Last week, we had a wonderful end-of-summer getaway with my parents in Half Moon Bay! Even though it’s only about a 40 minute drive from home, we felt like we were worlds apart from the horrible Bay Area heat wave! Here are some of the highlights from our vacation.
- Sacrilege Brewing Company
It ended up taking us about 2 hours to get to Half Moon Bay, between the mistake of our local Starbuck’s Drive Thru and all the beach traffic due to people trying to escape the heat! We were starving by the time we arrived in town. My parents love this restaurant, so we decided to try it out. Located right in downtown Half Moon Bay, Sacrilege Brewing Company has a small but tasty menu perfect for families! It was a toss up what Roman enjoyed more – his cheese quesadilla (which was enough to last him for days!) or Logan’s cheeseburger. I got a simple salad, no dressing – and all the ingredients were fresh and delicious. Roman enjoyed running around the restaurant and up and down the ramp outside.
- It’s Italia
Apparently one of my mom’s friends has a family member that owns this Italian restaurant in downtown Half Moon Bay. We were pretty tired from driving and swimming all afternoon, so we opted to call in our take out order. Unfortunately, their online menu didn’t match their actual menu, so my first 4 choices for dinner were no longer available. What I did finally settle on did not disappoint! I ended up getting a beet salad and sauteed mushrooms – both of which were amazing! The boys split a cheese pizza and spaghetti with meat sauce. I think they were both ravenous from their day of playing, because Roman ended up shoveling spaghetti into his mouth like he had never eaten before! The pizza was also delicious (I did sneak a taste). The crust was perfectly fluffy and the ideal amount of both sauce and cheese. Our meals also came with fresh focaccia bread. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
- Beach House Hotel
This hotel was a wonderful getaway! It was almost like a “staycation,” because we were so close to home, but staying in this adorable hotel made it feel like we were worlds apart from the stresses of everyday life!
This hotel is extremely kid-friendly. There is a fountain with little fish out in front, which both boys enjoyed immensely. There is complimentary continental breakfast served every morning, complete with oatmeal, pastries, orange juice, coffee, and fresh fruit salad. They have little dinner trays you can put your food on – to enjoy outside on the patio, overlooking the coast, or up in your room! We ate breakfast outside almost every day, and this gave Roman the perfect chance to run around while giving us some time to eat in peace.
The hotel had a great pool and hot tub as well. There were a ton of beach balls out by the pool for kids to play with, and the pool was heated to bath water temperature! We all had a blast swimming and playing around by the pool.
The hotel staff were extremely nice and accommodating. They were quick to remedy any problems we had, including all of our keys locking us out of the lock-off.
There was also a wine and cheese reception (also necessary for parenting, of course) that they put on a few nights a week. It was fun to bring up some cheese, crackers, and fruit to the boys when they started getting those afternoon hunger pangs.
Our rooms happened to be right next to the gym (hello, fate!) so I was able to keep up with my fitness program while we were on vacation. It was a very modest fitness room, with one treadmill, one elliptical, and a set of dumbbells. There was plenty of space for me to work out in peace, but I can’t imagine trying to exercise with more than one person in there!
It was only a short walk down to the beach from the hotel. Logan could easily walk it, and I was able to wear Roman on my back down to the beach. The water was calm and the boys enjoyed running around in the sand, collecting shells and feathers, and running back and forth along the icy water.
- Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
My grandparents drove up from Watsonville to meet us for lunch at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. This is a favorite of ours, and we eat here 90% of the time we visit Half Moon Bay. The restaurant is spacious, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and has a beautiful view of the coast. We love coming here because we almost never have to wait for a table, even on busy weekends, so that makes it an ideal spot for families with small kids! Their kids menu has plenty of options for varying taste preferences. Logan had macaroni and cheese, which unfortunately this time did not turn out well. It was very watery that day, almost like a soup instead of a pasta dish, so he wasn’t thrilled. He ended up eating mostly bread and butter, and tasted some deep fried artichoke hearts. Roman surprised me with how much he ate. He got grilled fish and steamed snap peas. Logan ended up stealing a few snap peas too! Roman ate most of the fish, a few snap peas, sourdough bread, and some artichoke hearts. The kids love the fish tank at the front of the restaurant. It provided a good walking break for Roman while we waited for our meal. I love this restaurant because there are plenty of quality vegetarian options. I opted for a garden salad with tuna salad on the side (yes, I do eat fish from time to time). Both kids had fun coloring their menus too! Roman is halfway between wanting to be an artist, and wanting to eat crayons.
