California Central West
Developed
Description: This is primarily a retreat for Buddhist meditation and study, located in a secluded valley in the Ventana Wilderness. 5 hrs south of San Francisco, 8 hrs north of Los Angeles. The japanese style baths and facilities are only open to the general public and overnight guests in the summer. There are lots of rules and visitors should research thoroughly before making a reservation... and a reservation seems to be required for everything, including meals. You can't just show up. It's hard to get to and a $35 non refundable coach to take one over the treacherous cliffs is recommended.
$$-$$$ Day use 9am - 9pm $25 adults and $12 children. Lunch in the dining room (reservation only) $12 adults and $7.50 children. Bring your own towel. Baths free to overnight guests.
Payment accepted: only checks, cash or travelers' checks.
Clothing optional? only during the day and in certain places. Coed at night only.
Clothing required in swimming pool.
Accommodation: yurts, cabins, stone rooms start at $127 per person. Work/study guests with shared accommodations and a strict early morning meditation, study, and work, schedule, pay $55 per day for shared guest accommodations (minimum stay of three days). See website for details.
Food: 3 vegetarian meals a day provided to overnight guests.
Address: Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, 39171 Tassajara Rd, Carmel Valley , CA 93924
phone: Reservations (415) 865-1899, For day guest reservations call 831-659-2229 no more than two weeks in advance. Information (415) 865-1895, Work Programs: (831) 659-2229
Email: tassrez@sfzc.org
Website: www.sfzc.org/tassajara (very informative)
Details:
Guest season April 29 - Sept 11, open to the general public for bathing and overnight accommodations. Retreats and workshops available. Morning and evening meditation sessions, and 4pm meditation sessions, open to all wearing dark pants and long sleeves. Bathhouse is Japanese-style and has separate sides for men and women. Co-ed bathing is permitted in the evenings. Each side includes a tiled indoor hot plunge, an outdoor plunge, large decks appropriate for sunning and yoga, a steam room, showers and a small private bath with hot springs and cold water spigots. There are also steps leading down to the creek.
For directions (that includes a coach): see their website
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Tassajara Buddhist Meditation Center
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08/03/2003- Having lived in the area or nearby most of my life, I've been to Tassajara many times over 30 years and have seen it evolve. They put in new baths in the past few years that are beautiful and spacious. The atmosphere is very low key. I wouldn't say the students are cold, but that they keep to themselves. They are obviously there for reasons other than to socialize with guests.
One feature other reviews have not mentioned is The Narrows downstream. If you walk past the outdoor swimsuit-required pool, you will find a trail. It is well-used, but does require a bit of scrambling over rocks and there are some steep drops. If you have a peg-leg and a heart condition, you might want to think twice. Go downstream about 15 minutes and you'll find a small gorge about 40-50 feet long, 15-20 feet wide, and usually at most 10 foot deep. There are some great sunbathing spots above and below The Narrows for clothing-OPTIONAL sunbathing. Swimsuits are the exception. It's a great place for a break and a stream-side lunch in the middle of a day long visit to the Springs.
It is possible to hike into Tassajara from the Ventana Wilderness if you so inclined.
They do recommend if you drive that you use a manual transmission car -- the 5 mile, steep road will take a toll on your brakes. It's one of those self-policing roads with a number of steep, narrow switchbacks. The guest season is usually Memorial Day to Labor Day. For complete details, see their web site (a/o 8/2003):
http://www.sfzc.org/zmcindex.htm
Brian Phelps, Livermore, CA, USA
1/31/2003- Spent Memorial weekend in 2002. Water very hot, separate men and women bathing. In the evening both men and women can bathe together in the men's side. Hot springs sauna, strong smell of sulphur. There also is a very large swimming pool. Not clothing optional! Very rustic appeal yet, the food that is served is wonderful and vegetarian. Meal times are like a special occasion. Your welcome to bring your own wine. The students of Tassajara are a bit cold. Must be the Japanese buddhist influence. Not very friendly. I almost felf as if I shouldn't be there. Surprisingly, not too many bugs. Lotts of hiking trails in the area. All in all a very nice place to visit. Not cheap! We stayed in a yurt 2 adults and 2 kids per nite $350.00 Hope my comments help
Anonymous, USA
6/18/2002- Very worthwhile! $20.00 for day use 9am - 11pm, $80 per person overnight includes meals and accommodations. The whole facility is very clean but hard to get to. Take the shuttle - we drove all the way back and the road will eat your car alive. I'm glad we had an SUV rental that made it possible. Although, I did see some small passenger cars going that made it all the way back. The key is to go slow. Lots of good hiking trails! Hot tubs are not co-ed. They're setup like bath houses - men's and women's side and suits are optional. There is an hour-and-a-half of co-ed bathing in the evening from 9:30 - 11:00 again suites are optional. The bath house sets along side a natural spring that is very cold with a stone path between the hot tub and the creek. The cold plunge is very invigorating. There is a very nice outdoor full sized pool where suites are required. Guests are able to get an hour long instruction on meditation and Buddhist worship that includes a tour of the temple. Everyone must experience it once, but I personally will go again.
DIRECTIONS: If you head west from the coast on Carmel Valley Road for about 30 - 45 minutes you'll come to Tassajara Rd. Take a right and after about 20 minutes the pavement will end and you'll see a sign for the Tassajara Zen Center shuttle. The Zen Center is another 45 minutes on the notorious gravel road. The last 20 - 30 minutes of the gravel is pretty rough, but if you take it real slow it is navigable. Reservations are always required, even for day guests. If taking the shuttle be sure to let them know when you make the reservation and they'll give you pickup times. The shuttle is an extra $14.00 round trip.
William, Chicago, Il, USA
1/17/2001- Very nice if you are into a spiritual experience and a meditative time. It is not a social hot springs. Men and women's baths are separate. There is an all pervading quiet. The drive back into the hot springs is unpaved and rough although they do offer shuttle service from the bottom of the mountain. The place is beautiful--the vibe peaceful. It would be a great place to go by yourself for a quiet, healing day. My personal opinion is that the pseudo-Buddhists there are a bit pompous and not especially welcoming. I am a student of Buddhism myself but felt a certain unease with being an "outsider" here. Only open half the year to outsiders. Nice spot. Decent water. Decent price.
Rebecca, Colorado, USA
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