Whether the Pacific Ocean is crashing against steep, jagged cliffs, sliding into soft stretches of sandy beaches or framing a lush redwood forest, the diversity of landscapes along the Northern California coast is a dream come true for planners seeking scenic backdrops and a wealth of ways to incorporate waterfront appeal into agendas.
Serving as the asphalt thread that connects the communities of the region is California State Route 1, or Highway 1, which hugs the magnificent coast for most of its nearly 550-mile stretch between Southern California and Northern California. An attraction in itself, the Northern California portion of the route is an iconic scene-stealer.
Monterey/Carmel
Arguably one of the most inspirational destinations in the country, Monterey County’s beauty has been the impetus for John Steinbeck’s classic novels and today continues to move the creative-minded, evident in the plethora of art galleries along Monterey’s Cannery Row, Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Ocean Avenue and throughout Big Sur.
The inspiration largely comes from a primarily sunny, temperate climate, hovering between 55 and 70 degrees on any given day, and the constant sight and sound of the sea.
Yet, unlike many seaside locales where water is a mere backdrop to the destination, Monterey’s attractions, hotels, restaurants, and activities are steps away from the beach, making it a natural coastal choice for groups.
“There is a reason we get high attendance,” says John McMahon, president and CEO of the Monterey County CVB. “You can literally walk a few steps [from a meeting venue] and enjoy the destination. It isn’t tucked miles away.”
Dan Concepcion, general manager of the Monterey Conference Center (MCC), a member of the Monterey Meeting Connection, an association that includes the MCC, the Hotel Pacific, the Portola Plaza at Monterey Bay, and the Monterey Marriott, agrees, saying the nearby coast is a significant advantage for groups.
“Sometimes they don’t have enough time on their hands. They may have only two hours between sessions, but here they can accomplish seeing and experiencing the coast in that short time frame,” he says, adding that the Monterey Conference Center, and its adjoining Portola Plaza Hotel, are only a few feet from the glimmering sea.
Historic Cannery Row, the city’s main drag, is also steps away from the water and boasts world-class dining and shopping, not to mention the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which sits directly along the bay and showcases local marine life.
If seeing wildlife behind glass isn’t close enough, groups can participate in activities such as whale-watching excursions with companies that include Chris’ Whale Watching Tours and Sanctuary Whale Watching Cruises.
Sea otter-spotting while on kayaking and waterfront biking tours are always group favorites, and beachside bonfires also add a taste of the coast with the help of companies such as Adventures by the Sea.
Meetings-ready properties within arms’ length of the water include the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, which sports an outdoor terrace overlooking the sea; and The Beach Resort, which often hosts events on the sand.
Nearby, the inviting small town of Pacific Grove offers a true escape for groups at the 107-acre Asilomar Conference Grounds, which bills itself as a “refuge by the sea” and features 313 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. The property was originally designed as a YWCA retreat in 1913 by acclaimed architect Julia Morgan, and it retains its unique Arts and Crafts architectural features.
A few miles farther north is the community of Marina, where groups can meet at Marina Dunes Resort, where each guest unit overlooks the Pacific Ocean or the 19 acres of secluded dunes that surround the resort. Marina is also popular for hiking along the Monterey Bay Recreation Trail and hang gliding over Marina State Beach.
Driving a few miles south down Highway 1, planners will find themselves at the entrance to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a quaint, upscale, one-square-mile town boasting a long stretch of beach perfect for post-meeting strolls as well as numerous boutique shops and art galleries. Ocean views can be enjoyed at the town’s La Playa Hotel.
For the adventurous attendee, Point Lobos State Reserve should be on the agenda. The reserve features miles of spectacular hiking, plenty of wildlife and views of the ocean.
Nearby Pebble Beach is also a top group choice, with seaside golf courses, the winding 17-Mile Drive that travels along the ocean, and beachfront hotels such as the Inn at Spanish Bay and The Lodge at Pebble Beach.
Attendees lucky enough to experience the 26-mile drive from Carmel to Big Sur are in for a real treat, with postcard-perfect vistas of the ocean and cliffs, and a trip over the beautiful Bixby Bridge, which has set the scene for countless movies and car commercials.
