West Coast 'Ukulele Retreat

Is it possible to only register and pay for one  day?

Unfortunately, that would defeat the purpose of the “retreat,” which is as much about camaraderie as anything else. And our goal is to have everyone in attendance be “all in.” That means, among other things, you leave all of your troubles “outside the door” when you come and join us. Consequently, we do not have an option to attend for just one day or to just attend specific workshops.

I live in the area.  Can I attend the retreat without staying at Asilomar? And if so, how much does it cost?

If you live in the area and would like to attend the retreat, you need to register as a “walk-in.” However, we need to fill all of the contracted rooms we have reserved with Asilomar before we can open registration for walk-ins.  You will find all of the information you need regarding fees and what is included on the Registration Page.

What is the closest airport to Asilomar?

The closest airports are Monterey (less than 10 miles away) and San Jose (about 77 miles away).  However, it’s sometimes less expensive to find flights from Oakland (107 miles away) or San Francisco (103 miles away). There is a shuttle that runs between the Monterey Peninsula and San Jose and San Francisco Airports: Monterey Airbus. (Ask them about bringing you all the way to Asilomar). As we get closer to the date, I’ll try to set up a ride-sharing forum for attendees coming to the retreat.

I’m coming alone but want to share a room.  Do I have to find my own roommate?

Nope, Asilomar will do that for you.  However, the sooner you register, the better chance you have of getting a room that will accommodate two single people AND another person to share with.

Can you swim in the ocean by Asilomar?

It’s up to you, the water is pretty chilly.  Sea otters swim there, but they have very nice warm, fur coats.  Surfers swim there, but they are all wearing wetsuits.  It’s your call.  (Asilomar does have a swimming pool, which I’ve heard is very nice.)

How many ukuleles do people bring?

However many they want to play.  We’ll also try to set up our ukulele flea market again, so stay tuned incase you want to bring one or two to sell.

Do we need to bring music stands?

That’s entirely up to you.  You are more than welcome to bring your own, but our hope is that they will become less and less necessary as you learn to play with your ears and not with your eyes! Should you decide you need one, however, there will be a store at the retreat selling, among many other things, traditional music stands.

Do we need paper and 3-ring binders?

You’ll receive a folder when you arrive to put your hand-outs in, which you will start collecting immediately. If you don’t like writing in the margins, a small notebook will be handy. And, make sure you have a pencil. If you have a recording device, you might want to bring it, assuming it’s not too much of a distraction for you or the other students.

Are the workshop rooms usually chilly, so bring a sweater or hot so wear short sleeves?

The rooms are comfortable, but you may find yourself outside a lot, so be prepared to dress in layers.