Salinas, CA

united states

Salinas anchors California's Salinas Valley along US 101, about 90 minutes south of San Jose and 20 miles inland from Monterey. The agricultural hub connects easily via Highway 68 to the coast and Monterey Regional Airport. Most visitors arrive on 101 from either the Bay Area or Southern California, while locals use the Monterey connection for coastal access. The National Steinbeck Center downtown celebrates the Nobel laureate who called this valley home.