Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Just south of the National Steinbeck Center, this storefront Mexican kitchen gets a stamp
of approval for handmade tortillas, smoky chipotle salsa, carne asada tacos, burritos and
brochetas
(meat kebabs).
First Awakenings
AMERICAN
(
www.firstawakenings.net
;
171 Main St; mains $8-12; 7am-2pm; )
Fork into diner-style breakfasts of fruity pancakes, crepes and egg skillets, or turn up later
in the day for hand-crafted sandwiches and market-fresh salads.
XL Public House
BAR
(
www.facebook.com/XLPublichouse
; 127 Main St; tasting fee $5; noon-10pm)
Stumble into this brick-walled bottle shop for craft beers on tap, board games and retro
video arcade consoles.
Monterey Coast Brewing Co
BREWERY
(165 Main St; 11am-11pm Tue-Sun, to 4pm Mon)
At this lively downtown microbrewery, an eight-beer tasting sampler costs just 10 bucks.
The pub grub is bland.
Information
Salinas 411
TOURIST INFORMATION
( 831-435-4636;
www.oldtownsalinas.com
; 222 Main St; 9am-7pm)
Free information, maps and self-guided walking-tour brochures.
Getting There & Away
north to Oakland ($16, three hours) and south to Paso Robles ($19, two hours), San Luis
Obispo ($27, 3¼ hours), Santa Barbara ($39, 6¼ hours) and LA ($56, 9¼ hours).
north to Santa Cruz ($15, 65 minutes) and San Francisco ($27, 3½ to five hours) and south
to San Luis Obispo ($32, 2½ hours) and Santa Barbara ($53, 4¾ hours). From the nearby
