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. 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. 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 closest airport to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 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. The United States Navy's seaplane USS Half Moon (AVP-2) during World War II was named 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. 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 main street is the Bay Area's best kept secret for unique and interesting stores, epic restaurants, art galleries, tasting rooms and more.
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 drive from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay is truly impressive and rivals the Big Sur area for being one of the most beautiful oceanfront road sections in Northern California. At The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, guests can enjoy the Northern California sunset on a beautiful afternoon. The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay.
The restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, which offer the abundant flavors of the Northern California coast, enriched with sustainable ingredients and innovative culinary craftsmanship, offer three unique points of view from which to enjoy the region's rich gastronomic and wine traditions. Pillar Point Harbor, the home port of the vital commercial fishing industry, offers opportunities to kayak and drink local beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. If drinking is your thing the most, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company has been serving the community with local craft beers since 2000, and two distilleries, Jettywave Distillery and Half Moon Bay Distillery, both owned by women, have received praise for their small-batch spirit lines. The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival and the world pumpkin weighing championship attract more than 100,000 visitors.
