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. Home to many local farms, agriculture 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 Art and Pumpkin Festival Half Moon Bay Wine and Jazz Festival Pacific Coast Jazz and Wine Festival, Dream Machinesol, 4th of July parade, Make it Main Street, nights of lights, live music. The shoreline of Half Moon Bay is home to a wealth of hiking spots, from lush redwood forests to rolling coastal slopes.
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The United States Navy's seaplane USS Half Moon (AVP-2) during World War II was named in honor of Half Moon Bay and retained that name when it served as the USCGC Half Moon weather vessel of the United States Coast Guard for more than 20 years after the war. The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a cooperative effort of the Half Moon Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. 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 real growth of the area occurred after World War II, with the construction of numerous subdivisions, which eventually led to the incorporation of Half Moon Bay in 1959. Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is done through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
Half Moon Bay's main street is the Bay Area's best kept secret, where you'll find unique and interesting shops, epic restaurants, art galleries, tasting rooms and much more. Tucked along the California coast, Half Moon Bay welcomes visitors from all over the state and the world. Half Moon Bay offers miles and miles of sprawling sandy beaches, offering a serene getaway and picturesque views along the north coast from California. The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay.
The port of Pillar Point, at the northern end of Half Moon Bay, offers a protected pier for ships and provides other marine infrastructure. Enjoy a cold craft beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company or a delicious lobster roll at Sam's Chowder House.
