john steinbeck house tour

The John Steinbeck House: A Hidden Literary Destination

The John Steinbeck House is a must-visit destination for any literary travel lover, and if you’ve been wanting to visit, here’s everything you need to know.

Born and raised in Salinas, California, John Steinbeck’s childhood home is still in existence today and remarkably well preserved. Luckily for those of us who love Steinbeck’s novels, you can not only visit the John Steinbeck House but also dine there! 

When I visited San Francisco on a long weekend, I made sure to leave time for a detour down to Monterey and Salinas, not in small part due to the many John Steinbeck sights you can visit there (he has written some of my favorite novels, after all). 

There are several John Steinbeck Salinas destinations for bookish travelers, and today we are going to focus on one that largely flies under the radar — a pilgrimage to the John Steinbeck house for a delicious meal and an insightful tour of the author’s home. 

In this post, I’ll tell you all about Steinbeck’s life at the house, how to visit, and what you can expect there. 

In This Post

No time to read it all right now? Pin this post and come back to it later! 

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, shopping from them may generate small commissions to support the operations of this blog.

Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org , because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.

John Steinbeck’s Life in Salinas

John Steinbeck was born in his family home at 132 Central Ave in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902. The house itself is charming. It was built in the Queen Anne style with a gingerbread trim, only 3 years before the Steinbecks moved in in 1900. 

Steinbeck was the third of four children. The Steinbecks were a part of Salinas’s middle class, with John’s father, John Ernst Steinbeck, working a variety of jobs to support the family. John lived in his family home on Central Ave from his birth until the age of 19, when he left to attend Stanford University (from which he would never graduate — one of the many John Steinbeck facts that might surprise you!). 

Later in life, Steinbeck and his first wife, Carol, moved back to his childhood home to care for his ailing parents. It was in this house that he wrote his first commercially successful novel — Tortilla Flat , as well as the novella The Red Pony . 

Steinbeck’s childhood was relatively stable and happy, and he had a close relationship with his sisters, Mary and Esther. Most of all, he loved being in the Salinas Valley, which served as inspiration for many of his books and stories. 

Related : If you like visiting places where authors lived and wrote, don’t miss stopping by the house where Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road in nearby San Francisco.

Visiting the John Steinbeck House in Salinas

The Steinbeck House has had an interesting journey transitioning from the writer’s family home to the minor tourist destination it is today. The Steinbeck family sold their Central Avenue home in the 1930s after the death of John’s parents. Between the 1930s and the 1960s, the home went through periods in which it served as a private residence, a rental property, and then a boarding house for a school. 

In 1974, the Steinbeck House was purchased by a nonprofit organization called the Valley Guild — an organization started by eight local women who loved “gourmet cooking and wanted to showcase Salinas Valley produce.” 

While that’s not necessarily a group you’d imagine who’d be interested in restoring a writer’s house , that’s exactly what they did. The Valley Guild worked to restore the Steinbeck house to how it existed during the Steinbecks’ residence. In 1974, they opened up the Steinbeck House at 132 Central Avenue as a restaurant. 

Today, there are a few ways that you can visit the Steinbeck House in Salinas:

• Eat lunch in the Steinbeck House restaurant
• Attend a special event at the Steinbeck House
• Join a group tour of the house

Eat at the Steinbeck House Restaurant 

One of the best ways to enjoy a trip to the John Steinbeck House is by eating at the house’s restaurant. As already mentioned, it was a group of women who love gourmet food who were responsible for the house’s restoration and upkeep, so the restaurant itself serves top quality food. 

You can enjoy lunch in the restaurant, which is housed on the main floor of the Steinbeck house. You’ll get to eat in one of three rooms that the Steinbecks lived in, including the family room with a fireplace, where the family spent most of their time. You will be surrounded by Steinbeck family memorabilia, including early editions of Steinbeck’s books, items the family owned, and family photos hanging on the walls. 

The Steinbeck House restaurant serves lunch only , from Tuesday to Saturday as of March, 2024 (as always, verify on their official website before planning your trip!). The menu rotates each month, with menu items designed to feature in-season produce and foods from the Salinas Valley. 

There are options for vegetarians as well as meat lovers, and there’s even a cute kid’s menu called The Red Pony Club, which features dishes like The Tortilla Flat (a quesadilla) and Cup of Gold Sundaes. 

My expectations were pretty moderate when I ate at the Steinbeck House restaurant, as I was there more for the literary travel sight than for the food, but I was dazzled by the delicious lunch. Everything from my salad to my main course to the dessert was flavorful, fresh, and obviously thoughtfully prepared. 

