This was a fantastic place to stay while visiting the Pacific grove area. The center is located in a state park with walking trails that take you right to the ocean. The main buildings were designed for the YWCA by Julie Morgan. Julia was the first female architect to be registered in California. She designed the Hearst castle. The main lodge and the large dinning hall are great examples of the arts and crafts style. Our room was small and rustic but affordable and we had access in our building to a common room with fireplace. Meals in the main hall were fantastic and we met many interesting people over breakfast. We were able to rent bikes at the centre and bike into Monterey. The staff were friendly and very helpful. I would love to go back.

My wife and I stayed at Asilomar Conference Grounds for one night at a rate of about $118 including breakfast. The location in Pacific Grove is on state property next to the ocean. You have to walk across a boardwalk in sand dunes and cross a road to get to the beach. There are deer on the property.
This is not a deluxe property in terms of rooms or food. It is not camping as you have heated rooms and nice beds and bathroom..they just are of older design with some updating. You go for its location and quietness in a forest like environment next to the ocean. Rooms are old fashioned but quite acceptable, at least the one we had. It was bigger than many hotel rooms I have stayed in. Our room had a porch with chairs. Amenities are minimal.
Breakfast is a buffet style and served as you walk through a line. Typical scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes along with fruits and cereals. Coffee is on table and you have to ask for tea. You sit with a small group of independent travelers. Around you are also people attending conferences at their own tables. Food is only average. I would not buy lunch or dinner here, which is an option.

Great place in Pacific Grove. Log cabins with apartments. They were kind of old style but very clean. They are actually remodeling the place. You can walk to the beach on a beautiful boardwalk along the sand. They have bikes that you can rent and that's very nice. The breakfast was ok, not much to tell about it. Great place for seniors and family with kids.

Stunning location - if a little hard to find after dark (even when you do make it through the gate). We had a plumbing problem with our room on arrival and there was a maintenance crew working on it within 10 minutes! The room was comfortable, spacious and relaxing - if a little hard work getting suitcases up the stairs to the door!

Meals were simple, healthy and plentiful, and the service at meals was friendly and efficient. The cafeteria style service works well for conferences. Reception staff were also extremely helpful (for example locating stores in the locality and planning our onward journey).

A fridge in the room would be useful but we realise there is an environmental cost to this. Lack of TV was a real blessing, as was the proximity of restful beach and dune walks.

The coffee shop in the social hall was a great source of early morning caffeine - if a little idiosyncratic.