Valentine’s Day on the Coast

It’s not too late to plan a quick getaway to Half Moon Bay to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Close to the cities and suburbs of the Bay Area, the coast can feel like a world away. The natural beauty, slower pace and charming hotels, shops and restaurants make it an ideal spot for romance. While you […]

Half Moon Bay's Spirited Pumpkin Patches

Each year, the Half Moon Bay Coastside is transformed into an autumn wonderland oozing with fall goodness. During the season, the pastoral coast is blanketed in pumpkin patches that would make the Peanuts gang proud, teeming with orange gourds, hayrides, and spooky haunted houses. The pumpkin capital of the world is also home to an […]

Bike the California Coastal Trail

With even more seaside splendor than legendary Highway 1, a bike ride along the California Coastal Trail provides a safe and scenic way to explore the Half Moon Bay coast. Blissfully removed from (nearly all) roads and traffic, the family-friendly trail guides cyclists through lush wildlife habitats, past secluded beaches, and along dramatic coastal bluffs […]

Get Outdoors in Half Moon Bay

If you’re looking for the right destination for a multigenerational family group, you’ve found it. One of the great joys of Half Moon Bay is the myriad of outdoor activities that are easily accessible for everyone from kids to grandparents. Come for a few days to fully explore the easy trails, enticing beaches, educational farms […]

The Town Of Pescadero

The tiny town of Pescadero, just a short drive from Half Moon Bay, is a unique rural environment where you can slow down the pace of your life. Just 14 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the town of Pescadero is part of the coast’s rural farming and […]

Montara, California

Don’t let the diminutive size of Montara fool you. What it lacks in population, it makes up with grand-scale scenery. Engulfed by mountains and the Pacific, the cozy coastal community enjoys one of the most dramatically beautiful pockets along the Half Moon Bay Coastside. Set roughly 20 miles south of San Francisco, the quiet enclave […]

Beyond the Beach

Feeling cooped up at home for too long can make us all a little stir-crazy. Fortunately, the Half Moon Bay Coastside offers a plethora of outdoor activities that will get you out of the house and into the fresh coastal air. We want you to enjoy our Coastside safely, so be aware that many facilities […]

Valentine's Day in Half Moon Bay

The Half Moon Bay Coastside is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, whether you’re visiting for Valentine’s day or any other time of year. Here are some of our favorite ways to spend time with the special person in your life. stroll Along the beach The stunning vistas of the Coastside make this an ideal spot for […]

Half Moon Bay’s Main Street

If Downtown Half Moon Bay‘s historic Main Street could talk, it would share its long and captivating history with every sightseer and passerby.  From the earliest settlers of Native-American, Spanish, and Portuguese decent, through the Gold Rush, whaling and agricultural booms, Main Street promises to reveal the very soul of San Mateo County’s first town, […]

Relocating to the Coastside

With grand-scale splendor and small-town charm, the Half Moon Bay Coastside is a beloved destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Yet, it’s not just visitors flocking to its shores. As jobs—and housing prices—heat up in nearby San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the Coastside is becoming an attractive residential option for those seeking a richer […]

Miramar Beach

Offering more than the usual surf and sand, Miramar Beach is a hidden gem within the Half Moon Bay Coastside. Here, you’ll discover a charming, tight-knit coastal community brimming with quaint beach homes, bohemian vibes, and plenty of activities to fill a weekend. WHAT TO DO Miramar Beach A popular destination on sunny days, this […]

The Coastside During Prohibition

Coffin varnish, jiggle soup, and bathtub gin are just some of the colorful names used to describe the moonshine that filled Coastside stills and speakeasies during the Prohibition years of 1920 to 1933. Thanks to a landscape of secluded canyons and fog-shrouded coves—plus close proximity to a major market such as San Francisco—bootlegging, moonshining, and […]

A Legacy of Farming

It is impossible to describe the Half Moon Bay Coastside without the mention of farming. Swaths of verdant fields have informed the region’s culture and beauty since coastal dairies cropped up in the mid-1800s and Italian immigrants flocked to the fields in the early 20th century. Since then, Coastside farms have fed the nation with […]

Coastside History

A suspected haunted house, a jail for overindulgent saloon patrons, and a historic barn with a mysterious past. In a region chock full of mesmerizing historic structures, few capture the Coastside’s history and imagination like the Johnston House, former city jail, and what was previously known as the Thomas Johnston barn. Two of the three […]

Three Days in Half Moon Bay

Everyone needs a little romance in their life and Half Moon Bay provides plenty of options, regardless of the weather. All it takes is a little planning ahead to make a memorable experience for two. Here are some terrific picks for a sweet weekend getaway. FRIDAY Check in For your escape, choose accommodations to fit […]

Holidays in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is a magical place during the holidays. With it’s small town charm and mild weather, the Coastside shines as the days grow short. Here are some of our favorite things to do and see this yuletide season. Night of Lights December 7th,  2018 from 6pm to 9pm. Night of Lights is free event hosted in downtown […]

Nature Lover’s Guide to Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is a dream for nature lovers. The coastline offers paths for hiking and biking, camping and while the water is too cold for swimming, it’s great for surfing, boating and standup paddle boarding. It also affords wonderful opportunities to see wildlife including whales, porpoises, birds and elephant seals. Here are some highlights. […]

Three Days in Half Moon Bay

A great family getaway awaits in Half Moon Bay. With beautiful beaches, horseback riding, unique shopping and family farms, there’s plenty of fun for both kids and adults. Here are some top picks for a long weekend getaway.  Friday Go for a ride Ease into the weekend with a horseback ride. Sea Horse Ranch offers […]

Meetings on the Coastside

With an an inspiring coastal setting, accessible locale, and unique venues that will delight your team—and your budget office—The Half Moon Bay Coastside provides a compelling destination for offsite meetings and corporate retreats. Located 40 minutes from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the pastoral region feels worlds away with dramatic scenery and relaxed vibes. Here, […]

Three Days in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is a dream for foodies. From May through December the Coastside farmer’s market showcases some of the best in local produce, but year round you’ll find outstanding farms, seafood and great restaurants that utilize the best local products. Here are some top picks for a long weekend getaway. FRIDAY Ease into the […]

The Enchanting Lighthouses of the Coastside

With dazzling vistas and heaps of seaside charm, the Coastside’s historic lighthouses continue to beckon visitors to their scenic shores. In the 19th century, the towering beacons ensured safe passage for the many seafaring vessels that braved California’s fog-shrouded shores following the Gold Rush. Today, the iconic structures shine a light on the region’s rich […]

Historic Main Street

Step back in time with this colorful self-guided walking tour of downtown Half Moon Bay. With charming storefronts brimming with locally owned shops and eateries, Downtown Half Moon Bay epitomizes old-fashioned Main Street. Its tree-lined sidewalks and well-preserved 19th century buildings recall a simpler, more personable time before big box stores and football field-sized parking […]

Año Nuevo State Park

The elephant seals aren’t the only things worth flapping your flippers for. With thousands of feisty northern elephant seals swarming its shores each year, Año Nuevo offers one of the most thrilling wildlife experiences in the state. Located twenty-five miles south of Half Moon Bay, the park’s remote sandy shores play host to the mating, […]

Through the Redwoods

A picturesque route guides you through breathtaking scenery with numerous stops along the way. Highway 35 packs bucketloads of scenery as it winds along the forested ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains with opportunities to explore redwood groves, chow down at historic eateries, and enjoy thrilling vistas of the Pacific and San Francisco Bay. Also […]