Mission San Antonio de Padua is located on 80 pristine acres of what was once the Milpitas unit of the sprawling Hearst Ranch and sits within the "Valley of the Oaks" on California's scenic Central Coast.

This HGA day-trip begins with a drive north, car-pooing for those interested, which will take about two hours if leaving from Cambria.  Please plan to arrive at the Mission at 9:45 am.  Starting at 10:00 am, experienced docent Joan Steele will lead a detailed tour of the Mission and out-buildings.  At noon, we will enjoy a typical Spanish mean prepared and provided at the Mission.  

IMPORTANT: Your $15 per person additional charge for this program includes the costs for the tour and lunch at the Mission.  Because of advance reservations needed by the Mission for both tour and lunch, and the required pre-payment to them, we are limiting this event to 30 people with paid reservations into the HGA by May 4th.  We will be carpooling so let us know if you would like to be a driver or a rider.  There is plenty of parking on site for those who wish to drive their own cars.

IMPORTANT 2:  To enter the military base, you will be required to show your vehicle registration and proof of vehicle insurance along with personal identification such as a driver's license of EACH PERSON IN THE VEHICLE to the checkpoint guard.

There is also an economical self-serve gas station on this base about a mile east of the Hacienda.

After lunch at the Mission (about 1:00 pm), we will travel less than a mile's drive from the Mission to William Randolph Hearst's California Hacienda, built 1929-1931 (re: Librarian, Sandy Heinemann).  Architect Julia Morgan designed it as an elegant, uncluttered building with mission-style arches, creating rooms for the ranch's cowboys and more spacious accommodations for Hearst and his guests.  At the Hacienda, you can even spend the night in the same place where the famous millionaire and his glamorous friends partied and slept in the 1920's and 1930's.

A docent will lead us on a tour of this historical landmark starting at 1:30 pm.  No charge.  The bar may be open at the Hacienda to quench your thirst during this event. 

Note that this Hacienda is located on the Fort Hunter Liggett military reservation, the larget US Army Reserve Command post spreading over 165,000 acres.  This used to be part of the 250,000 acres owned by WRH.  We hope to see you for this exciting and educational day-trip!

This is turning out to be an annual event ~ our kickoff to the summer commitment and all the tourists who will be coming to the Central Coast.  It was enjoyed by so many of our members last summer, we decided to keep it on the calendar!  Steve Hamill will be our Head BBQ Chef again this year.  Everyone is asked to bring a dessert to share potluck style.  Also, plan to bring your own drinks, please.  The rest... BBQ, beans, the works... will be included in the per person cost, which we'll have as soon as actual food costs can be estmated.

This is a fun event and a great way to enjoy the Hearst State Beach at the little town of San Simeon.  Mark it on your calendar and we'll have more details as we get closer.  Hope to see you all there!