Half Moon Bay, a quick drive from San Francisco, is a coastal gem that’ll make you say, “Holy crab cakes, this place is gorgeous!” Stunning ocean views? Check. Fresh seafood that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance? You bet. Throw in some quirky shops and a chance to frolic in flower fields, and you’ve got yourself a perfect day trip!
Getting There
Getting to Half Moon Bay is a breeze, even if you’re not a fan of navigating winding roads. It’s right off Highway 1, so you can’t miss it (unless you’re too busy gawking at the stunning coastal views). If you’re coming from San Francisco or the airport, just hop in a rental car or snag a rideshare and you’ll be there in about 30-45 minutes, depending on how many other people had the same brilliant idea.
For those who prefer to let someone else do the driving, the SamTrans bus #17 is your new best friend. It leaves from the Daly City BART station and takes a little over an hour, giving you plenty of time to practice your “ooh” and “ahh” reactions to the scenery. On weekends and holidays, cyclists can take advantage of the free SBBC Shuttle, which hauls both you and your trusty two-wheeled steed down the coast. No matter how you get there, the journey is half the fun!
Exploring Downtown Half Moon Bay
Main Street in Half Moon Bay is the place to be! This old-timey road is packed with cute little shops, places to drink wine and stare at walls, and a bunch of eateries serving up grub that was picked, like, yesterday. Just don’t ask where they got those “locally-sourced” pigeons from.
Shopping
Half Moon Bay is a shopper’s paradise, but be warned, your wallet might cry for mercy. Auntie Jill’s is a sugar fiend’s dream with enough taffy flavors to make Willy Wonka jealous. Revelry Boutique is where the fashionistas flock, so don’t be surprised if you spot a few Real Housewives hunting for their next designer fix.
As for the bookworms, Half Moon Bay Bookstore has got you covered, whether you’re into steamy romance novels or quantum physics (no judgment). Just don’t blame me if you end up broke and carrying more shopping bags than a Kardashian after a Black Friday sale!
Art Galleries
The Coastside’s natural beauty, inspiring surroundings and talented community of artists have given rise to many remarkable galleries in Half Moon Bay that showcase fine paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry and sculpture. Stroll by Art Ventures to see the remarkable oils and watercolors of owner Victor Spinski. MAHZEH dazzles the eye with vibrant mosaic housewares. Or walk through the courtyard gate to discover Portola Art Gallery, which displays diverse contemporary works in a serene garden setting.
Wine Tasting
California’s world-famous wine regions stretch right up to Half Moon Bay’s doorstep. Many area vineyards offer satellite tasting rooms right in downtown Half Moon Bay, making it easy to discover Monterey County’s finest Pinots, classic Santa Cruz Mountain wines and more without venturing far. Stop by the Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Company to sample award winners from over 20 local wineries while taking in the relaxed small-town atmosphere.
Barterra Winery, SiSi Winery and Meiomi Wines all have tasting rooms in Half Moon Bay as well, each pouring their own selections in unique and cozy venues.
Restaurants
When you work up an appetite exploring downtown Half Moon Bay, fortunately a cornucopia of fantastic dining options await around every corner showcasing the very best of west coast dining coupled with stunning ocean views.
It-It-It-It Sushi promises the best and most authentic sushi in Half Moon Bay, no small claim given the competition. Their signature rolls are as artful as they are delicious.
La Costanera boasts Peruvian cuisine coupled with an incredible waterfront location. Their famed pisco sours and ceviche with fresh halibut, tuna or salmon simply cannot be missed.
Sam’s Chowder House serves award-winning lobster bisque alongside burgers, fish and chips and other coastal favorites on their expansive deck overlooking the marina and ocean. It makes for equally wonderful lunch or dinner locale.
Pasta Moon comes highly recommended for handcrafted pastas and sauces, wood-fired pizzas and grill specialties of chicken, seafood and steaks. They also make exceptional use of fresh farm produce from their own Half Moon Bay location.
The Best of Coastal Recreation
With six miles of beaches and a National Seashore in it’s own backyard, Half Moon Bay offers endless opportunities for coastal recreation and breathtaking Pacific scenery.
Beaches
Find your own sandy spot to comb for shells or watch the waves crash against rocky outcroppings all along the Half Moon Bay Coastside.
Cowell Ranch Beach stretches for nearly a mile with warm sand, picnic tables and trails meandering atop bluffs embracing the shoreline below. Nearby Surfers Beach lives up to it’s name with prime waves drawing surfers and spectators. Poplar Beach, situated next to the Ritz Carleton right in Half Moon Bay, offers one of the more sheltered beaches good for swimming or launching kayaks plus benches, a playground and volleyball courts.
