For years I’ve been looking for the perfect Northern California coastal getaway. Some places are too far away, others are too remote or too cold, and still others are often too crowded. After staying in the quaint seaside town of Half Moon Bay, we found it to be the perfect coastal Northern California destination for families. As you’ll see below, there were many reasons we loved Half Moon Bay, but when it comes to what to do in Half Moon Bay, one thing especially struck me.
Half Moon Bay is a town of under 15,000 people on Highway 1, just south of San Francisco. Its location makes it an easy destination for families and couples from Sacramento (like us), or San Francisco, Napa Valley, and the Central Valley. We noticed that weekends can be busy, so if possible, book a visit on weekdays or expect lots of day trippers at the restaurants and beaches.
Where to stay in Half Moon Bay:
We spent two nights at Beach House Half Moon Bay and couldn’t have been happier thanks to the friendly staff, perfect location and family-friendly suites. Inside one of the ocean view rooms, it feels almost like having your own beach cottage for the weekend. Each of the spacious rooms features a kitchenette, patio or balcony, and a sitting area with its own flat-screen TV and sleeper sofa.
We loved the convenience of the small kitchen, which includes not just a mini fridge and microwave but also a stove top and dishes for a simple meal. The hotel also features complimentary parking, WiFi and continental breakfast with an array of fresh baked pastries, fresh fruit and organic coffee.
The Beach House Hotel is located right on Highway 1 with views of the bay in one direction and Pillar Point Harbor in the other. We were surprised to see surfers already taking to the waves just after sunrise! The coastal trail is easily accessible behind the property, making it easy to go for a walk, run or bike ride to the beach or the harbor and its restaurants and shopping. For all these reasons, this would be my top choice for where to stay in Half Moon Bay.
What to do in Half Moon Bay:
Here’s how we spent three days in Half Moon Bay…
Tour of a goat farm:
Goat cheese and baby goats? Harley Farms Goat Dairy is a peaceful setting in the old fishing town of Pescadero, about 30 minutes south of Half Moon Bay. The tour takes almost 90 minutes and includes a history of the area and farm, time to mingle with the animals, a tour of the barn and milking facility, and a quick peek at where the cheese is made.
Of course our kids loved visiting all the animals (we did too!). The baby goats are kept in separate pens, and they approached us and let us pet them. The several dozen adults occupy a large field, which you can linger in while saying hello to the goats. There’s also a shy llama and two huge friendly dogs that protect the goats from mountain lions.
But even though the animals were so much fun, we also came for the cheese. Their cheeses have won awards (the chevre with herbs and flowers won a World Gold Medal), so yes, their cheese is amazing, not only in taste but also in presentation.
The tour finishes in the 1910 dairy stables, first upstairs in the beautiful hayloft with a spread of their fresh goat cheeses and bread to try, and then free time downstairs in the cheese shop. If you don’t take the tour, ask if you can peek at the upstairs hayloft — it’s really a beautiful space with unique hand-carved chairs and a table made by local woodworker “Three Finger Bill.”
Tip: If you’re looking for something quicker or more affordable, you can still visit the farm without taking the tour. In that case, you’d be able to visit a few goats in the baby pen and then go to the shop, where you can sample the cheeses and other products.
Harley Farms is located at 205 North Street in Pescadero off Highway 1. The farm and shop are open Friday-Sunday, 11 am-4 pm.
Read more: Where to see elephant seals
Horseback riding with Sea Horse Ranch: 1828 Cabrillo Hwy
Sea Horse Ranch offers 60, 90 and 120 minute rides along the coastal trail and Poplar Beach (the hour ride doesn’t go to the beach). Our two guides started by teaching us the basics of horse riding and then led us on an easy, slow-paced ride. The horses, with names like Holy Moley and Zapato, were sweet and docile, and we felt comfortable the entire time. This was my kids’ favorite part of the trip!
Tips: We felt that the 90-minute ride was enough and that two hours might have been too long with small kids. Bring cash to tip the guides.
