san simeon travel activities
Travellers will find everything they need in Hearst Castle, California. The Visitor Center offers everything from snacks and espresso bars to fully stocked gift shops. In addition, combination tickets for Hearst Castle tour and the theater is available. If you think Hearst Castle is spectacular on its own, wait until you experience it on a five story screen. Hearst Castle - Building the Dream gives a revealing and thrilling view of the castle and its larger than life imagery. Learn about the castle's rich history, and the dreams and inspirations which lead William Randolph Hearst to construct his architectural masterpiece.
Tour One is recommended for first-time visitors as it provides a broad overview of the many facets of Hearst Castle and it is the least strenuous of the tours. Tour duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes which includes the bus ride to and from the castle. Tour Two focuses on the architectural elements and vast art collection in the main house, or Casa Grande. Featured rooms on this tour include; the Doge's Suite, "The Cloisters" which are four guest rooms flanked by open walkways, the Library, the Gothic Suite which occupies the entire third floor and includes Hearst's impressive private suite, library and office, and the Kitchen. The Evening Tour is a special tour that allows visitors to experience the Castle at night as one of Hearst's own visitors might have. The mission of California State Parks includes the preservation and protection of valuable cultural resources throughout the state. Historic House museums have the additional responsibility of interpreting both the historic structures and their contents. Thus, at Hearst Castle, employees strive to maintain both the historic structures and the priceless art collection within those structures for the enjoyment of current visitors and future generations.
National Geographic movie theaters are located at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center. The National Geographic Theater at Hearst Castle is truly an amazing experience. The theater is equipped with 7-channel, digital surround sound, which, along with the startlingly realistic visual images, creates a sense of motion and interaction with the movie. Don't miss out on the National Geographic Movie theater at Hearst Castle. Your visit won't be the same without it. Few subjects achieved the near mythic stature of William Randolph Hearst whose remarkable story is captured in Hearst Castle - Building The Dreams. It's a story rich in historic details and culture making it an ideal learning experience for all levels of students wanting to learn about Hearst Castle history. The National Geographic theater at Hearst Castle offers teachers an instructional setting unlike anything available on the central coast. Located on the grounds of the Hearst San Simeon Historical Monument, the cavernous 420 seats theater shows Hearst Castle - Building The Dream on a five-story-screen, the only large format theater on the central coast. Special curriculum focused tours of Hearst Castle for sixth and seventh grades are offered at selected times in fall and spring linking the castle to the classroom. Educational trips to the theater with stops to observe elephant seals on a nearby beach, a whale-watching excursion, or exploration of tide pools and scenic boardwalk trails. The School Tours offered by Hearst Castle are curriculum focused and supported by a teacher resource packet that provides pre-visit background material and exercises as well as post-visit activities. The tours last approximately one hour and forty-five minutes including the bus trip to and from the hilltop. Groups of 12 to 53 (including teachers and chaperones) can be accommodated in one time slot. Everyone who visits Hearst Castle leaves with a new understanding of an era gone by. The majesty, craftsmanship and attention to detail that make Hearst Castle a place unlike any other are all but gone in today's world. There is, however, an opportunity to take a small piece of the Hearst Castle magic home with you. Visit the Museum Shop, and you'll find yourself surrounded by meticulously authenticated reproductions of actual architectural details, art pieces and furnishings that make Hearst Castle a true treasure. hertz
