MONTEREY COUNTY Pebble Beach Revered by golfers and golf enthusiasts around the world, Pebble Beach began its rise to fame as a humble resting spot for Del Monte Hotel guests out for a day trip on 17-Mile Drive, opened in 1881. By 1919, an elegant hotel had been constructed, complete with Pebble Beach Golf Links. In time, other courses joined: first Spyglass Hill, then The Links at Spanish Bay. Today, Pebble Beach adds 135 holes of remarkable golf across ten square miles, a matchless setting for championship tournament play. The AT&T National Pro-Am (formerly the “Crosby Clambake”) has been played here since 1947. The U.S. Open has visited four times and will return in 2010.
Spanish Bay bagpiper
Teeing off in Pebble Beach
If you’re not a whiz with a golf club, spend your time at Pebble Beach riding on horseback to the sandy shore through the hushed groves of Cypress Point links or luxuriating in a facial or massage at The Spa at Pebble Beach. Another great way to enjoy the area: sipping your favorite drink on the patio of The Inn at Spanish Bay, listening to a bagpiper while the sun sets over the Pacific.
Salinas When the Spanish first settled in Monterey County, a large slough ran through it, prompting the settlers to name the area Salinas, a Spanish name meaning “salt marsh.” In 1822, Mexico seceded from Spain, and the newly independent government granted large tracts of land to settlers. Two of these ranchos were Sausal and Nacional. Adjoining parts of these ranchos became Salinas City after California became a U.S. territory. The Spanish names have remained, and continue to serve as a reminder of the first settlers to the area.
INSIDER TIP “Plan to stop for lunch at one of the resorts in Pebble Beach and you can get your gate fee refunded.” - Carla Falcone, Frequent visitor from Seattle
Today, Salinas is a thriving community – the heart of the Salinas Valley and the “Salad Bowl of the World” – that is as proud of its history as it is of its promising future. And decidedly the most recognized Salinas icon is its hometown son, celebrated author John Steinbeck. Both the National Steinbeck Center museum and The Steinbeck House, Steinbeck’s boyhood home, pay homage to the literary icon. The National Steinbeck Center is an impressive destination for all ages, featuring interactive exhibits based on the author’s novels. Films and plays based on the author’s books play on multiple screens, and pages from Steinbeck’s original manuscripts are on display for all to see. Don’t miss the adjacent Rabobank Agriculture Museum, featuring a montage of Salinas Valley history presented through photos, interviews and photographs of the communities Steinbeck included in his epic novels, East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath. Hands-on exhibits explore modern day issues such as food safety, genetic engineering, labor relations, water conservation, nutrition and more. In 2007, the Los Angeles Times named the Center number one of “The Golden 15”, a list of California locations visitors must visit to grasp the wonder of the state. The Steinbeck House, a classic Victorian listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open for lunch daily, serving a prix fixe menu. The House also includes a mustsee bookshop selling Steinbeck novels (in multiple languages), memorabilia, and gifts.
National Steinbeck Center Museum Photo courtesy Kerrick James/MCCVB
The Steinbeck House
Photo courtesy Kerrick James/MCCVB
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