Tips for visiting the restaurant:

• Book your lunch reservation in advance so you don’t risk the chance of missing out
• Come hungry! 
• Check the menu online so you know what’s available (changes monthly)
• Locals get 10% off their bill on Tuesdays

Related : Steinbeck is one of my favorite writers. I even included one of his books on my list of easy classics to read if you’re new to classic literature.

Special Events

The Steinbeck House in Salinas regularly hosts special events that give you the opportunity to visit the house in unique ways. One of the most regular (and most popular!) events is the monthly afternoon tea. 

Each month, the Steinbeck House hosts “Beth’s High Tea Party,” a special affair in which guests can enjoy a pot of their house tea blend and an assortment of traditional afternoon tea foods — tea sandwiches, fruit, scones, quiche, and seasonal desserts. 

The afternoon tea party is typically only offered once a month, with two seatings — one at 11:30 am and one at 1:30 pm. It’s not cheap, priced at $60 per person (comparably priced with afternoon teas in London ), but tax and tip are included in the price. Children may also attend for half price.

I wasn’t lucky enough to attend the Steinbeck House on a day when the afternoon tea was being offered, but if your travel dates work out, book as early as you can, as spots fill up very quickly!  

Tour the Steinbeck House

Of course, if you are a John Steinbeck fan, you will want to take a guided tour of the Steinbeck House. The house tour offerings have changed a few times in recent years, but as of March, 2024, house tour details are as follows:

Tours are offered on select Saturdays (largely during the summer months) from 3-5 pm. You must call and book your spot on a tour in advance . 

On the tour, you’ll be able to visit all the rooms in the house, including the upstairs (this is new, as when I visited just a couple of years prior, guests weren’t permitted on the stairs due to a fire code that needed attending to. I’m glad to hear they’ve gotten that sorted out so current and future visitors can go upstairs, where Steinbeck’s bedroom is). 

The volunteer docents are obviously passionate about Steinbeck and their role in guiding you through the house. In each room, they share stories of Steinbeck and his family. You’ll get to visit a parlor that was once John’s parents room (and the room in which he was born — his parents’ bed frame is on display in the gift shop!). 

You’ll get to hear fun stories like how Steinbeck’s sister Esther got married on the staircase, and how John and his siblings were baptized in the parlor. 

Friends loved to come over to the Steinbeck house, because his mother, Olive, would always make them fun treats and was famed for her doughnuts. Friends have recalled having dinner with the Steinbecks, saying it was always lively, and Mr. and Mrs. Steinbeck were always regaling everyone with jokes. 

Upstairs, visitors can now see John Steinbeck’s childhood bedroom, where he first started writing stories in secret and stashing them away without showing them to anyone. Young John Steinbeck was mostly a loner, and he didn’t often invite friends to his bedroom. 

One friend who did get invited in said that it was “austere” and that he kept a real human skull on top of his dresser, though whether or not that’s true is up for debate (John had a habit of embellishment, though as an adult he did enjoy creeping out guests with his pet rat). 

As of March, 2024, tours of the Steinbeck house cost $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Tours are free for active duty military and discounted for families and for Monterey County residents. 

Related : John Steinbeck was a fascinating American writer. Read up on these interesting facts about John Steinbeck before visiting Salinas.

Tips for Visiting

• Parking is generally easy near the Steinbeck House. It’s a quiet residential neighborhood with ample, free street parking. Please be mindful and courteous to those who live nearby.
• If you’re seeing more Steinbeck sights in Salinas, the Steinbeck House is a great place to start. You can park here and walk to the John Steinbeck grave, the National Steinbeck Center, and Downtown Salinas. 
• Make all your reservations in advance. The house is operated by a non-profit and is largely run by volunteers, so their capacity is understandably limited. The best way to find out availability is by checking the website and calling during open hours to chat with one of the house volunteers about your upcoming visit. 

• Make sure you check out the gift shop ! The gift shop is located in the basement of the Steinbeck home, with a separate entrance on the side. It’s called the Best Cellar Gift Shop and is one of the best literary gift shops I’ve yet found. In addition to the large variety of John Steinbeck books and merchandise you can buy, there are other items on display down here, like the headboard of the bed in which John was born, a doll house model of the Steinbeck house, and a chair of John’s from his childhood. If you purchase a book here, don’t forget to request to have it stamped with the Steinbeck House logo on the title page! 

• You can also combine your visit to the Salinas Steinbeck sights with a quick visit to Cannery Row in Monterey to see the real-life locations that inspired one of his most famous books

Getting to Salinas from San Francisco

Salinas makes an easy day or even afternoon trip from San Francisco and is best reached by car (flying in to San Francisco? Easy — book a rental car to make this trip). I went to San Francisco on a literary travel tour, checking out the Beat Generation literary sights as well as scouting out the best San Francisco bookstores , and rented a car to make Salinas and Monterey into a day trip. It was an easy and pleasant drive.

