The Siberian American: California Road Trip: Views from Hearst Castle

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

California Road Trip: Views from Hearst Castle

When we were planning our California Road Trip, Hearst Castle was on my must-see list. I have been fascinated with William Randolph Hearst since I saw Citizen Kane in high school and found out that Hearst was such a media giant that he was able to block the movie from being shown at most movie theater chains. I have always wanted to see Hearst’s extravagant home, which he had named “La Cuesta Encantada” (“The Enchanted Hill”), and our road trip was the perfect opportunity.

In order to get up to Hearst Castle, you must purchase one of the four tour options and are given a time to get on the bus up to the property. I loved the five-mile narrated ride up to the castle on the same route visitors took in the 1920s and 1930s to visit William Randolph Hearst. It was foggy on the way in, which would usually bother me, but in this case, it added to the beauty around us.

The views were even more stunning once we got up to Hearst Castle. I loved wandering over the the guest cottages and seeing the amazing views the guests saw when they visited. I could imagine sitting out on a beautiful day and enjoying the landscape with a good book.