Your Alternative 3-Day Guide to the Monterey Peninsula

Welcome to your alternative 3-day guide to the Monterey Peninsula, California! This isn’t your typical itinerary filled with wine-tasting and luxury beach strolls.

Instead, we’re uncovering a unique adventure that includes staying at the charming Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, riding scooters along wooded roads with beach views, and discovering one-of-a-kind shops, all while celebrating friendship, 2-wheeled vehicles, and the coast of California.

Get ready to explore the Monterey Peninsula in a new way over three fun-filled days!

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Your Alternative 3-Day Guide to the Monterey Peninsula – with Scooters!

Before diving into the 3-day guide, it should be noted that this trip was exceptional as it commended 20 years since the inception of the San Francisco Scooter Girls, a club founded in 2004 by former scooterist Jennifer Martinez.

SFSG is a strong part of the Bay Area riding community’s history, with members who ride daily and make annual, international trips to explore faraway places on scooters. Here’s how the 3-day adventure unfolded.

Traveling to the Monterey Peninsula

Getting to the Monterey Peninsula and Pacific Grove is a straightforward journey whether you’re coming from the north or the south of California.

Road Travel to the Monterey Peninsula

From Sacramento, take I-80 West and US-101 South for a drive of about 3 hours. From San Francisco, use US-101 S and CA-1 S for around a 2-hour drive. If you’re coming from San Jose, CA-17 S and CA-1 S will get you there in about 1.5 hours. Always consult your favorite map app or GPS for updates about road closures before departing.

Non-drivers or those without a vehicle can take the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus service, which provides transportation to and from the greater Monterey and Salinas areas as far north as Gilroy and as far south as Paso Robles.

Air Travel to the Monterey Peninsula

The closest airports to the Monterey Peninsula are Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) and San Jose Airport (SJC). Both offer daily flights to and from several major cities. From SJC, you’ll need to drive another 90 minutes to the Monterey Peninsula by car or use public transportation (MST).

The Weather and What to Pack

The Monterey Peninsula boasts a mild, coastal climate year-round. Average temperatures range from the mid-50s to mid-70s Fahrenheit or 12 to 24 degrees Celsius, making it a cool yet comfortable destination.

The best time to visit the area is from April to October when the weather is sunnier and less foggy, or during peak whale watching season during July and August.

Even in summer, it’s best to pack layers—light sweaters and jackets for cooler mornings and evenings, along with comfortable walking shoes and casual pants or skirts for daytime explorations.

The Monterey Peninsula is a dressy-casual type area: think preppy or athletic but not too posh. Above all, stay cozy in whatever you’re wearing and enjoy the breezy, coastal environment.

Accommodations: Asilomar Hotel & Conference Grounds

The group shared the large Director’s Cottage at Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Avenue in Pacific Grove. Established in 1913, Asilomar was designed by architect Julia Morgan for a local Leadership Camp. In its inaugural year, 300 young women attended Asilomar’s first YWCA student leadership conference.

Today, Asilomar is a serene retreat and conference center on 107 acres of forested land, with rustic architecture and a peaceful ambiance adjacent to a rocky beach.

Day 1: Relaxing at Asilomar

Day one, Friday, was about arriving at the serene beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, as weekenders made their way to Asilomar by scooter and car from Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, and other nearby cities.

I hauled my 1973 Vespa Primavera 125 small frame – previously owned by Rachele, a San Francisco Scooter Girl, and another woman, Amanda, before her – from Sacramento, tackling the 3.5-hour drive through Gilroy and out to the peninsula.

One by one, we emerged at the grounds, lush with towering pine trees and scenic trails, perfect for leisurely exploration. As evening fell, we gathered for a meet and greet with friends, sharing stories and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.

Special guests from the Central Coast and the legendary San Francisco Motorcycle Club stopped by, adding to the festivities, which were resplendent with drinks and snacks.

Day 2: Exploring the Peninsula by Scooter

Saturday was a whirlwind of activity and adventure. We started our day early with sugary delights from Red’s Donuts, 1646 Fremont Boulevard, in nearby Seaside, a tiny town of beach-themed boutiques.

