| Reviews and photos of Salinas attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Salinas sightseeing. Salinas Map |
 | Salinas Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 14 |  |
 Entrance to the National
Steinbeck Center-Salinas by TheTravelSlut, 4 more photos
Year round, active programs take place in the Center. Through archive displays, art and history exhibitions, lectures, repertory film series, and special programs for schools, the Center draws people into explore the rich history of the Salinas Valley and Steinbeck Country.
The Steinbeck Center presents the life of Steinbeck, his writings, his characters, and Steinbeck Country in an informative, educational and entertaining manner. Different nationalities play an important role in the Steinbeck Center because the author himself saw the Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese and other ethnic groups as dignified people and important contributors to the community (East of Eden, Tortilla Flat, Forgotten Village, Cannery Row, etc.).
Utilizing diorama, innovative exhibits, changing displays and other media, the wonder and beauty of Steinbeck's creativity is dramatized so that everyone can enjoy and appreciate the author, his works and his environment. You can even see the original truck, Rocinante, that John Steinbeck drove while writing Travels with Charley.
|
 | |  |
Visiting Salinas?
Read reviews about Salinas Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Fans of author John Steinbeck are in for a real treat. Right in the heart of Steinbeck country, one can learn all about the author's childhood, family, and community. The vignettes throughout the museum provide background on Steinbeck's most popular books, including snippets of films that were based on his books. They have a very nice gift shop and a museum featuring various artists and/or exhibitions. Leave a Comment
|
Salinas High School; was built origally around 1900, but has been remodeled sence than, BUT the one thing that hasn't changed is the schools tower in the front of the school, which has a cloak on it.... If you've been to Union Station in Los Angeles, Ca. theres a tower there also that kinda has the same square size! I visited it Dec. 30th, 2004. Leave a Comment Address: 726 S. Main StreetPhone: (831) 796-7400Directions: across the street of Jack in the Box, and Subway. And the Home of the Cowboys!Website: www.salinas.k12.ca.us/salinas Other Contact: Fax: (831) 796-7405
|
 by Karnubawax
But, seriously, this wing of the Steinbeck Center does a commendable job with what is actually a pretty boring subject. They do have some interesting and even funny exhibits (like the one in the picture, where a bunch of vegetables give stump speeches for your vote as "favorite vegetable," and even veggies are not immune to negative campaign ads!). This exhibit is included in the admission to the Steinbeck Center. I don't think you can go in separately and I can't imagine why you'd want to. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Salinas has at least three theaters on Main Street: The old Fox Theater, and the new Maya Cinemas. The cinemas are an essential part of the future of downtown, as they are some of the few draws (along with the Steinbeck Center) that bring foot traffic to other local businesses.
The Fox Theater was built in 1921 and it was all but abandoned in the 1990s. In 2006 it was finally purchased and renovated by Monterey businessmen Tim Treadway and Anthony Lane, and it just reopened in May 2007. The opening act was none other than nationally famous, California-native comedian George Lopez. Today the theater hosts anything from banquets, proms, and weddings, to plays and movies.
The Maya Cinemas is a major renovation of the 1930's Crystal Theater which stood on the site of the 1910 Brown's Opera House. Unfortunately the 1930s facade could not be preserved, but the current facade is a replica of the original. The theater just opened in July 2005, and it is a large and modern movie theater with some 14 screens, including the largest screen in Monterey County. The owner plans to offer a variety of Spanish language films in addition to the standard Hollywood blockbusters.
Unfortunately Main Street's third theater is closed and in disrepair. It looks like a small shop might be open in the front lobby but that's about it. Look for its large facade that reads "Cinema I." Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Visiting Salinas?
Read reviews about Salinas Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
This Victorian mansion was constructed in 1897, purchased by the Steinbeck family in 1900, and the birthplace of John Steinbeck in 1902. Steinbeck lived here with his family until 1919 when he graduated from Salinas High School and went to college at Stanford. Later in his life he returned to this house to visit his parents and do some writing.
The house's main function today is a lunchtime restaurant, as it is open from 11:30 to 2:00 Tuesday through Saturday. The menu is limited to just two entrees that rotate every week and cost $10-12 plus drinks and desserts.
Tours of the Steinbeck House are generally held only on Sundays from 1 to 3, and prices are Adults - $4 and Students/Children $3. The house is still decorated with family photos and other original items.
The house also contains a gift shop selling gifts and books, including Steinbeck novels and the Steinbeck House Cookbook.
The Steinbeck House is owned and all businesses are operated by the Valley Guild, a non-profit organization started by local women who wanted to establish a restaurant to serve local foods. Today the group still runs the restaurant, but their main focus is to preserve this historic property. Leave a Comment Address: 132 Central Avenue, SalinasPhone: (831) 424-2735Directions: The house is just a few blocks from the Steinbeck Center in downtown Salinas.Website: http://www.steinbeckhouse.com/ Other Contact: valley-guild@juno.com
|
| | |
John Steinbeck was born and raised in Salinas, lived several years in Monterey and Pacific Grove, and set numerous novels in this area. He wrote dozens of novels, perhaps most famous were The Grapes of Wrath (1939), Tortilla Flat (1935), Of Mice and Men (1937), Cannery Row (1945), and The Pearl (1947), earning a Pulitzer Prize and a Nobel Prize for Literature. The house where he was born stands on Central Ave, just a few blocks from the Steinbeck Center, and he is buried at the Garden of Memories, across town in Salinas.
