Old San Simeon Village and William Randolph Hearst State Beach are a sightseeing musts:

There are plenty of great things to do very near to the Hearst Castle Visitor Center, at the Hearst State Beach and the area along Slo San Simeon Road I call Old San Simeon Village. At least sightseeing the area is a must; if you are really pressed for time or limited physically there is much you can see just driving around in your car but ideally you can park your car either up by Sebastian's General Store and Cafe or at Hearst State Beach and get out to walk around.

Hike, Hiking Trails, Picnic sites and Campgrounds near Hearst Castle San Simeon:

Ragged Point Trail

There is no "back country" hiking right around Hearst Castle or in the San Simeon area because all the land is private, most of it Hearst Corporation cattle ranch property. Although all the inland property which surrounds Hearst Castle California State Monument itself is private Hearst Corporation Property with no hiking there is great hiking although mostly on undeveloped trails along the coast on the bluffs. If you don't mind a short excursion take the scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 just 15 beautiful miles north of Hearst Castle is Ragged Point Inn and Resort that has provide a trailhead for inland hikes to the Silver Peak Wilderness area of the Los Padres Forest and if you are physically fit the resort has its own rugged nature trail leading down to a beautiful private cove with a small isolated beach additionally Ragged Point Resort has picnic tables and everything else that make it a great spot to picnic. Find out more about hiking near San Simeon Hearst Castle on this on the Camp, Picnic, and Hike near Hearst Castle San Simeon Page: UNIMPROVED COASTAL BLUFFS: Hikes, Hiking and Unimproved Hiking Trails near Hearst Castle San Simeon. You will find information about camping and picnicking near San Simeon Hearst on this same page also. If you have been touring Hearst Castle you will find the closest and very best picnicking and beach strolling right down the hill from the Hearst Castle Visitors Center at William Randolph Hearst State Beach.

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rockery:

Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery is about six miles north of San Simeon. There is a parking lot boardwalks and vista points with seal educational and interpretive signs. Look for the Friends of the Elephant Seals docents in blue windbreakers, they are often there to provide information and answer your questions.

In 1990 less than a dozen elephant seals were counted in a cove just south of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, since that time their population has exploded and now there are way more than a thousand. Most of the elephant seals life is spent in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean but there is always something going on the beach for you to observe and enjoy. Use the elephant seal activity calendar to learn what to expect when you visit.

Monarch Butterfly Migrations near Hearst Castle San Simeon:

Great numbers of the monarch butterflies appear on the Central California Coast starting in late October and a few are still seen as late as February. Late fall also signals the beginning of the monarch mating season. After mating they will continue their migratory journey to find the right place to lay their eggs. They will lay their eggs on milkweed because this is the caterpillars favorite food.

It is delightful the way they will fill the air fluttering all around you but what is really impressive is their habit of gathering together by the thousands to fend off the chill of the evening on Monterey Cypress and Eucalyptus trees. When they do this they can almost completely cover the trees foliage so all that can be seen is solid masses of butterflies.

The Monarchs migration can cover three countries, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and will take three generations to complete. These most amazing creatures can travel 80 miles a day and single insects have been known to travel up to 2,000 miles. Monarch butterflies have also been seen flying up to 4,000 feet high.

Monarchs can be viewed anywhere on the Central Coast that there is a profusion of flowers; they are especially fond of Pride of Madera and Blue Sage. A great place in this area to view the monarch butterflies is at the Ragged Point Inn and Resort; they have extensive ornamental flower gardens have attracted the monarch butterflies for years and nearby trees where the butterflies will gather by the thousands almost blotting out the trees foliage. Here you can find more information about Monarch Butterflies in the San Simeon Hearst Castle area and some great Monarch Butterfly photographs.

Whale Watching on the Central Coast, the Pacific Grey Whale Migration:

The California Grey Whale migration is generally highest on the central Coast from December through April. December to February the Grey Whales are heading south. They are best viewed in late February when you will see them heading back north to Alaska. When they are migrating north they stay closer to shore and some will be moving slower because they are accompanied by their calves. All the Grey Whales migrate past the Central Coast twice a year; once in late-fall early-winter headed south to Mexico to calve, and again in the late-winter early-spring heading back to Alaska to feed.

A great way to observe the whales spouting is to cruise the scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 up to the Ragged Point Inn and Resort which is on top of 350 foot cliff which provides some viewing advantage. Binoculars help but the very, very best way to enjoy and appreciate these amazing giants is up close and for that you need to take a boat excursion. The closest whale watching excursions are offered by Virg's Landing in Morro Bay 805-775-1222.

