Tucked along the California coast, Half Moon Bay welcomes visitors from all over the state and the world. With abundant open spaces, lush, rolling hills, farmland and state parks, the coastline of Half Moon Bay is one of the most beautiful and tranquil places in the world. However, don't let the small-town descriptor fool 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. Newsom threatened to take legal action against the city if they continued to delay the construction of the housing.
Half Moon Bay commissioner Rick Hernandez said they were reluctant to approve housing for older farmworkers because “we love the character of our small-town community, and he says that once this proposal is approved, it will generate more requests for other construction.” In the city, the population was dispersed: 22.2% under 18 years of age, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64 and 9.6% from 65 years of age or older. The average age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.
Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is done through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The city has the Peninsula Library System. The city is served by Half Moon Bay Airport. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Dream Machine, 4th of July fashion show in Sol fashion, Make it Main Street, Nights of Lights, live music. You can start your day in Half Moon Bay and drive along the coast to watch the sunset in Santa Cruz, or you can start in Santa Cruz and finish in Half Moon Bay.
The album Half Moon Bay was recorded by jazz pianist Bill Evans in 1973 at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay. 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. As for the Mavericks, the waves that Half Moon Bay is known for around the world, only the most experienced surfers should consider tackling challenging waves that can reach heights of 15 meters or more. 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.
There's no doubt that you'll want to spend as much time as possible next to the Pacific, and several miles of California's coastal path, from border to border, cross Half Moon Bay. 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 have only run into heavy traffic once Time. 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. Enjoy a cold craft beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company or a delicious lobster roll at Sam's Chowder House.
Half Moon Bay began as a rural agricultural area, used primarily by the Mission of San Francisco de Asís (established in 1977) for grazing cattle, horses and oxen. If you're looking to treat yourself to luxury after a day of exploring the coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, perches on a cliff with a view to the ocean.