Salinas is about a 1.5 hour drive south from San Francisco, or a 2-hour drive if you want to take a more coastal route along the Monterey Bay. From Salinas, Monterey and the famous Cannery Row are only an additional 30 minutes further.

Travel Resources At-A-Glance

All of the following are links to sites and services I actually use to book and plan my travel or to purchase books or travel gear.

For flights : Skyscanner is my number one go-to resource for booking flights. I love using the “explore” function to find the cheapest places I can fly during a given time or using the fare calendar to identify the cheapest days to fly.

For hotels and lodgings : For hotels, hotels.com , and for vacation rentals, VRBO.com . I’ve had much better experiences with private rentals through this website than through other popular private vacation rental websites.

For car rentals : Kayak allows comparisons across a wide range of booking agencies and lists reviews of companies as well. I’ve found this to be the most user-friendly and efficient way to compare car rental prices.

For tours & excursions : Viator and Get Your Guide are my top choices for booking excursions and tour experiences in a new destination.

For travel gear : Amazon.com and REI for more outdoorsy items. Check out my travel gear recs here.

For booking trains & buses : I find the Omio app and website to be the most easily navigable for comparing options for public transportation, especially in Europe,

Best travel credit card : My favorite travel rewards credit card for European travel has been the Chase Sapphire Rewards card . Visa is accepted just about everywhere in Europe, and there are no foreign transaction fees on the card. Some of the travel benefits I love on the Chase Sapphire include free TSA pre-check or Global Entry (worth it every time), an annual $200 travel credit, an annual $200 hotel benefit, built-in rental car, and trip insurance, and points are worth 50% more when used to book travel. I travel around Europe a LOT, and I end up with many free flights and hotel stays from using my points on my Chase Sapphire.

For books : Bookshop.org often has prices as good as Amazon or sometimes better, but profits go to indie bookstores all over the country. Whenever possible, consider buying your books from this online indie bookshop resource.

Hopefully you are now equipped with everything you need to know to check out the John Steinbeck House in Salinas, California.

Don’t forget to pin this post for later, and sign up for my email list to hear about more book recommendations, literary travel destinations, and more.

Don't miss anything! Subscribe now

By subscribing, you will be automatically notified of new blog posts. I'll never spam you or sell your email address. For more information, read my privacy policy .

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

I'm Constance, an avid reader and traveler. I love tracking down the best literary sights everywhere I go, from the best indie bookstores to author's homes and fictional locations you can visit in real life. I'm also passionate about all things tea and chocolate. I have a BA in English literature and an MS in Nutrition Science.

Similar Posts

Top 10 Book Recommendations from an Avid Reader (2020)

No matter where you live or what your circumstances, I think we can all agree that 2020 has been one hell of a year. I really can’t claim to be in a place mentally or emotionally to reflect on it all or assign any meaning to…

Savannah, Georgia: A Unique Literary Tour

I like to think I’m a pretty well-rounded traveler. I like to experience it all. Still, I have to say that whenever I visit a new town or city, I can’t help incorporating the following three things into my itinerary: I’ve always heard glowing reviews from…

4 Great Utah Bookstores: Salt Lake City & beyond

I’ll come out and say it: There are some really great Utah bookstores. Utah might be best known for ski resorts and Mormons, but if you find yourself in this western state, there are more than a couple of worthwhile indie bookstores to check out in…

Broken Horses Review and Aesthete Tea Pairing

No time to read now? Pin this to read later. Who is Brandi Carlile? (also, why do I love her?) It’s hard, perhaps impossible, for me to review this memoir by Americana singer Brandi Carlile without at least touching on my own history as one of…

15 Best Books I Read in 2023 (and who else would love them)

Have you been wondering what on earth you should read next? I’ve got you covered. One of my favorite year-end traditions is to look back on my year of reading and select those books that stood out from all the rest, books I’d recommend to friends…

13 Surprising Facts about Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy was a Victorian writer with some serious baggage. Then again, name one who wasn’t! From surprising career changes, to a wife he didn’t love until she died, to a split burial (it’s as ick as it sounds), Hardy had a fascinating life and death….

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 Yes, add me to your mailing list

Check out videos on hundreds of California adventures

John Steinbeck’s Museum & House in Salinas

I have to admit; I am a huge fan of exploring literary history. Over the last few months, I have enjoyed creating posts that showcase famous authors’ impact on the state. I first did this by retracing some of Mark Twain’s steps in Angels Camp , part of California’s Gold Country. Then I did it again on a recent trip to Monterey, where I spent time exploring Cannery Row, searching for what Steinbeck wrote about in the novel of the same name. This adventure led me to Salinas to visit the museum dedicated to his stories and to see his house. Here is all of the information if you want to visit yourself.

