From whale watching in Monterey Bay to the otherworldly giant redwoods of Humboldt County, Northern California’s coast offers singular escapes for groups.
Driving the swooping, curving Pacific Coast Highway from Big Sur to Mendocino puts wings on your wheels and turns your accelerator into an exhilarator—few roads can compare. Along the way, the contoured landscape of cliffs, coves and coastal plains, lush with botany and wind-swept cypress and pine, is continental in its magnificence.
Whether passing through the magical portals of the Golden Gate Bridge or taking in lighthouse views from Pigeon Point to Point Arena, the sense of place is powerful and patriotic—nowhere else does America begin and end so dramatically.
“This Land Is Your Land” was folk singer Woody Guthrie’s ode to the redwoods, and as groups will discover with the following venues and experiences, coastal Northern California is heaven on earth.
ASILOMAR CONFERENCE GROUNDS, PACIFIC GROVE
www.visitasilomar.com
Its name formed from the Spanish words for “refuge” and the “sea,” this celebrated Monterey Peninsula landmark is a coastal sanctuary with great historical and outdoor appeal. Opened in 1913, Asilomar was designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan of Hearst Castle fame; 11 original Arts & Crafts-style buildings are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. With 313 guest rooms, the complex today can accommodate groups of up to 1,000 throughout 38 conference and meeting spaces.
Set on 107 acres of ecologically diverse beachfront land, Asilomar is rich with meetings history, from the original YWCA campers in 1913 to Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters descending for an Acid Test in 1966. Alluring, too, are the activities connected to the land and sea, including self-guided walking tours and hike-and-bike trails, bird watching, surfing and sunbathing on the mile-long Asilomar State Beach.
WHALE WATCHING, MONTEREY BAY
www.seemonterey.com
To see a whale “spyhopping” (surfacing to get its navigational bearings) or breaching is one of nature’s great spectacles; to look a whale close up in the eye is awe-inspiring, if not life-changing.
The California coast is one of few places in the world where passing whales can be seen year-round, with scenic Monterey Bay offering a prime vantage point. Teeming with krill, anchovies and other marine life, the Monterey Submarine Canyon, the ocean’s answer to the Grand Canyon, provides an ideal feeding ground for several whale species.
Described as the “marine equivalent of going on a safari in Africa,” whale watching in Monterey Bay is a must for groups, with several local operators, including the long-running Princess Monterey Whale Watching (www.montereywhalewatching.com) and Monterey Bay Whale Watch (www.montereybaywhalewatch.com), providing narrated tours. Seeing a whale is virtually guaranteed, along with dolphins and porpoises, and the face-to-face encounter is mind-blowing.PageBreak
SURF SCHOOLS, SANTA CRUZ
This has been a great year for Santa Cruz so far. In January, the city was named one of TripAdvisor’s top 15 U.S. destinations on the rise for 2012. In April, the city was officially dedicated as a World Surfing Reserve, joining Malibu in California, Ericeira in Portugal and Manly Beach in Australia as the only other sites to claim this status.
It’s a fitting tribute to the North American birthplace of surfing, where iconic Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point are among more than 23 local surf spots created by the unique shape of Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz, with its own Surf Museum, also figured prominently in the creation and development of the surfing wetsuit.
Practiced here since the 1920s, surfing is synonymous with Santa Cruz and a must for groups—no visit to Santa Cruz is fulfilled without at least giving it a try.
It’s the ultimate “board retreat,” with local surfers like Richard Schmidt (www.richardschmidt.com), teaching since 1973, and Ed Guzman (www.club-ed.com), surfing since 1969, offering private and group instruction at their long-running surf schools, camps included.
COSTANOA COASTAL LODGE & CAMP, PESCADERO
www.costanoa.com
Nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts have a ready home at this sustainability- and wellness-focused resort perched on pristine coast just south of Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County. The origins of the name “Costanoa” give one clue to its allure: “Dancing on the Brink of the Earth.”
Surrounded by three state parks, the property features several indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, including Pine Tent Lawn and the recently remodeled Ranch House Room.
“Costanoa is an incredibly relaxing and peaceful getaway to unwind and discover the pace of nature,” says Sharon Carpenter, the resort’s assistant general manager. “We also offer a wide variety of exciting outdoor activities for groups and individuals, including survival adventure courses for team building.”
