Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay's visitor information center offer maps, brochures, directories, and other information for tourists.

• Half Moon Bay Visitor Information Center

  phone: +1 650 726-8380
  address: 235 Main St
  Visitor Information Center run by the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce & Visitors' Bureau.

Climate

The climate in Half Moon Bay is more "foggy San Francisco" than "sunny California" in style. It's easy to spot the tourists on the beach: they're the ones shivering in bikinis. The locals are more likely to be found in wetsuits or strolling along the beach in shirts and rolled-up pants. Although there are cold snaps that drop below freezing every few years or so, and a few days here or there that are warm enough to be uncomfortable every year, on typical days, it's cool and somewhat windy, but not downright cold. Even in the summer, you'll want to pack a jacket or an extra shirt to put on when the ocean breeze kicks up in the early evening. Plan for rain from mid-October through April.

By car

Highway 92 is perfect if you are coming in from either 101 or 280.
If you are coming from San Francisco you can also take 280 to Highway 1.

By bus

Take Samtrans #294 from Hillsdale Caltrain, or from Pacifica.

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car

  phone: +1 650 712-6880
  address: 213 San Mateo Rd #112

• Coast Cab Company

  phone: +1 650 726-1779
  address: El Granada

Almost all of the beaches are on or off of California State Highway 1 (a.k.a. the Pacific Coast Highway) (Note some addresses are given as CA Highway 1, the Cabrillo Highway or the PCH.)

• Bean Hollow State Beach & Pebble Beach

  phone: +1 650 879-2170
  Due to the heavy surf and rip tide, swimming is not recommended, but it's a fine place to climb on the rocks or have a picnic. You can explore tide pools and the self-guided nature trail. Dogs allowed if kept on leashes at all times. Restrooms next to the parking lot.

• Cowell Ranch State Beach

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  The entrance to Cowell Ranch is a fairly long hike in and leads to cliffs overlooking the ocean. It is a steep hike down to the beach.

• Dunes State Beach

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  Sister beach of Venice State Beach and Francis State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system.

• Gray Whale Cove State Beach a.k.a Devil's Slide

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  address: Highway 1
  The two nicknames derive from the fact that 1) gray whales can be seen from the beach and 2) there are steep landslide trails. This is a clothing optional beach.

• Francis State Beach

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  Sister beach of Venice State Beach and Dunes State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system. Also home of the Half Moon Bay State Beach headquarters

• Montara State Beach

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  One of the more popular beaches in Half Moon bay due to easy access and low hills, the beach provides opportunity for swimming, exploration of tide pools and surf fishing. There is also a lighthouse at Point Montara that has been converted to a bed and breakfast.

• Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh

  phone: +1 650 728-3584
  Home of the legendary Mavericks Surf Contest. This area is not recommended for swimming. (It is not recommend for surfing either but the people who compete in the contest are professional and a tad crazy.) The huge crashing waves are a sight to see.

• Naples / Roosevelt State Beach

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system.

• Pescadero State BeachExplore the tide pools or watch the waves crash along the rocks. It's a great place for bird watchers. Sister beach of Pomponio State Beach.

• Pigeon Point BeachHome of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

• Pomponio State BeachThis beach is at the base of sand stone cliffs that are not as hard to reach as steeper trails. Sister beach of Pescardero State Beach.

• San Gregorio State BeachDiscovered by Explorer Gaspar de Portolá in 1769, the beach is strewn with driftwood and there is also a bird sanctuary. This is a clothing optional beach.

• Venice State Beach

  phone: +1 650 726-8819
  Sister beach of Dunes State Beach and Francis State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system.

• Waterfront Coastside Trail

  phone: +1 650 726-8297
  The trail systems goes through Naples, Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, Francis Beach and Bluff Top Coastal Park.

• Rock the Block Coastside Block Party

  phone: +1 650 726-8380
  Sponsored by Chamber Office.

