STATE BEACH AND CONFERENCE GROUNDS asilomarVISITOR GUIDE ISSUE 14 Welcome! CA State Parks © On behalf of California State Parks Thank you for enabling State Parks and our concessionaire partner, to preserve Asilomar for generations Aramark, we warmly welcome you to to come! Asilomar State Beach & Conference © Make the Most of Your J Grounds. One of the most unique a c o b Asilomar Visit parks in our state, Asilomar’s location P e a Whether you are here to meet and is unparalleled. Situated at the tip of rl confer with colleagues, reaffirm the Monterey Peninsula, Asilomar’s family ties, or are visiting as an guest rooms are spread throughout overnight guest, there are many the native Monterey pine and coast Eric Abma, ways to experience Asilomar’s live oak forest, all within view and Asilomar State Park Superintendent unique “spirit of place”: walking distance of the majestic • Take a self-guided tour of Pacific Ocean. Julia Morgan’s Asilomar. Self-guided tours are signature Arts and Crafts style of available on your cell phone or architecture makes up the Historic from a brochure. Brochures are Core of this property, immersing found at the State Parks Desk in guests in the sense of place the Phoebe Hearst Social Hall, or experienced by Young Women’s from our website: https://www. Christian Association (YWCA) parks.ca.gov/asilomar - follow the campers of the early 1900s. “Self-Guided Tours” link. Asilomar State Beach and • Get to know Asilomar with State Conference Grounds was purchased Park staff on “The Asilomar by the State of California in 1956 Ramble”, a tour covering many with the intent of operating a topics unique to Asilomar, financially sustainable park – a goal including its beginnings as in which it has succeeded. Our the YWCA’s first West Coast partnership with Aramark enables conference grounds, star Asilomar to maintain financial architect Julia Morgan’s work independence: operating entirely here, the natural environment, free of state funding. Through and Asilomar’s history as a lodging costs and purchases at California State Park. CA State Parks Asilomar 100% of the park’s budget © • Get Social! Tag, Tweet, Post, Pin, is generated by you, the park visitor. 2 etc. Asilomar… We would like to be part of your adventure! Please include Asilomar in your social life: Contents https://www.facebook.com/ CaliforniaStateParks https://twitter.com/CAStateParks https://www.youtube.com/user/ CaliforniaStateParks CA State Parks, Peter Nichols https://castateparks.wordpress. © com/ https://www.pinterest.com/ castateparks/asilomar-state- Welcome 2 Bird Life of Asilomar 24 beach/ Aramark 4 10 Things to Know 28 #InventYourAdventure YWCA Builds Asilomar 6 Beach Mobility 29 Restoration 11 Cover Artist 30 Architecture 13 Short Drives 31 Habitats 16 • Stretch your legs! Walking or we would like to hear from you: running routes are plentiful California State Parks at Asilomar. Enjoy the raised [email protected] vistas from the Asilomar Dunes Asilomar State Beach Office, Boardwalk, or head across the 804 Crocker Avenue, street, to find the sandy shores Pacific Grove, CA 93950. of Asilomar State Beach, or north Aramark collects guest survey on the Asilomar Coast trail which cards, which are available from meanders along the rocky tide the Park Store, the Front Desk, pools and quiet coves. and the Crocker Dining Hall. This special length of coast is Online surveys are available at a California State Beach, and the MyGuestExperience.com off shore waters are protected by We are pleased to have you here California as a State Marine Reserve, and hope you enjoy your stay! as well as Federal regulation as Eric Abma, Superintendent the Monterey Bay National Marine Asilomar State Beach and Sanctuary. These protections ensure Conference Grounds marine life is abundant here, so keep your eyes peeled! On a regular basis you can see Sea Otters, Gray Whales, Invertebrates (in the tide pools), and if you are lucky you may spot Orca or Blue Whales! Help Make Asilomar Better! Your ideas and feedback play a major role in determining just how successful we are at Asilomar State CA State Parks © Beach and Conference Grounds, and 3 aramark Aramark © Aramark would like to welcome you to the Monterey Peninsula and Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds. In September 2009, California State Parks awarded Aramark Aramark the concession to operate the © Asilomar Conference Grounds. Aramark is proud to include this and the globe. Our daily operations “Refuge by the Sea” among the have been assessed for their Enos Esquivel treasured properties it manages General Manager, Asilomar Conference Grounds impact on the environment and throughout the United States methods for reducing impact have including State Parks, National our core mission of delivering been put into place. Some of our Parks and Forests, cultural experiences that enrich and greatest conservation needs are in attractions and conference nourish the lives of our visitors. the areas of energy, water, and