‘Refuge to the sea’ is both the meaning and feeling of Asilomar. Located on the Monterey Peninsula along the coast of central California, Asilomar State Park and Conference Grounds is unique and memorable. Asilomar is a totally immersive experience in the natural beauty of California, from the sea and sand dunes to the pine and oak trees.
Photos: Jenna Goldberg
I ended up spending a long weekend at the conference grounds by happenstance. I had plans in Monterey and was searching for a local hotel room at a good price when I saw the charming photo of a room within walking distance to the beach and a short drive into town. This California State Park is the perfect setting to meet friends for a long weekend, host a reunion or retreat, or travel solo and enjoy the grounds with other guests.
Asilomar is teeming with history and inspires guests to make memories and traditions during their visit. The park was established in the late 19th Century as a YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) shelter for young women where they could take classes in preparation for jobs in factories and offices. In 1913 Asilomar hosted the first women’s leadership camp and student conference. 300 young women gathered at Asilomar to learn and be inspired to lead their peers when they returned home.
Architect Julia Morgan designed Asilomar's original structures in the Arts & Crafts style that inspired the works of architects, designers, and craftsmen. The century-old buildings throughout Asilomar's grounds are fabricated with redwood and stone. The craftsmanship and designs have stayed true for decades, still providing a feeling of warmth and protection for guests.
California State Parks purchased the land in 1956 and has maintained the integrity of Asilomar. With the help of dedicated committees and a large community of supporters, the park and conference grounds has been maintained for decades, allowing new generations of the general public the opportunity to experience Asilomar’s unique beauty.
There’s something about campgrounds and parks like Asilomar that make it easy for guests to connect. The outdoors facilitates a sense of ease, while the shared spaces and resources bring guests together as a community. Asilomar conference grounds include a social hall, dining hall and a chapel. Uniquely-designed guest room buildings are scattered throughout the property, connected by cobblestone walking paths, weaving in and out of the coastal pine trees.
Walking into a guest room building feels like stepping into a special place that has hosted good company and holds great memories. Most of the buildings include a community room for guests to gather around a wood-burning stone fireplace with a half-circle of over-sized cushioned chairs and couches. The rooms are filled with natural lighting from the large windows.
Community halls are just a short walk away. The social hall where guests check in features high ceilings and sturdy wood beams. A roaring, crackling fire is fed from morning to night in the immense fireplace built of stone stacked to the ceiling, keeping the hall warm and welcoming. Large metal chandeliers throughout light the space as guests gather to play billiards, browse the park store and enjoy food and drinks from Phoebe’s Café.
I enjoyed the morning in the hall, watching as a family brought their breakfast to a table while a women’s retreat meeting for a hike came together at a table encircled by wooden chairs with thick leather cushions. A few remote workers took seats at the small tables by the window, quietly working on their laptops while a grandfather and granddaughter took a seat at the two rocking chairs closest to the fire.
Asilomar's protected natural habitats allow park visitors to experience rich native ecosystems that provide homes for marine life, birds, and deer roaming the park. The refuge to the sea is a special section of the Monterey coastline made up of pillow-like dunes of fine white powdery sand. The soft white sand dunes rolling along the sea are part of Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve spanning 25 acres, according to the Asilomar Conference Grounds website.
A wooden boardwalk and walking path weaves in and out of the dunes, coastal trees, and vegetation, leading the way to Asilomar State Beach. Benches tucked away in the sand dunes offer moments of solitude with the sound of the waves rolling into the shore. The wind gently blowing from the Pacific Ocean creates a sense of calm.
The surf was calm in the morning, with dogs running along the water’s edge to the rocky cove and back. The peaceful beach was mostly empty as the beachgoers ate breakfast in the dining hall. The wind swell picked up in the afternoon and surfers paddled out, chasing the scattered peaks of wind swell.
Before booking my stay at Asilomar, I had been nostalgic for my summers spent at Girl Scout camp. As the weather changed and we settled into summer, I found myself envious of the kids who would get the opportunity to escape the pace of everyday life to summer camp, traveling to a magical place to spend the week with acres of forest to explore, no cars or streets in sight.
They would spend warm summer days and nights in the wilderness, surrounded by friends, unplugged and fully present. They would create memories, learn more about themselves and have the chance to roam free and untethered. Would I ever experience that again? I wondered. When I found myself at Asilomar, I knew the experience could be recreated.
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