Castroville has the unusual honor of being known as the artichoke capital of the world. It is home to a 20-foot-tall artichoke in the center of town. Castroville has an annual Artichoke Queen Pageant, and crowned Marilyn Monroe an honorary Artichoke Queen after she visited the town in 1947.
Castroville is a small town in Monterey County ripe with stunning natural beauty
Castroville has the unusual honor of being known as the artichoke capital of the world. It is home to a 20-foot-tall artichoke in the center of town. Castroville has an annual Artichoke Queen Pageant, and crowned Marilyn Monroe an honorary Artichoke Queen after she visited the town in 1947.
Castroville is a small town in Monterey County ripe with stunning natural beauty. Officially a census-designated place (CDP), it has a population of around 6,481 and covers approximately one square mile. Castroville is situated amongst a number of state parks and wildlife reserves and the town is surrounded by a few rivers and streams, including the Tembladero Slough and the Moro Cojo Slough. The town is 13 miles from Salinas, county seat of Monterey, and 18 miles from the Fort Ord National Monument.
If you plan on renting an apartment in Castroville, there is a good chance of finding somewhere you like that is within your budget. The majority of rental properties in the town are in apartment buildings of varying sizes. Hi rise apartments are popular, but blocks with three or four residences in each are also easy to find.
Rental houses are also simple to track down, with detached properties for rent making up almost 40 percent of the rentals in town. There are some great deals around if you start looking early. Rental prices in Castroville are reasonable and there is a range of options, whether you want to live in town or the suburbs.
Castroville is divided into approximately two main sections, though the areas have further smaller subdivisions within them. For those trying to search for apartments, you will have the most choice further into the center of town, though there are plenty of houses for rent too if apartment living isn't your style.
Town Center: This is the most urban and lively part of Castroville. Most of the residences around here are apartments or small- to medium-sized houses. Commuters will find this area particularly convenient, as it is right on top of Route 156. Most people choose to get around by car, but you also have the option of walking or taking the bus. There are some great places to eat and drink nearby, including Gianna's Bakery and Coffee People.
Elkhorn: This suburban area to the northeast of the town center has mainly medium- to large-sized houses available to rent or buy. Due to its location most people get around by car, but it is a very short drive into the city center and the area is bordered by Route 156. Nature lovers will be happy here: the area is sandwiched between Manzanita Country Park and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
When it comes to getting around Castroville, your best options are to drive, cycle, or take the bus. The town sits on Route 156 and is bordered by the Cabrillo Highway, so it's great for drivers who need to get around the county quickly. The town center itself has plenty of parking and is an easy-to-navigate grid. Cycling is a good option for getting around locally because most of the town center is tucked between the two aforementioned major roadways, and it doesn't cover a huge area.
If you prefer public transport, the bus service is provided by Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST). The bus route is located on Merritt Street and services are infrequent, but if you need to get around locally or travel to Salinas you can rely on the service. Other public transport options include the train station nine miles away in Salinas, or the large bus stations located 11 and 12 miles away respectively in Watsonville and Seaside.
Castroville has a great community spirit, and it shows. Every year this artichoke-crazy town holds the Artichoke Festival. It has been running without a hitch since 1959 and features a whole host of attractions. The day starts off with the Artichoke Festival Parade, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the local brass band and some fantastically creative artichoke-themed floats. If that isn't enough for you, the two-day event also includes the Agro-Art competition -- fruit and vegetable carving and art -- and a constant stream of live music by talented local artists. The food stalls will dazzle you with the range of ways they can prepare an artichoke, even more so if you feel like watching one of the many cookery demonstrations. Adults will love the wine tasting, which showcases recent vintages from local producers, and kids will enjoy the clowns, face-painting, and other entertainment. You can also stroll around the farmer's market, take a tour to some local artichoke farms, and purchase some locally made arts and crafts from the many stalls.
In terms of day-to-day entertainment, there is a lot to do in town. Food fanatics will love the Giant Artichoke Restaurant on Merritt Street, which serves a great range of fruit and vegetables alongside some tasty fried treats (including artichoke hearts, of course). The Trolley Car Rotisserie, also on Merritt Street, is a fun place that offers a great range of American cuisine. Further along the street you will also find the Hanabi Japanese Restaurant, with a selection of tasty and authentic Japanese dishes. Nature lovers will enjoy the charming Cato Philips Park in the east of town, and cyclists will have a great time exploring the Monterey Coastal Bike Path, which runs right through town.
Castroville is a warm, welcoming, and fun place to live, especially if you like artichokes.
