Spend A Perfect Coastal Summer Vacation in Half Moon Bay, California

Jul 28, 2025

Northern California offers stunning coastline, impressive old-growth redwoods, and coastal towns teeming with charm and beauty. So, of course, it comes as no surprise that Half Moon Bay is a welcome retreat from urban life and the daily rat-race for visitors around the world. You’ll find miles and miles of expansive sandy beaches, a serene escape in the whispering forests, and rolling hills of lush greenery and wildflowers. Plus, there’s a historic main street are with plenty of fun shopping, eateries, wine tastings, and more. Does this sound like a dream destination to you? Well, what are you waiting for! Let’s hop in that new car from Classic of Waukegan and hit the road to fun and adventure. Our next road trip destination for a perfect summer vacation is Half Moon Bay in California!

Half Moon Bay offers a diverse selection of parks and preserves that will delight any outdoor enthusiast. From casual strolls to rugged cliffs to peaceful shorelines along the beach, you’ll find the perfect park for a memorable vacation experience.

Pescadero Park Complex is nearly 8,000 acres of gorgeous protected parklands. Memorial Park is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and spans 673 acres of secluded yet open space; you’ll enjoy picnicking, swimming, 8 miles of trails through redwood forests, naturalists walks, and connects to other nearby parks like Pescadero Creek and Sam McDonald Park. Pescadero Marsh is part of the “Pacific Flyway”, a path that nearly 200 species of migratory birds utilize to rest and feed during migration; you’ll notice great egrets, snowy egrets, northern harriers, and more in one of the most vital remaining wetlands areas on California’s coast. We highly recommend opting for a docent-led walking tour via the Audubon Society for the best experience! Sam McDonald County Park includes an additional 850-acre expanse of land in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountain; this park consists of a dense forest featuring both second-growth and old-growth redwood forests, but you’ll also find an impressive variety of forest including tanoaks, red alder, bay trees, hazelnut trees, along with forest floor carpet of ferns, sorrel, and mosses. This is a popular spot for visitors to engage in “forest bathing” and reconnect with nature, and a haven for equestrians and hikers alike due to its quiet, restorative atmosphere.

Purisma Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western portion of the Santa Cruz mountains and overlooks Half Moon Bay. This 5,000+ acre are features the Purisma Creek Canyon with lush green trails and towering redwoods, Purisma Creek, and a plethora of wildflowers, berries, ferns, and teeming with wildlife. At the northern end of the park, you’ll find gorgeous views of the coast and Half Moon Bay at numerous scenic overlooks. Some of the second-growth redwood trees in this forest have been living for more than 100 years.

Other natural areas of interest include:

Burleigh H Murray Ranch
Butano State Park
Mac Dutra Plaza
John L Carter Memorial Park
Quarry Park
Blufftop Coastal Park

Pillar Point Harbor will evoke feelings of New England charm with a little West Coast influence. It’s the best of both worlds with coastal beach fun and harbor activities. The beautiful coastal views of the Pacific Ocean and refreshing breeze make strolls through the harbor a delight. Johnson Pier offers opportunities for sailing, boating, and fishing as well as views of the coastal fisherman at work and surfers enjoying the wave swells. The nearby Pillar Point Marsh Trail offers an additional perspective of the area including the harbor docks, Pacific shores, and the stunning saltmarsh that hundreds of birds call home! There’s plenty of shopping to be had with everything from art and collectibles to nautical gifts to apparel and even fishing equipment. If you’re a fan of seafood, you won’t find anything more delicious than the harbor eateries including Barbara’s Fishtrap, Caffee Mezzaluna, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Pelagic Fish Market & Grill, Sams Chowder House, and more. The harbor is also a fantastic place to enjoy some sportfishing charters, party boats, and even whale watching!

If spending the day sunning on the beach, combing for shells and ocean treasures, fishing along the shore, and surfing is more your speed we’ve got great news for you – The San Mateo County Coastside is one of the largest in the San Francisco Bay Area! There are 20 stunning beaches in the areas with incredible options for all of the aforementioned. Locals and visitors alike recommend stopping off at Gray Whale Cove State Beach, Miramar Beach, Half Moon Bay Beach, and Naples Beach just to name a few. Activities like hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, bird watching, and paddleboarding are all popular pastimes here!

Half Moon State Beach offers campgrounds and campsites by reservation. Francis Beach Campground has 52 campsites with picnic tables and a fire ring at each site, and most sites can accommodate RVs up to 40ft long. All campsites can accommodate tents, with 4 of them specifically being designated as campsites only; car camping and RVs or trailers are prohibited on these sites. Visitors are also allowed to hike-in and bike-in to the campsites and those sites are available on a first come/first serve basis at the Francis Entrance Station. Streetwood Group Camp offers options for large group camping of up to 50 people and 12 vehicles, but is tent-only camping with no RVs or trailers allowed; there is no running water at this site. Throughout the year there are ranger-led programs, guided hikes, and activities and events on select dates. The State Beach comprises four smaller beaches: Francis Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach.

Beaches in the area include:

Año Nuevo State Park
Bean Hollow State Park
Cowell Ranch State Beach
Fitzgerald Marine Beach
Manhattan Beach
Montara State Beach
Pescadero State Beach
Pigeon Point Light Station State Park
Pomponio State Beach
Poplar Beach
Redondo Beach
San Gregorio State Beach
Seal Cove
Surfers’ Beach
Tunitas Creek Beach

The area also offers two golf courses, Half Moon Bay Golf Links: Ocean Course with a 36-hole course with breathtaking ocean views from each hole, and Half Moon Bay Golf Links: Old Course with 18-holes along the coastal bluffs for an unmatched experience. After your game, head over to the Mullin’s Bar & Grill Clubhouse and Dining Room for an al fresco dinner with local seafood, happy hour, dining specials, and more.

After you’ve had your fill of beaches and redwood forests and nature trails, we recommend a relaxing getaway to the coastal Spas and Wellness retreats in the area. The Ritz-Carlton of Half Moon Bay offers a spa with mineral baths, Tsunami Showers, whirlpool lounges, and more. The Oceano Hotel and Spa brings coastal views and customized experiences with whole-body treatments, body wraps, facials, and more.