Saturday, July 7: Downtown Disney, food, drink, and fireworks?

MouseWife · 07-06-2007, 10:13 PM

Well, Crystal and STC, we all just arrived home tonight from our trip.

Won't go in to all of the details but I will tell what I saw around the Asilomar Conference Center~ Did you get the address? LOL We didn't. I just figured we would know right where it was at...we didn't.

It is a big place. Really big. Spread all over a heck of a lot of acres. They say there are mountain lions but we didn't hear anything about them. There are deer all over {not just on the grounds, all over that part of Pacific Grove, it would seem, especially around the graveyard across from the lighthouse}.

So, back to its' size. Big. While I was checking in a woman was telling me her keycard had demagnetized for the 3rd time that day. Not a big deal, she said, but it was a long walk to the check in. This is because you really can't park anywhere around the place. We had to park along the street outside of our building. Okay, the building, they all have names, ours was 'Ember'. Downstairs there is a 'living room' type place with a fireplace and seating. I supposed this is for when it is rented by a group? Actually, pretty cool. There are elevators, and, from our area, if you parked underground {our SUV with Yakima did not fit} the elevators go right up to your building, pretty cool}.

There is a pool, this we could drive to, don't know if we were supposed to, though. Bikes are a great idea but there are a lot of hills. Walking is probably best. Lovely walks all over the property. Not a good walk into Monterey, Cannery Row, though. We did drive up and that wasn't a problem. If you park at an all day lot,and you want to ride up towards the Wharf from Cannery Row, you can leave your car there and take the free shuttle trolley.

The kids will love the deer at Asilomar. Oh, so cool. From our balcony {which is what the upstairs room has, the downstairs a little patio with table and two chairs} we saw a doe and two fawn. This is their element, and, they are beautiful to watch.

The room wasn't too big, but, it wasn't bad either. Ours had a double bed and a double Murphy bed. That saved space during the day. The fireplace comes stocked {ours wouldn't stay lit very long} and over by the elevator is a box of more wood.

Breakfast was cool. They give you a little ticket/slip upon checking in {make sure you get one for everyone for every morning of your stay, they almost forgot ours}. We walked over for ours {helps to burn it off, too}. They greet you at the door {the place is west of the check in building}, ask if you are leisure or with a convention/group. You will be seated {or allowed to choose} at a table where others will also be joining you. The table has the coffee, hot water, and other things. The buffet for breakfast is simple, you walk up and they hand you a plate with a cover. As you walk out, there is a table with pastries which are good. :0) The little ones that look like cookies are not, they are like the tops of muffins. Yummy. Anywho, they also should offer you oatmeal, just in case they forget.

The building where you check in has billiards and ping pong. The gift shop sells coffee and hot cocoa.

The guest service is great. Everyone is quite attentive and helpful. There is one housekeeper per building, I think, as well as someone who comes to clean the fireplace and clean it daily.

Did we like it? The Hubster and I did. There is no phone or television which really was a let down for the Boy. We did get him out to the wharf to see the fireworks and he even went for a run. Oh, and in Yosemite they were showing Tom Hanks' movies and we saw 'Forrest Gump' a few times and so we ate at Bubba Gumps. We enjoyed that, too. Just remember to put your name on the waiting list. These poor guys were standing there a while and when I got in line behind them I asked if they were in line, yes, they were. Had they put their name down yet? And they were like 'What?' and I bet just a little perturbed that our name was called first as the Hubster went right up and gave them our name.

We would love to go back. The people there are really nice, it was nice to sit at a table and meet other people. Of course, this can be hit or miss. {oh, also, for breakfast if someone doesn't make it you can take a plate/box back for them, including a coffee, etc.}

Well, that is all I can think of. I am wondering if you guys are already on your way there...it is cool. Oh, and, while I don't think it is butterfly season, I was surprised to see a lot of them fluttering about the trees outside of our room. I thought they might be moths but they weren't.

You all have a great time, wear your walking shoes, and take a jacket!!

