Absolutely 💯 percent awesome! I loved everything about the castle and the grounds. Your tour guides are very informative and so are the bus drivers. It's a lot warmer at the top of the hill then at the visitors centers, so dress accordingly. Yes, you can bring bottled water. I would suggest u bring your own or it's $4.85 in the gift shop.

One of the best places I've ever visited. Did two hour Julia Morgan tour during the day and two hour art under moonlight tour at night. Both tour guides were patient, highly knowledgeable and excellent hosts, soliciting questions from tour members and gave expansive answers to all questions, some of which were way off topic. The place itself is historic, artistic and design overload, way too much to take in during the course of your visit. Don't have a fear of missing out--trust the process, the guides and enjoy what you are seeing and experiencing in the moment. My visit sparked a desire to learn more, which I plan to research so when I revisit will have a more solid foundation about the historic art in the collection. The rules in place are there for a reason and have succeeded in ensuring the place is maintained immaculately. Visitors center is spacious and educational, definitely recommend the movie before you head to castle. I dreaded the bus ride but it was way better than it sounds, bus driver acted like tour guide, pointing out artifacts and wildlife. The zebras were a nice surprise! The evening tour was a fantastic contrast to the daytime tour, allowing a perspective of what it was like to be an overnight guest. The change from sunlight to manmade light shifted focus on artwork and design aspects, allowing a more complete appreciation.

It gets 5 stars just for the magnitude of it and what it takes to keep this place tour worthy! It's absolutely massive, everything about it from the sprawling buildings to the huge decor. Columns everywhere, giant statues, church pews, fire places, pools, everything is over the top! We did the Grand Rooms tour, the one suggested for first time visitors and it was wonderful. Our tour guide was amazing, funny and very engaging. We knew very little about William Randolph Hearst before we arrived and we left knowing more than we should!! I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance, it's definitely a bucket list item and we'll probably go back some day for another tour!

First time visiting and it was wonderful! Everyone was wonderful, our guide Camille was a delight! Very knowledgeable and entertaining! Such a beautiful place to go to get away from the fog. The history, architecture, design, and ambiance was breathtaking! The sights and views were incredible! The bus ride was educational, and it was nice to listen to Alex Tribek narrate the drive to and from the castle. Everything was great, except the gentleman at the gift shop, he was pretty rude. The food was ok, way too much seasoning and very dry. But I can't wait to go back and try the other tours!

What an amazing site to see. This castle was so strikingly gorgeous. As you turn into the property the first thing you see is the zebras wandering the property. At the welcome center you purchase the type of tour you want to see. A tour bus drives you up to the property. The castle is jaw dropping. The whole property is filled with amazing art. Learning its rich history was amazing. So worth the trip to see it. I highly recommend!

The castle is absolutely beautiful. I would love to come again because the tour is so limited in what you see. It’s definitely worth checking out, very grand and interesting. Cons: The tour is rushed, the tour should be 1 hour not 45 minutes. The guide talked with a pretty bad mumble (maybe trying to rush) so I couldn’t understand most of what he was saying. Side note: The group of people we were with in the tour (not the castles fault) were super rude and aggressive- you could tell the tour guides were used to it. It was mind blowing.. full grown adults nearly pushing each other over to get a first look, arguing with the guides, cutting each other off, continuing to ignore the guides instructions to help with preservation, etc. Don’t be these people. Enjoy yourself. Relax. Don’t be rude.

Hearst Castle This information comes from websites that provide details about the castle. On the central coast of California, USA, Hearst Castle is located on Route 750 in San Simeon, near Los Angeles. The castle was designed by architect Julia Morgan as the residence of William Randolph Hearst between 1919 and 1947. After his death, it became a National Historic Landmark in California. The castle sits atop a hill overlooking the stunning Big Sur, a popular tourist destination on the California coast. The castle has 165 rooms, including grand rooms and penthouse suites with luxurious interiors where William Randolph Hearst and his guests spent time. It also features attractions such as flowing water features, pools, and landscaped gardens with colorful trees, plants, and flowers. There are also beautiful walkways and scenic views, among other things.