• Cost: $15 for the museum
• Location: 1 Main St, Salinas, CA 93901
• The house is located two blocks from the museum
• Information from my visit in 2016 and 2021

John Steinbeck was born in 1902, at the home located only a few blocks from the center. The house is still available for tours to this day and is a working restaurant.

The center was opened in 1998 to encourage the preservation and education of the works of John Steinbeck. It houses the most extensive collection of Steinbeck archives in the entire United States and features rotating exhibits that focus on things Steinbeck was passionate about like agriculture.

I was on the last leg of a road trip when I arrived at the center, right around 4:30 PM, only 30 minutes before it closed. Due to time constraints, I had to rush through the museum, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well done it was, and I plan to make my way back there at a later date when I have more time.

The museum is mostly one main exhibit area that is broken into sections telling history and stories about each of his famous novels. My favorite of these is East of Eden, and there was a huge section dedicated to it that I spent the most time in. Here are some of the other famous stories that he wrote and an example of their exhibits. Honestly, if you like his stories, you could easily spend a few hours here taking it all in.

Grapes of Wrath

Of Mice and Men

Cannery Row

Tortilla Flat

As you are working your way through the museum, you will pass sections dedicated to his books and learn more about his later life, including information about his Nobel Prize in literature and his life in New York City.

The exhibit ends with the above quote, which I thought was fitting for such a good author.

Also, there is a recap of his entire life before you exit back into the lobby of the museum.

The museum also had an exhibit with a video playing about his life, but unfortunately, I did not have time to watch it. Lastly, there is a store that sold lots of different pieces of memorabilia, including his books.

On the way out, one of the workers directed me to how to get to his house, so I set out from the center to see it before I left.

John Steinbeck’s House

After exiting the center, you will head right (away from the parking structure) and start walking down that street. After about two blocks of walking, you will see his house on the corner.

The house is beautiful and well kept since it has historical significance and because it is a working restaurant. Unfortunately, it was closed when I went, but I walked around it and looked at the different historical plaques.

I enjoyed my time in Salinas and look forward to coming back and spending more time here. I can honestly say that this is an excellent way to learn more about the famous author, and California history while you are at it. Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

Similar Posts

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park in Downtown Sacramento

Honeymoon Cafe: Healthy Food in Pismo Beach

Morro Bay Skateboard Museum (Closed)

General Grant Trail & Grove: Exploring the Nations Christmas Tree in Kings Canyon National Park

The Pilgrim Boat & Ocean Institute in Dana Point

North Fork of Big Pine: Backpacking to the Glacial Lakes

Visiting Monterey County?

Give us one minute to answer four questions about your visit and you could win a $100 Amazon gift card

• Destination Overview
• Getting Here
• Weather Trends
• Client Testimonials
• In the Moment
• CVB Service Details
• Attendee Tools
• Guided Tours
• Outdoor Recreation
• Wine Tasting
• Attractions
• Itinerary Ideas
• Destination Services
• Transportation Services
• Medical Meetings
• CSR & Voluntourism
• Sports Event Hosting
• Hybrid Meetings & Events
• Salinas Sports Complex
• Monterey Conference Center Hotels
• Meeting Hotels Search
• Meeting Venues Search
• Multimedia Gallery
• Custom Microsites
• Marketing Tools
• Downloadable Collateral
• Local Media Resources
• Stay & Play
• Submit an RFP
• FAM Request
• Attractions & Tours
• Monterey County Road Trips
• California Central Coast Road Trips
• Industry & Associations
• What Members Are Saying
• Find Your Way Here Campaign Toolkit
• Digital Co-Op Opportunities
• Online Bookings
• Wayfinding Destination Education Series
• Ways to Maximize Your Membership
• Member Extranet Login
• Presentations & Reports
• Member Directory
• Content Calendars
• Find Your Way Here Toolkit
• Board of Directors List
• Crisis Comms Plan
• FY2022-23 Board and Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
• FY2023-24 Board and Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
• Submit an Event
• Agency RFPs
• Community Connection
• Media Kit & Press Releases
• Press Trip Request
• Image Request
• Sustainable Moments
• Hotel Resorts
• Golf Courses
• Unique Venues
• Wedding Planners
• Florists & Rentals
• Transportation
• Photographers & Videographers
• All Wedding Planning Services
• Guest Activities & Information
• Marriage Requirements
• Sustainable Showcase
• Green Travel

