Getting tour tickets in .NET framework

Creating Data Matrix 2d barcode in .NET framework Getting tour tickets

Tickets for the daytime tours are $24 for adults and $12 for kids 6 to 17 The Evening Tour is $30 for adults and $15 for kids Children younger than 6 are free Prices are a few bucks cheaper during the off-season Booking your tour tickets in advance is always a good idea You can buy tickets right at the visitor center, but you have no guarantee that they ll be available a day s slate of tours can easily sell out You pay no fee for advance reservations, and you can make them from one hour to eight weeks in advance Call the California State Parks reservations line at % 800-444-4445, where a knowledgeable operator can assist you Ask about packages that include big-screen movies at the new National Geographic Theater (see the following section) You can also order tickets via the Internet at wwwhearstcastleorg If you re ordering tickets from outside the United States, call % 916-414-8400, ext 4100 If you need more information, call % 805-927-2020

You ll find plenty to keep you busy at the visitor center before, after, and in between tours In addition to an observation deck offering a good view of the Enchanted Hill, two gift shops, and food vendors (think ballpark variety and you ll get the picture), the center also includes a surprisingly good small museum In addition, visitors can learn more about the castle s history, art, and architecture, and even touch examples of the materials used in the construction of the estate at the permanent William Randolph Hearst Exhibit The center s newest attraction is Hearst Castle Experience National Geographic Theater (% 805-927-6811; wwwngtheatercom) In this theater, you can watch larger-than-life films, including the 40-minute Hearst Castle: Building the Dream and other films in five-story-high iWERKS format (just like IMAX) with seven-channel surround sound Shows begin every 45 minutes throughout the day The movie is included in the price of Tour 1, but if you want to take one of the other tours and still see the movie separately, it s going to cost you $8 for adults, $6 for kids 6 to 17

Just across Highway 1 from the entrance to the Hearst Castle Visitor Center is W R Hearst Memorial State Beach This pleasant day-use beach is generally too cold for swimming, but picnic tables, barbecues, and bathrooms make it perfect for in-between- or after-tour picnicking You can even do some fishing Look for whales offshore in winter Just north of San Simeon is a wonderful vista point called Piedras Blancas where you can watch elephant seals doing their natural thing up close and personal, frolicking and sunning themselves on the rocks year-round If you have questions about these creatures, don t hesitate to ask the docents on hand Finding this beach is easy just stop at the packed parking lot 41 2 miles north of the castle and follow the crowds along the short, sandy walk for a good vantage Keep your distance from these giant mammals, and don t go beyond the marked areas not only is it unhealthy for them but it can be dangerous for you In Cambria, Moonstone Beach is great for strolling and whale-watching in season Keep your eye on the sand for the semiprecious jasper stones that give the beach its name

Strolling the streets of laid-back Cambria is a pleasant change of pace after a day of lines and hectic sightseeing at Hearst Castle This charming artists colony has little more than 4 or 5 blocks to explore, but if you re tired of theme-park madness, it s worth checking out You ll find the area s best restaurants (see the Where to Dine section earlier in this chapter) and shops, less of the tacky touristy variety and more that are focused on good-quality crafts Before you set out, pick up the Cambria Historical Society s Welcome to Cambria brochure at your hotel, and take a simple but fun self-guided tour of the historical buildings in the East Village You ll not only get a history lesson about this quaint village, but you ll also discover a few places you may have overlooked otherwise, such as the blacksmith shop at 4121 Burton Dr, or the Santa Rosa Chapel and Cemetery at 2353 Main St The shopping highlight of the West Village is Home Arts, 727 Main St (% 805-927-ART1; wwwhome-artscom), which boasts an appealingly eclectic mix of country and contemporary home fashions and gifts The East Village has lots of worthwhile stops Tops among them is Seekers Glass Gallery, 4090 Burton Dr (% 800-841-5250 or 805-9274352; wwwseekersglasscom), a museum-quality art-glass gallery We