centre Location: China, Shenzhen Height: 599.1 m Number of storeys: 115 Construction completion: 2017 It's the tallest office building in the world. Ping An International Finance Centre has one of the highest viewing platforms in the world. It is located at an altitude of 550 meters. An adult entry ticket to the observation deck costs $ 30.   6. Goldin Finance 117 Location: China, Tianjin Height: 596.6 m Number of storeys: 128 Construction completion: 2020 год.  Another name for it is China 117 Tower. Construction began in 2009, with completion scheduled for 2020. Inside the building, it is planned to accommodate a large hotel, as well as premises for offices, restaurants and shops.   7. Lotte World Tower Location: Korea, Seoul Height: 554.5m Number of storeys: 123 Construction completion: 2016 It's the tallest building on the Korean peninsula. In the tower, there is a large concert hall, galleries, restaurants, a large shopping center and an elite hotel. On the 120th floor, there is an observation deck. It consists of three huge floors. The 123rd floor is located at an altitude of 485 meters. On one of the floors of the site, you can stroll across the transparent glass floor, which will definitely thrill you. The cost of admission to the observation deck of the Lotte World Tower is $ 24.   8. One World Trade Center Location: USA, New York Height: 541.3 m Number of storeys: 94 Construction completion: 2014 It's the tallest building in the USA and the Western Hemisphere. 14 years after the tragedy of September 11, the new One World Trade Center tower opened its doors to visitors in May 2015. This is a whole complex, which includes the OWTC building (Freedom Tower), a museum and a 9/11 memorial, in the form of 2 huge fountains-waterfalls, located on the site of two twin towers. The perimeters of these fountains are engraved with the names of all the victims who suffered during the attack. The building of One World Trade Center is declared not only as the highest, but also as the safest. At the top of the skyscraper, there is the observation deck called One World Observatory. Entrance fee is $ 32. Getting to the observation deck is a fascinating attraction. The elevator is equipped with three screens, which shows the history of New York during the rise to the 102nd floor.   9. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre Location: China, Guangzhou Height: 530 m Number of storeys: 111 Construction completion: 2016 The complex consists of two towers. The east tower has a height of 530 m, the west tower is its twin building with a height of 437.5 m. The triangular shape of both skyscrapers allows you to minimize wind loads, make the towers more stable and save building materials. The total area of the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre is 400 thousand square meters. Here are shops, cinemas, apartments and a huge hotel. The underground parking can accommodate 1705 cars. There is an observation deck on the top floor of the east tower, which offers incredible views of the city and the Pearl River.   10. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre Location: China, Tianjin Height: 530m Number of storeys: 97 Construction completion: 2019 It's an office skyscraper with the fastest double-decker elevators in the world. The facade of the skyscraper consists of 14,000 fragments arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The building houses offices, apartments, hotel rooms, shops and restaurants. At an altitude of 308 meters, there is a viewing platform with a 360 ° view angle to the city. Knocking on heaven's door is not difficult at all - choose a skyscraper, take a high-speed elevator and you are there. The whole city is at your feet!