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Scientific Opportunities For new Instrumentation, Asilomar 2010

Venue and Surroundings

Asilomar Conference Grounds was built for the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in 1913, in Pacific Grove, California. The main architect was Julia Morgan -- famous (infamous?) as the architect responsible for “Hearst Castle” further down the California central coast. She designed and built 16 of the buildings on the property, of which 11 are still standing. It became part of Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in 1955. Asilomar “translates” (via a portmanteau) from Spanish to English as "refuge by the sea." The retreat was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987 for its role in the development of the YWCA. A number of astronomy meeting have taken place at the location, including IAU symposium 231 on Interstellar Chemistry, held in 2005.

The conference grounds is part of the Asilomar State Beach complex with windswept vegetation and, across the narrow “Sunset Drive”, the Spanish Bay with its public, white sand beach.

Pacific Grove is next door to many interesting sights and attractions, including:

The town of Monterey, home to Cannery Row with its hotels and restaurants (http://www.canneryrow.com/) and the rightly famous Monterey Bay Aquarium (http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/)

The resort village of Carmel-By-The-Sea, known for its many art galleries (and that Clint Eastwood used to be its mayor)

The Pebble Beach golf course (http://www.pebblebeach.com/) and

The St Lucia Highlands wine growing district (http://www.santaluciahighlands.com/), best known for its Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

All are worth a visit, in their own right, if you want to extend your stay in the Monterey Peninsula area.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asilomar_Conference_Grounds
http://www.visitasilomar.com/index.cfm

Page Last Updated: August 19, 2011