“Big Sur is in a class of its own,” McMahon says.
Hiking reigns supreme as far as coastal activities go (unless you are brave enough to surf the rough blue waters).
Big Sur’s Ventana Inn and Spa, set on a lush hillside overlooking the Pacific, is an ideal option for relaxing executive retreats.
Santa Cruz
Roughly 40 miles north of Monterey is the laid-back city of Santa Cruz. With its golden beaches and surfboard-toting locals ready to catch the next wave, Santa Cruz may feel more like a Southern California destination, but it also has plenty of Northern California ambience built in; there are miles of wilderness in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park is only a few minutes away, providing attendees with premier settings for a post-meeting hike.
Chaminade, a resort set on a bluff surrounded by oak and eucalyptus trees, is a popular conference retreat with panoramic views of Monterey Bay, and Seascape Resort boasts its own private beach and specializes in group clam and lobster bakes.
Ocean-themed activities in Santa Cruz range from strolling down the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to taking a surfing lesson at the Richard Schmidt School of Surfing or Club Ed Surf Camp. Attendees can also take a sunset cruise on the 70-foot Chardonnay II, keeping their eyes peeled for all sorts of sea life.
San Mateo County
Just south of San Francisco, San Mateo County not only boasts picturesque locales along the Pacific, including Half Moon Bay, it also has a number of scenic lagoons and bays, making it a multifaceted county sure to please sea-loving attendees.
“I was speaking to a meeting planner who said this area is almost an embarrassment of riches because there are so many things to do for off-sites and activities,” says Anne LeClair, president and CEO of the San Mateo County CVB.
Charlene Adamson, vice president of marketing for the Reunion Network, an educational organization for volunteer military meeting planners, held a meeting in San Mateo County last year and can’t stop raving about it.
“It was one of the best events we have done,” she says. “[Going to San Mateo County] is like going to a cocktail party where you have a variety of hors d’oeuvres. You are not sitting down to baked chicken. Instead, there are a lot of different things you can pull together from different venues and different coastal activities, and you don’t get that everywhere.”
According to LeClair, coastal options for groups are “limitless,” but some of the more popular activities include deep-sea fishing and whale-watching adventures with companies such as Riptide Charters and Huli Cat, sunset horseback riding on the beaches of Half Moon Bay and taking naturalist-guided tours of Moss Beach’s Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.
Groups can also experience the coast by visiting local restaurants specializing in freshly caught seafood.
“There are numerous choices where groups can have a view and incredible food,” LeClair says, citing options such as the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Sam’s Chowder House, Miramar Beach Restaurant, and Moss Beach Distillery.
Meetings-friendly properties along San Mateo County’s coast include The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, an idyllic cliff-top resort at the edge of the Pacific; the Beach House Half Moon Bay, which sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean and has access to a coastal trail perfect for hiking and biking; and Costanoa, a hideaway at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains that offers access to a nature preserve and thousands of miles of hiking trails.
Marin County
Back on Highway 1, awe-inspiring views are plentiful while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco into Marin County.
On any given day, one can clearly see the San Francisco Bay speckled with a multitude of sail boats, the sparkling Pacific Ocean, the impressive Marin Headlands, and beautiful homes dotting the hillsides of Sausalito and Tiburon. For many a visitor, Marin is the epitome of Northern California beauty.
“The scene is very dramatic,” says Jamie Williams, group sales manager for San Francisco Seaplane Tours, a company that entertains up to six passengers at a time for 20-minute aerial tours of the area. “The most special thing about it is that it is so undeveloped.”
According to Mark Essman, executive director of the Marin County Visitors Bureau, 80 percent of Marin’s land is protected, providing for endless coastal recreation.
“Marin is known for its natural beauty, its pristine coastline and the incredible amount of outdoor activities we can offer a meeting planner. We have 70 miles of ocean coastline and 20 miles of bayfront shoreline,” he says, adding that groups can experience the coast by waking up to incredible views from properties such as the Mountain Home Inn, set on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais; going bird watching at Stinson Beach’s Audubon Canyon Ranch; or chartering a sailboat or yacht for a cruise around the bay with companies such as Sausalito Waterfront Tours and Bay Breeze Charters. “We offer unique, nontraditional coastal experiences.”
