visit Hearst Castle

hearst castle looks like such an epic place. citizen kane is one of my favorite movies ever (the movie was about w. hearst, who built the hearst castle). i love that movie because it kind of represents a direction i could see my life heading: success, money, the visible and apparent wealth. you know, instead of a more spiritual life. so anyways, i’d love to walk the grounds of the hearst castle.

While growing up, I would two weeks of summer with my grandparents at Pismo Beach. We would swing by Solvang for some split-pea soup, and spend the rest of our time at a great campground on the beach. They had activities each day, and even swing dancing on Friday night. I loved it! But the thing I looked forward to most (besides collecting sand dollars along the shore) was going to Hearst Castle. I loved the drive up, seeing the herd of giraffes and other exotic animals. I loved the decadent pools, laced with real gold. The history behind the “home” fascinated me, as it does today.

Why put this on the list? Well, two reasons, really. One of them is that I’ve only seen it with my grandparents when I was a child. I’d love to go back there and see it with adult eyes. I also would love to be reminded of the good times I had with my grandparents, who are both deceased.

The second reason is that I’ve always wanted to see it in the evening. The evening tour includes people who dress up for the era, which is one of my favorites! It seems like it would be fun with a group of friends to just enjoy flashing back to another time, a dream world of sorts. It may not be all that I’ve imagined; it may be more! Either way, I’d like to find out!

This place is super awesome! Ultra-glam and ultra-swanky and nobody these days could afford to build it. I have been to most of the US’s touristy destinations and this, along with the House on the Rock, is my favorite.

does not guarantee you’ve got good taste! Hearst Castle is a splendid example of this principle.

Everyone from the ticket counter person to the tour guides were all nice and helpful. Answered any questions that came up and were friendly when just talking about general stuff. After you get the ticket you have to wait for a bus that will drive you up to the castle. It was not a long wait since tours are going and coming back all the time.

As far as the tour itself I enjoyed that. I went with my family and I think did tour 1 but there are several options so I could be wrong about the number. We saw quite a bit of the area, enough for the money it costs. There is lots of art and or statues around the grounds if you like that. Several nice pools on the grounds but no swimming for the tour. :P

We stopped a few places where there were very nice scenic views of the grounds and surrounding area during the tour. But you see some of the grounds on the trip up to and back from the castle. I don’t remember how long the trip is from the visitor center up to the castle itself but odds are you will see several of the different types of animals still on the grounds.

I would recommend going up to the castle. But if you don’t want to go all the way up there the visitor center does have a little museum and film area for you to start your learning adventure. I might even go back up there someday to try one of the other tours they have going. :)