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. The coastline encompasses the cities of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, San Gregorio, La Honda and Pescadero. The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a joint effort of the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Office, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. Half Moon Bay is approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco, 10 miles (16 km) west of San Mateo and 45 miles (72 km) north of Santa Cruz.
Neighboring cities include El Granada, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Moss Beach and Montara to the north and Purissima, San Gregorio and Pescadero to the south. From Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz is about an hour's drive south (without traffic), but there are many stops along the way that interrupt the trip. San Mateo County's coastline is comprised of more than 300 square miles of beautiful California landscapes, with easy access to sandy beaches, redwood forests, and open spaces. Half Moon Bay is located on the Pacific coast, between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastline in California has to offer.
It is approximately 45 miles south of San Francisco and is located in the westernmost part of San Mateo County. With its historic center, shops, art galleries, restaurants, accommodations, beaches, parks, golf courses, nurseries and farms, it's a wonderful local and regional destination. The Pumpkin Festival, held in October, attracts people from all over the country to enjoy its panoramic views, excellent cuisine, art, craftsmanship and genuine hospitality. Half Moon Bay is a small, picturesque city next to the Pacific Ocean, known as the pumpkin capital of the world.
If you're planning a weekend getaway to Half Moon Bay, you'll definitely need a place to rest a bit before continuing to explore this beautiful city. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Dream Machinesol, 4th of July parade in the manner of Make it Main Street Nights of LightsLive Music. Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The racial makeup of Half Moon Bay was 8,580 (75.8%) white, 82 (0.7%) African American, 71 (0.6%) Native American, 490 (4.3%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islanders, 1710 (15.1%) from other races, and 382 (3.4%) from two or more races. The few times Zach and I have driven to Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz have always been on the weekend, but we've been lucky and only run into heavy traffic once.
The 1992 film Raising Cain, which takes place and was filmed on the San Francisco Peninsula, mentions a fictional swamp shaped like a crescent. Agriculture, home to many local farms, remains an important part of Half Moon Bay's economy to this day, and the city is known as the pumpkin capital of the world. 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. Half Moon Bay's main street is the Bay Area's best kept secret for unique and interesting shops, epic restaurants, art galleries, tasting rooms and much more.
After exploring Half Moon Bay and making whatever stops you want, drive along the coast (or climb, depending on the route) and stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay. Pillar Point Harbor, home port of the vital commercial fishing industry, offers opportunities to kayak and drink local beer in Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. For example, the first time I visited her, I knew I wanted to see the sunset at Shark Fin Cove (near Santa Cruz), so I started the day at Half Moon Bay.
Tucked along the California coast, Half Moon Bay welcomes visitors from all over the state and the world.
