Welcome to Monterey
December 2024
December 2024
Monterey Plaza Hotel
Monterey, CA
Unlike Willie, no one was heartbroken and we weren’t headed for Houston.
It was the Monday after Thanksgiving and after four days of eating Turkey and dressing, in all its various forms and combinations, it was time for a change.
Destination - Monterey, CA.
Just a few hours later, we had deplaned into the small, easy-to-navigate Monterey airport, quickly grabbed our bags and our rental car, and were checking into the Monterey Plaza hotel less than an hour after we landed.
Why Monterey?
Number 1 - I had a certificate for a two night stay that I had purchased at a silent auction as part of a SITE Texas event.
Number 2 - Hotel Director of Sales and Marketing, Will Elkington was kind enough to offer an industry rate to add a couple of nights, allowing us to extend our stay.
Number 3 - Michele and I both enjoy the destination. Numbers 1 & 2 just make it easier to make the most of it.
Now, on with our adventure.
The Monterey Plaza Hotel sits at the north end of Cannery Row and is a perfect base to enjoy all that Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur have to offer.
I’m not going to dwell on the hotel, it’s inviting public areas, well appointed sleeping rooms, friendly staff and ample meeting space.
All that said, one of the things I appreciate most about the hotel is the sense of place and immediate relaxation that comes from walking in the front door or sitting on the open terrace taking in the sounds of seals, otters and seabirds as they feed and frolic in the bay.
One of my fondest memories from a previous stay was going to bed with my windows open and falling asleep to the sound of the seals and otters as they ate and played.
Now on with the rest of my story.
DAY 2
My day began watching the Sunrise followed by a walk along the bay on a hike - bike path that was once a rail spur to service the sardine canneries during the hey day of Cannery Row and John Steinbeck.
Now it’s people and their dogs. A great transition.
The plan for the day is to drive south down the coast to Big Sur and have lunch at Nepenthe. Something we do every trip to Monterey.
If you’re unfamiliar with Nepenthe, part of its history is that in an earlier life, for a brief period the location was the home of Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth.
Now it’s a special spot to look down the coast at Big Sur while enjoying lunch.
If you’re a fan of Pinot Noir, pay particular attention to the wine list with page after page of Monterey Peninsula and California Central Coast wines.
Our choice that day was Sea Smoke, a tribute to my late industry friend, Doyle Girouard. It was his favorite.
Sea Smoke is also the descriptive term used to describe the fog bank that obscures the ocean views.
I know that because of Doyle. Thank you.
DAY 3
Today's walk was the same trail, but in the opposite direction. I think I like walking the other way best.
I enjoy site inspections, and when my Visit Monterey sales contact, Kayce Boettcher, mentioned the chance to do one, I said yes and Kayce scheduled a visit to the recently renovated Monterey Beach Hotel, part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio.
I liked it, and while I think it needs a little time to settle into its new persona, it has a comfortable, easy to appreciate feel and is a good fit for those looking for a boutique style property, with easy to access outdoor areas and the beach.
Thank you to MaryJoy Martini, Hotel Director of Sales & Marketing for making time for my visit.
Back at the Monterey Plaza, I picked up Michele and we were off to do the 17-mile Drive (think PebbleBeach) and followed by lunch in Carmel at a small bistro, La Bicycelette.
With the busy part of our day behind us, we headed back to the hotel.
The terrace at the hotel is popular with people and their dogs, so I spent my afternoon meeting a series of friendly dogs and owners, taking the occasional seal and otter watching break.
DAY 4
Another beautiful sunrise!
Nothing on the calendar.
After lunch at local seafood institution - Sea Harvest, we did our last walk along Cannery Row. And made a couple more canine friends.
DAY 5
A farewell sunrise…
And suddenly it’s time to pack and go home.
What didn’t we do? A lot!!
The Monterey Aquarium
Winery visits
Drive a vintage auto on the 17 mile drive
Visit the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and take a hot lap in a pace car.
Drive a Land Rover at the Land Rover Experience Driving Center
I’ve had a chance to do them all.
Getting to talk about them is the best part.
As this adventure comes to a close I’ll wrap things up with a shoutout and thank you to Kayce Boettcher, Business Development Executive for See Monterey, along with Will Elkington, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Without their help, vision and attention to the things that matter, none of the trip would have been possible.
Thank you Kayce and Will.
And as always, I win.
I’m Wayne Wallgren
And
This is my Incentive Life.
Want to know more about the Monterey Plaza Hotel, the Monterey and Carmel area or other destinations in California? Or anywhere, for that matter? I'm always happy to share my experiences, so don't hesitate to contact me with questions.
And don't forget that the team at GlobauxSource, and our partners, stand ready to help you make an informed decision, and ensure your and your group's satisfaction. Let's talk.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog, hop over to my Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@myincentivelife) to have a look, listen, subscribe, like, and share.
