A Day in Half Moon Bay | Photo Essay

2013-August-5

By Martie Hevia | Blue Beach Song™

Half Moon Bay is about 30 miles south of San Francisco, but a million miles away from all the stress of civilization. This part of California, which includes not only the city of Half Moon Bay, but an eclectic collection of small communities, like Montara, Moss Beach, Pillar Point, Princeton Harbor, El Granada, and Miramar, has always been one of my favorites, snuggled up between the cool Pacific ocean and the forested hills that separate it from the bustling Bay Area.

Locally known for crowning the largest grown pumpkin at its Art & Pumpkin Festival and world-renown for its 24-hour-notice-by-invitation-only-surfing competition at Mavericks, the Half Moon Bay area is graced with colorful fields of flowers, vineyards, and produce, alongside beautiful rocky beaches and tidepools. The perfect year-round climate always greets me with temperatures ranging most typically from 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit, moderated by the marine layer that rolls in during the evening and rolls out by mid-day.

This area has been my hidden gem for decades, often overlooked by others who prefer its northern sister, San Francisco, or its southern cousins, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel – all of which have their own special place in my heart, but perhaps none as relaxing, peaceful, and personal as Half Moon Bay.