Great! 10/26-28 works for me as I'll just be back from Turkey.

JerryFF just told me there is a nonstop flight from SAN-MRY on AS. I had no idea! Lo and behold, there is award availability. It arrives about 9pm. When do you plan to get this party started?

fwiw, here's a thread from the California forum on FT about outstanding restaurants in Monterey/Carmel:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/calif...ey-carmel.html

And for we Hyatt junkies, the Highlands Inn south of Carmel is a glorious aspirational property. satori's blog report on it brought it to my attention 2 or 3 years ago.

color me interested but right now the fares are too damn high.

Alaska Air starts SAN-MRY service on June 4. The intro sale fare was $59 ea way, then $79, and now $69. Service on ExpressJet and Allegiant didn't last, so I don't have high hopes for AS but we shall see.

I imagine we'll meet for dinner by 7pm Friday night, so I guess you'll need to fly in Thursday night. :)

Consider yourself added to the list.

Hope to see you there. Unfortunately, while the Highlands Inn is still as spectacular a setting as ever, its Pacific Edge restaurant has gone downhill from its glory days with Julia Child and other celebrity chefs. We had some of the best meals ever there - and so our return last summer was a terrible disappointment. Again, the setting is spectacular but the food and service have become little more than ordinary while the prices are higher than ever. I am not sure what impact the conversion of much of the property to time shares has had since we have only stayed overnight several times and not in the last 5 years.

Some very good local jazz musicians we know play in the lounge frequently, and it is a great place to have a drink (or 2).

You can make that JerryFF + 1 with 95% certainty.

Please add me as interested. I've held a reservation at the IC...

Years ago I went to Monterey about evey other weekend teaching Scuba Diving as San Carlos Beach (Break Water). I've done a fair amount of kayaking there as well out of lovers point. You really have a choice of arranging a tour with some operations or renting ourselves as a group right at lovers point.

It would be great to get back to see the area. It has such wonderful memories...

Monterey Do
 

Having lived in Pacific Grove almost all my life I realize I don't get out and try many of our wonderful venues but I will say on the food list not to be missed would be.

1. Rosines on Alvarado in downtown Monterey close to the Wharf and have killer desserts.
2. Taste in Pacific Grove is small but definately well worth it.
3. Monterey Bay Aquarium has a great open area to eat overlooking the bay.
4. First Awakenings in Pacific Grove has killer breakfasts and is walking distance to Cannery Row, plus it was also featured on the $40.00 a day with Rachel Ray.
I think I am out of town this weekend unfortunately but would love to attend if plans change.;)

interested...
 

dedehans and dedehans+1 are interested......

Turns out I won't be able to make it as I'll be out of town. Have fun!

Just returned from L'Auberge in Carmel...pricey but well-located, charming, and offers great service. Ate at Aubergine, which by my reckoning is Carmel's answer to The French Laundry. Had the chef's spontaneous tasting menu---the ingredients are listed, but what comes next is a surprise. Standouts were the foie gras and the mussel frost. Small dining room, so probably couldn't accommodate a FT crowd--but still, for those drawing out the weekend, I wanted to put it on your radar.

just found out
 

Please add me as interested. Last night at Soup DO I learned about Monterey DO 2012 as you were the topic of conversation. We have a lot of catching up to do. Hope to make this DO.

Ohhhh, reeeeeally. :o

Adding you to the list!

Now I'm CONFIRMED. Yay!

Yes, it's early, but I got a ridiculous good RT fare NYC-SJC (301USD) on DL so I grabbed it. Any NYC folks interested should check it out.

I've never been to Monterey and it will be nice to see someplace new. Don't worry about organizing the DO -- when FTers get together it's always a great time.

Ditto that. :)

Fri-Sun, or Fri-Mon?

SJC arrive Thurs nite
SJC depart Monday morn

I expect to be in Monterey Fri-Sun