Road TRIP!!! Griswald style!!!
It was time to pass the torch of the infamous Williams' Griswald golden steering wheel to the next generation. As a young boy one of my family's first road trip was to the grand house of William Randolf Hearst's Castle. I was 6 yrs old when I last visited this Castle, and now is the perfect
time to return with my sons. With Roman being 6 yrs old - it was time
for the next generation. It was now my two boys turn to experience the long and laborious highway trek perfected by family patriarch "Pop-Pop" Williams back in the 70's and 80's.
The day trip started with a loooong drive on HWY 1 Pacific Coast Highway. Starting at Santa Cruz, the winding road hugged the coastline with a dizzying winding route. We stopped at scenic spots along the way.
Roman takes a break on a cliffside rock.
Amazing sea cliffs of BIG SUR national park.
His sweatshirts may say Venice Ca., but this kid is all Northern California.
At last we can see the Castle of San Simeon on the horizon.
The tour started... We took the Grand Ballroom tour.
From the beginning of the tour Roman was looking forward to seeing HIS namesake POOL!
The main house
The dining room.
It may be an old castle but it's gardens were still amazing!
The view from the neptune pool was like being on top of the world. No wonder W. R. Hearst chose San Simeon.
The entire castle took 29 years to build and still stands incomplete.
The goldleaf is made of actual pure gold!!!
The rear of the castle.
To end the tour we found ourselves finally at ROMAN's pool!!!
W.R.H. even had pure gold inlayed into the tiles on the floor and walls.
One last look at the Castle before we leave!!!
Now for the long winding trip home. The sun sets on the famous Pacific Coast Highway.
