My hometown of Half Moon Bay is really a beautiful place, and still remains an under the radar hidden gem. It's mostly known for the Pumpkin Festival and beautiful pumpkin patches during the fall season. But the reality is that it's a stunning photography location any time of the year.

Half Moon Bay is located 45 minutes south from San Francisco is the perfect destination for a day trip to escape the city. The temperatures are much cooler than most other areas of the bay area, so Half Moon Bay is a great place to escape high temperatures during a heat wave.

Because of the mountain range surrounding the valley in Half Moon Bay, this coastal town has its own unique climate. The weather is often foggy in Half Moon Bay, especially during the summer months of May - July. The warmest and sunniest weather on the coast runs through August - October, often referred to as an “Indian Summer.”

In this blog post you can see many examples of photography locations in Half Moon Bay. You can hover your mouse over each image to see exactly where the photo was taken.

Best Spots for Beach and Nature Photos in Half Moon Bay

Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay

The Ritz-Carlton hotel is located on some of the most pristine oceanfront property in Half Moon Bay. There’s a public trail that runs along the coast through the Ritz Carlton grounds and it’s open for the public to use.

Along this stretch of the coastal trail there’s several lookout spots which make for beautiful backdrops for photography. This is a very popular destination for wedding photos. The first four photos in this blog post were taken at the Ritz Carlton.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

The Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve is a beautiful state park located a short 20 minute drive from Half Moon Bay’s downtown. There’s a trail through the forest and you can walk among these giant trees. See our blog post guide to the redwoods here.

Coastal Trail

Growing up in Half Moon Bay, I used to take long walks and bike rides along this 11-mile long trail. The Coastal Trail runs along the cliffs of the coast and there’s so many scenic spots to photograph. There’s multiple places you can catch the trail but my favorite is Poplar Beach. See photos from our walk on the Coastal Trail in this blog post.

Año Nuevo State Park

The Año Nuevo Beach is a hidden gem that is not frequented very much by tourists. The beach is most famous as the breeding grounds for elephant seals in the winter, but is free for everyone to use the rest of the year. Check out this blog post with photos from the Año Nuevo beach and hiking trail.

Devil’s Slide Walking Trail

When I was growing up in Half Moon Bay, Devil’s Slide was a treacherous road along the cliffs. Because it was so dangerous to drive, it has since been closed to cars and is now a walking trail open to the public. You can see some stunning ocean views from this trail and it’s a great place to workout. Check out this blog post to see photos from our family walk on Devil’s Slide.

Princeton-by-the-Sea

Princeton-by-the-Sea is a small fisherman community with a harbor and a strip sea food restaurants. It’s a fun place to explore and grab some clam chowder bowls for lunch. You can often see seals and sea lions swimming in the harbor.

Whale Watching

The whale migration season in Half Moon Bay runs from March to April. You can either stand on the coastal bluffs and watch with binoculars or book a whale watching tour out on a boat. The boats to view whales out on the ocean leave from Princeton-by-the-Sea, you may be able to purchase tickets at the booth.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

The Fitzgerald Reserve runs for 3 miles of beachfront terrain and most well-known for marine wildlife in the tide pools. Inland there’s tunnels within the groves of cypress trees which are popular photography subjects. You can see examples of photos of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve on Instagram.

One important thing to note, if the tide is too high then it’s not safe to explore the tide pools. Always be safe!

Kayaking in the Harbor

I mentioned above the Princeton harbor and you can actually rent kayaks and explore the cove. My husband and I have gone kayaking several times and it’s always a fun day. I’ve even had seals swim right up to the kayak to say hello! Check out this blog post to see photos from our afternoon kayaking.

The Half Moon Bay Kayak Company also rents out bicycles!

Bean Hollow State Beach

If you take a 20 minute drive south on Highway 1 from downtown Half Moon Bay, you’ll come across the quiet beach Beach Hollow. This is usually a much calmer spot to hangout when the other beaches are filled with tourists. All of the photos in this blog post were taken at Bean Hollow Beach.

Montara Mountain

A popular hike is the trail to the top of Montara Mountain. If you’ve ever seen the film Memoirs of a Geisha, they filmed scenes up at the top of the mountain because of the panoramic ocean views. The parking lot at the trailhead has very limited spaces, so many hikers have to park at the Montara State Beach parking lot and walk over to the trail.

