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Staycation O N T H E M O N T E R E Y B A Y 10 A U G U S T 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 P lenty of people come to the Monterey Peninsula to enjoy its natural beauty. ey also indulge in the bounty of prime produce and fresh fish, artisanal cuisine, cultural diversity and, of course, a chance to catch a glimpse of Clint Eastwood. Yet, once the fog rolls in, shrouding the landscape and setting a chill in the air, some folks chase the heat by driving inland, through the Great Salinas Valley, to the southern reaches of the county. King City, located about an hour south of Monterey, just might be one of the best-kept secrets of the region. Reportedly called Hog Town in reference to the predominance of swine in the early agriculture industry, the place was more formally named King City for its founder, Charles King. In 1884, King acquired 13,000 acres of the Mexican land grant Rancho San Lorenzo, where, against the pessimism of others, he began growing wheat. In 1887, the King City Post Office opened and, in 1911, the city was incorporated. By 1915, King City had become one of the leading shippers of grain in the country. Steinbeck Country While Salinas oen claims John Steinbeck as its "native son," appropriately acknowl- edging the legendary author's contribution to the city, Steinbeck also has deep roots in King City. His father, J. Ernst Steinbeck, if not the first permanent resident of King City, was among the first settlers. And he was the first representative of S.P. Milling Company, built by R.M. Shackelford, who kept sheep pastured adjacent the acreage of Charles King. Yet, if not for the notoriety of his son, he might not have gone down in history. Several buildings in town were later filmed for the 1955 portrayal of Steinbeck's novel, "East of Eden." Steinbeck scholars and others intrigued by his writing oen follow his sto- ries to King City to see where it all took place. Parks and Recreation King City, along with neighboring Greenfield and Soledad, is a gateway to e Pinnacles, the nation's newest national park, signed into law by President Obama in Janu- ary 2013. e geological marvel reportedly was created more than 23 million years ago when molten rock, oozing through fissures as the earth's plates ground against one another, poured over the land. Remnants of this geological activity are visible in huge rock formations, sheer cliffs and craggy caves, soened by native foliage, punctuated by California poppies and other wildflow- ers, accessible along nature trails winding through the park. Natural trails throughout the park have been classified by degree of difficulty, rang- ing from easy to strenuous, and extend from just over a mile to 7.6 miles. Casual hikers and walkers are advised to stay on the paths to avoid the poison oak, also prolific at Pin- nacles. Although, seasoned climbers oen depart the paths to scale the steep cliffs and rock formations. "e park is open all year, but it's pretty tortuous in the summer heat, which gets up into 100-degree temperatures," said Janet Bes- semer, "manager of the King City Chamber of Commerce. "Summer visitors should consider early-morning hikes; fall, winter and spring are the best times to visit the park." e Pinnacles is accessible from the east and west sides of the park via two roads that don't meet, so guests exit the same way they entered. Both sides of the park provide picnic areas and restroom facilities. e east side hosts a more elaborate visitors center, says Bessemer, which is open from 8am to 5pm, and has camping facilities. Camping also is available at San Lorenzo Campground, popular among travelers passing through King City and, once a year, among the Boy Scouts attending their jam- boree. is county park also hosts the popu- lar Monterey County Agriculture and Rural Life Museum, which features historic farm equipment, a blacksmith shop, old railroad station, and an irrigation museum. Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy water sports appreciate Lake Nacimiento, where visitors enjoy boating, swimming, sunbathing Worth the ride C O M E E X P L O R E T H E T R E A S U R E S O F K I N G C I T Y by Lisa Crawford Watson Condor Gulch Trail in Pinnacles National Park. Photo contributed by Miguel Vieira continues on 11

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