A coastal highlight of Marin County is Point Reyes National Seashore, an idyllic waterfront stretch with dramatic headlands, green rolling hills and beautiful beaches.
Meetings-friendly properties in Marin County that take in the waterside ambience include Tiburon’s Waters Edge Hotel and The Lodge at Tiburon, and the Courtyard San Francisco Larkspur Landing/Marin, all of which offer views of San Francisco Bay.
Sonoma
For most people, miles of sun-drenched vineyards are the first thing that comes to mind when contemplating Sonoma, but for those in the know, Sonoma County is not only famous for its wine, but also for its coastline, both along the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay.
“We have two coasts,” says Ken Fischang, president and CEO of the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, adding that the region, which encompasses dozens of communities, including the inland locales of Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Healdsburg, and oceanfront towns such as Bodega Bay and Jenner, “has 76 miles of spectacular Pacific Ocean coastline.”
Sonoma County is also the home of the Russian River, the Petaluma River and the Gualala River, providing groups with even more options for water-based group activities.
Groups can experience the thrill of canoeing down the Russian River with companies such as River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips, take a tour down the Petaluma River to observe various species of wildlife with Dolphin Charters, or walk along the sand at the mouth of the Gualala River.
Other memorable ways to take in the coastal setting include hiking the many trails of the region and exploring destinations such as Bodega Bay, where oceanfront dining on the catch of the day—including fresh Dungeness crab in season—is a favorite pastime.
Area hotels offering a waterfront ambience include Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa and The Inn at the Tides, both situated in Bodega Bay; Sea Ranch Lodge, located in Sea Ranch; and Sheraton Sonoma County–Petaluma, set on the bay.
Mendocino and Humboldt
Mendocino County, encompassing communities such as Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Willits, Boonville, Point Arena, and Ukiah, is a tranquil destination complete with wineries, charming inns and bed-and-breakfast properties, and a rugged, sprawling coastline.
Without even stepping foot into the Pacific, visitors can experience the coast visually, says Rick D. LeBurkien, CEO of the Mendocino County Promotional Alliance.
“During the rough ocean season, when you see waves 50 feet tall, it is beautiful,” he says. “If you are a photographer, you’d go nuts.”
When the ocean is a little calmer, groups can charter boats for fishing adventures, cruises and whale-watching expeditions with companies such as All Aboard Adventures and Adventures Unlimited, or go horseback riding along the pristine Manchester Beach with the folks from Ross Ranch.
Group-friendly coastal accommodations include the Elk Cove Inn & Spa, located in Elk and featuring private beach access and views of the ocean; and the Stevenswood Spa Resort, which overlooks the ocean and is situated just south of Mendocino in the town of Littleriver.
Highway 1 snakes inland for a short stretch as it meanders north into Humboldt County, consisting of communities such as Eureka and Arcata, both set along the Pacific, and Fortuna and Ferndale, both located just inland from the coast. Tony Smithers, executive director of the Humboldt County CVB, says the area’s largely undeveloped oceanfront regions and the inland Humboldt Bay are sights to behold.
“You can go on the beach and go on a walk and not see another person. It’s a truly wonderful experience,” he says, adding that many groups like to experience the coast by hosting events at Patrick’s Point State Park, located in Trinidad, or bird watching at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Groups looking for a taste of the coast can visit area restaurants such as Cafe Waterfront, The Sea Grill and Avalon.
For More Info
Humboldt County CVB 707.443.5097
www.redwoodvisitor.org
Marin County Visitors Bureau 415.925.2060
www.visitmarin.org
Mendocino County Promotional Alliance 707.462.7417
www.gomendo.com
Monterey County CVB 831.657.6400
www.montereyinfo.org
Monterey Meeting Connection 831.646.3770
www.montereyconnection.com
San Mateo County CVB 650.348.7600
www.sanmateocountycvb.com
Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council 831.425.1234
www.santacruzca.org
Sonoma County Tourism Bureau 707.522.5800
www.sonomacounty.com
