One Day in Salinas

Most people are surprised that I love visiting the Salinas area. Really, there are some exceedingly neat things to do there. For instance, I'm crazy mad about the Pinnacles National Monument. In this rock wall and pinnacle terrain I feel like I have been transported from California to the Southwest on a budget. As far as museums go, I think that the National Steinbeck is one of the best (OK, I'm biased. I just love John Steinbeck) and in my book, the Soledad Mission is a must-see. Check it out. Oh, and don't miss the Giant Artichoke Restaurant while you're there.

This affordable and clean hotel offers a complimentary breakfast, heated pool, hot tub, exercise facility and guest laundry.
Steinbeck lovers you will absolutely love this museum. Read about John Steinbeck, his writings and about the history of the time he spent in the area. Take an interactive tour through Steinbeck's Salinas Valley.
Steinbeck lovers you will absolutely love this museum.
This amazing hidden national monument with it's dramatic rock pinnacles and high craggy peaks could easily be in the American Southwest. You can camp here, hike the many gorgeous trails, and explore the cool (both literally and figuratively speaking) caves. Bring lots of water. It is hotter here than in the Salinas Valley.
The Soledad Mission was built in 1791. Visit the gift shop, grounds and take a self-guided tour for free. I love to sit in the chapel when few people are around, listen to the winds blowing up from the valley and watch the Statue of Our Lady of the Solitude's eyes. Something other-worldly going on here, if you ask me.
Sounds like Chinese food? Well it's not. This breakfast and lunch place is a diner in the truest sense of the word, an authentic piece of historic Americana. In fact, the great John Steinbeck used to eat here in one of its earlier permutations. Standard egg breakfasts, Reubens, Hamburgers and other sandwiches are offered for lunch. Th... More >
Sounds like Chinese food? Well it's not. This breakfast and lunch place is a diner in the truest sense of the word, an authentic piece of historic Americana. In fact, the great John Steinbeck used to eat here in one of its earlier permutations. Standard egg breakfasts, Reubens, Hamburgers and other sandwiches are offered for lunch. This is what I call "diner cuisine" at its best.
This authentic mid-century restaurant offers a number of artichoke dishes (as well as regular diner fare) but the piesta resistance are the deep fried artichoke hearts.
For the sake of kitsch alone, you've just got to try the Giant Artichoke Restaurant in nearby Castroville (known as the artichoke center of the world). This authentic mid-century restaurant offers a number of artichoke dishes (as well as regular diner fare) but the piesta resistance are the deep fried artichoke hearts. Yum! More
For the sake of kitsch alone, you've just got to try the Giant Artichoke Restaurant in nearby Castroville (known as the artichoke center of the world). This authentic mid-century restaurant offers a number of artichoke dishes (as well as regular diner fare) but the piesta resistance are the deep fried artichoke hearts. Yum!
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About the Author

Jana Lane
Jana Lane
I am the Vice President of an international, non-profit conservation organization, Save the Turtles, Inc. My eight years as a hands-on VP has provided me with plenty of experience writing web content, proposals, ad copy, brochures, fliers, promotional material, letters of inquiry (the list could go on and on.) Writing for Save the Turtle's website has provided me with great exposure to the concepts and practices of SEO. It seems that we have done rather well as our Google ranking is most often number one on the page. Although, I am still on the board of Save the Turtles and every bit as passionate about saving endangered species as ever, I am currently also enjoying another incarnation as a freelance writer. I love, love, love writing travel blogs! Lately, I have been writing for Uptake.com. and Mynatour, an eco-travel site based in London. I have also written an number of articles for other sites covering such wide-ranging topics as health, food, real estate, and science. My goal, with each writing assignment, is to match each clients individual needs by writing with an appropriate "voice" and level of readability for each unique, target audience. Please feel free to scroll and read!

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