Where to stay in Monterey?  That was what we were wondering when planning our trip last month.  We decided to give Asilomar Conference Grounds a try.  The spot is less than a 10 minute drive from Canary road, where the aquarium is, but it’s not in the super-touristy area that we were trying to avoid.

Unlike a traditional hotel, Asilomar Conference Grounds is a collection of cabin-like buildings more suited for a retreat. The rooms are rustic and instead of a television, there’s a fireplace.  Our room, even though it was just the two of us, had a queen bed, three twin-sized beds, and a rollaway bed all in one big room.  The toilet had its own door. The bathtub had its own door. The double sinks were in another separate room with closet space. It was all set up to be easy to use for people not used to sharing living spaces — strange for us, but good to keep in mind.

What I really loved about where we stayed was that we were within walking distance to the beach.  We just had to walk down a path past the dining hall, onto a boardwalk, cross a street, and we were on the coast. It was fantastic to wake up, put on a sweater and just take a walk on the beach.

Asilomar Conference Grounds isn’t the cheapest option in Monterey, but it’s a pretty good deal if you can split the room with a bunch of friends — there certainly are enough beds to go around. It’s rustic enough without having to rough it too much and it’s just a pleasant place to stay when in the area. (Unless you have loud, young kids that you can’t control. In that case, please go somewhere else or learn how to discipline your brats!)