Would like to see Hearst Castle in March. What is best airport to fly into. San Francisco or LA? How long to get there from the closest airport? Also, If we decide to do only two days, what else is nearby? Any inns or B and B recommendations? Thanks

The closest major airport to San Simeon is San Jose International. From San Jose to San Simeon it's a 3 hour drive. If you have 2 days I would advise staying in Cambria (lots of inns and B&B's there) and take a morning tour of Hearst Castle.

http://cambriachamber.org/business_d...ry/lodging.htm

The next day after the tour take a drive up highway 1 through Big Sur, Point Lobos, and Monterey on your way back to San Jose.

Here is a link to an interactive map of highway 1 between San Simeon and Monerey/Carmel.

http://www.pelicannetwork.net/big.sur.coast.htm

Be sure to reserve your tickets for the Hearst Castle tour.

If you can get a connection into Monterey Peninsula airport, it is even closer, as it is about an hour and 15 minutes south of San Jose airport. Otherwise, San Jose is the closes major airport, as Hann said. Hann's other suggestions are good, or you can stay in Carmel/Monterey area, lots of nice B&Bs there also.
You must buy the Hearst Castle tickets well in advance, they sell tickets to tours at specific times, and you can buy them online.

Yep - I would suggest flying into SJ or Monterey.

To get tickets go on to the web at Hearst Castle and you can make all arrangements and get good descriptions of the tours.

When we went a month ago we stayed in a motel in San Simeon. - The San Simeon Lodge. OK rooms and the food was nourishing. but it is only three miles from the castle.

Even though we have made the drive on Route One many times it is still exciting. So I would make an effort to include it in your plans :-B

If decide to fly into a commuter airport, the closest one is San Luis Obispo which is only about 40 miles from Hearst Castle. The Cambria suggestion is a good one since there are quite a few nice inns (do a search here for Cambria) and places to eat.

The Blue Whale Inn is very nice. We recently stayed at the Cypress Cove Inn and really enjoyed it. Get an oceanview, fireplace room. It's wonderful. The Sow's Ear Cafe is our favorite dinner spot.

The Sea Chest is also very good but they do not take reservations or credit cards there. The Moonstone Bar & Grill is very good for breakfast or lunch. Sit at "the rail" and take in the awesome ocean views!! ***kim***

You might want to consider, in San Simeon itself and very close to the castle (much closer than Cambria), the Cavalier Resort, which has rooms which are actually oceanfront, a surprising rarity in the northern three-fourths of California and the only ones in this area(www.cavalierresort.com). Not all the rooms are oceanfront--be sure to specify. They are pricey but worth it if you'd like to have the experience of having the surf nearly at your door.

We looked at this property the last time we were in the area and it appeared to me to be rather run-down. I looked at their website and it does say they are going through a remodeling stage so maybe this will help the property look nicer. ***kim***