During the day, groups can explore trails on foot, bike or horseback. Surfing, windsurfing and kite boarding are also on the menu, along with whale watching and kayaking. At night, groups can stargaze while enjoying s’mores and schnaaps around the fire. PageBreak
HOG ISLAND OYSTER COMPANY, MARSHALL
www.hogislandoysters.com
Located 46 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County’s Tomales Bay is a pristine estuary where coastal rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean. Forming the eastern boundary of the wildly beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore, its extreme tides and cold water provide perfect conditions for cultivating oysters.
Founded in 1983, this sustainability-driven farm raises more than 3 million Pacific, Kumamoto and Atlantic oysters annually as well as clams and mussels. Served picnic-style at the scenic venue, the sweet, creamy oysters rank among the world’s best.
The facility also accommodates private mid-week events for groups of up to 50 people. The Traveling Oyster Bar, meanwhile, delivers the fun to off-site events “from black tie to backyard casual,” with the services of an expert shucker included.
Groups can also take advantage of the nearby Marconi Conference Center.
SONOMA CANOPY TOURS, OCCIDENTAL
www.sonomacanopytours.com
Cycling adventures are one exhilarating way to experience coastal (and inland) Sonoma; another is zip lining through coastal redwoods, an iconic feature of Northern California from Big Sur to the Oregon border.
With Sonoma Canopy Tours, located at the Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds, a faith-based property about 90 minutes north of San Francisco, corporate teams learn about each other and their environment while flying through the canopy at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
“The mighty coastal redwoods of Northern California are impressive from the forest floor, but at 200 feet above the forest floor, ‘wow’ is the only word for it,” says Deborah Klein, director of sales and marketing for the program.
Introduced this spring, helmet cams record the two-and-a-half-hour guided canopy tour, which includes seven zip lines, two sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase and a rappel to the forest floor. For every flight booked, a dollar will be donated to a fund to provide at-risk youth an outdoor adventure experience.PageBreak
STANFORD INN BY THE SEA, MENDOCINO
www.stanfordinn.com
Nestled on a hillside minutes from Mendocino Village, this pioneering, 44-room eco-retreat is wellness defined. Using garden and marine ingredients harvested onsite and locally, the vegetarian menu at Ravens’ Restaurant is a taste sensation, while transporting experiences like Massage in the Forest need little further explanation.
Located on the property, the full-service Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! is an outdoor shop celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
“The Inn is a favored destination for planners, providing more than just a venue for groups to meet and talk business,” says Jeff Stanford, who runs the Inn with his wife, Joan. Originally a farm, the property includes a farmhouse built in 1850.
“Whether paddling on the secluded Big River estuary or taking yoga instruction, we provide clear pathways toward meaningful personal experiences,” Stanford says. “Beyond just achieving team camaraderie, our group attendees leave inspired and with a larger understanding of themselves.”
REDWOOD ADVENTURES, ORICK
www.redwoodadventures.com
No place showcases the majesty of old growth redwoods like the wild 100-mile coast of Humboldt County. With the charming 19th century seaport town of Eureka serving as the county’s primary full-service base, forest escapes abound, such as spectacular Redwood National Park, some 40 miles to the north.
Here, Redwood Adventures leads excursions into rapturous groves where the redwoods, up to 375 feet tall, are among the planet’s tallest trees. Highlights include Lady Bird Johnson Grove, an upland redwood environment 1,200 feet above sea level, and Fern Creek, a unique ecosystem of giant ferns featured in Jurassic Park: The Lost World.
“We customize activities to our clients’ preferences,” says Grant Roden, tour coordinator and green development planner for the outfit, which also offers whale and elk watching, fishing and culinary gatherings. “Our close proximity to the coast gives groups a range of options.”
Full property buyouts are available for Elk Meadows, six cabins that were originally built to house sawmill workers and accommodate up to 48 people.
Brooklyn, NY-based Meetings Focus West contributor Jeff Heilman and his San Francisco-based brother Bob—a veteran surfer of the California coast—traveled to Mendocino as part of this assignment.
