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…)