Half Moon Bay State Park
Situated three miles north of downtown Half Moon Bay, over 400 acres of diverse coastal habitats have been protected within Half Moon Bay State Park, offering hiking, bird watching and horseback riding opportunities with unbeatable ocean vistas.
Redwood and eucalyptus forests filled with songbirds give way to fields of wildflowers that lead visitors right to the edge of towering sea cliffs plunging towards the sea. Miles of trails cater to all levels of hikers, whether winding gently above the ocean through the trees or leading daring trekkers up and down the steep cliff sides.
Visitors can also pitch a tent at the campground, offering quiet and private sites mere steps from the beach in one of the more beautiful camp settings Northern California has to offer.
Pillar Point Harbor
At the northern end of Half Moon Bay lies Pillar Point Harbor, where fisherman bring in daily catches of rockfish, surf perch, salmon, Dungeness crab and more. Fishing charters and whale watching tours depart regularly from Johnson Pier, providing visitors the ultimate Half Moon Bay experience surrounded by the immensity of ocean and sky, with eyes peeled for breaching whales or seabirds skimming the swells around you.
Back on land gourmet seafood abounds, nowhere better than at The Oyster Bar with sprawling views of the Harbor where you can get ultra-fresh oysters, cioppino, ceviche, fish and chips and excellent local wine and beer. Grab crab sandwiches and snacks right off the boat at Captain Jack’s harbourfront shop or have a big family-style seafood feast at Sam’s Chowder House overlooking the docks.
Flower Farming
The fields rolling inland and hills hugging the coast create ideal conditions for flower farming in Half Moon Bay. Now producing well over half of all cut flowers commercially grown in the U.S., the Half Moon Bay area dazzles year-round with brilliant colors beckoning visitors to stroll amongst blossoms by the sea.
Flower Growing Seasons
Spring brings millions of cheerfully colored pansies while blazing summer showcases warm-hued sunflowers and dahlias. Fiery red roses light up the fields in winter followed soon after by vibrant spring bulbs of tulips, irises and lilies around February and March.
Different flowers peak at various times, but the floral display in Half Moon Bay constantly changes ensuring something eye-catching will always be in large, vibrant bloom.
Flower Farms & Nurseries
Many Half Moon Bay farms that supply flowers and plants allow visitors to freely park and meander through their acres of vibrant blossoms.
Sweet Pea Floral Farm near Main Street fills tables with buckets of fresh cut flowers that visitors can select for special occasion bouquets. FB Flowers lets you cut stems straight from their delphinium and lilac bushes from June through August. While Sweet Annie Floral Nursery delights with seven acres overflowing with dazzling floral variety open for self-serve creating custom bouquets from March to December.
Other popular spots like We Grow Dreams Farm, Growing Grounds Farm and Franscioni Nursery showcase rarer specialty species or have special seasons allowing visitors to pick their own flowers as well.
Annual Pumpkin Festival
No celebration encapsulates Half Moon Bay’s agricultural richness quite like the annual Art & Pumpkin Festival held each October. Now in it’s 48th year, the festival stretches from Main Street through several downtown blocks plus surrounding pumpkin patches and farms with something fun offered for all ages.
Hundreds of talented artisans peddle unique wares from woodwork to photography to stonework. Live music entertains festivalgoers of all ages across three stages, while costumed characters perform skits and delight crowds. Plentiful food vendors dish up jumbo turkey legs, teriyaki bowls, funnel cakes and classic festival staples with local spins like smoked salmon chowder bread bowls.
Most iconic are Half Moon Bay’s pumpkin displays, from colossal specimens weighing over a ton hoisted by cranes to visionary sculptures crafted from countless gourds, you’ll never look at pumpkins the same way again.
As the festival wraps up awards are handed out for the most impressive pumpkins and creations, but the real winners are the attendees that get to experience such an uplifting community celebration of Half Moon Bay’s agricultural roots.
Places to Stay
With so much to do in Half Moon Bay, many opt to extend their coastal getaway by staying the night or full weekend to better enjoy magnificent stretches of beach at sunrise, lush nature preserves bathed in fog at dusk and the vibrant downtown scene after dark.
Hotels & Resorts
For ultimate seaside luxury, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay pampers guests with fine dining, a lavish spa, golf course, pools overlooking the Pacific and elegantly appointed rooms and suites to relax at day’s end.
