Centrally located on California’s Pacific coastline, San Simeon is home to some glorious beaches and several impressive architectural sights. This is a town with an interesting past, with the Hearst family’s legacy still casting a long shadow here. History enthusiasts should make sure to visit the Hearst Castle, a palatial 115-room home designed by Julia Morgan, and the Hearst Ranch and Winery, which also exhibits memorabilia from the town’s days as a whaling station. San Simeon is also home to the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, where 22,000 seals gather every year in December in the area around the attractive Lighthouse. Spend a pleasant, active day kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding or swimming at the beautiful William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach.