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GroupBuys for Homeschool Curriculum |
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| The Visiting Info shown below, if any, is always subject to change. Please check the facility's website for the latest information before making a trip.
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| Hearst Castle |
| The house and gardens are so large there are four different tours offered. As if the 115 rooms in the main house weren't enough for newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, there are also three guesthouses and 127 acres of grounds. |
| 750 Hearst Castle Road |
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| San Simeon |
| CA |
| 93452-9741 |
| Tours by ticket only daily 8:20-3:20 |
Peak Season Ticket Prices May 15 – September 15
Experience Tour: Adult $24, Ages 6-17$12
Tours 2, 3 or 4: Adult $24, Ages 6-17$12
Evening Tour: Adult $30, Ages 6-17$15
Children under 6 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Off-Season Ticket Prices September 16– May 14
Experience Tour: Adult $20, Ages 6-17 $10
Tours 2, 3 or 4: Adult $20, Ages 6-17 $10
Evening Tour: Adult $30, Ages 6-17 $15 |
| (805) 927-2020 |
| http://www.hearstcastle.org/ |
 | | Thereasa W, Co-op Member | | This is definitely worth the side trip! The visitor center has a wonderful film about William Randolph Hearst and life at the Castle. We took the overview tour they recommend for your first visit. The castle itself is beautiful and the tour covers enough of it where you feel as if you have seen most of it. The bus ride from the visitors center to the castle is very interesting. The temperature rose at least 20* from the bottom to the top (sweaters at the bottom - burning up at the top!). I only wish we had more time to have done more than one tour. The bookstore is great - lots of fun books I haven't seen other places. The current Hearst ranch is next door so they also have their products to sell. Make sure to go down the road to the sea lion beach before leaving the area. |
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 | | Allison M., Co-op Member | | This is fun tour for older kids, but may not hold the attention of younger ones. We enjoyed learning the history of the Hearst Family and viewing the ornate decor of the castle. The view from the home is beautiful and the pools were amazing. We especially liked the indoor pool with the real gold. |
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| | R. Schaefer, Co-op Member | | So much to see! Lots of historical art in the whole house! We love the indoor and out door pools, these was encredible! At Christmas time they have historical time "replay" in the house as actors dressed in time periode costumes in the evening only. You can talk to these actors and ask all kinds off questions and it is so much fun! Therer are several types of tours to chose from depending on your time and when you go, most show one or both pools on the tour. the grounds are wonderful too and we saw some of the "zoo" large animals in herds just off the road before you get to the castle. The gardens are beautiful too and the two towers, a mission style aritecture in lovely to behold. A wonderful experience and so much history and artifacts to look at! |
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| | C. Dutra, Co-op Member | | My family and I love Hearst Castle! I would recommend for 1st time visitors to take Tour 1, as it gives the most general overview of the property and the history of how William Hearst attained and built his beautiful "castle". Tour 1 as includes a movie so this can be quite lengthy, plan for about 3 hours. Otherwise the remainder of the tours last about 1 1/2 hours. Cars park at the visitor center at the base of the mountain and are driven up to the Castle by State Park buses. The roads are very narrow and windy, so if you are prone to car sickness, be forewarned. Also at the visitor center there is a gift shop with lots of books and artifacts regarding Hearst Castle and the San Simeon area in general. There is a small bistro type facility there to get some lunch or drinks as well while you are in the center, but not to take up to the Castle. I think many of the previous reviewers have spoke of some of the fabulous spectacles at the Castle, but I truly believe that each individual will find something they find magnificient and just as mesmorizing as what has been mentioned on this forum. Enjoy the sites, the ocean view from there is spectatular...don't forget your camera!!! |
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