Do you know the way to Half Moon Bay?
Half Moon Bay is a quick trip from where I live in Palo Alto—and the route to get there is gorgeous! I drive up I-280 N and take CA-92 W through the foothills, straight to the coast.
Waves
Half Moon Bay State Beach is the spot to spend hours wandering, watching the waves, and enjoying the beautiful, rugged Northern California coast. I love hiking the Wavecrest Open Space right along the ocean. The views are breathtaking. Today, we saw a group exploring the beach and trail by horseback. Adding that to the bucket list!
You can walk the trail on the ridge above the beach or walk down on the sand. You’ll end up at Half Moon Bay Golf Links, and if you’re feeling fancy, you can treat yourself to a meal or spa treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.
Yoga
Yoga is a wonderful, restorative practice for both body and mind. It’s an excellent counterbalance to running, hiking, cycling, intense cardio/weight workouts, and desk jobs. I love practicing at my gym, but I wanted to get away and practice near the beach this weekend.
Thanks to Yelp, I found Enso. It’s right next to the parking area for Half Moon Bay State Beach. We took the 10:30am 90-minute Vinyasa class with Colleen. The open windows welcomed an ocean breeze and a wood stove kept the room warm. Colleen was a phenomenal teacher—her gentle instruction guided us through the poses and helped bring such a positive energy to the group. The space is beautiful and I will definitely be back.
Downtown Half Moon Bay
After an amazing class and a walk on the beach trail, we headed to downtown Half Moon Bay for brunch, boutique shopping, and wine tasting. Our first stop was Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Company for a flight of rosé called, appropriately, Rosé All Day. We paired it with the staff’s pick cheese plate and got recommendations for the rest of our afternoon. We ate at It’s Italia for brunch, shopped at Abode and other adorable boutiques and had our afternoon dose of caffeine at Cafe Society.
My usual haunt in HMB is the patio at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company after a hike in the coastal redwoods, but downtown Half Moon Bay is a delightful beach down and I can’t wait to go back!
