Hearst Castle

We explored the San Luis Obispo area briefly this morning before heading up the Pacific Coast Highway to do a sight we had previously missed out due to lack of time. This was the Hearst Castle which is located about halfway between LA and San Fran.

We had previously done most of the attractions in Monterey and Carmel when we came two years ago for a classic car event called Pebble Beach.

It was foggy on the short drive to the castle and we stopped to look at some birds on the coast.

Text continues after this gallery.

: Pelican and colony near Pismo.

: Pelican and squirrel near Pismo.

: Pelican colony through the fog near Pismo.

: Boats in the fog at Morro Bay.

Anyway, the Castle was built by a rich man (in conjunction with a lady architect) as his private ranch at which he entertained the rich and famous. It reflected the styles he had seen in the Mediterranean when he was a child on a big trip round Europe with his mother. It is a very impressive complex indeed and it is certainly very tastefully done … a bit contrary to my expectation.

We continued our drive north to overnight at Monterey.