Asilomar State Beach is a state park unit of California, USA, providing public access to rocky coast and dune habitat on the Monterey Peninsula. The property includes the Asilomar Conference Grounds, a conference center built by the YMCA in 1913 that is now a National Historic Landmark. The 107-acre (43 ha) site is located in Pacific Grove and offers overnight lodging and views of the forest, surf and sand.
Asilomar (meaning "Asylum or refuge by the sea" and pronounced a-SIL-o-mar) is a portmanteau from two Spanish words: "asilo" and "mar".
Description
Asilomar State Beach is a narrow, 1-mile (1.6 km) strip of sandy beach and rocky coves. A 1-mile (1.6 km) trail, which runs through the dunes, is open to pedestrians. This trail is wheelchair-accessible, and beach wheelchairs are available at Asilomar State Beach. Bicycling is allowed on the paved bike lane in proximity to the trail. The ocean off shore is protected as the Asilomar State Marine Reserve, part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The rocky coves are home to thousands of species, some of which are unique to the bay. As a sanctuary, it is illegal to disturb biota.
Recreation
The water in the vicinity of Asilomar State Beach is rather free of turbidity. The water is also cold compared to other beaches in the Monterey area, due to its exposure to the open ocean and the upwelling of cold water from nearby Monterey Canyon, which funnels the icy water right to shore at this location. Despite the cold water the area is popular among snorkelers and SCUBA divers.
The beach does not feature a bathroom facility.
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Asilomar State Beach incorporates Asilomar Conference Grounds (official name: Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds), designed in the Arts & Crafts style by architect Julia Morgan. The facility was built in 1913 as a conference center and summer camp for the YWCA. Morgan designed and built 16 buildings on the property, of which 13 are still standing. The retreat was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987 for its role in the development of the YWCA and the resort nature of nearby Monterey, California.
In popular culture
The 2009 film The Shift by self-help advocate Wayne Dyer was shot at Asilomar Beach and Conference Grounds.
See also
- List of California state parks
- List of California State Beaches
References
External links
- Asilomar State Beach
Interesting Informations
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