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FAQ’s: Frequently Asked Questions
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When is NMEA
2009?
June 29 - July 3, 2009
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Where is NMEA
2009?
We’ll be at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific
Grove, CA. This beautiful historic site is located
near Asilomar State Beach. It’s just a short stroll
through the forest and dunes to white sand and the rocky
shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. For photos and more
information, see:
http://www.visitasilomar.com/
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What are some highlights of the conference?
Lodging, optional first-day professional development
workshops, two days of concurrent sessions, exhibits
and keynote speakers will all be at historic Asilomar.
Monday’s welcoming dinner and bonfire and Wednesday’s
dinner auction will also be held onsite. On Tuesday
evening, you’ll be bused to Monterey where you can dine
on your own at Fisherman’s Wharf or while strolling
through our famous Farmer’s Market. All-day Thursday
concurrent sessions will be at exciting field sites in the area
followed by
a dessert reception and special evening in the award-winning Monterey Bay
Aquarium!
Click here
for the conference schedule.
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What important dates do I need to know?
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Call for Proposals:
Deadline is February 15, 2009
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Advanced Registration: By April 15, 2009
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Scholarships:
January 1 – April 1, 2009
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Registration Closes: June 19, 2009
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How do I register for the conference?
Online registration is available now through June 19.
Click here to access full
registration details and form
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What are the lodging costs and options?
Special
rates
for NMEA 2009 which include lodging and three meals per
day are available at the Asilomar Conference Grounds.
Click here for rate information
and housing form.
There are also a few motels near Asilomar that may have
rooms available. The conference center staff may be able
to help you book one if you prefer that option. However, meals will not be included if you stay off-site
and an additional fee of
$200.00 will be added to your registration. This fee
will cover your lunches, the auction dinner and breaks
during the conference.
Please
note: Summer is a popular time on the Monterey
Peninsula and off-site lodging may be limited and
expensive.
The weekend following the conference will be extremely
busy due to the July 4 holiday and approximately 80,000
motorcycle fans coming for the Red Bull US Grand Prix
races. Hotels within a 75-mile radius increase their
rates and sell-out, so book now at Asilomar for the best
deal!
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How do I book my lodging?
Click here for the Asilomar Conference
Grounds NMEA 2009 housing form and follow the directions.
You must use this form to reserve
lodging at Asilomar. Do NOT make your reservation
through the general group information section on the
Asilomar website.
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Are meals included?
Yes, if you stay at Asilomar all
breakfasts, lunches and dinners are covered by your
registration and room and board fees.
An additional fee of $200
will be added to your registration
if you stay someplace other than Asilomar. This fee
will cover your lunches, the auction dinner and breaks
during the conference.
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What kind of food will we have?
Vegetarian options, hearty entrees, lots of local
produce and other sustainable foods will be offered at
each meal.
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What travel choices are there?
The Monterey Peninsula is accessible by car, plane or
train.
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Flights on many major airlines (Alaska, American,
Delta, Northwest, United, USAir, Jet Blue or
Southwest) are available to the San Jose Airport (SJC), San Francisco Airport (SFO)
or Oakland (OAK) and to the Monterey
Airport (MRY) via San Francisco (SFO, Los Angeles
(LAX), Orange County (SNA), Phoenix (PHX) or Denver
(DEN).
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Monterey
Airbus has express shuttle service from both SJC
(San Jose) and SFO (San Francisco) to downtown
Monterey. With advance reservations, you may book a
ride to Asilomar or take a taxi from town. Call
831-373-7777 or visit
www.montereyairbus.com for schedules or
reservations.
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Rental cars are also an option from all
four airports. However, you won’t need a car once
you get to Asilomar. (Rental bikes are
available at Asilomar and we’ll provide buses to
off-site events.)
But,
if you do want to rent a car, please check this link
for a discount through the Monterey Bay Aquarium
corporate account:
http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?bid=002&cust=NA23D20
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Amtrak trains arrive in Salinas, and a free bus will
take you to Monterey (30 minute ride). For more
information, call 800-872-7245 or visit
www.amtrak.com. From Monterey to Asilomar, you may
take a taxi for approximately $20 (Yellow Cab
831-646-1234) or reserve a seat ($15) on the
Monterey Airbus shuttle.
