Hearst Castle Historical Monument

There are a few different tours including a night one so if you live close like me feel free to go a few times. Buy your tickets online before you go or you might not get in. All the tours are great and the place is amazing. more

Maybe some are put off by the history of the Hearst empire, the negative implications of Citizen Kane. You may be in for a surprise. If you are put off by fear of tackiness, disregard the official advice and take Tour Two before Tour One. T1 emphasizes the more public areas and the occasional garishness; T2 shows private bedrooms, including Hearst and Davies' surprisingly modest bedrooms and the breathtaking Celestial Suite. T3 is somewhat of a disappointment. By all means take the Evening Tour, esp. when the Christmas decorations are up. Even if the threatened rate hikes are instituted, this is still a tremendous bargain. Pros: Beautiful art & views, Well managed, Great bargain Cons: Occasionally tacky, Not enough tours, Tour 3 not worth it more

Aside from Scottland, I feel that the hearst estate is the single most magestic & magnificant place I've ever seen. You have to see the inside of all the structures to truly appreciate this architectual masterpiece. Pros: Design, Beauty, # of facilities Cons: It was never finished more

Visiting Hearst Castle gives you a pleasurable glimpse into the life of the rich and famous. The visitor's center includes an IMAX theater where you get to see a 40 minute presentation on W.R. Hearst and his ""castle"". The cost of the movie is included in the tour. There are several tours to choose from and each shows you different parts of the castle. We took the ""Experience Tour"". From the castle, you have an awesome view of the Pacific Ocean and miles of coastline (and hills). The whole operation is run well and it was a a very pleasant experience. The tour isn't cheap. I probably wouldn't bring kids to this.... Pros: A Fabulous Place, A Beautiful View, Nicely Set Up Cons: A Bit Expensive, Can't Run Loose more

loved visiting this place, it was like citizen kane come to life: huge banquet halls, swimming pools, eerie modern american wealth on display. take one of the great tours, but be sure to make advance reservations. they sell out quickly. more