Salinas Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

National Steinbeck Center featuring interior views
National Steinbeck Center showing signage
National Steinbeck Center featuring interior views, signage and modern architecture
National Steinbeck Center showing signage and interior views
National Steinbeck Center featuring interior views and signage

Discover the rich literary heritage of this agricultural city, the birthplace of Nobel Prize-winning author of The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck.

The industrious city of Salinas is primarily known for two things: its rich agricultural landscapes and for being the birthplace of one of America’s most widely read 20th-century writers. Taste the locally grown lettuce that gives Salinas its nickname, the “Salad Bowl of the World,” and learn about the life of the Salinas-born author, John Steinbeck, at literary-themed attractions.

To find out more about Steinbeck’s upbringing, head to the National Steinbeck Center on Main Street. Exhibits here focus on Steinbeck’s life and literature, much of which attempts to portray the lives of working-class Americans and the landscapes of rural California. Just a few blocks west sits the Queen Anne-style Steinbeck House, where the writer spent much of his childhood. Take a guided tour of the house in summer and enjoy dinner or drinks at the on-site restaurant. Venture 2 miles (3 kilometers) or so southeast of downtown Salinas to the Garden of Memories Memorial Park to see where Steinbeck is buried.

Wander around the quaint streets of Oldtown Salinas and soak up the charming atmosphere. Lots of restaurants, many of which serve locally grown produce, can be found here, as can boutiques, antique stores, ice-cream shops and a retro-style cinema. Examine the paintings, jewelry and ceramics on show at the Salinas Valley Art Gallery, which displays the works of local artists.

For information or help getting around town, enter the California Welcome Center in Salinas. Ask the staff for advice, and browse brochures and literature on nearby attractions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium or Pinnacles National Park. The nearby region offers abundant hiking opportunities, and also contains several wineries, such as Pessagno Winery.

Salinas is in Monterey County in northern California. Buses and coaches connect Salinas to other Californian cities. The nearest airport is Monterey Regional Airport. Salinas is just 20 minutes’ drive from the coast and 30 minutes or so from seaside Monterey, where memorable views and marine wildlife await, and the upscale, resort-like Carmel-by-the-Sea, known for its gable-roofed, 1920s-era Comstock cottages.

Where to stay in Salinas

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Chinatown

While there might not be top attractions in Chinatown, you can explore the larger area and discover places like National Steinbeck Center and Steinbeck House.

Chinatown
Laurel Inn Motel
Laurel Inn Motel
2 out of 5
801 West Laurel Dr., Salinas, CA
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Salinas. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
6.8/10 (1,309 reviews)
"A good hotel with comfortable rooms"

Reviewed on 21 Jun 2025

Laurel Inn Motel
Motel 6 Salinas, CA - North Monterey Area
Motel 6 Salinas, CA - North Monterey Area
2 out of 5
140 Kern St, Salinas, CA
The price is ₹7,375 per night from 7 Jul to 8 Jul
₹7,375
₹8,316 total
7 Jul - 8 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Salinas. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
6.8/10 (1,015 reviews)
"good place for a night hold"

Reviewed on 11 Jun 2025

Motel 6 Salinas, CA - North Monterey Area
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salinas by IHG
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salinas by IHG
2.5 out of 5
195 Kern St, Salinas, CA
The price is ₹12,350 per night from 6 Jul to 7 Jul
₹12,350
₹13,774 total
6 Jul - 7 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Salinas. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,007 reviews)
Clealiness.
"It was very clean and tidy."

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salinas by IHG
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Little European Lodge
Little European Lodge
3.5 out of 5
45 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Carmel Valley. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (50 reviews)
Excellent
"Great hotel. Very clean, comfortable. Friendly. Would highly recommend and would definitely stay again should we ever be in the srea again"

Reviewed on 15 May 2025

Little European Lodge
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Salinas

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