Either of the above castles worth seeing? Have seen the Winchester on The Discovery Channel or some other tv show, just wondered if either are really, really good, or to much of tourist trap?

Can't say, haven't been, but if you choose to go to Hearst don't miss the elephant seals colony just north from San Simeon.

Winchester Mystry House is an OK stop if you are in the vicinity, but I certainly wouldn't put it in the same league as Hearst and I wouldn't classify it as a must see. Part of the attraction of Hearst Castle is its magnificant location on the Central CA coast, Winchester house is just a very large Victorian home with a couple architectural oddities, there's nothing special about this house other than an untrue story that the owner kept building to prevent hauntings.

They aren't even in the same league.

Hearst Castle is it's own destination, if for nothing else than the setting as SAB mentioned.

I consider Winchester house nothing more than a tacky tourist trap with bad, pimply faced tour guides reciting a hokey script. Not only is it NOT worth a detour to get to, but I'd say more like a detour to avoid.

If you're in the close vicinity I'd say it's ok to drive by, take a picture and say 'hey, that's the place we saw on Discorvery channel' anything more than that is a waste of time and $.

I agree with SAB.

The Winchester House is more of an architechtural curiousity...worth seeing if you have the time and are in the area.

The Hearst Castle is the "real deal" and worth going out of the way to see. If only the walls at San Simeon could talk.

The "Hearst Castle" in San Simeon is one of the great homes of the country. Book a room in the delightful town of Cambria, six miles to the south. And, as Faina suggested, don't miss the elephant seals that hang out on the beach a few miles north of San Simeon (if they happen to be in residence during your visit).