The town of San Simeon is a modest sort of place - Situated between the twin supercities of L.A and San Francisco, it offers a sedate and unspoiled charm. It's location on the coast is ideal road travellers as well as people who want to get away from it all - Indeed, San Simeon is not too far away from the start of one of the most notoriously striking roads in all of America, Highway 1.

There is little to do in terms of tourism in San Simeon - but the one major draw of the area is certainly one worth exploring. The opulent surroundings of Hearst Castle (the residence of William Randolph Hearst, of whom Citizen Kane was based) is worthy of a day of anybodys tourist time. Harking back to an age where grandiosity was encouraged, the mansion is an architects dream, with all sorts of styles and times included in the style of the property. The indoor pool is probably the most striking feature of the guided tour, and it is easy to imagine some of the debauched behaviour which surely took place within its walls.

San Simeon is the ideal place to stop for a couple of hours on the drive from LA or San Fran, relaxed and calm - As far from those two cities as possible!