Travel information

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  • Salinas is the "heart of Steinbeck country". The National Steinbeck Center has exhibitions about John Steinbeck, his work, and life on the California Coast. Find out more at [1]
  • The California Rodeo. Held in the third week of July at the California Rodeo Grounds in the heart of Salinas. For more details: [2]. Note: locals will correct you if you refer to the ROW-dee-oh; the preferred local pronunciation is row-DAY-oh.

The John Steinbeck Museum, located in 1 South Main Street.

Salinas Sports Complex, which hosts the rodeo and some notable concerts (such as The Eagles and Mary J. Blige), located in North Main Street, adjacent to Sherwood Hall.

Sherwood Hall, adjacent to Salinas Sports Complex, hosts plays and live musical performances including the Monterey County Symphony.

Salinas is served by Amtrak's Coast Starlight. An Amtrak-provided bus connects the Salinas Station to a few major hotels in Monterey and also downtown Carmel. A Greyhound bus is another way or if you have a way (and cheaper) is to take CalTrain to Gilroy and get a ride from Gilroy to Salinas.

Buses exist, but the best way is a car. You don't want to walk. Walking is OK in the downtown area which is the old town district. Lot's of shops to see.

  • 'Northridge Mall', 796 Northridge Mall, [3]. Northridge is the best, if not only, mall in Monterey county. It houses everything from Gap to Macy*s to Express. If you are looking for your typical mall experience, a food court (Panda Express, Cold Stone Creamery, Sarabol, McDonalds, etc), or need a new pair of jeans, this is the place to go.
  • In-N-Out Burger, located near Highway 101.
  • Tico's Tacos, located on South Main Street.

McDonalds, Carls Jr., Jack-In-The-Box, and KFC are also around town.