National Steinbeck Center, Salinas, California, United States of America

The National Steinbeck Center in the city of Salinas in California not only serves as a museum but also doubles as a memorial for John Steinbeck, an American author and the Nobel Prize awardee for Literature in 1962. Nestled inside the campus of the California State University, the center was established in 1998, five years after the Steinback Center Foundation was created. The National Steinbeck Center is home to the most massive collection of the author’s archives in the country, featuring his philosophy and body of work.

A couple of minutes’ walk away from the museum is the author’s residence, John Steinbeck House. This Victorian building is located in the downtown area of Salinas, just two blocks away from the National Steinbeck Center. This house is now a favorite local restaurant, serving menu lunches from Monday to Saturday and hosting house tours on Sunday afternoons every summer. Cap your day with a trip to the Alfaro Family Vineyards, a family-run vineyard, and winery covering 56 acres in the town of Watsonville. You can enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting in their indoor tasting bar or spend the rest of the day lounging in their picnic area as you sip on a bottle of their exquisite Pinot Noir.

For your convenience, you can then stay at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham Salinas, located about a 15-minute walk from the Steinbeck House. A free continental breakfast will be served at the hotel for staying guests. The Steinbeck Lodge also features a complimentary breakfast, alongside a gym and business center.