HotelTonight – Salinas Hotels Are Available
Driving through Monterey County may not involve seeing as many famous locations as driving through San Diego County, Los Angeles County or Orange County, but in my opinion it's my favorite part of California. That's because you get the best of both worlds, in that you can enjoy the rolling hills and lovely geography, while still being able to take in the coast and all that it has to offer. I drive a lot for work, so I'm often driving through Monterey County, but the regret I have is that I almost never have any time to stop and see what life is like in any of the communities that dot the map there. That all changed recently when I was driving through the area and found out that due to a lot of different circumstances, my day was suddenly wide open. I decided to use that opportunity to stop and enjoy Salinas, the biggest city in Monterey County, and one that I had not really seen to that point. I wasn't concerned about finding a place to stay, as I travel with HotelTonight. My favorite travel app would find me a Salinas hotel room in no time when I needed one.
The Wineries
I didn't fully expect this, but when I pulled into town I realized that like other communities not far from there, wine was an influential component of the economy and the culture in Salinas. I enjoy wine, and I'm always curious to see how different people make it, so I walked through a couple of wineries and was fascinated with the differences between the two approaches I saw. What both places had in common, however, was a commitment to their process and a very nice end result. I bought a few bottles to take home.
The Beaches
After walking around inside the wineries, at least for part of the time, I wanted to get out and enjoy the sunny day. I did so by heading to the coast to see what the beaches near Salinas were all about. There were quite a few of them, and I managed to see three for myself, but each was worth the effort of walking in the sand. The sand was white, the surf was blue and rhythmic, and the coastline was jagged and gorgeous. I took dozens of photos throughout the day and talked to a lot of very nice people.
John Steinbeck
I did not know this either when I pulled into Salinas, but it was the boyhood home of John Steinbeck, who just happens to be one of the most beloved and renowned authors in American history. Salinas makes sure to pay tribute to him as well, as there is a museum that is basically dedicated to him and his home has been largely preserved. I walked around and learned more about Mr. Steinbeck in one day than I had in a lifetime of reading his books, and it was wonderful to see all of this in-person. It inspired me to give some of his books another read.
The Dining
For whatever reason, I had barbecue on the brain. Perhaps it was because I had worked up such a big appetite, perhaps it was because I hadn't had barbecue in a while. Regardless, that's what I hoped to find in Salinas, and find it, I did, thanks to the recommendation of a person on the beach I had talked with earlier. The place was down-to-earth in tone, complete with wooden tables and checkered table cloths. The pulled pork was the opposite, as it was out of this world. It was so tender it nearly fell apart on the fork, and I ate and ate, and then I ate some more. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. I also got to speak with some of the other patrons who were, as had been the case all day, extremely friendly and genuine. It was a highly enjoyable meal.
HotelTonight – Salinas Hotels Near You
I was very happy and very full. It was also just then that I realized that I didn't have a place to stay. I chuckled to myself and pulled out my phone. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Salinas hotel room just up the road from where I was, as the search function bases itself on your current location. I was two blocks from where I'd be staying, so I walked to my car, grabbed my bag, walked in, checked in almost immediately and, before I knew it, was in my room. I took a nice, hot shower, lounged on the big, comfortable bed and began to fall asleep. I was happy that I had gotten the opportunity to see all of this, and even happier that I traveled with HotelTonight.