07-06-2007, 10:13 PM	#35
MouseWife Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Da' Beach Posts: 2,957	Well, Crystal and STC, we all just arrived home tonight from our trip. Won't go in to all of the details but I will tell what I saw around the Asilomar Conference Center~ Did you get the address? LOL We didn't. I just figured we would know right where it was at...we didn't. It is a big place. Really big. Spread all over a heck of a lot of acres. They say there are mountain lions but we didn't hear anything about them. There are deer all over {not just on the grounds, all over that part of Pacific Grove, it would seem, especially around the graveyard across from the lighthouse}. So, back to its' size. Big. While I was checking in a woman was telling me her keycard had demagnetized for the 3rd time that day. Not a big deal, she said, but it was a long walk to the check in. This is because you really can't park anywhere around the place. We had to park along the street outside of our building. Okay, the building, they all have names, ours was 'Ember'. Downstairs there is a 'living room' type place with a fireplace and seating. I supposed this is for when it is rented by a group? Actually, pretty cool. There are elevators, and, from our area, if you parked underground {our SUV with Yakima did not fit} the elevators go right up to your building, pretty cool}. There is a pool, this we could drive to, don't know if we were supposed to, though. Bikes are a great idea but there are a lot of hills. Walking is probably best. Lovely walks all over the property. Not a good walk into Monterey, Cannery Row, though. We did drive up and that wasn't a problem. If you park at an all day lot,and you want to ride up towards the Wharf from Cannery Row, you can leave your car there and take the free shuttle trolley. The kids will love the deer at Asilomar. Oh, so cool. From our balcony {which is what the upstairs room has, the downstairs a little patio with table and two chairs} we saw a doe and two fawn. This is their element, and, they are beautiful to watch. The room wasn't too big, but, it wasn't bad either. Ours had a double bed and a double Murphy bed. That saved space during the day. The fireplace comes stocked {ours wouldn't stay lit very long} and over by the elevator is a box of more wood. Breakfast was cool. They give you a little ticket/slip upon checking in {make sure you get one for everyone for every morning of your stay, they almost forgot ours}. We walked over for ours {helps to burn it off, too}. They greet you at the door {the place is west of the check in building}, ask if you are leisure or with a convention/group. You will be seated {or allowed to choose} at a table where others will also be joining you. The table has the coffee, hot water, and other things. The buffet for breakfast is simple, you walk up and they hand you a plate with a cover. As you walk out, there is a table with pastries which are good. :0) The little ones that look like cookies are not, they are like the tops of muffins. Yummy. Anywho, they also should offer you oatmeal, just in case they forget. The building where you check in has billiards and ping pong. The gift shop sells coffee and hot cocoa. The guest service is great. Everyone is quite attentive and helpful. There is one housekeeper per building, I think, as well as someone who comes to clean the fireplace and clean it daily. Did we like it? The Hubster and I did. There is no phone or television which really was a let down for the Boy. We did get him out to the wharf to see the fireworks and he even went for a run. Oh, and in Yosemite they were showing Tom Hanks' movies and we saw 'Forrest Gump' a few times and so we ate at Bubba Gumps. We enjoyed that, too. Just remember to put your name on the waiting list. These poor guys were standing there a while and when I got in line behind them I asked if they were in line, yes, they were. Had they put their name down yet? And they were like 'What?' and I bet just a little perturbed that our name was called first as the Hubster went right up and gave them our name. We would love to go back. The people there are really nice, it was nice to sit at a table and meet other people. Of course, this can be hit or miss. {oh, also, for breakfast if someone doesn't make it you can take a plate/box back for them, including a coffee, etc.} Well, that is all I can think of. I am wondering if you guys are already on your way there...it is cool. Oh, and, while I don't think it is butterfly season, I was surprised to see a lot of them fluttering about the trees outside of our room. I thought they might be moths but they weren't. You all have a great time, wear your walking shoes, and take a jacket!! __________________ Summa' time....when the livins' easy.........
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