Half Moon Bay is a small town on the California coast, south of San Francisco. A number of beaches along the bay include Half Moon Bay State Beach. The Coastside Trail leads north to Pillar Point, close to the huge waves of the Mavericks surf area. Nearby, Montara Mountain rises in the protected area of Rancho Corral of Earth.
The Purisima Creek redwood preserve is located on the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, secluded guesthouses and exclusive Club access at our Half Moon Bay resort in California. This five-star Forbes resort focuses on the guest experience and offers true Ritz-Carlton service that creates guests for life. However, don't let the small town descriptor I fooled you.
Half Moon Bay has the best of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in one place. With a vast and diverse landscape that encompasses miles of wide sandy beaches, lush cliff-top meadows and forested hills, there's a lot to explore. Our enviable coastal environment, with a dynamic active port and a thriving surf and water sports culture, will inspire you to hop on a fishing boat, kayak or paddleboard and explore our diverse marine ecosystem. In 2024, Half Moon Bay politicians were criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom for repeatedly delaying approval of a 40-unit apartment building for high-level farmworkers. Half Moon Bay's main street is the Bay Area's best kept secret for unique and interesting stores, epic restaurants, art galleries, tasting rooms and more.
Stay at The Ritz-Carlton, the Half Moon Bay resort, and you'll have access to the hotel's two professional golf courses, including one with ocean views from each hole, a professional golf store and a concierge specializing in this course. The Half Moon Bay State Beach visitor center is located in Francis Beach and is open Saturday and Sunday (weather and volunteer availability permitting). The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay. Search all accommodations 1855 Zaballa House Aristocrat Hotel Beach House Hotel Cypress Inn On Miramar Beach Half Moon Bay Inn Half Moon Bay Lodge Harbor View Inn at Mavericks Mill Rose Inn Nantucket Whale Inn Ocean View Inn Oceano Hotel & Spa Quality Inn Seal Cove Inn The Miramar Inn and Suites The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.
Enjoy a cold craft beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company or a delicious lobster roll at Sam's Chowder House. The closest airport to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, is San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The coastline of Half Moon Bay is home to a wealth of hiking spots, from lush redwood forests to rolling hillsides. Coastal.
Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is provided through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a joint effort of the Half Moon Bay Coast Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. The real growth of the area occurred after the Second World War, with the construction of numerous subdivisions, which eventually led to the incorporation of Half Moon Bay in 1959. Half Moon Bay's economy is dominated by a handful of companies, the largest of which is the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, which employs 500 people and is a major source of property tax and tourism revenues for the city.