Love to visit the rookery and loved the visitor center. Information and hands on options! Plus very friendly staff!

Everyone here is super sweet and very welcoming!! Especially Melissa, who spent extra time telling us fun facts about these magnificent beasts. Truly worth a visit if you love marine life :)

So friendly & such a cute stop, definitely recommend stopping in before or after visiting the seals! We learned so much from the ladies there about the elephant seals, got to watch the livecam, picked up a few adorable souvenirs & children's books illustrated by local authors, and our little one got to check out the children's coloring/activity area!

Such a sweet visitor center. We visited after going to see the elephant seals and we had a lot of questions. They answered very throughly. They also have some sweet merch and a small area for little kids to color and play.

I have been going to see the elephant seal rookery for years. Last year I discovered The Elephant Seal visitors center n San Simeon. They have wonderful displays and good insight into their seasonal migration, artifacts and more. My advice is to include this visitors center, because it is well worth your time.

A must for anyone, I wish I had our grandchildren with us! They are massive and a male can grow to 5,000 pounds. They blended in with the sand and unless they move you hardly know they are there. We were here in July and the temperature was 58 degrees. An absolute wondrous sight and so happy to know they are growing in population.

Always stop here and speak to staff about the latest with the Elephant Seals before hitting the observation area. They are so helpful and easy to talk to. And, all your puchases go towards funding the preservation, protection, and public education for the elephant Seals. I always leave a little donation as well as purchasing gifts for the grandkids. They also have coastal sightseeing maps for great stopping points on your way up the coast. Love the Elephant Seals and the brigade of volunteers at the gift shop and the observation area. Ask them anything about the seals. They are very informative and love public interaction.

We did the $10 tour for this light station (light house). You cannot go up in the light house but you are able to walk into the base of it. The walking tour was awesome!! They showed us some baby Falcons, otters, seals, and elephants seals!! We did not expect to see so much nature. This was very worth the price and time!

If you're cruising along Highway 1 near San Simeon or Hearst Castle, do not skip this hidden gem! Tours 3 times a week, during Fall, Springs and Winter Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. About 2hr longs very formative and also time to explore the light stations grounds. As well, great spot to catch Elephant seals, maybe otters and whales. As well, take advantage and walk on the trails along the sea bluff and enjoy the views of the pacific.

This Lighthouse is a real gem! You have to make reservations to visit. The site is managed by the BLM and the docents provide an excellent tour. The scenery is unique and amazing!

Great place to spend a hour or two viewing nature amd history. Need to book online kn advamce. Only open Tues, Thurs and Sat

Though it was an overcast day, it was beautiful. The staff were very knowledgeable and the grounds were well maintained. An enjoyable tour!

The docents were all lovely and helpful. It's so amazing that this place has been preserved. It was a very nice visit, I recommend it. Yes, you are reading the instructions correctly. They rally the visitors north at the closed motel and then you drive back to the lighthouse area for your visit.:)

What a great experience of the lighthouse tour! Come here in July 4th holiday, has the best ocean view, flower bloom and lighthouse iconic buildings. Since appointment is needed, very quiet even in holiday, the volunteers provide great tour for the history and how the lamo works. Unforgettable moment when the morning fog goes away and the sky and ocean turns into clean in just minutes

A great place to take the family or the dogs. Nice easy parking lot and no fees! There is a trail at the end of the beach that goes out to San Simeon Pointe. Very nice and easy trail with great views of Hearst Castle. The is also a nice pier to walk out and check out the views.

Nice beach with a lovely boardwalk into the bay. Great views of the beach and coastline. There are restrooms, which were clean and well maintained. A nice place for a picnic or a short stop as you drive the Highway 1.

🏄‍♂️It's a great place to take a break and relax while enjoying the panoramic view.

We stopped at every vista point coming from north to south, starting with Elephant seal vista point. (Would have been the light hide but it was closed. It’s opened 3 days a week for two hours). William R. Hearst State Beach is the closest public restrooms. It’s also where you have access to the pier that you can spot from 101. The restrooms were clean and there are 4 single stalls. Don’t forget to go to the back. One at each corner. We saw a several parties having a picnic at the tables throughout the site.

