Rancho Las Salinas to agri-tech

Named for a nearby salt marsh, Salinas is located at the apex of the Salinas Valley, roughly eight miles from the Pacific Ocean, giving it a marine influenced climate. Salinas is the most populous city in Monterey County, and became the county seat in 1872.

Salinas is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World”. Our agriculture industry supplies 80% of the country’s lettuce and artichokes, along with many other crops. Today, Salinas is in the forefront of advancing food production technology.

Why we ♥ Salinas

History. Salinas’ earliest inhabitants were Esselen, Rumsen and Ohlone tribes. In 1795, the first Spanish land grant in the Monterey Bay area was issued along the Salinas River, but the grant was abandoned. Subsequently, a Mexican grant was made in 1839 to the Espinosa family–Espinosa Road and Espinosa Lake still carry their name.

With the Mexican land grants came cattle ranches and a thriving trade in hides, shipping primarily out of the Port of Monterey.

In the mid-1800s, Salinas’ agricultural industry began to grow and by 1924 the growing fields made Salinas one of the wealthiest cities per capita in the United States. Today, “The Salad Bowl of the World” fuels a $2 billion agriculture industry.

Badger Trails Trailhead.

Oldtown. With the wealth from agriculture came a burst of building construction, many employing the streamlined shapes and organic patterns of Art Deco or Art Moderne. Many examples remain, including the National Register-listed Monterey County Courthouse and the Salinas Californian newspaper building.

John Steinbeck country. Several other notable structures are also highlighted, including the Victorian house where John Steinbeck was born.

Toro Park. Located six miles from downtown, the parks 4,756 acres have been a haven for thousands of visitors. The park is also home for many types of wildlife including deer, coyote, and rare mountain lion or golden eagle. Toro’s pastoral setting makes it the ideal place for your next family outing. Facilities include an equestrian staging area and riding trails, softball fields, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, mountain biking, volleyball courts and over 20 miles of hiking trails.

Twilight Cycling at Laguna Seca. Monthly twilight rides allow cyclists to experience the excitement of pedaling Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, an 11-turn, 2.238-mile course. The ride is highlighted by the legendary Corkscrew turn that drops an equivalent of 5 1/2 stories. Rides run from 5:30–7:30 p.m., and are open to all levels of cyclists. Helmets are required and the cost is $10 per rider. More

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Eco-guide to living lighter

Salinas: The salad bowl of the world

Salinas: The salad bowl of the world

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