Sometimes you travel somewhere because you’ve got an entire itinerary of activities that you want to do. And sometimes, you just have one place you want to visit really badly, even if it’s the middle of nowhere. So you go, and you have a great time for like, half a day. And then you quickly realize that you’ve got another day and a half to kill and there’s nothing else to do for hundreds of miles. Such was the case with San Simeon and Hearst Castle. Hearst Castle is a definite recommendation of mine – it’s unlike anything else I’ve seen in the US. It’s got history, it’s got art, it’s got eccentric billionaires and old-school Hollywood scandals, with gardens and scenic views that are unparalleled. And then San Simeon itself has….sand, motels, and a couple restaurants.
Pro-tip: My advice is to get there the night before, stay in a hotel, visit the castle in the morning, and get out of dodge by late afternoon. Trust me, you’re not missing anything.