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Half Moon Bay Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos
A lot of people travel from busy Los Angeles to lovely San Francisco in order to escape the rush of L.A. city life. But where do the poor San Franciscans go when they need respite from their fair city? That’s easy - Half Moon Bay, of course. Take the scenic drive a mere 30 miles south of San Fran to experience this lovely and tranquil enclave with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean and a cozy and quaint historic downtown. Located within the San Mateo County, Half Moon Bay is a rural seaside community with a population hovering just under 12,000 and is only an hour’s drive from most places in the Bay Area. With an average annual temperature of 62 degrees, Half Moon Bay provides the perfect setting for any activity ranging from horse back riding on the beach to purchasing high quality art at a reputable gallery. First things first though – with such proximity to the roaring Pacific it’d be impossible to discuss Half Moon Bay without diving into the finer points of it’s even finer beaches.
Half Moon Bay State Beach is a four mile stretch of protected sandy paradise ideal for sunbathing and camping and Venice State Beach provides similar amenities in addition to scenic trails perfect for hiking, exploring and even horseback riding. Any surf fans out there? Well on the north edge of Half Moon Bay just off Pillar Point lies Mavericks – the famous big wave surf spot that pro surfers often visit to face down the 50 plus foot waves. For those who prefer not to face injury during their recreational sport of choice, Half Moon Bay Golf Links provides lush green fair ways, challenging and intricate holes all set against the back drop of the roaring ocean. And after a day at the beach, on the waves or on the links, what better way to wind down than a night in historic Half Moon Bay downtown. Check out the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for a pint of California’s finest lager or visit Half Moon Bay in October for its popular Art and Pumpkin Festival held on Main Street downtown each year. Clearly, Half Moon Bay is a great place to escape to; however, a problem with escaping to this cozy community is it might be too difficult to leave!
