Back Porch Fabrics is worth the trip. Arriving several hours early is so much fun. It's so popular, there's a continuous shuttle during free time.
Also, there's an on campus quilt store during the seminars. It's the LQS in Livermore. They stock for the classes as well as wonderful stuff. They're open most of the time.
Peckish: this started as 1 session with several instructors. It was so popular that it's grown to 5 sessions. The student spends the 5 days with one instructor. Several hundred people attend each session. It's like an extended family.
In the evenings is show and tell, often from a class taken the previous year(s). Then several of the instructors each give a virtual and/or real trunk show. The last evening is "walk about". Each class is set up with progress displays by each student. It's a great opportunity to meet the artist/instructor and decide what to take next year. It's open to the public and way better than many quilt shows.
The food is very good. You'll hear complaints, but there's always someone who must complain about food. Vegan and other diets are accommodated.
Accomodations run the gammat from homey to 60's modern. All are very nice. The origional architect was Julia Morgan from Hearst Castle fame. It was built as YWCA camp. The campus is very large. Usually your accomodation will be near your class, unless you asked to room with someone who's class is across campus from your's.
Classrooms are ADA compatibule. There's a shuttle to get around campus. Moving your car around isn't real affective.
Asilomar State Beach is fabulous. A short board-walk across the dunes. The sunsets are fabulous.
The Monterey Penninsula is a year round vacation destination. I love the winter and spring time there. Summer is crowded. Winter is the rainy season. Storms are usually very mild. Think Mediterranean climate.
Classes fill fast. The most popuar instructors may fill the first day of registration. There are world class instructors. And they're actually nice. You can even sit with them at a meal.
If space is available, rooms can be booked apart from the seminar to come early/stay late. There is a good airport in Monterey, think vacation destination. There's PGA tournaments on the Penninsula. Many famous persons have homes there. Military has a presence with classroom training. Fort Ord is closed and now a University and housing.
I could go on and on, but I'd better stop.