Salinas Valley city featuring a historic Spanish mission
Originally founded around a Spanish mission in 1791, Soledad has a long history in the Salinas Valley. Today, it’s more than the religious outpost it initially sprung up around, but the Spanish influence continues to be seen in the architecture around town. Soledad is now better known by its motto, “the Gateway to the Pinnacles.” Just 10 miles from Pinnacles National Park, the city has sweeping views of the Gabilan mountain range jutting out in the distance. “It’s a quaint little town in a primarily agricultural area, but it’s only about a 30-minute commute to Salinas,” says Mina Fernandez, a Realtor with Cheetah Real Estate who sells homes across the greater Monterey-Salinas region. For grand skyline views and a history that’s almost as rich as the fertile Salinas Valley soil, Soledad has plenty of homes waiting.
A Soledad sign right when you enter the city.
Newly built Mission Revival homes
New constructions are cropping up across Soledad, packed close together along the wide streets of planned subdivisions, though some established homes are also on the market. Mission Revival-style houses are popular, owing to the town’s history and Mission Soledad. Stucco walls, tiled roofs and arched entryways are common elements, though some newer homes have Craftsman features like wooden columns and gable brackets. A three-bedroom mobile home in a 55-plus community might start at $100,000, with features like drought-resistant landscaping and a storage shed. On the upper end, $760,000 can buy an eco-friendly three-bedroom single-family home that operates on solar power and has a private, gated entrance. The median price for the area is $577,000.
A corner home in Soledad, California
A Pastel Colored home in Soledad, California.
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Kids attend Soledad Unified public schools
Students can attend public schools in the Soledad Unified School District, starting at San Vicente Elementary, which scores a C from Niche. Main Street Middle earns a C-minus, and Soledad High rounds out students’ education and receives a C-plus rating. The high school has an extensive list of clubs for students to participate in, such as a Future Farmers of America chapter and a California Scholarship Federation chapter.
Easy 101 Freeway access and trips by bus or train
Bordered by U.S. Route 101, residents of Soledad have easy access to hop on the highway and head up to Salinas, approximately 30 minutes or 28 miles to the northwest. San Jose and San Fransisco are within day-trip distance, about 1 hour and 30 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes away respectively with moderate traffic. Residents can bypass the highway gridlock with an Amtrak station in town or hop on the Monterey-Salinas Transit bus at Mission Center to catch a ride up to Salinas. The nearest airport, Monterey Regional, is about 1 hour or 40 miles away by car.
Aerial Shot of homes in Soledad, California.
Accessible bus stops around the city of Soledad, California.
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On the edge of Pinnacles National Park
Residents of Soledad have plenty of ways to stay active, with 15 parks in the city. Orchard Lane Park is the most recent addition, opened in August 2023. The park boasts an accessible playground with exciting play structures designed for kids of all ages and abilities. It also includes a dog park, skate park, splash pad and plentiful picnicking space, meaning there’s something for everyone to do outdoors. Soledad is also approximately 22 minutes or 10 miles from Pinnacles National Park, where visitors can explore rock spires and cave formations teeming with wildlife. It has hikes ranging in difficulty from a walk in the park to expert-only, and keen-eyed birders might spot the endangered California condor.
From Santa Lucia Highlands wineries to local Mexican restaurants
Located in the fertile Santa Lucia Highlands, Soledad is a wine lover’s dream, with over 50 vineyards in the region. Hahn Estate Winery is a few miles to the south, but its wine-tasting room is well worth the short drive. For bites in town, the Windmill Restaurant is the place to go for breakfast omelets and steak dinners. Other food options range from fast food stops along the highway to local Mexican restaurants like Cocuyos Restaurant, which has a laidback, tropical feel with its baby blue exterior and palm trees. Those who’d prefer to cook at home can stop by the Foods Co grocery store at Soledad Mission Shopping Center. For other big-box stores like Costco and Walmart Supercenter, residents head into nearby Salinas, a 30-minute drive up the 101 Freeway.
Hahn Estate is the best winery to go to while in Soledad, California.
Tacos Borolas has the best tacos in Soledad, California.
Michelle Arensdorf has been involved with the buying and selling of homes in California since 1983. Since the inception of Park Place Realty in 2000, we have been actively involved in our local community and we will continue to serve all of the area's real estate needs for years to come. Call us, we are here to help!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
