HEN next you land at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) don’t rush off for sightseeing in San Francisco or business meetings in Silicon Valley. You’re already in San Mateo County (www.VisitSanMateoCounty.com) so take advantage of the many surprising attractions and undiscovered treasures (undiscovered by us easterners and other nonresidents). Hollywood has long discovered San Mateo County. They’ve been shooting scenes and background here for more than 50 years. That includes, among many others, such movies as Rent, The Joy Luck Club, Mrs. Doubtfire, Nine Months, Harold and Maude, Bullitt and the TV series Dynasty.
Dating to 1840, Half Moon Bay is the oldest of San Mateo County towns. Situated on the Pacific coast, it boasts miles of pleasurable beaches where you’ll find hikers, kite flyers, surfers, picnickers and overnight campers. To explore the area for a day or two, check checked into the charming Beach House, 4100 N. Cabrillo Hwy, 650-712-0220, 800-315-9366, www.beach-house.com.
Accommodations are superb: 54 ocean lofts with private patio, fireplace, separate living and bedroom area, king-size bed, spa services, plus complimentary continental breakfast, fitness center, parking, and outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.
Rent a bike and enjoy the dramatic ocean bluffs. Hike the Montara Mountain Trail. Take a whale watching tour and gaze in awe as the whales make their journey to the Baja Peninsula from December to April. Visit boutiques, cafes, and bakeries on Main Street.
Stop at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, on Coastal Highway 1 in Pescadero, 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay. It used to be a smuggler’s haven during Prohibition. The white brick Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest in the country, was built in 1872 following a string of shipwrecks. It’s still in operation, although automated. The long building next to it is a youth hostel.
No matter where you go to eat, you must drop into Cameron’s restaurant, pub and inn 1410 S. Cabrillo Hwy in Half Moon Bay (415-726-5705, www.cameronsinn.com). You’ll find an old style English pub with a collection of 2,000 cans of beer on the wall.
At various times in its 100-year history the colorful pub has been a house of ill repute or a house of fun. I marveled at the kitsch-filled walls and the enormous number of bizarre collectibles on display.
The menu features fish and chips, a killer burger, bangers and mash, pasties and beef pie, and homemade clam chowder. Stay overnight. What’s the rush? There are three B&B rooms upstairs, two with a shared bathroom and one private. Don’t let B&B fool you – it stands for bed and beverage. "We ain’t cooking no breakfast!" the sign says.
Moon Handbook Tahiti
