Hearst Castle is one of the most over the top places I’ve ever toured and I mean that in the best way. It was built by newspaper tycoon William Hearst (who had a serious thing for gold ceilings and Roman statues) and now it’s a California State Park. The castle sits on a hilltop in San Simeon, California with wild ocean views and zebras roaming the property. As you pass through each room you’ll feel transported to different countries across the world. The castle is about a 4 hour drive from both San Francisco and LA, so it makes for the perfect stop on a California coast road trip. You can only visit with a guided tour, which run daily and start at $35 per person. There are a few different tour options depending on what you want to see. I went with the Upstairs Suites Tour because I really wanted to see the gothic suite. The grand rooms tour is considered the best for first time visitors though. Things to do in Southern California #hearstcastle #highway1 #bigsur