California Part II: Santa Barbara and Hearst Castle

Before we left LA, Brad took me on a surprise detour.

I may have been just a little excited when we pulled up to this house. Then the one right below it. 

 

Do you recognize these houses????

Then it was off to Santa Barbara. We did two hour legs in the car, with many stops along beautiful beaches. 

 

We ended in Santa Maria. 

And the next morning we drove to Hearst Castle.

 Which was unbelievable.

Oh, this is just the 2,000 sq foot guest house. 

Outside at the Neptune Pool. 

The gardens were immaculate. 

 

Very important to stop and smell all the flowers.

I loved all the citrus fruit trees.

And this is the indoor pool. 

Then we drove up to Big Sur, and stayed in a little cabin-like hotel right smack in the heart of Big Sur.