So, what if you have just a weekend to spend in Half Moon Bay? How do you spend your time wisely and squeeze in as much as possible? We believe we have the “perfect” itinerary for you!

Start by staying at this hotel!

We know there are four really nice places to stay in Half Moon Bay, or, the enclave of Princeton By the Sea. Our favorite spot is the Inn at Mavericks located in Princeton By the Sea! This Inn has only 6 rooms, so, planning ahead is crucial to ensure a stay at this wonderful Inn. Each room has an outdoor balcony or patio where you can sip on cocktails and enjoy the tremendous view from the bluff that the Inn sits on, and enjoy the Pillar Point Harbor.

The Inn has all the amenities you would expect of a $350-$400 stay (depending on the time of year), with memory foam beds, fine linens, oversized soaking tub, gas-burning fireplaces, and cozy sitting areas.

For your first night’s stay, which we assume would be a Friday night, head down to the Jettywave Distillery and grab some dinner from their Mediterranean-inspired menu, and take it to go, or stay for dinner and enjoy their fabulous craft cocktails.  The Jettywave distills their own whiskey, but they have other cocktails available outside of just whiskey.

After dinner, take a walk on the beach.  Head north on Princeton Avenue, which is the street the Inn is on, and navigate yourself to Pillar Point #7, where there is access to the beach. Keep heading north on the beach and there is access to a trail that will take you to the infamous Mavericks Beach.  It’s a perfect place of solitude to catch the sunset if there is no fog, and of course, it will be later in the evening, so if you’re there during the Summer time, or early Fall, you should be able to catch the sunset.

On to Saturday

After enjoying your cup of coffee on the patio, jump in your car, as it is time to get some breakfast, then grab some sandwiches, and head to the beach.  For breakfast, we like to go to the Caffe Mezzaluna, which is in the Shoppes at Harbor Village, a short drive from the Inn at Mavericks.  Have some breakfast on the patio, and when done, it’s time to go get some sandwiches.

Just a 3-minute drive from Caffe Mezzaluna is the El Granada Hardware and Cafe, yes, a hardware store! This little hole in the wall makes some of the best sandwiches! With your sandwiches in tow, we’re gonna head 17.8 miles south on Highway 1 to Pescadero State Beach North.

There are a number of beaches that stretch along the coast along Highway 1, but for sake of this blog, we are keeping it simple, and direct to THIS beach, which is our favorite beach in the area. Why? It is a bit more remote with fewer people, and if you were not aware, our mantra is “No barking dogs, no screaming children, and no humans”! Ha! Not that we have anything against dogs, children, or humans, but we like to be more private and enjoy the serenity.

It is time to head back and grab some dinner. For dinner, we enjoy Mezzaluna, a nice Italian place! Yes, we went to Caffe Mezzaluna for breakfast, but Mezzaluna is a full-service restaurant. It is walking distance from the Inn at Mavericks.  Get the lasagna! Oooh, also make sure to save room for the Creme Brulee’ for dessert!

Check out on Sunday, but your weekend is not over!

Once you have checked out from the Inn at Mavericks, it is time to explore the Harbor area, and Princeton By the Sea.  Get in your car, and drive to the parking lot behind the Shoppes at Harbor Village, you know, where we had breakfast on Saturday at Caffe Mezzaluna.  Parking is free.  You could probably find a parking spot on the street if it is early enough, but this parking lot is big, and around all the activity.

We like to go to our favorite lunch spot in Princeton By The Sea, and that is the local Old Princeton Landing (OPL).  Now, in your travels in the Harbor area, you will see Barbara’s Fish Trap, which to us, honestly, is a “trap.” There is always a long line of tourists there, and the food is “okay.” It’s fun to try once, more nostalgic than anything, and there will always be a line at Half Moon Bay Brewery, which we do enjoy occasionally ourselves, but there is rarely a line at OPL, and OPL is just around the corner! Their fish and chips are the best! Also, that fish that you are eating was likely caught in the Half Moon Bay area.  That is not the case at Barbara’s Fish Trap, or Sams Chowder House ( a tourist favorite which is ALWAYS busy), nor, at Half Moon Bay Brewery, not that any of these restaurants advertise as “locally caught fish.”

So, for those who like to take in a community’s culture, and avoid the tourist places, please do yourself a favor and have a meal at Old Princeton Landing.

After lunch, take a walk to the marina and check out the boats and take in the breezes and salt air, and the smell of the ocean.  You may even see a sea lion meandering around the harbor.  You can check out the few little shops and grab a souvenir at the Pillar Point Harbor. If it’s not too late, grab dinner at Sams Chowder House. This is NOT typically on our agenda, but you do have to try Sam’s once.  If you can, sit out on the patio. We would not suggest driving there.  Just keep your spot where you parked for the day and walk to Sam’s.  Parking is mayhem! Sams is always busy.

We hope that you find our itinerary helpful! Half Moon Bay is a wonderful area. We don’t hike, but you can certainly look up hiking trails.  Our “hikes” typically consist of just walking along the beach, and there are plenty of opportunities to do so in Half Moon Bay.  Get out and enjoy!