M O N THeadings EREY COUNTY Inside A walk through historic Oldtown Salinas yields inviting boutiques, bright day spas, beloved local eateries, and even Monterey County wine-tasting. On the first Friday of every month, experience First Fridays, a free monthly art walk. The event features local artists as well as light refreshments, live music, and special promotions. Salinas hosts the annual California Rodeo, one of the top rodeos in the nation. Cowboys and cowgirls demonstrate their roping and riding skills in four days of adventure at the crowdpleasing event. Other popular Salinas events include the California International Air Show, the Steinbeck Festival and the Salinas Parade of Lights.
The Salinas Valley
California Rodeo Salinas
Photo courtesy Richard Field Levine
Situated along Highway 101, the Salinas Valley contains some of America’s a Bengal tiger and a growing number of elephants. most valuable farmland, acres upon acres of soils that produce salad greens and Wild Things also recently launched E.A.R.S. strawberries almost year-round. Farmers in this area grow tender vegetables (Elephants of Africa Rescue Society), a non-profit such as broccoli, broccolini (also known as broccoli rabe), Brussels sprouts, organization dedicated to supporting projects carrots, celery and fennel. Out of all the produce, lettuce is king. Monterey aimed at securing a safe habitat for wild, African County’s delicate lettuces appear on grocery shelves from Portland, Maine, animals and dedicated to providing a sanctuary to Portland, Oregon. If you’ve eaten a salad in the last week, chances are the for their captive cousins with a special focus on lettuce came from here. elephants. Looking for an off-beat adventure? A visit to the Salinas Valley isn’t complete Adults can book a stay at Vision Quest Ranch’s without wine. Vineyards account for more bed & breakfast, which features authentic safari The Farm’s field art towers over visitors than 40,000 acres of Monterey County bungalows. Definitely a one-of-a-kind experience, farmland, and most of them are here. but the icing on the cake is the elephant that Vintners in the area grow a number of delivers breakfast in the morning! popular varietals, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon Rising along the east side of the Salinas Valley and Pinot Noir, to name a few. Loop are 24,000 acres of wild and remote beauty—the through Salinas wine country by driving Pinnacles National Monument. The park’s craggy south on Highway monoliths and spires 101, then head north of golden stone are the Wild Things & Vision Quest Ranch again on River Road; vestiges of an immense, Bed & Breakfast you’ll pass dozens of ancient volcano. Thirty vineyards, wineries miles of trails are the only and tasting rooms in way into the mountains, what many bill as a but alert walkers may wine-lover’s excursion be rewarded by spotting to heaven. acorn woodpeckers, bats, mountain lions or Also located on River coyotes. The park is home Road, Wild Things to 400 species of bees, (at the Vision Quest and a resident population Ranch), is home to of the endangered a number of exotic California condors, which animals that have were released into the appeared in movies and wild in the earlier part of television, including a this decade. Photo courtesy Kerrick James/MCCVB 500-pound African lion, 34
Call 1-877-MONTEREY for information