What To Do

Hearst Castle holds a trove of artwork, artifacts, and antiquities making San Simeon a must for art lovers everywhere. From ancient Roman marble to Tiffany & Co. silver, Hearst’s holdings are among the most impressive in California. Beyond Hearst Castle, San Simeon and neighboring communities value the arts…

Sebastian's General Store has carried on through the generations. Built in 1852 at the peak of the whaling industry, the Sebastian Brothers provided goods and services to whalers, fishermen, miners and neighboring ranches.

A Museum Like No Other The estate popularly known as Hearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark located on the Central Coast of California, about 250 miles north of Los Angeles. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan…

Explore the Coastal Discovery Trail Along Highway 1   The new Coastal Discovery Trail is a curated collection of activities that highlights nature, history and local experts. Make the most of your travels to the Central Coast by using the resources and links below to find the…

Before the advent of the railroad and easily traversed highways, most of the commerce in central California was conducted by ship and piers and wharfs were vitally important.

Teachers, students, beachgoers, researchers and others can now view a wealth of information about central California marine life

The Hearst Castle Evening Tour allows you to view  this historic California mansion in the twilight hours

Go back in time to the lonely and blustery life of the lighthouse keeper with a visit to the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.

Visitors and locals are helping to preserve our coastal heritage by supporting the Friends of Hearst Castle 

Piedras Blancas Motel is a vintage roadside motel-and-diner complex located along the Central Coast of California approximately seven miles north of the historic village of San Simeon.

Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the land, the California Coastal National Monument provides unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation

Located on beautiful San Simeon Bay, the Coastal Discovery Center celebrates the connection between land and seas.

Built in 1875, and still in operation today, the Piedras Blancas Light Station warns mariners of the rugged, rocky coastline.Tours are available year-round.

Explore California's underwater parks without getting your feet wet through a new online tour.

The stunning natural beauty of San Simeon Cove; the enchantment of a hilltop castle - what a beautiful way to start the day! 

You don’t have to worry about leaving your furry friend at home again with a trip to the coastal town of San Simeon.

Explore San Simeon through the California State park systems that works toward preserving the nature and wildlife here on the Central Coast.

World-renowned architectural historian, Lord John Julius Norwich, was moved to say that "Hearst Castle is a palace in every sense of the word"