2009 Meeting

Our 25th Annual Meeting will be April 1 - 4, 2009, at the Monterey Marriott. This newly renovated, centrally located hotel features many water view rooms and a spectacular tenth floor reception room that offers breathtaking Monterey Bay and Pacific Ocean views with glorious sunsets. All ARES receptions will be held in the tenth floor spectacular view room.

We have excellent room rates in Monterey. All rooms are 300 square feet and newly renovated. City or mountain view rooms are $194/night plus tax. I recommend the bay view rooms which are $234/night plus tax. These upper floor accommodation have great views of Monterey Bay. Reservations can be made now. The upper floor bay view upgraded rooms will sell out quickly.

The Monterey Peninsula is an ARES favorite with world renowned scenery, championship golf, and numerous attractions and restaurants. We will celebrate our 25th Anniversary in style. Pebble Beach, Seventeen Mile Drive, Carmel, Monterey's Aquarium and Fisherman's Wharf, numerous Monterey County wineries, kayaking in Monterey Bay with the sea otters, hiking in Big Sur, and memorable Hearst Castle will all be available for you.

For an unforgettable scenic lunch, drive to Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, high above the sea shore. Try to get there by 11:30 so that you can secure a cliff side table. The view of the mountains, of the crashing waves on the beach below and of the Pacific Ocean is spectacular and the food is pretty good, too.

The famous Pebble Beach Golf Links is $495/round. You can experience Pebble Beach golf for much, much less. Adjacent to and surrounded by the Pebble Beach Golf Links is the Peter Hay Par 3 golf course where a round is only $20. So, you can say " I played Pebble Beach " for only $20. If you paid to drive Seventeen Mile Drive, show your receipt at Peter Hay and your greens fee is reduced by that amount, which makes for a very inexpensive round.

For an incredible view overlooking the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Carmel Bay and the spectacular coastline, I recommend the Stillwater Bar and Grill at the Lodge at Pebble Beach. The lobster bisque and the seared tuna are excellent, albeit pricey, but the view is amongst the world's best. Dine outside if you can. By the way, when touring the Pebble Beach area, tell the Seventeen Mile Drive gate guard that you're there to look at homes and your admission fee is waived. It pays to have the real estate section of the local newspaper in hand with open houses circled.

Another view restaurant is Roy's at the Inn at Spanish Bay on Seventeen Mile Drive. Dine or cocktail outside for great views and tasty Hawaiian fushion cuisine. Puupuus and drinks at Roy's is a great way to end a beautiful afternoon on the Monterey Peninsula.

If you have an extra day or two, drive Highway One south to San Luis Obispo County. Unique downtown San Luis Obispo is walkable and packed with interesting shops and restaurants. Morro Bay features waterfront seafood restaurants, world famous Morro Rock and spectacular Montana de Oro State Park is nearby in Los Osos. Wineries are located throughout the county, in particular, near Paso Robles and south of San Luis Obispo.

The hotel is only three miles from Monterey's Airport ( MRY ) and that airport has recently had new service added from many cities. Many of downtown Monterey's restaurants and attractions are walkable from the hotel so you don't necessarily need a rental car.

Should you desire a rental car, Avis has discount rates for ARES attendees. Call: 800-331-1600 and mention Meeting Number J770119. There is a fee for parking at the Monterey Marriott.