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How do I get to Asilomar Conference Grounds?
From northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area or San Jose,
drive south on Highway 101. Near Prunedale, take the
Highway 156 West exit and merge onto Highway 1 South.
After you have passed Monterey, exit onto Highway 68
West to Pacific Grove. Continue on Highway 68 for about
three miles and turn left on Hwy 68/Sunset Drive.
Continue for less than a mile and turn right on Asilomar
Blvd. The conference ground entrance is on the left.
From southern California, Los Angeles or Santa Barbara,
drive north on Highway 101. Take the Sanborn
Road/Monterey Peninsula exit and follow the signs to
Laguna Seca/Monterey/Peninsula. Turn left at South Main
Street onto Highway 68 (Monterey – Salinas Highway.)
Continue west on Highway 68 about 18 miles and merge
onto Highway 1 South. After about 2 miles, exit onto
Highway 68 West and follow this road to Pacific Grove.
Turn left at Hwy 68/Sunset Drive.
Continue for less than a mile and turn right on Asilomar
Blvd. The conference ground entrance is on the left
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From the
Monterey Airport (MRY), it's only 10 miles to
Asilomar. You may take a taxi (Central Coast
Cab, 831-375-3155) for ~$25. A rental car
is another option.
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From the San
Jose Airport (SJC), it’s 85 miles to Asilomar. Rent
a car or take the Monterey Airbus from SJC to
downtown Monterey ($35/one-way). Call the
Airbus at 831-373-7777 or visit their website:
www.montereyairbus.com to reserve a seat. For an additional
fee of $15, you can get a ride on the Airbus
directly to Asilomar or you can choose to take a
taxi (Yellow Cab, 831-646-1234) from downtown
Monterey to Asilomar for ~$20.
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From San
Francisco Airport (SFO), it’s 105 miles to Asilomar.
Rent a car or take the Monterey Airbus from SFO to
downtown Monterey ($45/one-way). Call the
Airbus at 831-373-7777 or visit their website:
www.montereyairbus.com to reserve a seat. For an additional
fee of $15, you can get a ride on the Airbus
directly to Asilomar or you can choose to take a
taxi (Yellow Cab, 831-646-1234) from downtown
Monterey to Asilomar for ~$20.
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What are the transportation options during the
conference?
Most activities are onsite and just a short walk around
the grounds. You’ll be bused to all off-site events. A
car is not necessary, and parking is very
limited. GO GREEN!
Leave the driving to us...
not only will it help the environment, but parking
within the conference grounds is restricted to Asilomar
guests only. Some street parking a few blocks away may
be available for participants who choose off-site
lodging.
If you want to go exploring on your own, there are also
many choices. You may rent a bike at Asilomar. We have a
wonderful recreational path that covers many parts of
the peninsula. Ride the WAVE, a free trolley that runs
every 10 minutes from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. It
travels in a loop that includes downtown and historic
Monterey, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and Monterey
Bay Aquarium. Monterey Salinas Transit has an Asilomar
Express (1X) that runs every hour between downtown
Monterey and Asilomar with stops at the aquarium and
Pacific Grove.
See:
http://www.mst.org/routes/PDFs/8_30_08/1_Pacific_Grove.pdf
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What will the weather be like during the conference?
June and July days on the Monterey Peninsula are often
foggy and cool. The fog usually burns off by noon and
the sun may appear for a few hours before the fog rolls
in again. It probably will not rain, but it may be
drippy in the mornings and evenings. It’s called local
drizzle or natural air conditioning and helps to keep
our kelp forests and pine forests healthy!
Average temperatures range from the low 50’s to highs in
the mid-60’s.
It might also be sunny and 75 degrees! So…wear layers
and bring your sweatshirts or jackets and hats. Don’t
forget comfortable walking shoes.
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Are there other things to do on the Monterey Peninsula
before or after the conference?
There are too many to list! They range from all the
outdoor activities we’ve noted on our
optional Field Trip page
(hiking, biking, kayaking, scuba diving,
wine tasting) to a day spent golfing or exploring
Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf or Monterey’s path of
history.
