In 2003, we decided to take a week long trip with the Elderhostel group which began somewhere around the town of Portola, California and ended with a visit to the Hearst Castle. We spent some time at the cabins which were used as our base camp while we were learning about the area and then investigating some of the unique sights which were nearby. Elderhostel provides both an educational lesson and a learning experience while actually visiting the sights, which you have studied.
We made several visits while staying here to see all of the picturesque and exciting recreational activities with the Elderhostel sponsors providing all the transportation and the knowledgeable tour guides. The first portion of the trip we took was by train and we rode all the way into the forest to see the big trees.
We saw several things along the way to see the big Sequoia trees in the forest where we would be hiking. The guides provided interesting information about everything we passed and clarified questions we would ask. We saw the Mother of Forest tree, which was 328’ in height and 93’ in girth. It was larger than the Father of the Forest tree, which was nearby.
We went to Monterrey and to Salinas where we had lunch at the former home of John Ernst Steinbeck. The waitresses gave us much information and we found it to be most interesting. Steinbeck had written many important books, such as Of Mice and Men and his Pulitzer winning novel, Grapes of Wrath. He seemed to be passionate in his patronage of the workers in the fields of California. He seemed to hold them in high esteem.
We also visited the John Steinbeck Museum and the Cannery Row area of Monterrey and saw many various fish. This is on the Bay of Monterrey and from the pier you are able to see various animals in the water.
After our journey to Salinas, we were taken by bus to Hearst Castle in San Simeon along the coast. Hearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark Mansion located on the central coast of California. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan, between 1919 and 1947, as a residence for newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951.
Barbara was looking back at the Hearst Castle as we were leaving the grounds. It is too big to be seen in one day and you would need al least seven trips to see all of the grounds, the rooms and the statues that are in the park.
It was a entertaining part of our trip to see all that was available for a one day trip.