- Sam’s Chowderhouse
We made reservations at Sam’s Chowderhouse, and this is highly recommended, because this place gets packed. The line remains out the door pretty much from the time they open to the time they close. It’s easy to see why this restaurant is hugely popular. The menu is large, the restaurant has a gorgeous view of the ocean (and a private beach you can walk down to), and it’s a fun place to be! I had only been here once before, while I was very sick and about 9 months pregnant, so I was excited to return and really try the food. I ordered a beet salad, and it was very tasty! I was mostly impressed by the kids’ food, though. Roman and Logan split spaghetti and meatballs (from the adult menu), a side of French fries, and a side of fresh fruit. I was not prepared for the portions! They brought a plate of French fries, a large bowl of fruit, and a huge portion of spaghetti with meatballs the size of baseballs! The fruit bowl was made up of super fresh fruit – blackberries, grapes, apples, and pears. Roman loved the spaghetti and ate about half a meatball. He had fun walking laps around the restaurant, inside and outside, while we waited for our food. It was a fun family dinner!
- Fitzgerald Marine Preserve
We came to explore the tidepools, and it did not disappoint! We were a little sad that we couldn’t walk very far down the beach due to sea lions being protected, but there were plenty of rocks to climb on and the waves weren’t too strong. It was freezing outside, and even with Roman in the carrier and close to me, I worried that the wind was too much for him. I would definitely recommend baby wearing, especially when going up and down the stairs! Logan had a fun time exploring all the different tide pools and spotted a bunch of different creatures!
- Half Moon Bay Coffee Company
This is a great place to go for lunch. It’s usually quiet and not too crowded, even when you’d expect it to be busy. They had a large menu, which made it ideal to order for the kids. The best things about this restaurant are the large interior, kid-friendly menu, the delicious coffees (I got a “monkey mocha”), and of course, the bakery counter. There were so many pastries, cakes, and cookies for the kids (ok, and us adults too) to choose from! Their baked goods are amazing.
- Farmer’s Market
We went to the farmer’s market to try some produce and explore. The kids had a fun time sampling all the different fruits – they especially loved the pluots, blueberries, and oranges. All the vendors were very friendly. This was a small farmer’s market, but there were plenty of good options if you wanted to sample foods or get some great deals on produce.
- Nick’s Seashore Restaurant (Pacifica, CA)
Donnie and I were able to have a date night on Saturday night, while the boys were with their grandparents back at the hotel. It was a quick drive to Pacifica, where we had reservations at Nick’s Seashore Restaurant. It was a little disconcerting to pull up to a restaurant attached to a very unassuming motel, but we had a great time! The restaurant itself overlooks the coast and the view was just gorgeous (even though we only caught a glimpse from the parking lot). I can imagine it’s a great place to go during the day. Our meals were tasty, and my favorite part was the fried pickle spears that I ordered in place of French fries! Overall, the food really wasn’t anything special, but we always appreciate the chance to get out just the two of us!
- Granola’s
Before leaving Half Moon Bay, we stopped at Granola’s, an adorable little coffee shop right before you reach the freeway. They have a variety of coffee drinks, including pour overs, and of course, they make their own granola! Despite the employees having major attitude for some reason that day, our coffees were very good. We also tried one of their almond butter chocolate chip cookies, and it was amazing!
One of the best things about Granola’s is the Airstream parked outside. The kids can run around inside (I believe they host story time in there once a week), and they have a small kid’s table and chairs, children’s books, and some toys. There is also a large elephant statue outside that Logan has a fun time climbing on.
Overall, Half Moon Bay is an ideal vacation spot for families, and I can’t wait to return!