Things to Do

• Monterey County on a Budget
• Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
• Monterey Beaches
• Cannery Row
• Old Fisherman's Wharf
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
• Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
• Historic Monterey
• Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
• Monterey State Beach
• El Estero Park
• Jacks Peak Park
• Veterans Memorial Park
• Restaurants
• Travel Like a Monterey Expert
• Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
• Camping & Hiking
• Big Sur Beaches
• Arts & Culture
• Bixby Bridge
• Big Sur Itinerary
• Big Sur Live Webcam
• Big Sur International Marathon
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Garrapata State Park
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• McWay Falls
• Limekiln State Park
• Los Padres National Forest
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• Point Sur Lightstation
• Golf in Pebble Beach
• Pebble Beach Beaches
• 17-Mile Drive
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
• Pebble Beach Food and Wine
• First Tee Open Pebble Beach
• Concours d'Elegance
• Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational
• Travel Like a Pebble Beach Expert
• Budget Travel in Carmel
• Carmel Itinerary
• Carmel Wine Tasting Rooms
• Carmel Art Festival
• Carmel Bach Festival
• Carmel Beach
• Carmel Mission
• Carmel River State Beach
• Point Lobos State Reserve
• Sunset Center
• Travel Like a Carmel Expert
• 48 Hours in Pacific Grove
• Good Old Days Festival
• Feast of Lanterns
• Butterfly Parade
• Asilomar State Beach
• Lovers Point Park and Beach
• Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
• Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
• Point Pinos Lighthouse
• Travel Like a Pacific Grove Expert
• Carmel Valley Itinerary
• Carmel Valley Wineries
• Golf in Carmel Valley
• Carmel Valley Live Webcam
• Cachagua Community Park
• Garland Ranch Regional Park
• Travel like a Carmel Valley Expert
• Marina, Seaside and Sand City Itinerary
• Marina State Beach
• Fort Ord National Monument
• Fort Ord Dunes State Park
• Locke-Paddon Community Park
• Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
• Marina Wine Tasting Rooms
• Travel Like a Marina Expert
• Cal State University Monterey Bay
• Golf in Seaside
• Travel like a Seaside Expert
• John Steinbeck
• National Steinbeck Center Museum

Steinbeck Itinerary

• California Rodeo Salinas
• Salinas Valley Food & Wine
• California International Airshow Salinas
• Travel Like a Salinas Expert
• Moss Landing Itinerary
• Elkhorn Slough Reserve
• Moss Landing State Beach
• Salinas River State Beach
• Zmudowski State Beach
• Travel Like a Moss Landing Expert
• West End Celebration
• Castroville
• South County
• Monterey Resorts
• Bed & Breakfasts and Cottages
• Inns and Lodges
• Top 10 Campsites
• Hostels & Retreat Properties
• Clean Lodging Commitment
• Top Ways to Grab Life by the Moments
• Free Things to Do in Monterey County
• Snapshot Spots
• Top 10 Attractions
• 5 Scenic Drives
• 10 Campsites
• 10 Literary Sites
• 7 Undiscovered Beaches
• 20 Secret Spots
• 5 Places for Jazz
• Fireplaces With a View
• Rise and Shine Itinerary
• Take A Drive Itinerary
• Raise A Glass Itinerary
• Get Back To Nature Itinerary
• Highlights Itinerary
• Outdoors Itinerary
• Family Itinerary
• Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
• Golf Itinerary
• History and Heritage Itinerary
• Road Trip Itinerary
• Romantic Itinerary
• Shopping Itinerary
• Spa Itineraries
• Wine and Dine Itinerary
• Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
• Scuba Diving
• Top 5 Best Runs
• Top 10 Day Hikes
• Whale Watching
• 10 Bike Rides
• Horseback Riding
• Skateboarding
• Exhilarating Activities
• 10 Animal-Spotting Locations
• 5 Places to Spot Sea Otters
• Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
• Tide Pooling
• Exotic Animal Adventures
• Elkhorn Slough
• Fremont Peak State Park
• Laguna Seca Recreation Area
• Lake San Antonio
• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Pinnacles National Park
• Royal Oaks Park
• San Lorenzo Park
• Undiscovered Beaches
• Agricultural and Rural Life Museum
• Performing Arts
• Monterey in the Movies
• Family Attractions
• Family Fun on a Shoestring
• Outdoor Family Activities
• 5 Activities for Kids and Parents
• Monterey County Writers
• Ideas for Romance
• Romance on a Shoestring
• 5 Places to Propose
• Shopping Centers and Villages
• Musical Entertainment
• Historic Attractions
• This Weekend
• Annual Events
• Jazz Bash by the Bay
• California Roots Music & Arts Festival
• Car Week Travel Alerts
• Monterey Car Week on a Shoestring
• Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (INDYCAR)
• Spartan Race
• MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest
• Sports Car Championship
• Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach
• TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational
• Artichoke Festival
• Monterey Wine Festival
• Big Sur Food and Wine Festival
• Monterey Swingfest
• Whalefest Monterey
• Pacific Grove Good Old Days
• Salinas Valley Fair
• Sand City West End Celebration
• Monterey County Fair
• Monterey Bay Greek Festival
• Valentine's Day
• Mother's Day
• Memorial Day
• Father's Day
• 4th of July
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Events
• Ocean View Restaurants
• Michelin Restaurants
• Farmers Markets
• Food and Wine Events
• Artichoke Trail
• 10 Places to Have a Beer
• Made in Monterey
• Seafood Watch
• Appellations
• Salinas Valley Wineries
• Beer & Craft Breweries
• Travel Updates
• Virtual Visitor Center
• eNewsletter Sign Up
• Local Insider Tips
• Deals & Specials
• Visitor Services
• Drive to Monterey
• Destination Guide
• Zoom Backgrounds