Area Attractions, other points of interest to visitors of Hearst Castle San Simeon; Area attractions list courtesy of Ragged Point Inn and Resort; most all distances and drive times are from Ragged Point location of the Ragged Point Inn and Resort, unique all inclusive cliff top ocean view resort; the best lodging and accommodations near Hearst Castle San Simeon.
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Leaving Ragged Point heading south to the south through Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, San Simeon Acres, Cambria, Harmony, Cayucos, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and points south to L.A.:
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Ragged Point is 10 miles north of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse; approximate drive time: 20 minutes. The beautiful Piedras Blancas Light Station just north of Hearst Castle's San Simeon was built in 1875; limited public tours are allowed; reservations are required and all tours leave from the Hearst Castle Visitor Center in San Simeon; call 888-804-8608 for information.

Ragged Point Inn is 9 miles north of Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery. There is a parking lot a boardwalk trail with vista points including seal educational and interpretive signs. Docents in blue windbreakers are often there to provide information and answer questions. It is only a short drive from here to Hearst Castle's old village of San Simeon.

La Casa del Sol, Hearst Castle Guest House

RPI resort is 15 miles north of Hearst Castle and San Simeon; approximate drive time: 30 minutes. The land bought by George Hearst and the dream house built by his son William Randolph Hearst now the William Randolph Hearst State Monument open to the public. At the old village of San Simeon (this is Hearst Castle's San Simeon not to be confused with San Simeon Acres) there is a general store / cafe, pier, historic safe harbor, San Simeon California State Beach and numerous buildings of significant historic importance. Most of the north coast beaches are gravel the one at San Simeon is nice soft sand.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort Hotel is 18 miles north of San Simeon Acres; approximate drive time: 30 minutes. San Simeon Acres is a row of hotels, motels, a few restaurants and souvenir / gift shops, there is good beach access and the San Simeon Chamber of Commerce is also there at 250 San Simeon Drive, Suite 3B, (805) 927-3500.

Ragged Point Inn is 23 miles north of Cambria; approximate drive time: 40 minutes. A quaint village with many hotels, motels, gift shops, and other tourist friendly stuff. In the Cambria area there are miles of accessible beaches and camping at a California State Park just north of town. Although there are many hotels, motels, lodges, Bed and Breakfasts scattered around Cambria the nicest ones are in a row of hotels and motels on Moonstone Beach. Cambria is about a half hour drive from Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort is 27 miles north of Highway 46 East (look for a blinking yellow light on highway 1 just south of Cambria); approximate drive time: 45 minutes. This is the crossover to Highway 101, wine country and destinations east. Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce This turnoff is just south of Cambria a little over a half hours drive from San Simeon.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort is 30 miles north of Harmony; approximate drive time: 50 minutes. One of the smallest towns in California, population 18; there is an old creamery with art galleries, arts and crafts, pottery, and fine art glass. A small winery, Harmony Cellars overlooks the town.

35 miles south is the town of Cayucos; approximate drive time: 1 hour. A true California Beach Town with all the amenities. It is about a 50 minute drive from Cayucos to Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

45 miles south is the City of Morro Bay; approximate drive time: 1.25 hours. A tourist friendly harbor and fishing village. A crossover highway, Highway 41, also cuts over here for Highway 101 and destinations east. Atascadero Chamber of Commerce It is about an hours drive from Morro Bay to Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

55 miles south is the City of San Luis Obispo; approximate drive time: 1.50 hours. The S.L.O. County seat and college town, California State Polytechnic University, with perfect weather. The closest airport to the Ragged Point Inn and Resort is also here the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. It is over an hours drive from San Luis Obispo to Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

Between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria is a grouping of delightful California beach towns, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Oceano are among them. Located just south of San Luis Obispo off Highway 101, a person could explore the attractions in this area for a month and still have missed some hidden jewels. This is a classic California beach area that should at least be sampled; it is most famous for Pismo Clams and their monumental sand dune environments. It offers one of the few places in the U.S. where you can actually camp and ride your A.T.V. right on the beach.

Ragged Point Inn is 85 miles north of Santa Maria; approximate drive time: 2 hours. An exploding inland agricultural and retail shopping center. Santa Maria is about an hour 30 minutes from Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

155 miles south is Santa Barbara; approximate drive time: 3 hours. An old California Mission City, tourist friendly with a nice harbor and sandy beaches. The University of California Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport are here.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort Hotel is 265 mile north of Los Angeles; approximate drive time: 5.25 hours. This is a big area you probably heard of. The drive from Los Angeles to Hearst Castle at San Simeon takes about 5 hours.

TRY THIS NICE ONE WINE TASTING LINK: SloCountyWineries.com