Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival: Plan Your October Coastal Trip October Is the Best-Kept Secret on the Coastside Most people assume Moss Beach and Half Moon Bay are summer destinations. They're missing something. October is the sunniest month of the year along this stretch of California coast — nearly 25 sunshine days on average, more than any month in summer — with temperatures in the mid-60s that feel built for layers and outdoor walking rather than heat and crowds. The coas

Hike Purisima Creek Redwoods Near Moss Beach, CA What hiking is near Moss Beach, California? Moss Beach puts you within easy reach of both coastal bluff trails and the redwood canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve — about a 20-minute drive south and east — offers one of the best forest hikes on the Peninsula, with second-growth redwoods, a creek-side canyon, and ridge views stretching all the way to the Pacific. The popular Whittemor

Tide Pooling at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve: A Complete Visitor's Guide What can you see at the tide pools at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach? Fitzgerald Marine Reserve protects one of the most biodiverse intertidal stretches in California — three miles of rocky coastline with four distinct ecological zones. At a minus low tide, you can spot giant green anemones, ochre sea stars, hermit crabs, nudibranchs, sea lemons, and black turban snails. Harbor seals haul out at th

Humpback Whale Watching Near Moss Beach, CA When can you see humpback whales near Moss Beach, California? Humpback whales feed actively along the San Mateo Coast from May through November, with July through September the most reliable window for sightings. You can watch from the Pillar Point Bluff Trail above the harbor — a short drive from Moss Beach — or book a morning charter from Pillar Point Harbor, where several operators run dedicated whale watching trips. From the wat

Best Things to Do Near Moss Beach This Summer | Yvonne Yang What are the best things to do near Moss Beach in the summer? Summer in Moss Beach centers on the tide pools at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, the coastal trails above Pillar Point, and a run of local events in nearby Half Moon Bay, from the Wine & Jazz Festival to the weekly farmers market. You'll also want to build in time for the seals at the overlook and a seafood dinner at the historic Moss Beach Distillery. Most of