Monterey DO: October 26-28, 2012
 

DO schedule is in Post #6.

Roll Call

Car Pax Space
bdnyc: SJC Fri noon-Sun
1.
2.
3.

Hotels
bdnyc - HGI
boxo - Clarion [on Munras]
SanDiego1K - IC
violist - Days Inn [on Abrego]
wcrhkd - Hyatt
desamo - HGI
janetdoe - HGI, Embassy Suites
ErthCrclr -

Restaurants
Montrio
violist
boxo
soccerfanz10
wcrhkd + 1
desamo + 2
bdnyc
ErthCrclr + 1

Cafe Rustica / Plaza Linda
violist
boxo
SanDiego1K + 1
wcrhkd + 1
desamo + 1
bdnyc
janetdoe + 1
ErthCrclr + 1

Passionfish
violist
boxo
SanDiego1K + 1
antipode + 1
desamo + 1
bdnyc
janetdoe + 1
ErthCrclr + 1

The Bench
violist
boxo
SanDiego1K
desamo + 2
bdnyc
janetdoe + 1
ErthCrclr + 1

Confirmed [16]
boxo
bdnyc
violist
desamo + 1
SanDiego1K + 1
wcrhkd + 1 (Friday night)
Karen2 + Mr Karen2
Antipode + 1
janetdoe + Mr janetdoe
soccerfanz10
ErthCrclr + 1

Public Parking locations & rates.

Public Bus maps & timetables, day pass $10 (seniors/military/disabled $5).
Tips:
Last bus to leave MRY is #15 at 5:43pm, weekdays only.
Last #13 leaves 5:12pm Friday, runs 7 days/wk.
One-way taxi fare airport-downtown is approx $20+.

weather

=======================

Interested [29]
tcook052
bschaff1
rob_flies_ua [Sep or Oct]
pbjag
JerryFF +1
CMK10
Sykes
sc801 (MP)
FredEX17 (MP)
Jubileesmom (MP)
ryandc99 (MP)
FriendlySkies (MP)
tedward
Travelsavant (MP)
the_happiness_store
Scottrick (MP)
carwag25 (MP)
ErthCrclr [Oct]
dyung
xenonym
1P
jtmoore [not Oct 26-28]
jumpdogjump [not Oct 19-21]
satori
roadwarrior365 (MP)
garykung
alphagirl (MP)
colpuck
TravelGuy1965
dedehans +1
archeyes (MP)
KathyWdrf
wrxmom (MP)
Scott6067
Mjgradow


Airport options are MRY [10 mins], SJC [1 hr 15 m] and SFO [2 hrs] driving distance.

Hotels
Intercontinental
Intercontinental The Clement Monterey (Cannery Row)
Holiday Inn Express Cannery Row
Holiday Inn Express at Monterey Bay - Seaside, CA

Hilton
Hilton Garden Inn Monterey
Embassy Suites Monterey Bay - Seaside, CA

Marriott
Monterey Marriott (the only BIG brand downtown)

Hyatt
Hyatt Regency Monterey
Hyatt Carmel Highlands

... plus many non-BIG brand options. Check Tripadvisor, but beware the one review reviewers!

Possible food venues
Monterey
Parker-Lusseau Bakery - yelp
Paris Bakery - yelp
Monterey's Fish House - yelp

Pacific Grove
il vecchio - yelp
Passionfish - yelp
Max's - yelp

Carmel
Mission Ranch Sunday brunch menu - yelp
Katy's Place - yelp

Carmel Valley
Jeffrey's - yelp
Cafe Rustica - yelp

Pebble Beach
The Bench (at The Lodge, opening Aug 6)

I'm very interested but realistically could only really make the 14-16 Sept. dates work of those listed. Call it a tentative yes, boxo, pending me escaping work.

You had me at "sea kayaking" as it's something I tried on a cruise ship shore excursion a few years in Alaska and loved it and would be very, very interested if this were one of activities. ^

For you, tcook052, I would be happy to choose Sep 14-16, especially because I can't make it to your 10th anniversary fête.

I found a cool Monterey Bay kayaking video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obqxYthV7xA

I'd be game for a DO in MRY. I'm free anytime in September or October.

I'd be interested as well; as it happens, only the 14-16 or 28-30 weekends in September would work for me or any of the weekends in October (but I'm still not 100% sure I could make it even if so, so don't use me as any kind of true barometer).

Friday
6:00 pm Pre-dinner drinks - Peter B's Brew Pub
The restaurant is on the back side of the Portola Hotel, across from the Custom House Plaza, near the downtown parking garages and 2 blocks walk to our dinner venue. If the weather is warm enough, I'll grab us tables on the front patio. It's not the very best place for drinks, but it works location-wise, they have a daily Happy Hour, and other nearby options' noise-levels are a concern.

7:30 pm Dinner - Montrio Dress is casual.

Post-dinner bar & cafe crawl on Alvarado St.

Saturday
Breakfast on your own, but feel free to join me at Parker-Lusseau 8:15 am-ish for coffee and croissant, then to Trader Joe's.
09:45 am - Meet in front of Colton Hall, 570 Pacific St, Monterey.

8:00 pm Dinner - Passionfish, Pacific Grove
Please note the reservation time has changed from 7:30 to 8:00. Parking is easy in Pacific Grove, and the nearest bus stop is 1/2 block from the restaurant's front door. Dress is casual. Don't be late.

This itinerary was constructed to work by public bus or by car. Of course, we could fit more into the day if done by car, but going together by bus has its merits too.

Sunday
TBD - Breakfast

12:00 pm Lunch - The Bench, Pebble Beach
We will definitely need to carpool to get to Pebble Beach. Unfortunately they don't open till 11 am and could not confirm a group reservation until noon. I may call back and change it to separate tables of 4, depending on your departure times.

Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pacific Grove
Thousands of butterflies 'winter' in a grove of eucalyptus and pine trees. Their numbers peak end of November, but we may catch the earl arrivals. google pics

Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove
The oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Open 1-4 pm, $2 suggested donation.

The C restaurant + bar, Intercontinental The Clement hotel, Cannery Row
An afternoon drink on the outdoor patio if weather permits, then a walk along the touristy and historic district.


All points on a Google Map.

Very interested!
Although I have visited California at least several times a year since I was a kid, the Central Coast is one area I have never had the opportunity to visit.

Definitely interested. Realistically, could likely only make it on a weekend.

Please mark me down as interested too. I fell in love with Monterey last year and would love to go back!

Excellent. The merrier is getting more.

US News poll has ranked Monterey as #4 Best Weekend Getaways!

I've been looking for an opportunity to go to a local DO, and this seems like the right one. Count me in.

Yipee, 12 on the Interested list so far!

Once SMDO4 dates have been announced, I'll poll to pinpoint the best weekend for this.

Sept 14-16
Oct 5-7
Oct 19-21
Oct 26-28

Well I'm definitely interested. I need to go somewhere in my non flying year.

:) I am in a non-flying year too. [Off to search for Monterey gelato...]

Personally I like the first one as the Giants are home, or the last one as its right around my birthday. But I'm just one man and will defer to the will of the majority :D