Salinas

Worlds away from the gourmet restaurants and million-dollar estates lies a valley whose longstanding traditions are as rich as its soil. Known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” Salinas thrives on its ethnic diversity, natural resources, agricultural abundance, and of course, the legacy of its favorite son, John Steinbeck.

From artichokes to broccoli to strawberries sublime, a panorama of produce awaits in this glorious garden tucked eight miles inland from Monterey Bay. The land Steinbeck lovingly referred to as Eden produces more fresh vegetables than any other region in the United States, including 90 percent of the nation’s artichokes, 80 percent of the lettuce and 50 percent of the cauliflower and celery.

Here, you’ll find a feast for all five senses. Each July, a few bucks buys you a seat before the bucking broncos at the California Rodeo. In the fall, witness phenomenal flight patterns with the Blue Angels at the California International Airshow. Or watch the local brass toot their horns at the Mariachi Festival.

Strolling the brick sidewalks of charming Old Town Salinas is a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Peer into California’s past at the National Steinbeck Center, a sprawling, state-of-the-art facility honoring the Nobel prize-winning author who championed the forgotten and disenfranchised and celebrated the strength of the human spirit.

What better way to prepare for a Sunday afternoon picnic than a visit to the local farmers’ market? Shoppers who bask in this heady harvest share a singular dilemma: which field-fresh slice of heaven to snap up and savor first.