National Steinbeck Center

Destinations, food & drink.

The abundant lands between the Gabilan Mountains and the Pacific Ocean burst with stories. Literary giant John Steinbeck told many of them as he turned the Salinas Valley into the "valley of the world." Steinbeck's stories, which won him a Nobel Prize in 1962, are nearly all flavored with salt-of-the earth characters who live and work in Monterey County.

"Not everyone has the good fortune to be born in Salinas ," Steinbeck once wrote. But you can base your trip out of the multicultural city where he was born in 1902 and lived fulltime until he began studying at Stanford University. There's no shortage of hotels in Salinas. To have a stay with a connection to Steinbeck's characters, consider choosing one on River Road, which runs parallel to the Salinas River. Elisa and Henry Allen lived off this road in Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums."

10am Begin at the National Steinbeck Center . A Model T Ford, like the one mentioned in "Cannery Row" and "East of Eden," sits at the beginning of the Center's chronological overview of Steinbeck's life and times. The multi-sensory tour is replete with big-screen clips from movie versions of his novels starring the likes of James Dean. No matter how much you know about Steinbeck, you'll find a new angle to appreciate. As you end your tour, you'll see the green camper Steinbeck drove through 34 states before he wrote "Travels with Charley," parked right inside the museum.

12pm Stroll along Main Street, noticing the Art Deco architecture. Many buildings here were built before Steinbeck was born; Nos. 201 and 247 feature in the novel "East of Eden." Click here to access a map of Art Deco locations in Salinas.

1pm Head west to Central Avenue to have lunch at The Steinbeck House . John and his younger sisters grew up here. He wrote several stories and novels in this Queen Anne Victorian. Its front rooms are now a homey restaurant, staffed by volunteers from a civic organization comprised of local women.

3pm Take Highway 68 west out of downtown Salinas. You're now in the fertile Salinas Valley, which inspired many of Steinbeck's stories. Turn off to visit the few streets of what remains of the company town of Spreckels. Steinbeck worked here in the early 1920s, at what was then the largest sugar plant in the world. He gained inspiration here for several of his novels including "East of Eden" and "Of Mice and Men."

Continue west on Highway 68 to visit Corral de Tierra, where sandstone cliffs like Castle Rock rise from the still-picture-perfect valley Steinbeck described in "Pastures of Heaven."

If it's still light, continue cruising west to visit Jacks Peak Park to get a birds-eye view of the places Steinbeck wrote about. The highest point on the Monterey peninsula dazzles with sweeping vistas of Monterey Bay, Carmel and the Salinas Valley.

6:30pm With darkness blanketing the Salinas Valley, sample some of its bounty at Tarpy's Roadhouse. This restaurant, in a rustic stone-hewn building which Steinbeck would have passed on his treks from Salinas to Monterey, serves well-crafted fare alongside a wide selection of California wines.

9am Breakfast at the Paris Bakery in downtown Monterey . It's a perfect place for people-watching; locals traipse through to pick up fresh breads, newspapers and gorgeous pastries.

10am In 1945, Steinbeck lived with his second wife and son Thom in Monterey; the novel "Cannery Row" was published that year. He owned the Lara-Soto Adobe, at 460 Pierce Street, which he called "a house I have wanted since I was a little kid." It's now the admissions center at the Monterey International Institute. Just a couple of blocks away, at 155 Van Buren Street, stands the former church where Thom was baptized. It's now the Mayo Hayes O'Donnell Historic Library.