Discounts are offered: the 8 am ride is a 2-hour ride offered for $60 instead of the regular price of $90, and the 1 pm ride on Tuesdays and Thursdays is always $10 off.
The ranch has rules that all riders must follow, including no kids under age 7 and no cameras or cell phones! The guides will happily take along your cell phone and snap some photos for you, but they are strict about not allowing riders to take photos while riding.
Downtown Half Moon Bay
Downtown Half Moon Bay has a pleasant main street where businesses keep their doors open, flowers spill from planters, and locals socialize on the sidewalks, evoking a slower era. Try an easy lunch at the global eatery Chez Shea, one of the cafes for a cappuccino and fresh baked dessert, and the independently-owned shops like Fuel & Feed, Oddyssea and Crow’s Nest.
Glass blowing: 12341 San Mateo Rd.
Half Moon Bay has a glass blowing place where both kids and adults can try it out. The tiny facility of Half Moon Bay Art Glass is easy to miss –it’s tucked in the back of a building next to La Nebbia Winery on busy San Mateo Road.
They offer glass blowing lessons in which you participate in every step of the process, from choosing colors and dipping the pipe into the crucible to blowing the glass and cutting it free from the pipe. Both my kids were able to do it with the help of glass artist Douglass Brown.
Tip: Kids can participate only if parents are there to supervise. Lessons can last up to two hours, but the day that we were there was very busy, and we were in and out pretty quickly, so be sure to confirm what type of experience you’re looking for when you book.
Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail
Part of Half Moon Bay State Park, the Coastside Trail runs along the former Ocean Shore Railroad. As you walk or bike along the 7.5 miles of trails on the bluffs, you’ll have non-stop ocean views and easy access to beaches from Pillar Point Harbor to south of Poplar Beach.
Tip: You can rent bikes at Bike Works near the beaches.
Beaches
One main reason we loved Half Moon Bay so much is the beaches. There are lots of beaches along the California coast, but I fell hard for Half Moon Bay’s for a few reasons.
Unlike many of the beaches we’ve visited along the Northern California coast, which tend to be rugged with crazy wind and really rough surf (but are also very beautiful!), these were calmer, the type of beach where you can lie back and spend a whole day. They were all very clean, the surf was not nearly as rough as beaches that we’ve visited farther north (like along the Sonoma coast), and they were big, offering expansive views and plenty of space to spread out.
We found the beaches in town good for playing, running and watching the surfers. A bit farther south is a string of beautiful beaches where we could just wander. Now that we know how nice the beaches are, next time we’ll bring a picnic and beach gear for a full day of just hanging out on the sand.
Poplar Beach
As Californians know all too well, the beaches can be fogged in, especially in the summer. We’d hoped to hang out at Martins Beach, which is so special that the question of who gets to step foot on it is going to the Supreme Court! But it was completely blanketed in fog both times we tried, so…
we opted for Poplar Beach, one of several beaches along the coast just past Half Moon Bay. We got lucky with a clear morning! But as you can see, there were some low clouds hanging in the distance, and within a couple of hours, it was also fogged in.
Where to eat in Half Moon Bay:
Sam’s Chowder House: 4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy
On our first day in Half Moon Bay, after the goat farm tour, we drove back up to Half Moon Bay to have lunch at the iconic Sam’s Chowder House. You can’t miss it because of all the cars and people outside; this is one of the most popular seaside restaurants in the region.
Sam’s Chowder House serves fresh, sustainably sourced seafood following the Monterey Bay Aquarium guidelines. They’re especially known for their lobster rolls, oysters and, of course, their clam chowder. And bonus points for serving seasonal, locally grown vegetables and for not using plastic: the straws and to-go packaging are 100% biodegradable and made of plants.
The restaurant is also known for the view of the water from the huge deck. It was a little cold for us to sit outside but the deck was bustling — there was even a live band playing!
