Asilomar State Beach(Asilomar State Beach, Conference Grounds State Park)

Located along the Monterey Peninsula and in the city of Pacific Grove, Asilomar State Beach- also officially known as Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds State Park - is a narrow one-mile-long state-protected beach.  This beach is located below oceanfront bluffs.  This beach is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  Asilomar State Beach is composed of multiple coves that are naturally carved from granodiorite rocks. These coves have both rocky and sandy portions.

Asilomar State Beach and the area around it do not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a boardwalk and hiking and biking paths.  However, you can find restrooms at a nearby historic conference center named Asilomar Conference Grounds.  Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach.

Asilomar State Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, tidepooling, hiking, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, scuba diving, bodyboarding, biking, surfing, tidepooling, and wildlife watching.  The water at Asilomar State Beach is unsafe for swimming or any other aquatic activity because it has extremely dangerous currents and cold temperatures.  In addition, the rocky shoreline along this beach can also cause grievous injuries.  Drowning related deaths have also been reported here.  In addition, we also recommend being careful while standing or walking near the water in Asilomar State Beach because sneaker waves can pull you offshore.  However - despite the unsafe water conditions - surfers and bodyboarders occasionally go into the water near this beach because it offers fun and thrilling waves.  During favorable water conditions, you can also launch your kayak or canoe from this beach and explore the beautiful Monterey County shoreline.  Scuba divers also occasionally visit this beach  to explore the vibrant marine biodiversity  around Asilomar State Beach.  Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of marine mammals in the water here including seals, sea otters, and migrating whales.  Please note that seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales are protected under a law named the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and harming them can result in a civil penalty up to $11,000 and possible imprisonment.  During low tide, you can explore tidepools around Asilomar State Beach that are home to many interesting animals including hermit crabs, sea stars, and sea anemones.  You can also walk along the Asilomar Coast Trail that is three-quarters-of-a-mile long and offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Monterey County coastline and the Pacific Ocean. A biking path also runs along the beach and offers a fun biking experience.  It is important to note that fishing is proibited near Asilomar State Beach because the water here is a part of a marine reserve named Asilomar State Marine Reserve.

Asilomar State Beach also offers accessibility to people with disabilities.

Getting to Asilomar State Beach is easy - the state beach is located along Sunset Drive between its intersections with Pico Avenue and Crocker Avenue.  Street parking is available along Sunset Drive.

As an interesting fact, the name of this state beach is derived from the phrase “asilo al mar” which means “refuge by the sea” in Spanish.

There are many attractions near Asilomar State Beach.  The Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary has a collection of pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees which are the seasonal home of beautiful migratory monarch butterflies between October and February.  You can explore the sanctuary during this period through a walking path present here.  This path also has interesting and informative interpretive signs.  Pacific Grove Art Center offers interesting artistic exhibitions. In addition, the center also organises art classes, discussion forums, and lectures.  Lynn “Rip” Van Winkle Open Space is a 20-acre public recreational area that is rugged and heavily forested – this park has many trees including oaks, Monterey pines, and Monterey cypress and it offers many fun activities including picnicking, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.  In addition, this park also allows dogs without leash.  If you are looking for another attraction near Asilomar State Beach, Jameson’s Classic Motorcycle Museum has an interesting collection of motorcycles on display. 

The Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve is also located near this beach.  An interesting dune-stile is present near the gates of this oceanfront preserve.  In addition, the preserve has 25 acres of protected dune-fields that have a vivid ecosystem.  You can explore this preserve through a quarter-of-a-mile long boardwalk that is located here.  This boardwalk also has observation points that offer amazing views of the vibrant coastal Pacific Grove landscape.  You can see many kinds of endangered plants and animals in this preserve including Menzies’ wallflower, red-shouldered hawk, and black legless lizard.  In addition, Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve also has a native plant greenhouse that is home to more than 25 species of plants.  A Monterey pine forest is also located near Asilomar State Beach and you can see many kinds of birds and animals here including deer, hawks, squirrels, juncos, woodpeckers, and raccoons. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Asilomar State Beach.  Passionfish is an upscale restaurant that serves amazing seafood and a variety of delicious gourmet dishes.  In addition, the restaurant is also renowned for its emphasis on environmental sustainability and has been praised by many publications including Zagat and Monterey County Weekly.  Roy’s at Pebble Beach is an upscale Hawaiian-style Fusion restaurant that was founded by Roy Yamaguchi – this restaurant is known for servingamazing fusion dishes with Hawaiian culinary influencesincluding seafood, pork belly, and Hawaiian-style steaks.  The restaurant also serves amazing dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner including Asian dishes, sandwiches, pancakes, French toasts, and eggs – this restaurant was also awarded Wine Spectator magazine’s Best of Award of Excellence in 2022. Beach House Restaurant + Bar @ Lovers Point offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience.  In addition, the restaurant also specializes in serving delicious California cuisine.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Asilomar State Beach, Michael’s Grill and Taqueria offers amazing Mexican dishes including tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Asilomar State Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 4.5-Star Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a spa, a terrace,a lounge bar with regular live music, an exercise room, a rooftop sundeck, bike loaner facility, and a shoeshine service.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Lighthouse Lodge & Cottages that offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a patio with fire-pits, complimentary breakfast, and daily wine-and-appetizer receptions.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Asilomar State Beach, the 2.5-Star Monarch Resort has many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a patio.  In addition, the hotel also offers complimentary breakfast.  As another modestly priced option, the 2-Star Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds were built in the early 20th century and designed by architect Julia Morgan.  The conference grounds and hotel buildings are designed in the Arts & Crafts architectural style.  In addition, Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds have also been designated as a National Historic Landmark.  The hotel in Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds offers many amenities including a pool, a pool table, a cafe, bike rental facilities, biking and walking trails, and volleyball courts.