Clean, beautiful. Up-to-date modern.

Love this place, it's beautiful and scenic. You can have a picnic lunch go the beach and to the pier. They also rent kayaks. They open at dawn and close at dusk. There is a trail you can go on. A lot of people go fishing on the pier. On the months of Jan, Feb, and March there occasionally is an elephant seal on this beach. This years there was 6 big males. Caution they seem slow and dumb but they are fast and aggressive.

Beach is nice. No fee to use it. There is also a very nice hiking trail that goes onto private property that is accessable to the public that runs along the coast with nice trees and good views.

It is on the ocean so you get to have a view that's pretty nice. We didn't get to sit next to the ocean but could see it a little bit. It is confusing there, we thought. You can go for a tasting but can't buy a bottle and drink it there. The food you can get from a store across the way. The store does have some gluten free options. Staff is super nice. It was enjoyable. I think to get a spot closer to the ocean you would need to make a reservation. Not sure, but that's the impression I got.

So I will start with the negative so then I can go to the positive. The negatives is that It can be pricey, But when compared to other wineries it's not that bad. We paid fifty dollars per person to try about five different wines. The servings of the wines was not A larger serving. I felt the worker could have poured a little bit more. Now The very good stuff.... I had been driving past this place and wondered if I could ever go because I have little kids usually. This time I didn't bring the kids but I saw families with their teenage kids there. The service was wonderful.The staff were great. Being a melanated queen can be hard because you don't always get treated fairly but this place treated me WONDERFUL... I EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMEND-> shrimp platter... It was amazing... We also have chocolate cake which was wonderful, Their kitchen gets down. The wine the service , the views were amazing. I've been to wineries up north , but this Has to be one of the most beautiful winners.I been to the location is amazing as well. You have to stop by here.Yes, it can be a little pricey, but you cannot miss this.And in comparison to other wineries, I will repeat.This is not a bad price. Just look at my pictures too.

WOW!! What a wonderful lunch. I highly recommend making a lunch res here. If you’re not a member just call ahead to reserve your day/time. The website wasn’t giving accurate availability but I called same day and was able to get in. We dined here on a Friday and it was pretty full with other guests. Extremely beautiful venue. Friendly service. Delicious food all designed for sharing. Fun day date or fun activity to bring your parents to.

We absolutely loved our visit to Hearst Ranch Winery! The tasting experience was wonderful (they sources their grapes from Paso Robles), the service was great, and we enjoyed gorgeous ocean views. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. We appreciated the impressive amount of comfortable seating both indoors and out. It's a great place to enjoy time with good company! Highly recommended!

Fantastic tasting room just north of Cambria. The wines we tasted were all delicious, I especially enjoyed the library wine of the week the 2017 Malbec. It's a rare wine where all of the wines you sample turn out to be great. The staff are incredibly friendly and responsive. Prices are about what you would expect for a good winery. When the kitchen is open they serve a selection of dining options including a cheeseburger, bacon wrapped shrimp, and of course the charcuterie board. The food was fantastic and reasonably priced, the serving sizes were generous, enough to split depending on how hungry you are. The views of the ocean on the tasting patio are excellent. I highly recommend getting a reservation in advance as the tasting room inside and outside can be full during popular hours or good weather. If you are looking for a great place to drink wine this is a good location to try.

Tickets are not cheap - but definitely worth it! Just things you would not ordinarily see and learn about. The tour guides are knowledgeable and the bus drivers get you up and down that hill quick lol The gift shop is fairly large and you can even purchase beef from the Ranch right there. Great experience!

Great wine at a place that is not only a historical, but beautiful. If anyone is visiting heart castle, they need to get down the hill to the pier in San Simeon and go wine tasting.

We stopped at Sebatian's for lunch during our Highway 1 road trip. The store itself is filled with cute local treasures and their deli options were DELICIOUS. I tried the Italian Stallion and pasta salad, while my husband had the Californian. We were quite satisfied! There is indoor and outdoor seating and overcall, it was a great experience!