Once known as East Monterey, Seaside boasts attractions including Lynn’s Arcade, a Pinball Parlor and Can Slangery at 1760 Fremont Boulevard, housing 36 Pinball machines and a bar stocked with beer, kombucha, and soda – hence the term “can slangery.”

Mission Ranch

After filling up on donuts, about a dozen scooterists embarked on a scenic ride, enjoying long stretches through wooded areas and along the beach.

Our first stop was at Mission Ranch, 26270 Dolores Street, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, to see sheep grazing, a quaint and charming sight. Rumor has it they were Clint Eastwood’s livestock, but no one confirmed it and the sheep just stared when we asked.

Moto Talbott Museum and Collection

We continued our ride along the rocky shores, eventually arriving at the Moto Talbott Museum and Collection at 4 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, CA

After paying the well-worth-it $10 admission price, we viewed in awe the impressive collection of over 180 motorcycles and memorabilia, including Steve McQueen’s last project, a 1931 Harley Davidson in pristine condition.

Outside the museum, a few members of the San Francisco Motorcycle Club gathered informally, sharing stories about their rides.

Taqueria del Valle

For lunch, we headed across the street to Taqueria del Valle, 19 East Carmel Valley Road, a tiny, colorful cantina offering home-cooked Mexican dishes. I had a chile relleno plate and the plump, spicy pastilla pepper stuffed with cheese hit the spot, providing plenty of fuel for the return ride home.

The ride back to Pacific Grove was incredibly windy and maintaining both speed and balance on a tiny, 50-year-old Vespa small frame proved to be very challenging.

Towards the end, in the last few miles, it was one of those “please let me make it home safely” type of rides. Fortunately, we all made it back just fine.

Pacific Grove Forest Avenue

In the late afternoon, while some scooterists napped after the ride or socialized at the cottage, I ducked out to go shopping near Pacific Grove’s iconic pink City Hall at 300 Forest Avenue.

The shops adjacent to City Hall offered an eclectic mix of unique finds:

• Jameson’s Classic Motorcycle Museum: A small but impressive collection of vintage motorcycles, showcasing classic models and memorabilia.
• Bookmark Music: A delightful shop filled with great gifts, specializing in sheet music, instruments, and musical accessories.
• Vinyl Revolution: Music lovers will appreciate this hip shop, with its wide range of memorabilia and catchy slogan, “Everything else is just noise”
• Trotter Galleries: A 4,000-square-foot building with a unique collection of local art, offering docent tours and classes

I returned to Asilomar as the evening moved in and our group celebrated more friends stopping by for drinks and snacks on the spacious patio.

Vintage Vespa Primavera Small Frame Run

While the Saturday party continued, my friend, photojournalist and visual storyteller Penni Gladstone asked to ride my Vespa small frame around the conference grounds, so we headed outdoors.

A longtime rider of large, modern Vespas, Penni quickly grasped the concept of kickstarting and manually shifting the tiny, decades-old scooter.

As she whipped around the car-sparse roads like a true Vespiti, we cheered her on to increase the speed and rev the little engine out, which she did. Zrrrrrooommmm!

Later, after the Smallframe domination had quieted and guests had departed, we indulged in a girls-only pajama party, where we watched Greta Gerwig’s iconic release, Barbie.

Our movie night was filled with laughter and nostalgia as we reveled in the film’s nod to feminism, Oscar-worthy acting by Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and the overall colorful, comical charm.

Day 3: Breakfast and Farewell

Sunday morning, our group had breakfast together and enjoyed conversations about home renovations, travel plans, and how scooter rallies have evolved over the years.

Several people staying nearby joined us for coffee, making it a morning filled with warmth and camaraderie, reminding us why we started this journey together as women riders two decades ago.

After breakfast, we packed up, taking one last look at the distant beach. As we departed from the sprawling Director’s Cottage and headed out to our respective cities, several attendees saddled up in their scooters, ready to navigate carefully through Bay Area traffic.

I made the three-hour trek back to Sacramento with my Vespa securely on the back of my Subaru, planning our next adventure.

Wrap Up

Whether you’re a scooter enthusiast or an avid traveler looking to explore the California coast in a new way, let this Alternative 3-Day Guide to the Monterey Peninsula show you what’s possible.

If you go on two wheels, remember to always wear protective gear, ride safely, enjoy the scenery, and rev your engine out!