Incorporated in 1959, Half Moon Bay offers a wide variety of public and private attractions. The City rests on the Pacific Coast between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastlines that California has to offer. It is located approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco and lies within San Mateo County. The historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other businesses. Local beaches and parks can be accessed by pedestrians, bikes and equestrians. Golf can be enjoyed at two of California's finest courses.

The area surrounding Half Moon Bay and our treasured lighthouses offers many wonderful activities. You can explore the coastline, walking along pathways through ice plants; watch annual gray whale migration (Nov-April). Visit the nearby James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, which is a four-mile stretch of tide pools full of starfish, crabs, mussels, abalone, and sea anemones. You can enjoy beaches, swimming, surfing, kayaking, jogging, horseback riding, windsurfing or bicycling along the shore.

You can also hike through the amazing 1,000-year-old redwoods nearby. The Pescadero Marsh is a great place for bird-watchers. It is a feeding and nesting place for more than 150 species of birds. The Ano Nuevo State Reserve, an island just off the coast, is a breeding site of northern elephant seals (Dec-March).