Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Salinas
Best known as the birthplace of John Steinbeck and nicknamed the 'Salad Bowl of the
World,' Salinas is a working-class agricultural center with down-and-out streets. It makes a
thought-provoking contrast with the affluence of the Monterey Peninsula, a fact of life that
helped shape Steinbeck's novel
East of Eden
. Historic downtown stretches along Main St,
with the National Steinbeck Center capping off its northern end.
Sights
National Steinbeck Center
MUSEUM
( 831-775-4721;
www.steinbeck.org
; 1 Main St; adult/child 6-12yr/youth 13-17yr $15/6/8;
10am-5pm; )
This museum will interest almost anyone, even if you don't know a lick about Salinas' No-
bel Prize-winning native son, John Steinbeck (1902-68), a Stanford University dropout.
Tough, funny and brash, he portrayed the troubled spirit of rural, working-class Americans
in novels such as
The Grapes of Wrath
. Interactive, kid-accessible exhibits and short video
clips chronicle the writer's life and works in an engaging way. Gems include Rocinante, the
camper in which Steinbeck traveled around the USA while researching
Travels with Char-
ley
.
Take a moment and listen to Steinbeck's Nobel acceptance speech - it's grace and power
combined. Temporary exhibitions cover anything from agricultural history and political act-
ivism to California landscape photography.
Steinbeck House
HISTORIC BUILDING
(
831-424-2735;
www.steinbeckhouse.com
;
132 Central Ave; tour $10;
restaurant 11:30am-2pm
Tue-Sat, gift shop 11am-3pm Tue-Sat)
Steinbeck was born and spent much of his boyhood in this house, four blocks west of the
museum. It's now a twee lunch cafe, which we're not sure he'd approve of. Guided tours
are given on select summer Sundays; check online for details.
Garden of Memories Memorial Park
CEMETERY
