Hearst Castle, San Simeon

High, high above the sea, on its own 1,600 foot mountain sits Hearst Castle, like a dream! Starting with the bus ride up from the visitor center, there is a magical feeling. From the winding steep road you see wide open cattle fields where zebras roam, miles of undeveloped land, and blue blue ocean. During the five mile ride, an audio presentation introduces you to the history of the castle.

Once at the top, you discover lovely gardens full of sculptures and California palms. The landing where you arrive is really impressive, with palms reaching to the sky. There is Spanish tile work and sweet architectural details around every corner.
Inside the castle, there is a heavy style of decor, popular at the time, but not my favorite. Still, it's interesting to learn that Hearst bought up all these treasures from Europe, such as carved wood wall panels from a church, at a time when Europe was facing financial difficulties.
After the interesting one-hour tour, you can wander the gardens for as long as you'd like, and since they are so beautiful with great views, this could be a while!
My favorite spot is the lily pond in the center of it all, with female sculpture, Galatea on a Dolphin, and pretty trees all around.
Since the land around the castle slopes so steeply down, it feels very special to be on the tippy top of this mountain. It is a unique feeling and kids will love it. In fact, Hearst formally named the castle La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill).
The private cinema is full of atmosphere, with red damask walls and fascinating golden goddess sculptures holding lanterns.
The Neptune Pool is incredible. I remember seeing the pool as a child and being mesmerized by the checkered green and white marble flooring, ancient Roman temple facade, and the glimmering water. There is also an exquisite indoor pool, the Roman Pool, with deep blue and gold mosaic tiles, and marble ladder.
The castle was built for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, by famous architect Julia Morgan, over three decades in the first half of the 20th century. It is in gorgeous Spanish-Moorish revival style, fashioned after a church in Ronda, Southern Spain, that Hearst enjoyed.
Ask to use the restroom while you are in the castle so that you can avoid the portable toilets in the visitor center. You will get to see a beautiful historic restroom!
In late November and all of December, you can take Holiday Twilight Tour. The daytime tours are better, but if you've already done them, it's nice to see the castle at night. The best part is seeing the Neptune pool at night and the two different types of alabaster lamps lit up throughout the gardens. The indoor pool looks better at night because you can see the details of it better without sunlight coming in the windows. Other than that, the tour is not great because there is no information playing on the bus ride up, and you spend a ridiculous amount of time in the main living room and dining room, which are both musty and lit up with modern LED Christmas tree lights that don't add any charm whatsoever. Other than the Christmas tree lights inside the house, there aren't any other holiday lights on the property.
Tour guides write their own script, so you don't really know what you're going to get. My first two tours were great, but the most recent one I took was quite boring and focused on only one topic that the tour guide was interested in.
The Lady Gaga music video, G.U.Y., was filmed at the castle and the Neptune pool. There is awesome footage of the Roman style indoor pool. At the end there's a great panoramic shot of the castle from the air, plus the surrounding countryside and the ocean. Unfortunately, the Lady Gaga music video is not appropriate for kids.
Afterward, eat at nearby San Simeon Beach Bar and Grill, where you can see the ocean from their glassed-in patio.
Or go to Hearst Ranch Winery San Simeon and eat at the picnic tables overlooking Hearst State Beach! You need to have a reservation. This is a beautiful place to eat, with the ocean ahead of you and a eucalyptus forest to your side. There are also clean, modern restrooms in the building. 
Stop and look at the adorable one-room schoolhouse, called Old San Simeon Schoolhouse, at 750 Hearst Castle Rd. It looks so sweet with the backdrop of the mountains behind it and horses standing nearby. 
After your visit, play in the sand at William R. Hearst Beach. You might see an elephant seal! Also, check out the Elephant Seal viewing area nearby. 
Head half an hour south to my absolute favorite, Harmony Town. What a delight to see the glassworks store, to step into the profoundly peaceful chapel, and to eat at a picnic table under umbrellas at the ice cream or lunchtime food truck (Sat and Sun 11:30-4:30, weather permitting).
Hearst built a second castle, Wyntoon Estate, currently accessed by a wild kayak ride upcurrent on the McCloud River. It was going to be bigger than Hearst Castle but he ran out of money to complete it during the Depression. He ended up donating the sandstone from the dismantled Santa Maria de Ovila Monastery in Spain, which he had shipped to San Francisco for the Wyntoon Estate. The city of San Francisco then used the stones to build parts of the botanical garden, Japanese Tea Garden, and the beautiful Sharon Building beside the carousel in Golden Gate Park.

Directions

Hearst Castle is located at 700 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452, call (800) 444-4445.
Open daily 8-4. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thurs in Nov), and Dec 25.
Tour costs $25 for adults, and $12 for children aged 5-12. Children under 5 enter for free.
Purchase your tickets and choose your tour time online. It's always good to reserve ahead, and further ahead during busy times of year.
San Simeon Beach Bar and Grill, 9520 Castillo Dr, San Simeon, CA 93452.
Hearst Ranch Winery San Simeon, 442 Slo San Simeon Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452. Open daily 11-4. The food truck, The Cruisers, comes Thurs-Mon 11-3.

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