Are you tired of that fast-paced Silicon Valley life? In less than an hour, you can be sitting sipping a coffee in a picturesque coastal town or hiking the cliffs overlooking some of the biggest waves in America. It’s time to take a trip to Half Moon Bay, a quaint holiday spot known by Californians for its mild climate, incredible outdoor recreation options, and a reputation for taking the Fall very seriously indeed.
If it’s scenic drives you’re after, a stay in Half Moon Bay won’t disappoint. Two of our favorites include Stage Road Scenic Drive and Tunitas Creek-Purissima Creek Scenic Drive. Want to stroll or cycle along the epic California coastline? Take the California Coastal Trail from Half Moon Bay to Pillar Point Harbor. There are at least four nature preserves near the town, a working fishing harbor full of fresh-caught ocean eats, a historic lighthouse, local breweries, tourist farms, and even some world-class golf courses to work on that handicap.
Are you looking for things to do in Half Moon Bay? Perhaps you’re curious to see if it’s the spot for your next American vacation. So mount that surfboard onto your car, plan out the locally crafted preserves and cheeses you want to try, and watch on for our top picks in this perfect all-season destination.
Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail
As the name implies, this almost 4-mile-long trail runs the length of the Half Moon Bay coastline. It’s paved and set well away from car traffic, so it’s perfect for those looking for a leisurely stroll, bike, or skate under the sun—if you didn’t bring your own bicycles with you, you can rent them from one of the many vendors. The path is shaded by Cypress trees and edged with wildflowers to one side and white sand and rolling surf to the other. The trail ends at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, the perfect lunch spot.
Pidgeon Point Lighthouse
Do you love historic marine buildings? Then you’ll definitely want to make a stop at the Pidgeon Point Lighthouse, which has been designated a California Historical Landmark. This quaint mariner’s guide-light was built in 1871 and is still operational to this day as a youth hostel—though, of course, the lights are now powered by reliable LED bulbs! Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is also a popular tourist site for wildlife watching. Expect to get up close and personal with everything from sea lions and seals to pods of dolphins and whales.
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Half Moon Bay State Beaches
There are at least four main beaches in the Half Moon Bay coastal stretch: Surfers’ Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, and Francis Beach. Unlike other California beaches, these coves are best enjoyed for the abundant nature watching, camping, and hiking opportunities, or the chance to catch some waves with a board and wetsuit. The wild Pacific waters are cold and prone to dangerous rip tides. Just keep in mind, too, that the Half Moon Bay weather is notoriously temperamental. Even in the summer, it can be foggy, cold, and windy.
Scenic Drives Near Half Moon Bay
If the weather is misbehaving, as it so often does in Half Moon Bay, why not bundle the family into the car and head out on a scenic drive? Stage Road Scenic Drive runs for about seven miles between San Gregorio and Pescadero. You’ll wind through picturesque hobby farms, stands of eucalyptus, and the historic Mount Hope Cemetery. The 17-mile-long Tunitas Creek-Purissima Creek Scenic Drive is another great road trip nearby Half Moon Bay. The highlight of this drive is the chance to immerse yourself in old-growth redwood forests.
Half Moon Bay Distillery
Did you know that Half Moon Bay was a hub of activity during the Prohibition Era—for rum runners, not passionate prohibitionists! The Half Moon Bay Distillery was founded by Austrian native Ulli Bisono and their husband Caesar to honor this dastardly heritage. This locally-focused craft distillery creates a range of small-batch spirits with clever names like Purissima Vodka and Harvard Avenue Gin. Visit, and you’ll get to sample them all—after a tour of the distillery to learn about how they’re made.
