Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Hi! When I looked at Yahoo maps from zip to zip it said 4 1/2 hours to Hearst Castle and my SIL that lives in Cali said it's more like 5 1/2 hours. We've heard it's amazing and would like to try to see it this time out, so I was wondering if anyone has tried going for a day trip from Anaheim. (or maybe an o/n trip? Is there something to see along the way or the way back?) Thanks!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I personally think it's too much for one day. 4.5 to 5.5 hours of a lot of 2 lane twisting road to get there. Plus, most people do a couple tours to see more. Then drive back - that is a VERY long day.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 <a href="http://www.hearstcastle.com/visitors_center/directions.asp" target="_blank">http://www.hearstcastle.com/vi sitors_center/directions.asp</a> From Los Angeles Take U.S. Highway 101 north to San Luis Obispo, then California Highway 1 north about 39 miles. (approximately 4.5 hours).
Originally Posted By Plutos Mom I live about 30 miles south of Hearst Castle. For me to get to Disneyland it takes about 5 hours or more if traffic is bad. I would say you would be pushing it to do it in one day. Driving there and back plus, you should allow at a minimum 2 hours to see the castle. It would make for a really really long day. That being said Hearst Castle is loaded with history. Be sure to make reservations for one of the tours, they tend to fill up really fast. If you do come up for an overnight visit try to see the Building a Dream movie on the IMAX theater. Depending on the time of year, 5 min up the road from the castle you can see sea lions out on the beach (winter is the best time but there are usually some out all year long). They have built a nice pull out for visitors, and in the past couple of years have fenced off the area so people don't go down on the beach with them, but still have a really good view. Something else of interest to you might be the Danish Village of Solvang. <a href="http://www.solvangusa.com" target="_blank">http://www.solvangusa.com</a> It is located in the Santa Ynez Valley (where the movie Sideways was filmed) approx 40 miles north of Santa Barbara.
Originally Posted By berol I live about 30 miles south of Plutos Mom. It takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to get to hearst and about 3.5 hours to get to disneyland in good traffic. Hwy 1 isn't that bad before Hearst, but it's long and windy north of it. For a day trip, i'd leave around 7am, san simeon lunch/hearst by noon. On the way back, stop in solvang til 7pm and back to LA. Santa Ynez Valley (solvang, buellton) is fun for fans of Sideways.
Originally Posted By LPFan22 Stops along the way... I recommend Solvang... a charming little village. If you stay overnight for Hearst Castle you'll be close to San Luis Obispo (college town with an old mission, dining and shopping... my favorite stop over there is the Apple Farm). You'll also be really close to Cambria (another charming village with shops, galleries, dining, lodging) and a little further down would be Morro Bay. Central California is the best place to getaway.
Originally Posted By Kathi K If you go overnight, you might want to try the BW Cavalier Inn in San Simeon. Many of the hotels are on the other side of the freeway but this one is on the ocean. The rates aren't as low as they used to be but it is a very nice place to stay. Also, if you eat at the Apple Farm, my husband loves the roast beef and the clam chowder(on Fridays)is the best I have had since Boston. Can you tell I love Central California!?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I agree, there are interesting things to see in the area, and if I were you I wouldn't try to get there and back all in one day. That's at least 10 hours of driving. I'd also recommend using one/two of your weekend days (assuming your trip includes a weekend) to do it. DL is most crowded on the weekend (especially Saturday), plus you'll avoid a lot of potentially nasty LA-area traffic by choosing a weekend to make that drive. Of course, the Castle will also have more tourists on the weekend; I'd investigate buying advance tickets online if possible.
Originally Posted By Niele Went to school in San Luis Obisbo (SLO), absolutely beautiful area. You'll really want to take your time to enjoy the coast. Drive up along coast to Santa Barbara then go inland and visit Solvang, then head up to Pismo and Avila beaches. You could stop at Avila Hot Springs for a break. We stayed in Morro Bay overnight then continued the drive up to San Francisco, after stopping at Hearst Castle. That entire drive along the coast is fantastic. You'd really enjoy it if you could drive it in 2 days and stop in San Luis Obispo (Madonna Inn!) or Morro Bay for the night. Hope you can take the trip.
Originally Posted By Tonfinityanbyond Hearst Castle would be a great place to visit. Like the previous posters I also reccomend Solvang, don't eat til ya get there cause the pastries are outta this world. When ya get to San Simeon find a Hotel called the Cavalier Inn, trust me it won't be hard. Fireplaces in the rooms, right on the beach. THen wake up the next morning take a few tours, then head back to Anaheim. P.S. HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Wow! Thank you so much everyone! From what everyone is suggesting, it sounds like it is best for us to stay over. Now, I can't choose between all of the suggestions! (There are so many good ones!) We have 13 fulls days in CA, so we will have enough time to stay over. I was just thinking about what a pain it is to pack for an o/n trip compared to a day trip, and paying for 2 hotels for the night. (The one at DL and wherever else we stay.) But, I'm sure there are some deals out there! My internet is working on and off tonite, so I will have to search tomorrow. It looks like it is really an amazing thing to see! We were looking at the photos from Lisann's link and joking about how we are going to wear our bathing suits on the bus and ask the other visitors which pool they are going to swim in, the Roman or the Neptune! lol Thank you again for the tips, everyone! It will be more fun to plan now that I know of a few more places to see along the way and back! (What did I do before LP?)
Originally Posted By Kathi K Just be sure to get tickets in advance for Hearst Castle. They fill up in the summer. Enjoy!
