Driving south on Hwy. 1, San Simeon and the remarkable Hearst Castle slowly disappear from the rearview mirror. The primary stop on today’s itinerary - it’s your last of seven glorious days on California’s central coast - was the 165-room mansion built by media mogul William Randolph Hearst. An opulent wonder, the castle was worth both the wait and the 40-mile drive.

Now, making your way back to your hotel in San Luis Obispo, you spy the seaside community of Morro Bay and search the coastline for the last stop on your list of things to see.