Creative Excursions
We hope you will plan to spend some time in and around Asilomar before and/or after the Alliance gathering, “Born of Wind and Water...” Those of us who live here may be a little biased but we think this part of California is a gem that is not to be missed. So we’ve put together a list of some excursions you might include in your plans. We’ve tried to divide them up in a way that will be useful to you as you plan your and your famiily’s summer vacation that begins, ends or surrounds your time with the Alliance of Baptists.
 The world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was rated the nations #1 aquarium in the Zagat Survey U.S. Family Travel Guide. The aquarium is truly spectacular. It will put you as close to sea life as you can get without actually jumping into the ocean--and in this case you won’t scare the little beauties away or risk getting eaten by a shark. If sustainability and environmental preservation is important to you then you’ll want to pick up a regional Seafood Watch Card while at the Aquarium, so that later when you and your family are sitting down for dinner at a fantastic Central Coast restaurant you’ll be able to make a well informed decision about which delicacy you have just experienced you’d most like to eat.
You’ll find a number of those great restaurants at Cannery Row. Cannery Row was named for the book of the same name by John Steinbeck, a Northern California hero. But you won’t find quite the colorful characters that might have graced the book. Instead you’ll find shiny restaurants, shops, and bars. On a beautiful day you might rent a bike to tool around the row. You can do an entire California wine tasting all within a couple blocks. Cannery Row also sports a brand new IMAX theatre and a splash zone for kids.
The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail stretches 18 miles from Castroville in the North to Pacific Grove in the south. This paved path follows the route of the old Southern Pacific Railroad and it is a perfect way for families to see the area while avoiding the city and highway streets. Visitors can rent bikes, in-line skates, and surreys. That’s right surreys. Who doesn’t love a surrey? Particularly if said surrey
has a fringe on top.
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is a perfect place for children of all ages. Okay, as any parent knows this is probably a vastly inaccurate statement, but lets say your kids will most likely love it and you won’t want to do harm to yourself or one of them after the experience is over. It is dedicated to interpreting the natural history of Monterey County. Children can play on life-size whale sculptures or have a hands-on lesson about the underground animals of Monterey County by crawling through the burrow in the Children's Touch Gallery.
 Do you love the beautiful and majestic great outdoors, but prefer to see it from the seat of your rental car? Then the 17 Mile Drive is for you. The scenic drive takes you through the Del Monte Forest all while viewing sea and sky, immaculate golf courses, and dream homes. The only drawback to this beautiful drive is that it will cost you a toll of $9.25. That’s right you have to pay to drive through a golf course, which is ridiculous, but it will be one of the most gorgeous drives you’ll ever take.
No exploration of this area would be complete without a visit to Carmel-By-The Sea, made famous mostly because of its former mayor, the Honorable Clint Eastwood. (Still makes me giggle just a little bit, but with our current governor it doesn’t seem quite as ridiculous any more.) But the town is charming and quaint with lovely shops, restaurants and homes. It also boasts one of the many missions established by Junipero Serra. The Carmel Mission is a great example of how much of the state of California was settled and the place that religion played in that settlement.
 Do you love to golf? Well of course there is Pebble Beach home of the 2010 US Open. Seriously, the greens fees will set you back a pretty penny--anywhere from $110 to $500 plus the cost of a cart. But you could also consider one of the Seaside golf courses where if you play after 2 PM the greens fees will only set you back $75 plus the cost of a cart. And for some of you diehards it will be enough just to get out and walk where Tiger and Jack have walked.
It would be easy to spend an entire week here in the Monterrey Bay area, and for more information on the sites mentioned above or for more adventures be sure to visit the Monterrey Info website. Driving South along Highway 1
If you and your family love camping and hiking then head down to Big Sur. The views cannot be beat. But since the author of this list views roughing it as going barefoot at the Holiday Inn we won’t go in to all of the camping and hiking opportunities, but we know campers are resourceful folks so you’ll be able to find the information you need. We’d suggest visiting Monterrey Info and clicking on the Big Sur tab to begin your research.
If you continue driving down Highway 1 south, about 130 miles from Monterey, you’ll eventually end up at Hearst Castle. Owned and commissioned by newspaper tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, this spectacular home was designed by famed architect Julia Morgan, the same architect of the Asilomar Conference Grounds. Hearst’s instruction to Morgan was “Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something.” The absurdity of that statement can only be appreciated by visiting this stunning architectural accomplishment.
Driving North along Highway 1
 As you head toward San Francisco on Higway 1 you’ll want to stop at Duarte’s Tavern. It is a bit of a dive in Pescadero, California, but the food and particularly the pies are delicious. Try the artichoke soup or the Olallieberry Pie. (Olallieberry? You’ll have to ask the waitress. But take it from me it is good!!)
Rice-a-Roni is not the only San Francisco treat. You’ll want to plan a tour of Alacatraz, the infamous prison depicted in so many movies, some of which did not include Nicholas Cage. It is a fascinating tour and on a clear day it offers stunning views of the San Francisco skyline. Tours sell out during the summer months, so you’ll want to book in advance. And if you are considering dropping off the kid or spouse who has worked your last nerve, Alcatraz no longer accepts inmates so that is just a burden you’ll have to continue to bear.
 Then of course there is the San Francisco crookedest street of post card fame, Lombard Street that takes you right into the city’s North Beach, Italian neighborhood. Or you might explore San Francisco’s Chinatown. It goes without saying that you can find some excellent Italian food in North Beach and some of the best Chinese food in the world, outside of China of course. You’ll want to take a ride on one of the cable cars that continue to operate for mostly tourist. It will come as no surprise that the cable car rate is considerably more than the standard public transportation fare, the current fare is $5 one-way. You could spend days exploring Golden Gate Park--our we’ll see your Central Park New York City and do you one better. (It’s said that Olmstead was solicited to design Golden Gate Park but he declined saying the sandy soil wouldn’t allow such a venture. Ha! We showed him!) In the park you’ll find running paths, 2 museums, the DeYoung Museum of Art and the California Academy of Science, numerous gardens including a Japanese tea garden, a lake for renting paddle boat, the Conservatory of Flowers modeled  after a Victorian flower conservatory or you might just spend time watching the folks who do TaiChi every morning or come to launch and sail their model boats in one of the many lakes. Oh and of course their are bison. That’s right there are American Bison in San Francisco. Or you can rent bicycles or surreys here too. In San Francisco you’ll find museums to punish your children with, the Exploratorium where you can make up for the boredom and torture of having to traveling with ones parents, fantastic food, seal lions at Fishermen’s Wharf, and a city full of characters for your future novel. Of course no visit to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge so that the next time it is blown up in a movie or on television you can say I’ve seen that bridge.
 If you head a little bit north over the Golden Gate Bridge you’ll find another set of spectacular and challenging hiking trails in Marin County. Muir Woods, a US National Park, is not to be missed. "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world," declared conservationist John Muir when describing the majestic coast redwoods of Muir  Woods.
Then just a little bit farther north and you’ll be in the wine country of Sonoma and Napa Counties. Chances are your kids will not enjoy this one unless they like to see their parents get a little tipsy. Either way you’ll want to designate a driver or book one of the many wine tasting tours.
And we haven’t even mentioned Berkeley, Haight Ashbury, the San Francisco Zoo, Coit Tower, the Sutro baths, the Mission, the murals, the burritos, (Oh the burritos!!!) the dim sum, the Castro....You’ll just have to experience it for yourself.
Visit! Explores! Rest! Stay for a while!
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