Seconds With Steff

Every tour started at The Neptune Pool so over the course of the day and four tours, I got lots of pictures and different angles.

Yes, that was William Randolph Hearst’s name for the main house… he also called the entire estate the ranch. My first picture of the day is the first picture, and you can see how the day got sunshinier. Every picture, every moment really was everything 17 year old Stephanie ever dreamed!

Although I’ve heard stories of tourist being allowed to roam freely around the property, that was no longer the case in 2022, so in between every tour, I had to take the bus back to the center and back to Casa Grande, so that was four round trips! And did I take pictures!!! View of…

At the base of the mountain drive is The Hearst Castle Visitor’s Center. Parks in the parking lot and check out the center. You can buy tickets, eat lunch, and shop in a fairly large gift shop. Once ticketed for a tour, hop on a charter type bus to ride up to the Caste, known…

Seventh grade Stephanie eventually gave way to 12th grade Stephanie (the boy was still cute but never knew I existed). When I watched Citizen Kane in Mr. Scherer’s film criticism class, I became enthralled as soon as the newscaster announced, “Legendary was Xanadu where Kubla Khan decreed his stately pleasure dome.” And thirty one years…

Within miles of Hearst Castle is an Elephant Seal Vista Point. Just stop to watch and listen for a while.

Big Sur is the craziest coolest drive ever! I strongly suggest going North to South, with mountains on your left and ocean on your right, through pine forests with throw back gas stations and lodges. There is nothing not to love! What surprised me the most about the drive was that I really had to…

Between Carmel and Julia Pfeiffer State Park, the bridge is not nearly as daunting as it appears.