Hearst’s Castle, about 3 hours north of Los Angeles (more if you take into account the appalling traffic out of the city) is a great place to visit, if you are human…….
Back in the day (1919) this was built as the summer home of newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hurst. It is now open for public tours which attract millions of visitors through its Mediterranean Revival opulent extravagance – but no dogs unless of course you’re a Service Dog and Spike’s weekly trips to an old-age facility in Redondo Beach to play bingo with the old folk did not qualify him!
Dogs can, however, enjoy hikes and camping in the Central Coast foothills around San Simeon and the beaches below the towering La Cuesta Encatada.
If you are a windsurfer there is a popular windsurfing/kiteboarding beach directly beneath the castle. It has gotten increasingly popular since we started going with Spike, when first we had to hop a fence, dog, gear and all, and once on the beach keep a lookout for angry bulls. Yes, really !!!
A little further north is a beach where all the Central Coast elephant seals gather to lie in the sun, make an awful racket, and smell to high-heaven. Spike was not a fan!
San Simeon State Park has good camping facilities. Spike would sit, statue-like for ages stalking squirrels but once the steak was eaten and the sun set he would characteristically retire to the tent and leave us to enjoy the Central Coast stars twinkling on the golden coastal hills.
San Simeon sits almost exactly between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the famous Highway 1, and is a welcome respite from both.