The Coastal Cowboy tri-tip sandwich is delicious! Friendly staff, and pleasant outdoor seating with the sound of the ocean. A perfect spot before or after touring the castle.

Nice place to grab a quick bite, that doesn't feel quick. I had an amazing caprese salad, family had sandwiches. We all sat outside to enjoy the views. Friendly service, was made to feel welcome the moment we walked in the door. Got a recommendation to come here from an attended at the Hearst Castle tour, glad I asked!!

Fantastic little place to eat lunch, drink wine, or shop for souvenirs. They do pressed sandwiches and soup, as well as a new hard icee drink, check them out!

Each sandwich and salad we ordered was crafted with thought and prepared with farm-to-table ingredients. The sandwiches were filling and each bite was a delight. The burrata and peach special salad was just so good and I’ll be thinking about it for some time. There was plenty of shaded seating outside (there is no inside seating) and plenty of parking (free) in the dirt lot adjacent to the store. The food counter is at the back of this general store and there is wine tasting/service on the main patio deck where you can taste the Hearst Ranch wines.

Quintessential central coast vibe. Healthy tasty food (San Simeon salad, added turkey which was not deli turkey but rather roasted, carved breast). Wine by glass, by flight, or by the bottle. All very casual and easy. Spent morning at Hearst Castle and afternoon on the deck at Sebastian's being guided to tasty wines by a wonderful host. If you buy a glass of wine, you get to taste two to help make your selection. If you are enjoying wine, you can sit at any of the reserved tables on the deck. I'm making it sound exclusive and haughty by writing this, but I share more as helpful hints not to scare people away. Extra points for offering local wines, which host was very knowledgeable about. Think deli that offers wine tasting and upscale home items. Also wonderful views or Hearst, hills and water.

The whole experience was great. Food was delicious. And everyone working there was delightful. We ordered a sandwich to go, which it was great, plus we order a macaroni salad. We got everything but the macaroni salad. We were already far gone. Hence 3 stars. Please make sure you check your food bag!

This is a nice theater that is included when you pay for one of the tours of Hearst Castle. It is approximately a 40 minute movie explaining about the Hearst family and the castle. The theater is located adjacent to the Hearst Castle Visitors Center. It really is just part of the visitors center. But it's a nice addition to the center and helps complete the experience of visiting the castle. The movie is shown on the hour and you must have a tour band to enter. So allow time before of after your tour to see the movie. I highly recommend seeing it before your tour. I felt it makes it easier to follow along with your tour guide. Either way, I recommend it.

I've been wanting to get a Hearst castle since I was a very small child. It did not disappoint. I was so surprised, this is a must do. The statues and tapestries alone are worth what you pay to get in. Sublime architecture

Revisited & watched the movie! Knowing William R. Hearst more & his dream came true & we have the luck to share with it.

Cool architecture, have to pay for 3 separate tours to see the entire estate

The coast line is a must see with special historical stops that are worth visiting.

The theater where you watch the movie for your tour is pretty nice-theres a giant movie screen where you watch an informational movie on Hearst's childhood and how he was inspired to make the castle. They do a good job of teasing images of the castle to hype up the tour. In my opinion, better to choose a tour where you watch the movie before you visit the castle instead of after.

Closing gala of Cambria Center For the Arts Film Festival was a wonderful experience. Great food and wine. Opportunity to meet film stars and directors of the prize winning films.

Beautiful views and easy to navigate from the parking lot. The pier goes out quite far! Next time we're out there, hopefully we'll see it on a none foggy day!

Beautiful pier. Updatd with more weather tolerable trim and metal pilings. It was nice to walk out there again!!

Visited the pier on a PCH roadtrip and loved it. Reading the history of the area and about the abundant sea life in the area were super interesting. If you’re passing through it’s definitely worth the stop.

First time coming here and my cousins and I loved it. We just walked and sat on the sand. We will be back! ☺️

Beautiful views from the pier and access to a lovely sandy beach. Easier to get to than other beaches, especially if you have any kind of mobility issue.

Pretty spot to take a walk . Low key.

