Half Moon Bay is a well-liked spot for those seeking to experience the great outdoors. There is an abundance of activities available in this city, such as hiking, biking, boating, and fishing.
The city is home to many parks and gorgeous beaches, where surfing is popular because of areas with huge waves. There are also many restaurants and bars in the city, so you can stop for lunch or enjoy a drink whenever you want.
Another popular spot in Half Moon Bay is the small craft distillery where tourists can stop to sample some craft gin and vodka, and learn more about the process of making them.
Discover our list of the best things to do in Half Moon Bay, California
The 67 Most Popular Things To Do In Half Moon Bay, California
67. Pilarcitos Creek
5.0
(1 review)Credit: Burnell G West, License, Wikimedia commons
66. North Peak
4.0
(1 review)65. Purisima Creek
5.0
(2 reviews)64. Elmar Beach
5.0
(3 reviews)Credit: Jeff Farr, Google Maps
63. Coastside Live
4.3
(3 reviews)Credit: Vishwas Udupa, Google Maps
Location: 418 Main Street Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 712 9007
Web Address: http://coastsidelive.com/
62. Vallejo Beach
4.5
(4 reviews)Credit: Ken Kellogg, Google Maps
61. Gray Whale Cove
5.0
(4 reviews)Credit: Tony Webster, License, Wikimedia commons
60. Venice Beach – Half Moon Bay State Beach
4.8
(6 reviews)Location: 401 Venice Blvd Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8819
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
59. Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail
4.9
(7 reviews)Credit: Joanna Nurmis, Google Maps
58. Mac Dutra Park
4.9
(7 reviews)Location: 504 Main Street Half Moon Bay CA
57. Point Montara Lighthouse
3.1
(7 reviews)Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8800 CA 1 Montara CA
56. Pilarcitos Lake
4.1
(7 reviews)Credit: Running Jesus, Google Maps
55. El Granada Beach
4.8
(8 reviews)Credit: Noah_Loverbear, License, Wikimedia commons
54. Ocean Lawn
4.9
(8 reviews)Credit: Leijurv, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Miramontes Point Road Half Moon Bay CA
53. Naples Beach
4.5
(10 reviews)52. Spanish Town
4.4
(14 reviews)Credit: Derek Bruff, License, Flickr
Location: 880 Streetone Pine Road Half Moon Bay CA
51. Tunitas Beach
4.1
(15 reviews)Credit: Sanjay Acharya, License, Wikimedia commons
50. Half Moon Bay Distillery
4.1
(19 reviews)Credit: Debi Stith, License, Flickr
Location: 103 Harvard Ave Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 392 5355
Web Address: http://hmbdistillery.com/
49. Junipero Serra Statue
4.2
(20 reviews)Credit: Andy Lopušnak, Google Maps
Location: San Mateo CA
Web Address: https://atlasobscura.com/places/junipero-serra-statue
48. Devils Slide Beach
2.6
(20 reviews)Credit: Vineet Buch, Google Maps
47. Trojak’knier Winery
4.1
(21 reviews)Location: 151 Harvard Ave Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 728 3613
Web Address: http://trojakknier.com/
46. Montara Mountain
3.4
(23 reviews)Credit: Elliot Margolies, License, Flickr
45. Barterra Winery
4.6
(27 reviews)Location: 315 Main Street Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 712 1635
Web Address: http://barterrawinery.com/
44. San Andreas Lake
4.9
(29 reviews)43. Tunitas Creek
4.7
(29 reviews)42. Dunes Beach
4.8
(32 reviews)41. Redondo Beach
4.5
(33 reviews)Credit: Looking for Janis, License, Flickr
40. Crystal Springs Park
4.7
(35 reviews)Credit: Ashish Manik, Google Maps
Location: Palomar Park CA
39. Crystal Springs Reservoir
4.8
(39 reviews)38. Pillar Point Harbor Beach
4.7
(40 reviews)Credit: Dawn Endico, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: https://californiabeaches.com/beach/pillar-point-harbor-beach/
37. John L Carter Memorial Park
4.1
(41 reviews)Credit: Dicklyon, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Main Street Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8270
Web Address: http://half-moon-bay.ca.us/566/Carter-Park-Improvements
36. Francis Beach & Campground – Half Moon Bay State Beach
4.7
(43 reviews)Credit: Francis Beach & Campground – Half Moon Bay State Beach, Google Maps
Location: 95 Kelly Ave Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8819
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
35. Half Moon Bay Dog Park
4.3
(51 reviews)Credit: mlhradio, License, Flickr
Location: 400 Wavecrest Road Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8297
Web Address: http://half-moon-bay.ca.us/
34. Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park
4.5
(54 reviews)Credit: Sanfranman59, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 305 Higgins Canyon Road Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8819
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
33. Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trailhead
4.8
(55 reviews)Credit: Randy Weber, Google Maps
Location: Cabrillo Hwy S Half Moon Bay CA
Web Address: https://openspacetrust.org/hike/cowell-purisima-trail/
32. Francis Beach
4.6
(57 reviews)31. Carolands Chateau
4.7
(64 reviews)Credit: Маргарита Бургар, Google Maps
Location: 565 Remillard Dr Hillsborough CA
