Avila Beach Park, under re-construction

They're rebuilding the entire town, due to a *cough* minor environmental issue

Debbie liked the multicolored houses

Strange to see a beach town being built from scratch

At least their themed Coke machine is operational

Multicolored kayaks for rent

What's that bird got there?

Debbie bravely chases off the beast and assumes its position

Oh no, it's Patrick the starfish!

He's pretty, but hard as a rock, front and back

The semi-famous Morro Rock out in Morro Bay

Sundial at entrance to Hearst Castle Visitor Center

The "castle" itself is high on the hill above

Accessible only via fancy busses

Yet another tour group decends upon the dramatic grounds

Big view down to San Simeon and the Pacific far below

View looking up the coast

Looks like a good place for a party

The world-famous Neptune pool

Pretty snazzy place for a swim

They've added a modern stair to the pool to avoid wear on the original marble ones

Preparing to dive in. Not.

Neptune pool from above

One of several guest houses

One of the four unique bedrooms in each guest house

Gardens around the main house above

One of many sculptures from Hearst's art collection on display

The oldest and most valuable sculpture in the collection

Dazzling array of landscaping, art, and architecture

The main house

It takes heavy equipment to trim these trees

They send each piece down a cable to the ground

Ramp for Hearst's wiener dog to get out of the goldfish pond

Front door from inside

The grand dining room, with priceless tapestries all around

Hearst insisted on infusing a "ranch style" ambiance to the place with catsup and mustard

Game room

Modest "home theater" showed the latest releases from Hearst's movie studio

Cool white tennis courts

Roman themed indoor pool

Optical illusion made pool bottom appear to be shallow and sloping, but it's actually very deep and flat

Up the coast a bit is a major Elephant Seal home beach, and sometimes windsurfing hot spot

They always return here after months at sea

Debbie peers at the critters from the viewing platform

Young seals bask on the beach

And learn to play/fight in the water too

This is a famous wave sailing spot, in season

FIN.