The Beach House Hotel provides sprawling ocean views right along the waterfront, with recently renovated accommodations, a great onsite restaurant in Pelican Rock and quick beach access.
Budget-friendly options like the Half Moon Bay Lodge offer clean, comfortable rooms and free breakfast starting under $100/night during non-peak times.
VRBO and Airbnb also provide great rental options, from hillside homes with hot tubs showcasing gorgeous coastal views to quiet little cottages tucked amidst downtown shops and restaurants.
Camping
Pitch your tent mere steps from the Pacific waves at Half Moon Bay State Beach, where over 50 sites reside sheltered within a Monterey cypress grove. Amenities include restrooms, picnic tables, fire pits and horseshoe pits. Booking early is recommended as sites are extremely popular year-round.
Nearby private campgrounds like Pescadero Creek RV Park and Pelican Point RV Park provide RVs and trailers easy access to beaches, nature preserves and area attractions.
Day Trip Ideas
Half Moon Bay offers such an abundance of sights, flavors and activities it can be hard to experience them all in just one outing. Here are some proposed day trip itineraries to help you make the most of your Half Moon Bay getaway:
Art & Garden Stroll
Stroll tree-lined streets while enjoying downtown Half Moon Bay’s many galleries, stopping to picnic in a garden oasis for lunch. Top highlights include Art Ventures Gallery, Portola Art Gallery nestled amidst serene gardens and the vibrant MAHZEH mosaic housewares gallery.
Tasting Adventure
Sip and savor Half Moon Bay’s tastiest offerings from nearby award-winning wineries and fresh coastal cuisine. Start by sampling varietals at Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Company, Barterra Winery or Sí Sí Winery downtown, then enjoy an oceanfront lunch at Sam’s Chowder House, It-It-It Sushi or La Costanera.
Pumpkins & Flowers
Immerse in Half Moon Bay’s agricultural abundance! In fall, venture out to one of the many pumpkin patches to wander through brilliant orange gourds before selecting your perfect pumpkin fit for carving. During springtime, find fields bursting with radiant flower blossoms and create your own dazzling bouquet to take home.
Coastal Recreation
Spend the day immersed in Half Moon Bay’s natural coastal beauty! Walk along the Pacific headlands of Half Moon Bay State Park to take in sweeping ocean vistas before having a picnic lunch at the beach. After, rent kayaks and paddle out into Pillar Point Harbor for an up-close look at the Harbor seals.
Horseback Beach Adventure
Channel your inner cowboy/cowgirl by going on a beachside trot or gallop with Sea Horse Ranch and Equestrian Center! Ride along the scenic bluffs of Half Moon Bay State Park overlooking the ocean, then put your boots in the surf as you ride along the sand to make it an extra special experience.
FAQs
Downtown Half Moon Bay has public parking lots conveniently located around Main Street or you can park for up to 2 hours in downtown parallel parking spots. The State Beach has a large lot right at the park entrance.
Top attractions include exploring downtown shops and art galleries, walking coastal trails along the beach and bluffs, stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking in the Harbor, tasting local wines, feasting on fresh seafood, wandering fields of incredible flowers, horseback riding on the beach and more.
The weather tends to be mild year-round, with average highs ranging from the upper 50s in winter and spring, to low 70s in summer and fall. Lows average in the 40s to low 50s. Rainfall happens sporadically Nov-April. Dressing in layers is recommended.
Downtown Half Moon Bay features an array of excellent dining options serving locally sourced cuisine and fresh seafood, including It-It-It Sushi, La Costanera Peruvian, Sam’s Chowder House, Pasta Moon House-made pasta and more.
Yes, lodging options range from the Ritz Carlton to budget-friendly options under $100/night like the Half Moon Bay Lodge. Great vacation rental options exist through VRBO and Airbnb as well.
Yes, Half Moon Bay has 6 miles of stunning, clean Pacific beaches like Cowell’s Beach, Surfer’s Beach, Poplar Beach and more, along with the coastal trails of Half Moon Bay State Park.
Conclusion
With it’s captivating landscape, welcoming community, charming main street, fields of brilliant flowers and bounty of fresh seafood alongside world-class wine, Half Moon Bay offers the perfect Northern California coastal getaway. Whether you come to comb sandy beaches, sample flavors from land and sea, capture inspiration through art and nature or simply soak in some laidback vibes, Half Moon Bay promises to relax, revitalize and restore all who spend a day or two enjoying it’s myriad delights.
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