Sunset
A cozy winter beach weekend in Half Moon Bay
Posted by Sunset, January 12, 2010 in Coast , Northern California
by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor
With 3-day weekend season upon us, it’s time to jump on those getaway plans (unless you’re a far more organized person than I am and you’ve actually planned ahead—feel free to gloat). If the ski weekend isn’t your thing—or not in the budget—consider a cozy winter beach weekend (and off-season rates!) in Half Moon Bay.
I’m not a B&B fan (I have a thing against flowery bedspreads), but the nearby Ritz really isn’t in the budget either. And that’s why the Half Moon Bay Inn is my kind of place, and especially affordable right now.
Photos courtesy of Half Moon Bay Inn
Cozy (without the chintz), and a great Main Street location so you can ditch the car and take a small-town stroll. If you’re looking to sleep in, walk on the beach, browse bookstores and cafes, hike, nap, and generally slow down and recharge in a cute throwback small town, this is your spot.
Book it: Off-season rates (through April) from $130. Book online or call 650/726-1177.
Plan your trip: Check out tips on area beaches, eats, and hiking nearby. And worth the short (and gorgeous) coastal drive away are the towns of Pescadero and San Gregorio.
San Joaquin Magazine
Half Moon Bay
San Joaquin’s Closest Beach Getaway
by DON and ANN JACKSON
Imagine you have guests visiting from the East Coast asking where they can go to best experience a Northern California Pacific Ocean beach. Our answer is always the same: Half Moon Bay. As the easiest and fastest beach town to reach from San Joaquin (take 580 to 880 and then scenic 92 to the coast), Half Moon Bay has scenic beaches, a quaint downtown area, a variety of quality restaurants, the world-famous Mavericks surfing competition (where waves have been known to exceed 40 feet), fun-filled seasonal events, lots of outdoor adventure choices, and more. You might drive there for a day and wish you could stay a week. Be sure to take enough time to really explore the area, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you’ll discover.
What to see and do: Our first recommendation is to visit the city websites, www.visithalfmoonbay.org or www.hmbchamber.com, and click on any of the intriguing choices that most pique your interest, like itineraries, farm visits, festivals, and events. Timeless Half Moon Bay activities include strolling around the quaint downtown, walks along the endless miles of beaches, kayaking in the harbor, surfing (but stay away from Mavericks unless you’re a pro), and horseback-riding and bicycling on off-road pathways. (more…)