• Portuguese Pentecostal Festival

  phone: +1 650 726-2729
  Sponsored by IDES Society.

• Classics By The Sea Car Show

  phone: +1 650 726-8380
  Sponsored by Chamber Office.

• Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

  phone: +1 650 726-9652
  Sponsored by Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee.

• Coastal Flower Market

  phone: +1 650 712-9439

• Coastside Books

  phone: +1 650 726-5889
  address: 432 Main St
  Serving Half Moon Bay since 1972, Coastside Books has a carefully selected stock of current fiction, biography, history, science and nature, spiritual books, and children's literature.

• Ketch Joanne Restaurant and Harbor Bar

  phone: +1 650 728-3747
  address: 17 Johnson Pier
  Good food and substantial portions in a busy, usually noisy, harbor restaurant. Attached bar becomes popular later in the evenings.

• Sam's Chowder House

  phone: +1 650 712-0245
  address: 4210 North Cabrillo Hwy
  Large seafood restaurant just above the beach, with live music Friday and Saturday. The deck has great views and is a great place to sit around the fire pits. It's also dog-friendly. NBC's Today Show named their Lobster Roll ($27) as one of the five "best sandwiches in America". For an unusual experience, call at least 48 hours in advance to get a "lobster clambake to go". They'll put together a large pot of seafood that you can steam over a fire (or a stove), plus clam chowder and coleslaw. Almost everything on the menu can be ordered for take-out. Reservations recommended, especially on holidays and summer weekends

• Cameron’s Inn, Restaurant & Pub

  phone: +1 650 726-5705
  address: 1410 South Cabrillo Hwy
  Mostly English pub fare in an ostentatiously English environment. Offers everything from pasties to pizza, or from bangers to burgers. Includes a store that sells English candy bars and other treats that can be hard to find in the US.

• Dad's Luncheonette

  phone: +1 650 560-9832
  address: 225 South Cabrillo Hwy
  Try whatever special they are serving that day. Expect a satisfying, homemade meal in a cozy space.

• La Nebbia Winery

  phone: +1 650 726-9463
  address: 12341 San Mateo Rd
  Formerly Obester Winery.

• Half Moon Bay Winery

  phone: +1 650 245-8033
  address: 700 Mill St, Ste 4

• H.M.B. Brewing Company

  address: 3909 Capistrano Road, Princeton
  Seafood restaurant with an excellent and extensive menu (check out the Half Moon Bay Louie salad with Bay Shrimp) at reasonable prices (they offer half size portions too.) Fast, friendly service. Inside and outside dining with good views of Pillar Point Harbor. They book rock and blues bands on the weekends.

• Best Western Half Moon Bay Lodge

  phone: +1-650 726-9000
  address: 2400 Cabrillo Highway S

• Americas Best Value Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 650 726-9700
  address: 3020 N. Cabrillo Hwy

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +1 650 726-3400
  address: 230 South Cabrillo Hwy Box 99

• Oceano Hotel and Spa

  phone: +1 650 726-5400
  address: 280 Capistrano Rd
  Nice, clean rooms with helpful staff. Environmentally friendly features, including in-room recycling, organic bamboo linens (very comfortable!), and chemical free room cleaning technology.

• Old Thyme Inn Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 650 726-1616
  address: 779 Main St
  Enjoy original artwork, gourmet breakfasts, and comfy rooms.

• Pacific Victorian Bed and Breakfast

  address: 325 Alameda Ave
  An elegantly decorated Victorian style Inn 1½ blocks from the beach.

• Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel

  phone: +1 650 728-7177
  address: 16th Street at Cabrillo Highway 1
  Affordable accommodations at a spectacular lighthouse location.

• Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

  address: One Miramontes Point Rd

Be careful to check for ticks after hiking in fields in the bay area. There is a high rate of Lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.

The City of San Francisco is 25 miles to the north, Santa Cruz is 40 miles to the south.