Discover the Adventure
Big Sur Day Trips: Salinas

Welcome to Salinas, the Salad Bowl of the World

Salinas was formerly known as the Lettuce Capital of the World, but this frequently overlooked and bypassed community has changed its nickname to Salad Bowl of the World because of the diversity of the row crops that it now produces.

When you're there, it seems like you're very much inland, but in fact - the Salinas Valley is actually only about eight miles from the Pacific Ocean, which gives it a very mild climate that's perfect for growing cooler weather crops like lettuces.

It's also the birthplace of John Steinbeck, and - surprisingly - the capital of Monterey County as well as its largest city! Most people assume that those distinctions would belong to Monterey, not this little farming community.

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Why Leave Big Sur to Visit a Farming Town?

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Salinas Has Indeed Grown Up

This farming community has greatly matured since those early days, and is beginning to come into its own as a destination worthy of a visit!

Witness the renovations to the downtown area - Old Town - which offers dining opportunities, antiques, and boutique shops amidst the look-and-feel of a modernized Western town.

When we were there on a recent Sunday morning visit, locals and visitors alike were strolling the streets of Old Town and enjoying a morning of window shopping and breakfast at one of the local downtown diners.

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How to Get From Salinas from Big Sur

This is the scenic route because we're on a Day Trip, right? Trust me, you'll love it, as long as you're not in a rush!

Follow Highway 1 north to the junction of Carmel Valley Road;
Turn right onto Carmel Valley Road;
When you reach Carmel Valley, turn left onto Laureles Grade Road;
Turn right onto State Route 68;
Follow 68 on into Salinas.

The round-trip drive will take about 2 hours and 20 minutes, so you can decide for yourself how much you want to do along the way and how much time you'll have in Salinas. But here are some of the possibilities:

• If you haven't already seen enough of it ( - as if - ), enjoy the drive along the coast.
  
• Look for the beautiful mansions,
  golf courses, equestrian centers, and wineries along Carmel Valley Road - stop for a little wine tasting if you wish (some of you might only get this far on the trip - LOL)
• If you have time, there's beautiful and rugged Garland Ranch
  Regional Park for a bit of hiking 
• In Carmel Valley proper, look for the lovely Carmel Valley Community Park for a picnic lunch, or do a little browsing at Kim3 International Furnishings for a unique experience
  
• Once you get on Laureles Grade Road, relax and enjoy the scenic drive - you'll experience a climb in elevation of about 1000 feet, offering stunning views of the Pacific to the west and Salinas to the northeast - not to worry, it's only for 6 miles
• In Salinas, guided tours of the Boronda Adobe, built in the
  mid-1800s, typically take about 30 minutes and include some very interesting stories about the days of the ranchos
  

• The National Steinbeck Center and the Steinbeck Home are not to be missed if you want to understand the true flavor of the area - the Center offers vignettes of the author's life and his books, with interactive exhibits
• And don't miss Old Town with its Fox and Maya theaters, the refurbished buildings with boutiques, unique pubs and restaurants, and the art galleries

• A real treat is to keep an eye out for the art work of John Cerney
  and others - giant sculpture silhouettes of farm workers and farming scenes, plus murals on barns and other buildings. Drive around and see how many you can spot!
• Check out The Farm also - a local farming business with a sideline in agricultural education! They offer fresh produce, farm tours, family activities, and they have more of those giant sculptures by John Cerney that pay tribute to the hard-working people who have put food on our tables for the past 150 years or so!

For a slightly quicker way to return to Big Sur after your day, follow Highway 68 all the way back to Highway 1 instead of turning onto Laureles Grade Road - this route will skip Carmel Valley and get you right into the Monterey area where a stop for dinner might be welcome!

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I hope you've enjoyed our Day Trip to Salinas! Please come back often as more Big Sur Day Trips are coming soon!

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