Monterey, CA
Unlike Willie, no one was heartbroken and we weren’t headed for Houston.
It was the Monday after Thanksgiving and after four days of eating Turkey and dressing, in all its various forms and combinations, it was time for a change.
Destination - Monterey, CA.
Just a few hours later, we had deplaned into the small, easy-to-navigate Monterey airport, quickly grabbed our bags and our rental car, and were checking into the Monterey Plaza hotel less than an hour after we landed.
Why Monterey?
Number 1 - I had a certificate for a two night stay that I had purchased at a silent auction as part of a SITE Texas event.
Number 2 - Hotel Director of Sales and Marketing, Will Elkington was kind enough to offer an industry rate to add a couple of nights, allowing us to extend our stay.
Number 3 - Michele and I both enjoy the destination. Numbers 1 & 2 just make it easier to make the most of it.
Now, on with our adventure.
The Monterey Plaza Hotel sits at the north end of Cannery Row and is a perfect base to enjoy all that Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur have to offer.
I’m not going to dwell on the hotel, it’s inviting public areas, well appointed sleeping rooms, friendly staff and ample meeting space.
All that said, one of the things I appreciate most about the hotel is the sense of place and immediate relaxation that comes from walking in the front door or sitting on the open terrace taking in the sounds of seals, otters and seabirds as they feed and frolic in the bay.
One of my fondest memories from a previous stay was going to bed with my windows open and falling asleep to the sound of the seals and otters as they ate and played.
Now on with the rest of my story.
DAY 2
My day began watching the Sunrise followed by a walk along the bay on a hike - bike path that was once a rail spur to service the sardine canneries during the hey day of Cannery Row and John Steinbeck.
Now it’s people and their dogs. A great transition.
The plan for the day is to drive south down the coast to Big Sur and have lunch at Nepenthe. Something we do every trip to Monterey.
If you’re unfamiliar with Nepenthe, part of its history is that in an earlier life, for a brief period the location was the home of Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth.
Now it’s a special spot to look down the coast at Big Sur while enjoying lunch.
If you’re a fan of Pinot Noir, pay particular attention to the wine list with page after page of Monterey Peninsula and California Central Coast wines.
Our choice that day was Sea Smoke, a tribute to my late industry friend, Doyle Girouard. It was his favorite.
Sea Smoke is also the descriptive term used to describe the fog bank that obscures the ocean views.
I know that because of Doyle. Thank you.
DAY 3
Today's walk was the same trail, but in the opposite direction. I think I like walking the other way best.
I enjoy site inspections, and when my Visit Monterey sales contact, Kayce Boettcher, mentioned the chance to do one, I said yes and Kayce scheduled a visit to the recently renovated Monterey Beach Hotel, part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio.
I liked it, and while I think it needs a little time to settle into its new persona, it has a comfortable, easy to appreciate feel and is a good fit for those looking for a boutique style property, with easy to access outdoor areas and the beach.
Thank you to MaryJoy Martini, Hotel Director of Sales & Marketing for making time for my visit.
Back at the Monterey Plaza, I picked up Michele and we were off to do the 17-mile Drive (think PebbleBeach) and followed by lunch in Carmel at a small bistro, La Bicycelette.
With the busy part of our day behind us, we headed back to the hotel.
The terrace at the hotel is popular with people and their dogs, so I spent my afternoon meeting a series of friendly dogs and owners, taking the occasional seal and otter watching break.
DAY 4
Another beautiful sunrise!
Nothing on the calendar.
After lunch at local seafood institution - Sea Harvest, we did our last walk along Cannery Row. And made a couple more canine friends.
DAY 5
A farewell sunrise…
And suddenly it’s time to pack and go home.
What didn’t we do? A lot!!
The Monterey Aquarium
Winery visits
Drive a vintage auto on the 17 mile drive
Visit the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and take a hot lap in a pace car.
Drive a Land Rover at the Land Rover Experience Driving Center
I’ve had a chance to do them all.
Getting to talk about them is the best part.
As this adventure comes to a close I’ll wrap things up with a shoutout and thank you to Kayce Boettcher, Business Development Executive for See Monterey, along with Will Elkington, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Without their help, vision and attention to the things that matter, none of the trip would have been possible.
Thank you Kayce and Will.
And as always, I win.
I’m Wayne Wallgren
And
This is my Incentive Life.
Want to know more about the Monterey Plaza Hotel, the Monterey and Carmel area or other destinations in California? Or anywhere, for that matter? I'm always happy to share my experiences, so don't hesitate to contact me with questions.
And don't forget that the team at GlobauxSource, and our partners, stand ready to help you make an informed decision, and ensure your and your group's satisfaction. Let's talk.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog, hop over to my Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@myincentivelife) to have a look, listen, subscribe, like, and share.
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