Situated halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Simeon is an understated village, put on the map by the extravagant mansion built in the hills by William Hearst.
Founded by missionaries, the first record of occupation by Europeans seems to be that of Portuguese whalers led by one José Machado (who became Joseph Clark) at the end of the 19th century.
Highlights in San Simeon:
There is an enormous wealth of animal life, from a strange invasion of zebras, to a natural presence of seals and elephant seals on the coast, from where it is possible to see humpback whales and migratory birds.
The beach has its charms, but all tourism converges on Hearst Castle, a really must-see.
Visiting San Simeon
Hearst Castle
For more than 3 months I hesitated in writing about Hearst Castle, so strong are the contradictory feelings about it. It surely is an impressive collection of marvels. No doubt, the architects tried their best to give harmony to the boss tastes. No doubt, the site is priceless. But…But… Why such an uncomfortable sensation? What can I say? That’s one more of those things that no description can explain. Seeing it for yourself it’s the only thing it will do.
They recommend booking in advance, and I did it from Portugal, choosing a secure scheduling time, considering that I was driving from San Francisco and enjoying the sights. I arrived one hour prior than scheduled, and had no problem anticipating the visit. Which is always an escorted visit.
Address: 750 Hearst Castle Road San Simeon, CA
The castle
While the interiors are heavy and following a very arguable taste, the gardens are splendorous and the sights breathtaking.
I strongly recommend that you should see the movies at the exit, explaining how the complex was built.
The pools
Hearst Palace is very well known from the cinema, and the outdoor pool is one of its landmarks.
However, the inner pool is also a precious construction, though so cold in its old fashion look that the weather should be rather hot to prefer swimming indoor, and heat was something we couldn’t find in California… in August (yes, I know – we didn’t go to San Diego…).
If you want to easily publish your own experiences, after registering you may use the form below. It will be added after revision. You may use text, photos till 20Mb or video. For a more complex publication click here.
Publishing form
Your trip will be perfect with the help of our partners
For a great experience:
For your safety:
For your comfort:
For cheap flights:
For packages in the world:
For local displacements:
