Salinas, California

Farmers set up shop near Salinas for a reason. An urban island enclosed by the acres and acres of farmland around it, Salinas residents enjoy the temperate Northern California weather year round. Not only that, but the city is far enough from metropolises like San Francisco (2.5 hours) and beach towns like Monterey (30 minutes) to be something that most of California is not: quiet. Salinas is a rare mixture of temperate and tranquil.

Other than the temperate weather and natural beauty, expensive housing is another California trademark present in Salinas. Housing costs in Salinas, while cheaper than neighbors, are well above national averages, so you’ll have to pay to play just like everywhere else in the state. Despite this, Salinas residents often complain that there’s not much to do in the city itself. Drives to Monterey are common for those looking to get out of the house. Speaking of getting out of the house, residents also complain that it isn’t always safe, another knock on the beautiful city.

One thing that residents of Salinas certainly appreciate is the art world. Music lovers can find a home at the Fox Theater. Visual arts lovers find a home every month at the First Fridays Art Walk. Those appreciating the beauty of the natural world will find a home in Salinas as well. A plethora of trails, the beaches within a thirty minute drive, and the nearby Monterey Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium offer outlets to the natural beauty of our planet that few other cities can provide. Outside of those things, there’s not much locally for Salinas residents to do, and most of those options even require drives outside the borders of Salinas.