Hearst Castle is a gorgeous mansion in San Simeon that was the longtime home of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The mansion and its expansive grounds have a rich history that dates back to 1865, when George Hearst, a wealthy miner, bought 40,000 acres of ranchland along the Central Coast. In 1919, son William Randolph Hearst inherited the ranch, which by then had grown to 250,000 acres. Construction on the castle began that year. Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose La Cuesta Encantada—The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and architect Julia Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools, and walkways. Hearst died in 1951, and in the late 1950s, the Hearst Corporation donated the castle and its extensive property to the State of California. For the past five decades, the site has been a state historic park, with the vast collection of arts and antiques and the beautiful grounds open to the public. The estate's main house, Casa Grande, and three guesthouses are of Mediterranean Revival style, while the towers of Casa Grande were inspired by a Spanish cathedral. The combination of the architectural style with the surrounding land, and Hearst's exceptional European and Mediterranean art collection, make this a must-see attraction when visiting the Central Coast.

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