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San Simeon Cove is located at William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach, directly across from the Castle entrance on Highway 1. This beautiful park features a fishing pier, and incomparable views. It is also the site of Sebastian's Store and the historical whaling village . The Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Cove is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Operated by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and State Parks, the Center features interactive exhibits featuring local history and ecology. Visitors can learn about tide pools, explore the history of San Simeon Pier and watch underwater video of the ecosystem of Davidson Seamount, an underwater peak 50 miles offshore. (This site, Crystaline Cove, is named for this beautiful area.) South of town, San Simeon State Park Campground offers numerous sites for tents and RVs, plus miles of magnificent hiking trails. Visit our Camping page. There is also a nice beach on the other side of the highway and great bird-watching along San Simeon Creek. |
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| Citizen Kane is part of the new Essential Classic Dramas collection on DVD from Warner Home Video. Orson Welles directed and starred in this 1941 masterpiece about Charles Kane, an egomaniac newspaper magnate whose power ends up destroying him before he dies, alone, in his gloomy Xanadu estate. The story San Simeon, Calif., known today as the Hearst Castle. The four-disc set also features Ben-Hur and The Maltese Falcon. |
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The National Geographic Theater, located at Hearst Castle
Visitor Center, shows "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream", the companion film to
castle tours, on a giant 5-story large-format screen. Also there is the "The
Experience Tour", combining Tour 1 of the estate with the movie.
Call (800) 444-4445 or visit web site.
Visitor Center, shows "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream", the companion film to
castle tours, on a giant 5-story large-format screen. Also there is the "The
Experience Tour", combining Tour 1 of the estate with the movie.
Call (800) 444-4445 or visit web site.
San Simeon California Chamber of Commerce
www.sansimeonchamber.com
805-927-3500
Cambria California Chamber of Commerce (serves
same area)
www.cambriachamber.org
805-927-3624
More about San Simeon, California
Founded: 1852
Unincorporated
Lodging in San Simeon
www.sansimeonchamber.com
805-927-3500
Cambria California Chamber of Commerce (serves
same area)
www.cambriachamber.org
805-927-3624
More about San Simeon, California
Founded: 1852
Unincorporated
Lodging in San Simeon
| Hearst Castle |
The small coastal town of San Simeon is located on coastal
Highway 1 about 95 miles south of Monterey and just north of
Cambria.
Highway 1 about 95 miles south of Monterey and just north of
Cambria.
San Simeon is best known as the home of Hearst Castle, the former residence of the famous newspaper magnate
crowds eager to ogle its spectacular Casa Grande, guest houses, swimming pools and gardens. Constructed from
about 1919 to 1947, most of buildings were designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan. They include 165
rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces,
and swimming pools, decorated with volumes of the finest art and collectibles. Hearst was an avid collector,
and the complex features art, sculpture and furnishings from around the world. Since Hearst Castle opened as a
state park in 1958, more than 37 million people have visited
.
(Keep your eyes open for zebra on Hearst Ranch along Highway 1. These zebras are actually remnants of the
collection of exotic animals that W.R. Hearst imported to California!)
There are several spectacular beaches in San Simeon, and numerous exceptional hiking trails. Downtown San
Simeon consists of a small strip of hotels, a few restaurants and shops on either side of Highway 1. These
moderately priced hotels and restaurants cater to the large number of tourists that visit the area to see Hearst
Castle. (See our list of local motels.)
crowds eager to ogle its spectacular Casa Grande, guest houses, swimming pools and gardens. Constructed from
about 1919 to 1947, most of buildings were designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan. They include 165
rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces,
and swimming pools, decorated with volumes of the finest art and collectibles. Hearst was an avid collector,
and the complex features art, sculpture and furnishings from around the world. Since Hearst Castle opened as a
state park in 1958, more than 37 million people have visited
.
(Keep your eyes open for zebra on Hearst Ranch along Highway 1. These zebras are actually remnants of the
collection of exotic animals that W.R. Hearst imported to California!)
There are several spectacular beaches in San Simeon, and numerous exceptional hiking trails. Downtown San
Simeon consists of a small strip of hotels, a few restaurants and shops on either side of Highway 1. These
moderately priced hotels and restaurants cater to the large number of tourists that visit the area to see Hearst
Castle. (See our list of local motels.)
The coastal scenery in San Simeon is stunning, and the wildlife is
abundant. Mountain lions have been known to stroll through town
and no visit to San Simeon is complete without a visit to see the
elephant seals at Piedras Blancas. There is a large (and growing)
population of these gargantuan mammals that reside along the
northern beaches of San Simeon. Trained docents are on hand
year-round to answer your questions about these amazing
pinnapeds and other marine life.
abundant. Mountain lions have been known to stroll through town
and no visit to San Simeon is complete without a visit to see the
elephant seals at Piedras Blancas. There is a large (and growing)
population of these gargantuan mammals that reside along the
northern beaches of San Simeon. Trained docents are on hand
year-round to answer your questions about these amazing
pinnapeds and other marine life.
Favorites: Top 10 picks for wildlife hot
spots
Here are Coastal Living magazine's Top 10 picks for
wildlife hot spots, along with what each area is known
for:
1. Stingray City, Grand Cayman (stingrays, natch!)
2. Depoe Bay, Ore. (whales)
3. Assateague Island National Seashore(wild horses)
4. Big Pine Key, Fla. (pint-size Key deer)
5. Maui, Hawaii (sea turtles)
6. Stonington Peninsula, Mich. (monarch butterflies)
7. Delaware Bay, Delaware (horseshoe crabs)
8. Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico (bioluminescence)
9. San Simeon (elephant seals)
10. Knight Inlet, British Columbia (bears)
spots
Here are Coastal Living magazine's Top 10 picks for
wildlife hot spots, along with what each area is known
for:
1. Stingray City, Grand Cayman (stingrays, natch!)
2. Depoe Bay, Ore. (whales)
3. Assateague Island National Seashore(wild horses)
4. Big Pine Key, Fla. (pint-size Key deer)
5. Maui, Hawaii (sea turtles)
6. Stonington Peninsula, Mich. (monarch butterflies)
7. Delaware Bay, Delaware (horseshoe crabs)
8. Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico (bioluminescence)
9. San Simeon (elephant seals)
10. Knight Inlet, British Columbia (bears)