The weekend after the conference is the California
Summer Music Festival in
Pebble Beach (July 4-27) and
the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix
MotoGP World Championship
at Laguna Seca Raceway (July 3-5). For more details,
see:
Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau
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Special Free Admission Opportunities for NMEA Conference
Attendees!
Dates vary by institution
Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco
Friday,
June 28 or Sunday, July 3
Aquarium of the Bay is a unique nature center
dedicated to creating experiences that inspire
conservation of the San Francisco Bay and all marine
environments. It is the only aquarium featuring
exhibits focused specifically on the rich and diverse
aquatic life and distinctive ecosystems of the Bay and
its nearby waters. With more than 20,000 aquatic
animals, there is always something new to see, touch,
discover and learn at the Aquarium.
The Aquarium is brimming with excitement over three new
exhibits, opening on April 4: a Jellies exhibit
featuring Brown Sea Nettles and Moon Jellies; a Giant
Pacific Octopus exhibit, and PG&E Bay Lab, an
interactive climate change exhibit featuring
land-dwelling animals, for the first time in the
Aquarium’s history. Aquarium of the Bay is easily
accessible by public transportation.
All NMEA conference attendees are welcome – just show
proof of attendance. If you have questions about your
visit to the Aquarium, please contact Emily Tozzi,
Education & Conservation Manager at
emilyt@aquariumofthebay.com
Learn more by visiting
www.aquariumofthebay.com or calling
888-SEA-DIVE.
Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of
California, Berkeley
June 22-July 5
The Lawrence Hall of Science
(LHS) is the public science center of the University of
California, Berkeley and an innovative leader in the
field of science and mathematics education. Presenting
your NMEA conference badge or membership card between
June 22nd and July 5th will get you into the hands-on
science museum for free. Explore our Animal Grossology
exhibit or play with our new Science on a Sphere,
featuring all sorts of exciting ocean data. LHS is
located in the scenic Berkeley hills, just 45 minutes
east of San Francisco International Airport. Please
note that there is limited public transportation to our
site, although it is easily accessed by car. For more
information, please contact Emily Weiss at
weisse@berkeley.edu
or 510-642-5008.
The New Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands
Sunday, June 28 at 1:00 p.m. or Friday, July 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Since 1975 the
Marine Mammal Center has been rescuing and
rehabilitating sick and injured marine mammals. This
June we will be reopening our new modernized facility to
the public. Join us in a special behind-the-scenes tour
and program for NMEA conference attendees to observe our
seal and sea lion patients in the new facility and tour the
labs and classroom to see our staff and volunteers in
action. Learn about the local marine mammals that we
care for and explore our extensive specimen collection.
We are located in the beautiful Marin Headlands, just
45 minutes north of San Francisco International
Airport. Note that there is limited public
transportation to our site and it is best to travel by
car.
If you are interested in learning more or in signing up
for this special opportunity, please contact us by phone
(415) 289-7330 or email
saabagd@tmmc.org.
California Academy of Science, San Francisco
June 26 – June 30
California Academy of Sciences welcomes NMEA
attendees to visit our newly redesigned facility in
Golden Gate Park. Admission is free for one participant
with a NMEA badge or copy of registration receipt. We
do anticipate high attendance and we may face capacity
challenges especially mid-day.
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What optional field trips are available on Friday, July 3?
Optional field trips to a variety of sites are available on
Friday. Additional fees apply, but busing and box lunches
will be included. You must pre-register on the conference registration form.
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The Wine Trolley
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Point Lobos
Guided Hike
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Elkhorn Slough Kayak Trip
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Sailing on the Bay
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SCUBA
Charter
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Tall Ship
Sail
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Monterey Bay Whale Watching Cruise
Click here for complete details
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Where is the Monterey Peninsula?
The Monterey Peninsula is a resort destination
located on California’s Central Coast. The peninsula
includes the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and
Carmel. It’s just 120 miles south of San Francisco and
340 miles north of Los Angeles. The magnificent
coastline, pristine pine forests, historic quaint
communities and a wide variety of activities make this a
destination not to be missed. Area activities include
biking, hiking, kayaking, golf, whale watching and wine
tasting. You can also explore a wide assortment of
unique shops and galleries.
Here are some links you might find
helpful:
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