Pretty park with great views all around

Tiny free museum to visit with a friendly & enthusiastic receptionist who loves to provide more information.

Beach parking, picnic table. Pier. Fun for all

It was not open when I was here. But it sits next to such a beautiful area of the California Coast.

Great little informational center, the staff were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We flipped through the displays pretty quickly, as they are geared more towards kids, but I still learned a few things. I would definitely return again with any questions though as they were great to talk to.

Great place to visit. Staff was very friendly and informative. The activities available for kids are great. We also went on a guided tide pool adventure that was awesome for kids and adults. I definitely recommend making a stop here for part of your trip especially if you have kids.

Awesome! Small but rich in content State park Junior ranger program

Lots of good information here. Some if it new to me... and I am over 50 years old! Excellent activities for kids too.

Views that are one of a kind. The most gorgeous mountains to one side and a vast ocean panorama to the other. A bench is placed behind every room to just take in the ocean and relax. The staff was AMAZING...so kind and accommodating. Restaurant on site is recommended. I'm really picky and will give it 5 stars. We actually had every meal there for our weekend. The pics I've included: view to the rocky beach which has a path down. Then, the lock fence encourages you to leave a lock yourself at the NW edge of the property at another lookout point. Waterfall pic is from a small hike, just 4 miles north of resort called Salmon Creek trail. If you drive past Ragged Point like we have in the past, then you missed it. Oh, and rates were super reasonable for room and food.

Expected to see their beautiful views of the ocean. Unfortunately, it was overcast. Instead, we enjoyed viewing their beautiful flowers in bloom and the garden art at this fabulous stop. Still very worth the visit. There is a nice restaurant here too that we’ve dined many times in the past and a great reputable inn.

Beautiful place, must to stop here!👌 There is a caffe and a gas station too. The next gas station is already far. The view is amazing, worth to walk and chill here. If you want to stay longer time, possible.

Perfect place to stop for the night along Hwy 1! Don't try to do the road in 1 day, you will miss too much! Head here for a restful sleep, a tasty meal, and an INCREDIBLE sunset view! Oh, and it had the "Window to Big Sur" plus a really cool, though a bit sketchy, walking path down to the water!

I can’t even begin to explain the majesty and beauty of this place. We rented a mustang convertible in SF and hit the PCH in July for a quick day trip, I will remember this day the rest of my life. I live in the Appalachian Mountains and love them but seeing these mountains by the ocean with the ginormous cliffs and waves was just spectacular. I will be back one day and I will definitely stay longer next time.

This was one of the best, lowkey viewpoints on our drive down the coast. We stopped here just for a break in the drive and found out about the viewpoint after arriving. So glad we stopped! It’s free to view and there’s a pretty worn down trail down the steep hill that is “at your own risk.” I stayed above overlooking the stunning view instead in some chairs set out at the viewpoint. It was lovely!

Ragged Point is the middle point of the hwy 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The view is fantastic. If you drive along the California coast line, it is a good place to take some rest.

Of the places to see elephant seals up close this is the best place along highway 1. You will see them sparring and hear them snoring. Another plus are rhe volunteers who will answer your questions during the day. Would strongly recommend visiting this place.

Plenty of parking, and it’s easy to get a glimpse of the seals. We spent about 30 minutes just watching the seals do their thing. It was fun seeing them swimming onto the beach and then navigate the seals already there. Worth the drive there.

A free, fun & fascinating opportunity for marine mammal mavens. You pull off the road, park your car, walk down a ramp and the elephant seals are right there! They're so massive (and tend to clump together) that with the very safe distance even the pups are easy to spot. It's VERY windy, so make sure to bring something to cover up! 🤩🐘🦭

I remember coming here 35 years ago on our honeymoon and the area wasn't fenced off. I guess for safety sake, its a good thing for people to watch from a safe distance. Super cool spot!

Interesting if you are already in the area, but not worth a special trip. Some pics from a day trip up in San Simeon at Vista Point. The seals were kind of lazy that day.

What a wonderful and safe place for the Elephant Seals. We are so grateful to have had a place to go and see them enjoying them In their natural habitat.