Walk or cycle down the hill to downtown Monterey and take some time to explore its main avenue, Alvarado Street. Most of the pubs Steinbeck visited here are gone, but the scene on this short street is very much like Steinbeck saw it until you reach Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park.

Noon Saunter down Old Fisherman's Wharf , which features in "Sweet Thursday," the sequel to "Cannery Row." During Steinbeck's lifetime, immigrant and native Californian fisherman mingled here among their catch of sardines, squid and abalone. Now the wharf is lined with restaurants serving today's fresh catch. Walk down the Wharf sampling fresh clam chowder, then dive into a plate of Monterey Bay calamari at Abalonetti's , Big Fish Grill or Old Fisherman's Grotto.

2pm Walk or cycle west on the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail  toward Cannery Row , renamed in 1958 for Steinbeck's bestselling novel. It's a 10-minute ride or a 20-minute walk. Along the way, you'll glimpse some of the wildlife Steinbeck's good friend Ed Ricketts catalogued in his lab at 800 Cannery Row, near what is now the Monterey Bay Aquarium .

The canneries, grocery stores and smokestacks of Steinbeck's Row no longer dominate the waterfront here. But at the Cannery Row Antique Mall at 471 Wave Street, you can hunt for treasures from Steinbeck's era in what used to be the Carmel Canning Company.

5pm Continue walking or cycling west, toward the spectacular Lover's Point in Pacific Grove . The many wooden benches along the way provide good places to admire the view.

Turn left on 11th Street to visit the red cottage at No. 147. Steinbeck lived here in 1930 with his first wife. Covered with ivy and hidden by a gated fence, the home is now privately owned.

7pm Try the fresh sanddabs at Fandango Restaurant . As you admire the European decor here, consider Steinbeck's travels: He traveled Europe as a war correspondent and Nobel Prize winner and Russia as an observer of life under communism. He also learned to speak fluent Spanish, visiting Mexico as a sailor and later as a movie director.

9am Complete your journey with a scenic drive through the Salinas Valley. After breakfasting at your hotel, drive south to the small town of Jolon. Steinbeck's 1933 novella "To a God Unknown" is set here. Visit the nearby Mission San Antonio de Padua , one of the most authentically renovated missions in California. Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst once owned the land here; the secluded mission is now part of Fort Hunter Liggett, a U.S. Army base.

Noon As you head north, you will pass through King City. Steinbeck's maternal grandparents raised cattle here. Just a few miles north of King City, you'll reach the southern end of the River Road Wine Trail, which connects Salinas Valley's wineries . Much of the land that was once dedicated to ranching is now dedicated to vineyards. If you're a wine-lover, it's time to go off the highway and explore the vintages at Scheid Vineyards, Hahn Family Wines and Wrath Wines. The latter three are in Soledad, where George and Lennie worked at a ranch in "Of Mice and Men."

2pm Stop at the Windmill Café in Soledad for a low-key late lunch of a satisfying burger, salad or spaghetti.

6pm If it's still light after checking out of your hotel, head north to Fremont Peak State Park . It is here where Steinbeck's final visit to Monterey County ended in "Travels with Charley." Take in the breathtaking views before you return home.

Search all lodging

By continuing to browse this site you permit us and our partners to place identification cookies on your browser and agree to our use of cookies for marketing. To learn more view our Privacy Policy

Writer John Steinbeck’s beautiful Sag Harbor oceanside home is on sale for $16.75 million

The property was the Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winner’s ‘Eden’…

• Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

The Sag Harbor oceanfront cottage and writing retreat where John Steinbeck wrote The Winter of Our Discontent and Travels With Charley are on sale for the first time in 60 years.

The Long Island home, which is listed at $16.75 million, was Steinbeck's home from 1955 until he died in 1968, and the writer described it as his 'Eden'.

Although California was his home state, where there's a National Steinbeck Center Museum and his Salinas boyhood home has been restored and open to the public, Steinbeck moved to New York in 1941, switching between New York City and Long Island’s Sag Harbor.

At first a vacation and weekend getaway, in 1955 Steinbeck bought a Sag Harbor waterfront cottage, which he called 'my little fishing place', where he stayed for most of the rest of his life. 

With almost two acres and views over Morris Cove and Upper Sag Harbor Cove, Steinbeck built a writing hut where he could work with no distractions and water views over Morris Cove and Upper Sag Harbor. 

The writing hut is still intact and carefully preserved much as it was when Steinbeck left with his dog in 1960 to begin his 10,000-mile road trip that became Travels with Charley.

The main cottage boasts modern kitchen ideas with stainless steel tops and a neutral decor scheme, with nods to coastal style.

Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter

Decor Ideas. Project Inspiration. Expert Advice. Delivered to your inbox.

Clearly a writer's abode, the walls are also bursting with books.

There are two cozy bedrooms on the upper floor, built into the eaves of the building.

Located on 586ft of waterfront, there's also a 60ft pier, where Steinbeck liked to fish.

The listing agent is Doreen Atkins, Sotheby’s International Realty, Bridgehampton Brokerage. Photos courtesy of Top Ten Real Estate Deals .

Who was John Steinbeck?

One of America’s most important writers with both a Nobel and Pulitzer Prize, Steinbeck’s classic works include the novella Of Mice and Men and the novels Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden . 

John spent most of his early life in Southern California where he worked odd jobs, including farmworker, handyman, and tour guide before his success as a writer in his early 30s. Many of his best works were inspired by the people of California and from the trips he took across the United States.

Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.

Sleek, practical and like a trick of the eye, invisible kitchens are changing the way we design and use the kitchen

By Jennifer Ebert Published 24 March 24

Ensure you make the most of your new-found freedom by organizing your home in readiness for retirement – here’s how

By Tara King Published 24 March 24

Useful links

• How to design a kitchen
• How to design a bathroom
• How to design a patio
• Interior design: advice and tips
• How to clean a washing machine
• Living room ideas
• Bedroom ideas
• Kitchen ideas
• Bathroom ideas
• Backyard ideas

Buying Guides

• Best mattress
• Best cordless vacuum cleaners
• Best pillows
• Best coffee makers
• Best blenders
• Contact Future's experts
• Advertise with us
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy

Homes & Gardens is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

• Virtual Member Portal
• Young Authors
• Adult Tours
• School/Youth Group Tours
• 1 Main St, Salinas, CA 93901
• 831.775.4721

• Staff & Board
• Admission Prices
• Length of Visit
• Health and Safety
• Tour Groups
• School/Youth Group Fees
• John Steinbeck Bio
• Steinbeck Academic Conference
• eMembership Cards
• Internships
• 1(617)987-6543
• [email protected]

Please note We are closed Sunday, March 31, 2024 for Easter

Artists in Parallel: Griffith J. Davis & John Steinbeck

Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad Museum Open House

FOSPL Sip & Paint

Author Night

Annual Steinbeck Street Fair featuring Cannery Row

Join our email list and be the first to know about special events and more.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

THE 10 BEST Moscow Private Tours

Private tours in moscow.

• Private Tours
• Walking Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3rd Transport Ring (TTK)
• District Central (TsAO)
• Garden Ring
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Kids
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Honeymoon spot
• Hidden Gems
• Adventurous
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Moscow Private Tours

2. Spanish Guide Moscow - Day Tours

3. Bridge to Moscow

4. Privilege Tour

5. Moscow Navigator

6. Walks With Folks

8. Real Russia

9. Happy Moscow Tours

10. MoscowMe

11. Tour of Moscow - Day Tours

12. Three Whales

13. Guia de Moscú

14. IdeaGuide - Your Personal Guide in Moscow

15. Milena Krasavina

16. Tsar Visit

17. VikiTours

18. Moscow Greeter

19. GuiaRus - Day Tour

20. Excursions in Russia

21. Friendly Local Guides Moscow

22. Gorodskoi Voyazh

23. Rusiatourmoscu

24. CheapRussia Tours

25. Angel Taxi - Day Tour

26. Vadim Pavlov Guide and Driver in Moscow

27. Your Moscow Guide & Driver

28. Moscow With Locals

29. GuiasRusia

30. Taxi Francais

What travelers are saying.

• Spanish Guide Moscow - Day Tours
• Walks With Folks
• Happy Moscow Tours
• IdeaGuide - Your Personal Guide in Moscow
• Moscow Private Tours
• Bridge to Moscow
• Guia de Moscú
• GuiaRus - Day Tour
• Moscow Navigator
• Angel Taxi - Day Tour
• Your Moscow Guide & Driver
• Excursions in Russia
• Vadim Pavlov Guide and Driver in Moscow
• Guia en Moscu

The Steinbeck House

Experience john steinbeck's birthplace and boyhood home, call 831-424-2735 for reservations.

• About John Steinbeck
• Saturday House Tours
• Photo Gallery
• Become a Volunteer

Restaurant/Menu

• Group Reservations
• Buy Gifts Online
• Past Events

1 2 3 ►  

Shopping Cart

Your shopping cart is empty Visit the shop

132 Central Avenue Salinas, CA 93901

Restaurant Tuesday-Saturday 11:30am - 2:00pm

The Best Cellar Gift Shop Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am - 3:00pm

Upcoming Events