Hearst Castle, San Simeon

Unlike anything I've seen on the West Coast. I felt like I was back in Italy. The Grand Rooms tour was fantastic. We went with small children in mid Aug and the weather was great! You park and get shuttled in. It's not stroller friendly. You have to walk up stairs. Bring water. No food or gum is allowed. And be prepared to keep your paws off! Its tempting, especially for little hands. Some of the architecture is 300 or 400 years old. The ceiling in one room was from the 1400s. I highly recommend staying until closing to get your money's worth.

This place is amazing. The architecture and styling are high end and stunning. They've kept much of the original work and it still looks amazing. The outdoor pool was my favorite feature. I just wanted to jump in and swim in it all day! The rooms of the big house were so interesting. There is so much to see and to talk about that I could not possibly do the place justice with mere words. Just go. Check it out. Take a couple of tours. We did. And made a day of it. Thoroughly enjoyed this trip!