Nature Preserves Near Half Moon Bay
It’s hardly surprising that the area around Half Moon Bay is home to some of the country’s most beautiful nature preserves. If you’re keen to see elephant seals, head to Año Nuevo State Park. It’s a protected breeding ground for these incredible creatures, with seals in their thousands migrating there every year. Sighting spots are limited, so book in advance. Bean Hollow State Park is a little less crowded and a great place to see seals, too—this time its sea lions. If you’re more interested in underwater marine creatures, head to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. You can peruse the rock pools looking at low tide looking for all the fish, starfish, anemones, and crabs that live there. Finally, we recommend heading to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve to walk among some of the tallest trees on the planet.
Downtown Half Moon Bay
After all that outdoor adventure, you’re probably looking to feed your belly and empty your wallet of your holiday money. And there’s no better place to do it than the unique restaurants and boutiques in downtown Half Moon Bay. The historic downtown area spans about four blocks and is full of everything from fair trade craft shops to eclectic bookstores. The cuisine ranges from farm-to-table cafe fare to authentic Italian, with all eateries making the most of the fresh land and ocean produce found right on their doorstep.
California Coastal Trail
If you’ve already checked the Half Moon Bay Coastline Trail off your bucket list, it’s time to tackle another ocean-side challenge: the California Coastal Trail. This paved trail meanders through untouched coastal ecosystems replete with cypress trees, crystalline streams, bird-filled marshes, and meadows of wildflowers. Look to the other side to admire the wild waves and rocky shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. The trail first opened in 1999 and extends for 1,230 miles along the coast. It’s open for human-powered traffic only.
Pillar Point Harbor
Though fishing was once a staple Californian career, the state has few working fishing harbors today. Thankfully, one of those left is close to Half Moon Bay! Pillar Point Harbor not only has an incredible array of local eateries serving the catch of the day, but the harbor is filled with all manner of colorful fishing boats. If you hop into a kayak or SUP and paddle the calm waters, keep an eye out for bat rays and harbor seals. It’s also the starting point for whale watching tours—only available during migration season.
Devil’s Slide Trail
The ominously named Devil’s Slide Trail isn’t for the faint hearted since it’s carved into the steep sides of San Pedro Mountain. The trail runs along what was once a portion of Highway 1 that was closed due to one too many landslides. It makes for a unique hike or bike ride since the original road is still intact! Things to see include unrivaled coastal views and a wide array of ocean life—from pods of whales to peregrine falcons.
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
If you’re in Pillar Point Harbor, be sure to stop in at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. This craft brewery was one of the first to open in the area (it opened way back in the early 2000s) and boasts a continually changing, seasonally oriented list of house brewed beers to sample. Try the Half Moon Bay IPA or Hefeweizen on tap or grab any of their beers to go in a can or bottle. Best of all, you can sip your brew and chow down on everything from fish and chips to nachos on an outdoor patio overlooking the ocean.
Lemos Farm
If you’re traveling with kids, pay a visit to Lemos Farm. The petting zoo is home to all your standard small farm animals (think goats, pigs, rabbits, and sheep), you can tour the farm by train or hayride, slide down an enormous inflatable slide, or pretend you’re digging the foundations for a new barn in the Dig Zone. Go there in fall for the pumpkins and haunted house and in December for the Christmas trees. For older kids, we highly recommend joining a goat yoga class—yes, that’s right, you get to do yoga with a baby goat climbing all over you!
Half Moon Bay Golf Courses
Looking for somewhere to get in a bit of exercise as you admire the ocean. Why not play a round at one of Half Moon Bay’s two world-leading golf courses? Both are located at the Ritz-Carlton resort and the older of the two courses was designed by none other than Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane. If you play on the newer course, designed in 1997 by Arthur Hills, on the weekends, you’ll be serenaded by bagpipes. Both courses have hosted everything from US Open qualifiers to actual golf championships, so expect a quality game.
Do you think this is a comprehensive list of things to do in Half Moon Bay? Or would you add some places, events, or sites we’ve missed? Debate things not-to-be-missed and share your secret scenic spots in the comment section below. If you want to watch more videos like this one, head over to the ViewCation channel and subscribe. Hit that notification bell while you’re there. Oh, and don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up and share it with your friends and family.