Attractions Near San Mateo, Peninsula Area

One of the great things about planning a San Francisco vacation is that there are so many terrific nearby destinations to include in your itinerary just beyond the city borders. San Mateo County is one such place. I’ve had the pleasure of exploring this destination while living in the Bay Area for the past 15 months, and whether you’re into history and small-town exploration, outdoor activities, culinary excursions, family festivals or a Northern California beach vacation at a seaside resort, San Mateo can meet your needs.

A Sense of Place

San Mateo County, formed in 1856, covers most of the peninsula directly south of San Francisco and is bordered by the San Francisco Bay to the east, Silicon Valley to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Fly into the San Francisco International Airport, and you’re on its doorstep.

San Mateo County’s northern and eastern areas are composed of abutting suburban towns, but get beyond those and suddenly you’re among the rolling foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, equestrian estates and working farms. Beginning in the late 19th century, the peninsula became a popular place for many of San Francisco’s elite to build their country homes, following the economic boom sparked by the 1849 Gold Rush.

Half Moon Bay

Arguably the best known of San Mateo’s sights is Half Moon Bay, the coastal resort town about 25 miles south of San Francisco. Spend time chilling out on one of its gorgeous beaches, then stroll down Main St. to browse the many craft shops, European-style boutiques and art galleries. Be sure to visit Pillar Point Harbor, about four miles north along the coast, and check out (or even buy!) fresh crabs and other goodies brought in by commercial fishermen, or sign up for a kayak adventure at Half Moon Bay Kayak Company (read more in our Bay Area Hike, Bike and Kayak article).

• Buy fresh crabs and other seafood right off the fishmen’s boats at Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay.
• Donna M. Airoldi

The annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival takes place Oct. 18 to 19 this year. Last year’s giant pumpkin winner came in at 1,524 pounds. Visit Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm to see some of these stunners, along with dozens of other types of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes, during the fall, if you can’t make the festival. The farm opens mid-September, Mon. to Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sat. and Sun., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Perched on a cliff south of Half Moon Bay is Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which at 115 feet is one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States. In operation since 1872, the lighthouse is no longer open due to structural concerns, but you can visit the grounds and often spot sea lions and whales from the deck over the cliff rocks.

Where to Eat

There are plenty of excellent places to eat in town and nearby along the coast. For some of the freshest Italian dishes you’ll find anywhere—most ingredients are sourced from local farmers—enjoy a meal (or three) at Pasta Moon. If you’re familiar with wine-pairing meals, consider a beer pairing at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company at Pillar Point Harbor. It offers more than 120 types of beers, and its homemade brews compliment the California Coastal Cuisine served in its restaurant. Another favorite is Café Gibraltar, for its flavorful Mediterranean dishes, with influences from Morocco to Turkey. Families with teens might prefer the more casual Cameron’s Restaurant, Pub and Inn, south of town. Fish-and-chips are the specialty.

• Rounding up the goats at Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero.
• Courtesy of Harely Goat Farm

Where to Stay

Half Moon Bay has long been a popular vacation spot—as well as the location for the famous Mavericks Surf Contest—and is even more so now since the 2001 opening of the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. Set on a bluff overlooking the Northern California coastline, with its fabulous spa and access to two neighboring championship golf courses, the resort’s popular Kids Night Out program, available Friday and Saturday evenings, keeps children occupied with dinner, movies and arts and crafts, while parents enjoy a quiet dinner together at the resort’s Navio restaurant, or one of the picks above.

Other hotels in the area include the Half Moon Bay Lodge, with many of its spacious rooms facing the Half Moon Bay Golf LinksBeach House Hotel and including a balcony and fireplace; the , with loft suites; and the new Oceano Hotel & Spa Half Moon Bay Harbor. The spa at Oceano was not yet open during my stay, but is supposed to be by Fall 2008.

Pescadero

About 14 miles south of Half Moon Bay is the farming and art village of Pescadero. It’s pretty much a three-street town, but I’ve found reason to return several times this year. In town are a variety of antique and craft shops, two white-steeple churches and a hillside cemetery where you can get a sense of the town’s history by reading its worn headstones. One of my favorite places is Harley Farms Goat Dairy. Best goat cheese I’ve ever tasted. Take a tour, it’s great for kids (no pun intended); meet the goats and llamas; stock up at its cheese store.

• The cabins at the Costanoa eco resort are spacious and have fantastic views of the area’s natural beauty.
• Donna M. Airoldi

Where to Eat

Duarte’s Tavern specializes in fish and seafood (lines are out the door on weekends), and the Pescadero Country Store (tel. 650-879-041) added a brick oven this year and serves tasty pizzas. There’s also the excellent Los Amigos Mexican taqueria at the corner gas station. Don’t miss Arcangeli Grocery Co., aka Norm’s Market, which makes amazing Italian gourmet bread—especially its melt-in-your-mouth Garlic Herb and Artichoke Bread flavor. You can even shop online! The store also sells Harley’s goat cheese in case the farm is closed when you visit.

Where to Stay

Hands down, one of the coolest hotels I’ve seen lately is the Costanoa Lodge & Camp. It’s an eco adventure resort with accommodations ranging from tents and cabins with communal “comfort stations” (bathrooms, showers, saunas and fire pits) to a luxurious lodge and spa. Its grounds are connected to three state parks, with 40,000 acres of hiking, a wildlife reserve, tide pools and coastal dunes. Activities include horseback riding, kayaking, mountain biking and the Costanoa Kids Camp for 5- to 12-year olds. Rates start at $125 per night.

There’s also the charming Pescadero Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast in town, a renovated turn-of-the-century farmhouse with four rooms, each with an antique claw-foot tub. Rates start at $175 per night.

San Gregorio

Blink and you’ll completely miss San Gregorio, located about seven miles north of Pescadero and two miles east from San Gregorio Beach on Hwy. 84. Just about everything you could need or want is at the one-stop-shop San Gregorio General Store: groceries, restaurant, bar, bookstore, clothing, outdoor gear, housewares, maps, games, souvenirs, live music and the post office. Friends I’ve brought here love it, as do I, and many of the motorcyclists you’ll often see parked out front on weekends.