San Simeon:

San Simeon is best known as the home of the lavish Hearst Castle, the former residence of the famous newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. This small coastal town is located about 95 miles south of Monterey and just north of Cambria. The coastal scenery in San Simeon is stunning, and the wildlife is abundant. 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 some 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 the Hearst Castle.

Both W.R. Hearst State Beach and San Simeon State Park are ideal places to immerse oneself in the widespread natural beauty of the area. And no visit to San Simeon is complete without a visit to see the elephant seals; there is a large (and growing) population of these gargantuan mammals that reside along the northern beaches of San Simeon. In addition to the elephant seals, there is a plentitude of wildlife that can be seen in San Simeon. Numerous birds, harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters, and other marine mammals are common on the coast, and keep your eyes open for zebra in the ranchland along Highway 1. These zebras are actually remnants of the collection of exotic animals that W.R. Hearst imported to California!

Scenic coastline

Hearst Castle

Cambria:

A quaint town of three square miles nestled in the pine forest, Cambria is located about 6 miles south of the Hearst Castle and 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Charming downtown Cambria with its abundant Victorian architecture and wonderful variety of shops and restaurants, is a lovely place to visit. Cambria has several very pleasant beaches, perfect for all kinds of recreational activities. Several historic buildings, along Main Street and on Bridge Street in East Village of Downtown Cambria, offer a glimpse of the town's past. Among them are the Old Santa Rosa Church, the Squibb-Drake house, and Santa Rosa School.

Cambria has a small town feel that is apparent at any of the traditional annual events that are held in the town. The Cambria art and wine festival, which takes place each year in early February, provides an excellent opportunity to experience the town's charm. The Independence Day picnic and Labor Day parade are other popular events. Charming and quaint, Cambria is an outstanding place to spend time and unwind, any time of the year.

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