We start our tour at the wonderful Mill Rose Inn, built in the 1980s, is a charming B&B in Half Moon Bay, CA. Inspired by European gardens, it features lush rose gardens, and antique-filled interiors evoking old-world charm amidst modern amenities to create a memorable stay.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Built in 1905 this historic inn is a mile from both Half Moon Bay State Beach and the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. A fire nearly burned the building down a few years ago.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Visit and tour the historic downtown with all it’s highlights and haunts.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Visit the historic Half Moon Bay Jail. Before a jail was built in Half Moon Bay, lawbreakers were held in a wooden shed in the backyard of a judge’s home – which also happened to be the town’s courthouse. The conditions were so bad in the shed that the town’s newspaper called for a new jail and in 1919, the Half Moon Bay Jail was built, still standing today as a historical museum.

Although the California Gold Rush attracted ambitious residents to the town, it undoubtedly attracted troublemakers, too.

Used primarily as a sheriff’s office and holding cell, the Jail operated until the 1960s – hosting its fair share of overnight bookings and drunken revelers as more dangerous criminals were transferred to the county jail in Redwood City. By the 1970s, the Jail was used as the location for the County’s Mental Health Services office and then ultimately turned over to the city.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Half Moon Bay City Hall c1922, this quaint building looks like a bank because it once was. It was first the Bank of Half Moon Bay, then Bank of Italy, and later Bank of America. 501 Main Street.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Historic Bridge over Pilarcitos Creek, located at the north end of Main Street, was among the first steel-reinforced concrete bridges in the world. Built in 1900, it was the very first in San Mateo County. The steel used for reinforcing was the used cables from the San Francisco Cable Car system. 300 Main Street.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Half Moon Bay, located along the Pacific coastline in California, has a rich history of ocean protection and conservation efforts. The area encompasses various marine protected areas (MPAs) established to safeguard their marine ecosystems and preserve the habitats of various marine species, such as the Moss Beach tide pools or the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

See Mavericks, a big wave surf spot located in Half Moon Bay, California, was discovered in the late 1960s. It gained fame in the early 1990s due to a Surfer Magazine photo. Named after a dog named Maverick, the spot hosts some of the world’s largest waves and prestigious surf contests. Mavericks remains an iconic and challenging destination for experienced surfers.

Mavericks gained worldwide attention for the massive waves, sometimes reaching over 50 feet, making it a premier destination for some of the world’s best big wave surfers. In 1999, Mavericks held its first official big wave surf contest, which continues today as one of the most prestigious big wave competitions in the surfing world.

Over the years, Mavericks has become a symbol of big wave surfing in California and remains an iconic and challenging location for experienced surfers to test their skills against nature’s immense power.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The James Johnston House (c1855) – This unusual saltbox-style home, known as The White House of Half Moon Bay, was built by wealthy Half Moon Bay pioneer James Johnston. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. 110 Higgins Canyon Road

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Half Moon Bay, located along the Pacific coastline in California, has a rich history of ocean protection and conservation efforts. The area encompasses various marine protected areas (MPAs) established to safeguard their marine ecosystems and preserve the habitats of various marine species, such as the Moss Beach tide pools or the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free