Hearst Castle Visit

I recently had the privilege of visiting Hearst Castle, a beautiful landmark located on the central coast of California. A group of friends and I were taking advantage of the lovely Memorial Day weekend to visit the sleepy town of Los Osos/Baywood near Morro Bay. We also spent a day exploring Paso Robles tasting copious amounts of fantastic wines ranging from traditional varietals to transplanted Rhone varietals. But, that is a different story...

While galavanting through the rich lands of California's central coast, a friend reminded me that the legendary Hearst Castle was near by! And of course, I HAD to pay a visit! First of all, it was a building that was planned by a female Architect, Julia Morgan, very rare for the times (circa 1914). AND Mr Hearst collected various historical and rare pieces from various cultures in Europe to create his eclectic home. It was an amazing feat! My advice...you must visit this historical gem whenever you get the chance. I have a few highlights below.

Please forgive the quality of the photos. I was totally in googlie-eyed tourist mode. Moreover, I don't want to give too much away! You need to visit this treasure yourself.

http://www.hearstcastle.org/

EXTERIOR SHOTS:

INTERIOR SHOTS:

INDOOR POOL:

Yes, the floor of the pool and pool deck have real GOLD in the tile work! You will walk on gold when you visit the Hearst Castle.