Tip: Make a reservation and ask for a table with a view, especially if you plan to eat here on the weekends.
Breweries in Half Moon Bay:
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.: 390 Capistrano Rd.
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. sits across from the water at Pillar Point Harbor, and though the weather wasn’t welcoming enough for a patio seat on our visit, plenty of other people and their dogs seemed happy to sit outside.
This casual restaurant serves typical brewery food — burgers, salads, pretzels and nachos — but with a nod to its coastal location with oysters, chowder, lobster rolls and ceviche. The beers include a few IPAs in both west coast and east coast style and beers that reflect the seasons, like the blackberry blonde in summer and pumpkin ale in fall.
Open 11-9 for lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch starting at 10.
Tip: Kid-friendly and dog friendly on the patio. Save some time to walk around Pillar Point Harbor.
Hop Dogma Brewing Co.: 270 Capistrano Rd. #22
We can’t go long without some downtime in a local brewery, and Hop Dogma Brewing Co. was exactly what we were looking for. The light-filled, modern tap room feels cozy thanks to the long communal table in the center and the comfy living area at the back.
Hop Dogma states that it’s kid-friendly, and there’s a retro (Pac Man?) video game that you can play (unless someone else is on it the whole time, that is). As you leave, don’t miss the old-timey bubble gum machine across from the brewery entrance.
Open daily, Mon.-Thurs. 2-10 and Fri. and Sat. 12-10
Tip: You can walk here from Beach House Hotel. There’s no food served, but you can bring your own, and there are restaurants nearby.
Other idea for what to do in Half Moon Bay or near Half Moon Bay:
Martins Beach: Click on the link and you’ll see why this beach is a must! It was high on my list for Half Moon Bay, but sadly both times we went, it was completely fogged in!
If you do go, use your GPS to find the turn off. Then drive down the little road until you see the $10 parking sign, and from there it’s a short walk to the beach. If you don’t want to pay the $10, you can park on Hwy 1 next to the gate and then walk down, which would take about 10 minutes.
Spanish Town Arts & Crafts for the fun dinosaur and mammoth sculptures, garden and handcrafted gifts/pottery
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for excellent tide pooling
Pastorino Farm plant nursery
Devil’s Slide Recreation Area for dramatic coastline views
Mavericks to see the location of one of the world’s best known big wave surfing contests
Sea kayaking with Half Moon Bay Kayak Co.
Disclosure: We stayed in Half Moon Bay as guests of Visit Half Moon Bay.
Half Moon Bay holds a special place in my heart! I always loved doing weekends there. I did all of these activities and eaten in nearly every spot you mentioned – all good. Feeling a bit of nostalgia actually!
I can see why you went there so often when you lived in the Bay Area. It feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Wow! I have never been to Half Moon Bay before. It looks really fun! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I think you’d love it! There’s enough to do without the busy-ness of a bigger place, and the beaches are some of the nicest I’ve seen in the state!
The horseback riding and glass-blowing look so cool! My kids would love both of those activities. I also didn’t realize that the new Hop Dogma location is kid-friendly (their old location did not allow kids because of permitting issues). Adding to the list!
They were so fun! My kids really enjoyed both but the glass blowing was extra special for them because they got to actually do something that was totally new and slightly nerve-wracking!
I drive over there regularly just to breathe fresh air (Silicon Valley really is a valley where smog can accumulate). I like to hike the Jean Lauer Trail which looks out over Mavericks and goes down to Seal Cove, a little wild beach. I’m a cheapskate, so usually only eat from the takeout bar at New Leaf or get a quesadilla from one of the Mexican restaurants. Coffee at Cafe Society is worthwhile. Buying fish at Pillar Point or just pretending you might can be fun on a day that’s not crowded (a cool day in fall, for example). And I park on Kelley Ave. and walk to the beach. Sometimes I take a yoga class at Enso next to the beach. That’s about it.
Thanks for the tips! I’ll check them out next time I’m there.