This is Merrill Hall, a large auditorium with an open floor and raised stage, the scene of Asilomar casinos, dances, and auctions in years past. This weekend, it housed two wedding receptions—one Korean and one Indian—with interesting musical sounds emanating from both.
Now, on down the boardwalk through the dunes to the beach. The dunes are a specialized environment a few hundred yards wide that contain the transition from woods to shore. As you might expect, the dunes are greener nearer the woods edge.
About halfway through the dunes, grasses begin to give way to sand, and
sand becomes predominant as the ocean—Monterey Bay—comes into view.