The Hearst Castle

The coastline that parallels Route 1 in central California is so breathtaking that you might be forgiven for missing the zebras on the opposite side of the road.

And that huge chateau perched far off on the hillside? Almost unnoticeable at highway speeds.

Both belong to the legacy of larger-than-life newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, who chose this surprisingly unobtrusive spot along the Pacific Coast Highway to build his 165-room estate. (Associated Press)