A relaxed alternative to the more cosmopolitan west coast cities, in many ways Half Moon Bay has more to offer visitors. From the famous Mavericks Surf Contest to the charming roadside diners and high end restaurants, what deceptively appears to be a small seaside town is actually a luxury vacation resort blended with a farming community. Award-winning wine and food can be found with ease and outdoor activities range from horseback riding to hiking and kayaking. Set along the breathtaking west coast, Half Moon Bay is like a well-kept secret haven that is becoming more popular by the day. Judging from the excerpt below, the San Francisco Chronicle agrees.
The best breakfast on the San Mateo County coast is served up at, of all places, the tiny Half Moon Bay airport, just north of Princeton. The 3-Zero Café specializes in big, fluffy omelets and crispy home-fried potatoes. For lunch, we’re rabidly partial to the clam chowder at Barbara’s Fish Trap, a thick and hearty version that makes all other chowders seem like a bowl of warm milk. In the evening, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. pours half a dozen locally brewed ales (including, inevitably, Mavericks Amber Ale), and features a menu of seafood and burgers with music on the weekends. Our favorite beach walk starts at a dirt parking lot on the north side of Pillar Point Harbor, beyond a district of low warehouses and right before the road climbs up to the old Pillar Point Air Force Station. On the first half of the walk you’re alongside the protected water of the harbor, an ideal spot for young children. Dogs here are supposed to be on leash, but this rule is widely ignored. When you come to the harbor jetty, turn right, past the base of the bluff, and you’re on a wild and driftwood-tossed beach. Keep a respectful eye on the ocean here – rogue swells occasionally sweep the beach. In the afternoon, explore the harbor by kayak or stand-up paddle board. Even though 40-foot waves can be breaking a short distance away, the water inside the harbor is protected by jetties, making it an ideal place for beginners to try either sport.
Read the entire article at The San Francisco Chronicle.