solid centers. Environmental Sustainability waste management. In California, Aramark also has Environmental sustainability Here is how we have addressed the privilege of operating at Hearst is at the core of what we do at some of these issues in recent Castle - another unit of California Asilomar. We recognize that years and plan for continued State Parks. In 2016, Aramark operating our business in a way progress in overall conservation. was awarded the management that limits negative impact on the Energy Conservation – The contract for Yosemite National environment is critically important property is currently undergoing Park. In partnership with its to the site, to Asilomar, the upgrades to energy efficient clients, Aramark seeks to Monterey Peninsula community, LED lighting with a total of 85% enhance the guest experience converted so far. by offering industry-leading Water Conservation – The hospitality, conference services, introduction of Water City - a state environmental stewardship and of the art water recycling system, corporate social responsibility. was installed in 2016, allowing Here at Asilomar State Beach and reclamation of up to 75% of the Conference Grounds, Aramark staff water used for housekeeping directly supports California State operations. Parks in its mission to preserve Solid Waste Management – and protect, while we focus on Aramark We have a robust composting © 4 program, Clean the World soap recycling program, and community outreach events. You can also help us meet our goals by: • Using the trash and recycling bins provided on property • Turning off the faucet while washing your hands and brushing teeth • Turning out the lights and turning off the heat when Aramark leaving your guest or meeting © room Aramark and CA State Parks employees at Asilomar State Beach and • Walking or biking around the Conference Grounds Park Unit property rather than driving make seafood choices for the public 365 days a year. Part of your car healthy oceans. As a Seafood the California State Parks mission Let us know if you see additional Watch Partner, Asilomar’s menu is to “provide for the health, areas where we can make recommendations indicate which inspiration and education of the environmental improvements. seafood items are “Best Choices” people of California.” Asilomar is Healthy Foods or “Good Alternatives”; menus the perfect place to relax, recharge In the spirit of encouraging healthy do not include items to “Avoid”. and renew. Some of the activities people and a healthy planet, The earth’s oceans have supplied you can enjoy at Asilomar include Aramark chefs work hard to humans with food and have walking the scenic Natural Dunes ensure that we focus on providing created a livelihood for millions Boardwalk, relaxing in front of the organic, seasonal and local of people for thousands of years. Social Hall’s granite rock fireplace, produce and proteins (meat, fish At Aramark we are working with or learning Asilomar’s stories and dairy). Guests can expect the Seafood Watch to do our part on a guided State Park tour. To freshest ingredients prepared to to contribute to better ocean learn more about all there is to retain the food’s maximum flavor management practices. do at Asilomar, please visit www. and optimum health benefits. Healthy Mind and Body VisitAsilomar.com. —Contributed by the Aramark Our meals offer goodness and As a unit of California State team at Asilomar State Beach and high quality - a priority for a good Parks, Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds diet. Our cooking style includes Conference Grounds is open to fish and meats as a main staple, incorporating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes as often as possible. Our focus is on balance and moderation to provide healthy meals. This not only applies to the quantity of food served, but also to the flavorings incorporated during preparation. We emphasize a cooking style that promotes nourishing foods. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program helps consumers and businesses Aramark © Phoebe A. Hearst Social Hall 5 ywca builds skrae Ptat S Ptat skrae CA asilomar © Phoebe Apperson Hearst Social Hall Entry, c. 1915 Asilomar, a National YWCA’s ultimate aim was “to help ocean, mountains, and forests, Historic Landmark girls to be physically, mentally, and served as the conference site The Young Women’s Christian spiritually fit.” By the early years until 1911 when Phoebe Hearst Association created Asilomar of the twentieth century, YWCA invited the group to hold the in 1913 as a conference ground branches were located in every 1912 conference at her estate for its Pacific Coast chapters, for major American city and on nearly in Pleasanton. Mrs. Hearst, long like-minded social, educational every college campus in California. considered a “fairy godmother” to and religious organizations, and Virtually every branch included an the Pacific Coast Branch, provided as a vacation camp for families, employment bureau.