The National Steinbeck Center was opened in 1998, and is Salinas' top tourist attraction today. The museum offers exhibits on Steinbeck's life and his works, a library with several hundred novels, the archives with some 45,000 Steinbeck-related articles, and various educational programs.
Admission is $10.95 for Adults. Leave a Comment Address: One Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901Phone: (831)796-3833Directions: 17 Miles east of Monterey via Hwy 68, also easily access from Highway 101. The Steinbeck Center is on Main Street, right in the heart of old town Salinas.Website: http://www.steinbeck.org/ Other Contact: info@steinbeck.org
|
| | |
Living in Monterey, we hear Salinas on the news daily with a variety of crime from murders and drive-by shootings to robbery. You'd think it was the edge of the earth, maybe even Satan's summer home.
Drive over to Salinas, and it really is a different story. To find the crime, you have to look for it, and even then you probably won't find it...I know. I drove all over the city for about three hours one afternoon and I couldn't find an area I'd consider a "rough neighborhood" by East Coast standards. I'm sure they exist and cause major problems for the victims, but the crime-ridden areas do not dominate the town. Monterey actually has higher crime rates than Salinas for several key indicators including rape, burglary, and larceny, and its about even on aggravated assault. Compared to the national crime averages, Salinas is below average in every major category except theft.
As a tourist to Salinas, you have little to worry about when you visit the key Steinbeck attractions, the Boronda Adobe, and Main Street Salinas, the heart of Old Town. Main Street Salinas is a quaint, old-fashioned downtown with a variety of nice shops and restaurants, plus the Steinbeck Center. I'm looking forward to returning and trying the Penny Farthing British Pub, the microbrewery, Great Awakenings, and some others that look good. Leave a Comment Address: Main Street, SalinasDirections: From Monterey take Hwy 68 right into town and it becomes Main Street. From Hwy 101, take the Main Street exit.Website: http://www.oldtownsalinas.com/
|
| | |
OK, so Salinas existed before John Steinbeck was born...who knew? One place to find a little more of the Salinas history is the Boronda Adobe. The Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe was built from 1844 to 1848 as a farmhouse long before the city of Salinas existed and is the town's oldest structure. This is a unique adobe for the era due to its four-sloped wooden roof (rather than tile with two slopes) and a veranda that encircled the house. Boronda was originally granted 6,700 acres, but today only 5 acres remain with the adobe.
On the same site is Old Lagunita School House, built in 1897 and a later farmhouse.
One of the supposed descendants of this Boronda family include Narcisco “Frank” Boronda who was an old timey John Wayne Bobbitt. In 1907 his wife chopped off his happy place with a straight razor after one of his usual trips to a San Jose brothel...more here:
http://sanjoseinside.com/sji/blog/entries/the_baronda_mayhem_trial/
The unincorporated community of Boronda is next to Salinas and has just a few houses, but also a waste disposal transfer station, a United Parcel Service facility , and a large agricultural seed supplier.
The adobe is open to visitors weekdays 10-2 and Sundays 1-4 (closed on Saturdays). Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Salinas is surrounded by the farm country of the Salinas Valley. At just 80 miles long, this valley is much smaller than the more famous San Joaquin Valley, but very important to the local economy. Salinas Valley is famous for its artichokes, lettuce, broccoli, celery, strawberries, tomatoes, and has an expanding grape and wine industry. The main towns in the Salinas Valley include Salinas (of course) as well as Hollister, King City, Soledad, and Castroville--where Marilyn Monroe was named the town's first "Artichoke Queen" back in 1947.
The poor farmers of the Salinas Valley became characters in several Steinbeck novels including East of Eden and Of Mice and Men. Leave a Comment
|
 | 1 | 2 |  |
|
More Salinas Travel Deals Luxury California Resort
Book a luxury Four Seasons getaway. Unique packages start at $575/night Monterey Ca Hotels
Monterey's highest rated hotel w/ Oceanfront Rooms & Special Packages San Francisco Hotel
Newly Remodeled - In Union Square Near Shopping, Dining, & Theaters! Sponsored Links - Econolodge Salinas
180 South Sanborn Road, Salinas, CA - Ramada Limited Salinas CA
109 John Street, Salinas, CA - Comfort Inn Salinas
144 Kern St., Salinas, CA - Residence Inn By Marriott Salinas Monterey
17215 El Rancho Way, Salinas, CA - Super 8 Motel - Salinas
1030 Fairview Avenue, Salinas, CA - Courtyard By Marriott Salinas Monterey
17225 El Rancho Way, Salinas, CA - Americas Best Value Inn-Salinas
1030 Fairview Avenue, Salinas, CA - Quality Inn Salinas
181 Kern St. (formerly Quality Inn), Salinas, CA - Inns Of California - Salinas
555 Airport Blvd., Salinas, CA - Motel 6 Salinas South - Monterey Area
1257 De La Torre Blvd US 101/El Camino Real at Airport Blvd, Salinas, CA - Motel 6 Salinas North - Monterey Area
140 Kern Street US 101/El Camino Real at Market Street, Salinas, CA - Best Western Salinas Valley In
187 Kern Street, Salinas, CA - Best Western Hanns Inn
175 Kern Street, Salinas, CA - Vagabond Inn Salinas
131 Kern Street, Salinas, CA - Ramada Limited
109 John Street, Salinas, CA
|