The Montara Mountain trail is not a leisurely walk, you should need to be in good shape to make it to the top. There are parts of the trail with a steep incline, you will really feel the burn!

Lookout spot on the trail at Any Nuevo Beach.

Montara State Beach

Along the bluffs of Montara there’s several areas where you can stop and take photos. I have two fall fashion blog posts that were shot on the top of the cliffs in Montara - this one and this one. Sometimes you’ll find white and purple wild agapanthus flowers growing which make for pretty pops of color in photos. You can also head down to the beach in Montara.

Poplar Beach

The best selling point of Poplar Beach is the Coastal Trail that runs along the top of the cliffs. Walking along this paved and well-kept trail you’ll see sweeping views of the ocean. It’s a popular destination to watch the sunset, there are benches along the trail to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Swing at Davenport Beach

Instagrammers love Davenport Beach because of the ruins left by an old pier. There’s pillars still standing in the sand and one of them has been painted in bright colors and turned into a swing. You can see photos here.

Adventurers beware, it’s a steep and difficult trek down to the beach. Please be careful!

Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway

Many of the spots on this list can be found on the Pacific Coast Highway that runs the length of Half Moon Bay and surrounding areas. But the reality is that there’s so many more places to explore and photograph than I can possibly put on this list. It’s worth your time to take a drive during golden hour and see what inspires your photographer eye.

Historical Landmarks on the Coast

Level Lea Barn in Pescadero

The Level Lea Barn is the perfect rustic picturesque backdrop for photos. This historic barn has been preserved and even adorned with sweet heart art. It’s located right on the main road in Pescadero if you’re heading towards Arcangeli Grocery Co. from Highway 1.

The barn is located at 1743 Pescadero Creek Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060.

Main Street in Downtown Half Moon Bay

Once the main drag of an outlaw town, Main Street is now a charming downtown with restaurants and shops. Some of my favorite places to frequent in downtown Half Moon Bay are”

Pillar Point Lighthouse on Highway 1

The Pillar Point Lighthouse is probably the single most scenic pit stop you can make on Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero. It’s free to enter the park and you can leisurely walk the grounds and take photos.

The lighthouse is located at 210 Pigeon Point Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060.

Old barn on the trail at Any Nuevo Beach.

Historical James Johnston House with Flower Fields

The house where I grew up in Half Moon Bay was just down the street from the Johnston House. This historical home was built by one of the original families that founded Half Moon Bay and has been restored and preserved for the public to enjoy.

Sometimes in the spring and summer the surrounding fields will bloom with vibrant yellow flowers.

Maverick’s Surf Shop

Along with pumpkin patches, Half Moon Bay is also a famous destination for surfers. The Maverick’s Surf Competition brings the world’s most talented surfers to compete on giant 80-foot-tall waves. The Maverick’s Surf Shop is on my list of historical landmarks because it truly is a bucket list place to visit for anyone interested in surfing.

The exterior of the building is bright and colorful and there’s a really cute photo spot on the surfer bench.

Farms You Can Visit on the Coast

Strawberry Picking in Davenport

Along Highway 1 there’s the small beach town of Davenport, located about 45 minutes south from Half Moon Bay. The Swanton Berry Farm has u-pick strawberries and berries in the summer months. See the blog post from our afternoon picking strawberries.

Andreotti Family Farm Stand

On the drive towards Half Moon Bay State Beach on Kelly Avenue you’ll come across a farm stand in an old barn. They sell locally grown produce and sometimes they turn the adjacent field into a pumpkin patch. You can see photos of the farm stand on my Instagram.

Located at 329 Kelly Ave #1633, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

Andreotti Sunflower U-Pick Farm

At a completely separate location from the farm stand, there’s a u-pick sunflower and pumpkin farm. They usually open in September and stay open during the autumn season. See photos from our visit on my Instagram.

Sunflower farm is located at 800 Cabrillo HWY North, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Harley Goat Farm

I was a small child the last time I visited these adorable little goats. I’ve been dying to get back to this farm ever since. You can book a tour of the farm and visit all the goats and donkey, and shop farm fresh products like goat cheese, honey, chocolates and more.

4C's Christmas Tree Farm

For many folks in the Bay Area, heading to the coast and cutting down your own Christmas tree is a holiday tradition. At 4C's Christmas Tree Farm you can pay cash (no credit cards) to rent a saw and head out into the Christmas tree farm and find your own perfect tree.