Pretty light on the seals the day we went but we were between major life events. The docents there were amazing and answered so many questions. Nice path to walk dogs and plenty of places to see!

One word... AMAZING. I came here on a vacation with my significant other and we both absolutely loved their hospitality, friendliness and abilities. The girls that massaged us asked us in depth how we'd like to enjoy our time there then used a mixture of warm fragrant towels and oils to ensure we had maximum pleasure. Whether you're staying near by or want to make a trip, this place is worth it! Trust me!

Unfortunately I will be giving this a bad review. My wife having an appointment setup was treated very badly. Day prior she walked in to confirm her appointment and was treated very rudely. The next day she called to say she was running late and again a lady who works there treated her rudely again. All she wanted was to simply get her hair done that was it. For Diva Day Spa please work on your customer service skills better even if you guys are having a bad day

Kinda bummed but figured it was a sign. I called this place 2 wks ago to get info on whether or not they would be open thanksgiving wknd bc my mom n I are staying at the nearby motel. I wanted to treat my mom to a massage as an early Xmas present. The lady who answered the phone was not that polite and she didn’t have any info on anything. She just asked me for my name n phone number n said she would have somebody contact me to let me know if they would be open. I still haven’t heard anything back.

I had a facial with Christine and it was very nice. I plan to go back when we visit the area again.

Lovely space for a couples massage. Fully trained therapists catered to our muscles leaving us in bliss. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and highly recommend the spa's staff.

I enjoyed my massage very much that was given by Sue. The atmosphere was very friendly and pleasant. I would definitely highly recommend Diva Day Spa to anyone because they will not be disappointed

Awesome massage by Sue and Diane. Facial from Venitia...cant wait to come back!

Of the places to see elephant seals up close this is the best place along highway 1. You will see them sparring and hear them snoring. Another plus are rhe volunteers who will answer your questions during the day. Would strongly recommend visiting this place.

Plenty of parking, and it’s easy to get a glimpse of the seals. We spent about 30 minutes just watching the seals do their thing. It was fun seeing them swimming onto the beach and then navigate the seals already there. Worth the drive there.

A free, fun & fascinating opportunity for marine mammal mavens. You pull off the road, park your car, walk down a ramp and the elephant seals are right there! They're so massive (and tend to clump together) that with the very safe distance even the pups are easy to spot. It's VERY windy, so make sure to bring something to cover up! 🤩🐘🦭

I remember coming here 35 years ago on our honeymoon and the area wasn't fenced off. I guess for safety sake, its a good thing for people to watch from a safe distance. Super cool spot!

Interesting if you are already in the area, but not worth a special trip. Some pics from a day trip up in San Simeon at Vista Point. The seals were kind of lazy that day.

What a wonderful and safe place for the Elephant Seals. We are so grateful to have had a place to go and see them enjoying them In their natural habitat.

Pretty light on the seals the day we went but we were between major life events. The docents there were amazing and answered so many questions. Nice path to walk dogs and plenty of places to see!

Beautiful, quiet and secluded beach. Cons: 1. Camping is no longer allowed. People were leaving too much garbage. 2. Very limited parking. Two or three cars max. 3. Poison Oak ALL over the entry trail

Hidden and lovely beach & river front trail spot for family, kids, and friends. Highly recommend.

Parking to the entrance is limited (like 2 cars max.), which makes it a private experience. Big rocks and cliffs add to the drama. Beware of high tide and wear waterproof shoes or boots, because your feet will get wet crossing a small body of water to get to the beach. I found a man made stone path, but not sure it will stand the test of time.

The path isn't as pictured. It's overgrown with tall weeds and pokey grass. Also, be on a lookout for small snakes, too. Once at the beach, it's quiet and so beautiful.

Beautiful spot. Easy trail to a rugged not too often visited beach. Great quartz infused rocks!

I camped there this weekend and it was perfect. This is my third time camping this summer at this spot. It is a perfect spot, but please if you decide to camp there pick up after yourself leave nothing behind.

Short, easy hike down to the beach. Trail itself just winds through scrub (and poison oak😬) but the beach is lovely!