Half Moon Bay: More Than a Beautiful Beach

When you think of Half Moon Bay, a California coastal city just 25 miles south of San Francisco, it conjures up the idea of romance and walks on the beach, while perhaps being holed up at a beautiful luxury hotel with a view of the bay. How true is this image and does Half Moon Bay live up to it?

Recently I set out on a 450-mile road trip from Palm Springs to find out. Once we escaped the dreaded LA traffic, Highway 101 provided a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. Mustard seed with its citron-colored blossoms graced craggy mountains along the route while the sun glistened on the ocean.

Overnight Stay in Santa Cruz

My traveling companion had never been to Santa Cruz. I convinced her to spend a night so I could show her around. Much to my disappointment, some of the beautiful estate homes on West Cliff had been replaced with narrow, two or three-story structures on their former lots.

After an early sunrise, it was easy to get on our way to Half Moon Bay, about an hour further north on Highway 1.

Arrival in Half Moon Bay

Before I arrived, a local told me, “We look forward to you visiting our little town.” Imagine my surprise when I drove down Main Street with its plethora of retail shops, restaurants, and even a general store. The tree-lined downtown street looked picture-perfect.

A Walking Tour Reveals Its History

The Zaballa House sits in the center of a U-shaped configuration of retail stores in downtown Half Moon Bay. It serves as a crown jewel of sorts. Built by Estanisloa Zaballa, who immigrated from Spain, it was one of the first settlements in town. David Creston, a local historian, painstakingly preserved the house and plans to re-open it again as a hotel. One room displays the history of Half Moon Bay including a diorama of how the town may have looked at the close of the 19th century.

At the start of our tour, David pointed out a narrow white, railed bridge that essentially serves as the entrance to the town when you turn off Highway 101. Old cables from San Francisco cable cars provide needed strength to this earthquake-prone area.  Today, the bridge and one other iconic two-storied red-brick building on Main Street are considered to be the first steel-reinforced structures in the US.

The walking tour showed us numerous impeccably preserved homes, some still occupied or repurposed like the administration office for the local newspaper.

Preserving the History of Half Moon Bay

The community’s guiding principle is the preservation of its buildings and history along with the artifacts associated with them. A new historical museum which opened at the end of June is proudly installed in a repurposed old barn one block from Main Street. The spacious LEED certified building perfectly preserves the mysticism of the outside with revolving exhibits.

Half Moon Bay Dining Highlights

As you might expect, the cuisine here includes a variety of dishes that take advantage of the abundant freshly caught seafood. And the lobster roll at Sam’s Chowder House is so tantalizing I wish I could get my hands on one two weeks later.

Many chefs are attracted to this area for the nearby farms that provide fresh fruits and vegetables. Needless to say there is an abundance of restaurants offering “farm to table” menus. And let’s not forget that Castroville, an hour away, serves as the “Artichoke Capital of the World.” Speaking of artichokes, a must-try is artichoke bread.

If you’re in the mood for Italian you’re in luck. Every bite I took at Fattoria e Mare in downtown Half Moon Bay seemed better than the one before. And the crowning glory…tiramisu…more than satisfied my dessert cravings.

Experience the Art of Glassblowing

Half Moon Bay Art Glass is located about three miles outside of town. Here Doug Brown greets you with a big smile upon your arrival. Inside the front door are shelves of his creations for sale.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a glassblower? Doug offers classes that take you through all the steps. Here’s your chance to witness the process and try it out yourself.

Doug says, “After 40 years, I love the dance. Hot glass demands your attention, so you learn to understand what it needs, and you must know when to start and stop.”

Beach House Hotel Offers Stunning View

After a full day of activities, it’s nice to have a beautiful place to call home. The Beach House, located about three miles north of the town of Half Moon Bay, sits on the edge of Highway 1.

As I opened the door, my suite revealed itself – a king-sized bed and a sunken living room with all the comforts of home and a place where you could cook an entire meal if the urge struck. With all the excellent food on offer in Half Moon Bay, however, that might not be likely to happen.

Open the patio doors and wow, you have a 180-degree view of the ocean! Immediately below is a flower-laden path that meanders by the yachts in the marina and leads to a restaurant where you can enjoy a sunset dinner.

Beaches enhanced by rock formations protruding near the shoreline and the surrounding jagged cliffs revealing gorgeous views all around.

Half Moon Bay unquestionably lives up to its image as a romantic and scenic destination. However, if this trip proved anything to me, it’s that this is a place where you will want to return often. There is so much more history to learn and restaurants to try, and it’s a place that calls you to slow down and enjoy the pace while breathing in the fresh ocean air.