Farmer John's Pumpking Patch with teepee in Half Moon Bay.

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Patches

There’s many options when it comes to pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay. In the fall season the local farms really put in the effort to make your pumpkin patch experience extra special. Most of the farms are open from September to Halloween.

My favorite places to take harvest and fall-themed photography are:

Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm

At Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm they have adorable red wagons you can use for free to haul your pumpkins (and small children) around the property. They also have large hay stacks, all types of cool pumpkins, and a cool teepee.

Located at 850 Cabrillo Hwy N, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

Arata Pumpkin Farm

Arata is a very large pumpkin farm about a 10 minute drive into the outskirts of Half Moon Bay. They are known for a huge corn maze, a haunted house, petting zoo, train rides and pony rides.

Located at 185 Verde Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

Lemos Farm

Along Highway 92 there’s multiple flower nurseries, pumpkin and Christmas tree farms. One of the most frequented farms for families with young children is Lemos. They have all the bells and whistles - pony rides, haunted house, petting zoo, pumpkin patches, etc.

Cute Places to Eat in Half Moon Bay

Dad’s Luncheonette

This adorable little lunch spot is actually a historic train caboose converted into restaurant. It’s located right on Highway 1 very close to Kelly Ave which leads straight to Francis Beach. The menu serves upscale comfort food, perfect for a beach picnic.

San Benito House

The San Benito House has multiple functions - it’s a saloon bar, a historical hotel and a popular sandwich shop. At lunch hour and on the weekends there’s often a long line of folks waiting to order one of their famous sandwiches. Patrons especially love their in-house baked bread.

The outdoor patio seating is a nice place to hangout for a bit. It’s located right on Main Street in downtown.

Sushi on Main Street

This restaurant has been a popular spot for as long as I can remember. It’s an upscale sushi restaurant serving authentic Japanese food. The restaurant is divided into two sections - a lounge bar and a family restaurant. It’s located on the main downtown strip.

The Press Cafe in El Granada

This is a relatively new eating spot and if you’re in the El Granada area it’s a great place to pick up a picnic meal or eat after a morning at the beach. They specialize in breakfast and lunch since they close at 3pm. They have all kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches, yum!

The Press is close to the popular Surfer’s Beach right off Highway 1. The address is 107 Sevilla Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94018.

The Barn Burger

The Barn Burger is a super cute burger joint inside a restored old-barn. It’s located right on Highway 1 between El Granada and Half Moon Bay. Click on this blog post to see photos from our lunch at the Barn Burger.

Granola's Coffee House

Granola’s just recently opened its doors and is located on Highway 1. My favorite part of the coffee shop is the outdoor patio has a vintage Airstream where you can sit and enjoy your drink inside. Half Moon Bay can get very chilly, so this is nice alternative seating. At the bottom of this blog post you’ll see photos of us hanging out inside the Airsteam with baby Scout.

Nano's Yogurt Shack

On the rare days when it’s warm and sunny in Half Moon Bay, it can be fun to enjoy some frozen sweet treats. Nano’s is located on Main Street in downtown and they serve Hawaiian shaved ice, frozen yogurt and traditional Hawaiian foods.

It's Italia

This upscale restaurant serves fusion California and Italian food. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever ordered here, very fresh and full of flavor. The decor and atmosphere reminds me of a modern Tuscany theme. Located in the heart of downtown on Main Street.

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

This long standing brewery and restaurant has been a long time favorite with locals and visitors alike. Beer enthusiasts can enjoy craft brews, and the menu has elevated comfort foods and pub food. The weekend brunch is also very popular.

The patio is dog-friendly and they even have house-made dog treats. The restaurant is located walking distance to the Princeton harbor.

Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen

This brewery was much more recently established and has a quirky vibe to it. They have a large selection of alcoholic beverages and serving California fresh pub food. Located on Main Street in downtown. Scroll down in this blog post to see photos of the Sacrilege front patio.

Hop Dogma Brewing Company

Hop Dogma just opened in 2019 and it’s so new that I haven’t had the change to frequent it myself. They are located very close to the harbor and you can enjoy your beer out on the patio. They have an outdoor fire pit and twinkling string lights to set the mood.

Sam’s Chowder House

Sam’s is one of the most popular eateries on all the coast. On a busy weekend you can wait hours for a table. Sam’s is located right next to Surfer’s Beach and patrons love their seafood while enjoying ocean views from the patio.