Salinas
Salinas, California, is a mostly suburban city of roughly 150,000 residents. Its mild climate lends to its role as an agricultural center. Many vineyards surround the quiet town, and the history is one based in farming. Author John Steinbeck set many of this stories and novels here, including Of Mice and Men. This is a quiet town, great for a short visit by those with an interest in western American history, agriculture, and architecture.
Salinas is the seat of Monterey County and the largest municipality in the county. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, and many large food production companies are based here.