Soledad, California is a small city, located in the central portion of this very large state. Situated off of US 101, Soledad is nestled into the heart of California wine and farming country. Due to the large amount of agriculture in the area, it is known as the "World's Salad Bowl". The city was named after the Catholic Mission that was founded here in the late 1700's. The nearest large city is San Jose, which is around 90 miles to the north. Soledad is referred to as the "Gateway to Pinnacles", as it is only a short, 10 miles from Pinnacles National Park. In addition, the famed, Big Sur region is only about 70 miles to the west, providing this area with ample recreational opportunities.