Tel: 650 343 0613
Web Address: http://carolands.org/
30. Venice State Beach
4.6
(72 reviews)29. La Nebbia Winery
4.3
(95 reviews)Credit: La Nebbia Winery, Google Maps
Location: 12341 San Mateo Road Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 9463
Web Address: http://lanebbiawinery.com/
28. Rancho Corral de Tierra
4.3
(106 reviews)Credit: Varun Soni, Google Maps
Location: Frenchmans Creek Road Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 415 561 4700
Web Address: http://nps.gov/goga/rcdt.htm
27. Mirada Surf Beach
4.5
(132 reviews)Credit: Manfred Oggier, Google Maps
Web Address: https://parks.smcgov.org/mirada-surf
26. Purisima Creek Trail, Higgins Road Trailhead
4.9
(136 reviews)Credit: vinod palan, Google Maps
Location: Higgins Canyon Rd & Purisima Creek Rd. Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/
25. Wavecrest Beach
4.7
(151 reviews)Credit: Daniel Karavan, Google Maps
24. Quarry Park
4.7
(190 reviews)Credit: Justin Kern, License, Flickr
Location: Santa Maria Ave & Columbus St Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 355 8289
Web Address: http://parks.smcgov.org/quarry-park
23. Purisima Creek North Ridge Trailhead
4.8
(193 reviews)Credit: Sathish J, License, Flickr
Location: 13184 Skyline Blvd Redwood City CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/
22. Martin’s Beach
4.5
(196 reviews)Credit: Jan Arendtsz, License, Flickr
21. Montara State Beach
4.8
(219 reviews)Credit: Tony Webster, License, Flickr
20. Crystal Springs Golf Course
4.0
(261 reviews)Credit: Crystal Springs Golf Course, Google Maps
Location: 6650 Golf Course Dr Burlingame CA
Tel: 650 342 4188
Web Address: http://playcrystalsprings.com/
19. Pillar Point Bluff
4.8
(266 reviews)Credit: Dawn Endico, License, Flickr
Location: Airport Street Moss Beach CA
Tel: 650 355 8289
Web Address: http://parks.smcgov.org/pillar-point-bluff
18. Montara State Beach
4.7
(382 reviews)Credit: Abe Kleinfeld, License, Flickr
Location: 8150 Cabrillo Hwy Montara CA
Tel: 650 728 1600
Web Address: http://californiabeaches.com/beach/montara-state-beach/
17. Surfers Beach
4.6
(436 reviews)Credit: Noah_Loverbear, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: http://parks.smcgov.org/mirada-surf
16. Cowell Ranch Beach Access
4.7
(536 reviews)Location: Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 854 7696
Web Address: https://coastsidestateparks.org/cowell-ranch-state-beach
15. San Pedro Valley Park
4.7
(570 reviews)Location: 600 Oddstad Blvd Pacifica CA
Tel: 650 355 5454
Web Address: https://parks.smcgov.org/san-pedro-valley-park
14. McNee Ranch State Park
4.7
(667 reviews)Location: N Peak Access Road Montara CA
Tel: 650 726 8819
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
13. Mavericks Beach
4.6
(751 reviews)Credit: Noah_Loverbear, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: https://californiabeaches.com/beach/mavericks-beach/
12. Half Moon Bay Golf Links
4.6
(1,164 reviews)Credit: eeetthaannn, License, Flickr
Location: 2 Miramontes Point Road Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 1800
Web Address: http://halfmoonbaygolf.com/
11. Gray Whale Cove State Beach
4.7
(1,217 reviews)Credit: Tony Webster, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8819
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
10. J V Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
4.7
(1,335 reviews)Location: 200 Nevada Ave Moss Beach CA
Tel: 650 728 3584
Web Address: https://parks.smcgov.org/fitzgerald-marine-reserve
9. Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
4.8
(1,572 reviews)Credit: Dipika Bhattacharya, License, Flickr
Location: Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 691 1200
Web Address: http://openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods
Our Top picks
8. Half Moon Bay Coastside Visitor Center
1.5
(2 reviews)Location: 235 Main Street Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 8380
Web Address: http://visithalfmoonbay.org/
7. Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail
4.7
(18 reviews)Credit: Runner1928, License, Wikimedia commons
6. Roosevelt Beach
4.6
(229 reviews)Credit: Cocoabiscuit, License, Flickr
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
5. Miramar Beach
4.7
(281 reviews)Web Address: http://californiabeaches.com/beach/miramar-beach-half-moon-bay/
4. California Coastal Trail
4.7
(634 reviews)Credit: Runner1928, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1001 Miramontes Point Road Half Moon Bay CA
Web Address: https://traillink.com/trail/california-coastal-trail-(half-moon-bay-coastside-trail)/
3. Lemos Farm
4.3
(790 reviews)Location: 12320 San Mateo Road Half Moon Bay CA
Tel: 650 726 2342
Web Address: http://lemosfarm.com/
2. Poplar Beach
4.7
(989 reviews)Credit: Tony Webster, License, Wikimedia commons
Web Address: https://visithalfmoonbay.org/discover/poplar-beach
1. Venice Beach
4.6
(3,828 reviews)Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Half Moon Bay, California! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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