Things to Do in Half Moon Bay
Things to Do Deals
Half Moon Bay Kayak Co.
- Half Moon Bay
Aquatic revelers decked out in wetsuits and life jackets traverse the rolling waves of Pillar Point Harbor atop paddleboards or kayaks
Helm of Sun Valley
- North Central
Instructors impart kiteboarding basics on land at Third Avenue, including launching, steering, and landing
Recommended Things to Do by Groupon Customers
What started as a creative way to pay a debt led to the founding of Lemos Farm. Owner Bob Lemos' grandfather was repaid with a cow, so he bought land for the cow and her new calf in 1942, and over the years, the property morphed into a dairy farm, an alien robot, back into a dairy farm, and then a space for horses. Eventually Bob and his father, Arnold, peppered the land with Christmas trees, pumpkins, pony rides, and haunted houses, beckoning families to the sprawling grounds.
Visitors escape urban drudgery and revel in the decidedly country ambience, whether aboard hayrides or visiting the petting zoo for an introductory course in farm-animal massage therapy. During the holiday season, families wander the aromatic rows of the Christmas tree farm, where Douglas fir, incense cedar, and other pines await.
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the shoreline of San Mateo County, Moss Beach Ranch forms a hub for many miles of riding trails that branch out across more than 4,200 acres of Rancho Corral de Tierra. The ranch's director of instruction and training, Jeanette Jacobi, leads a team of experienced instructors and a stable of nearly 30 gentle horses, which students can ride during private or group lessons. Instruction can focus on either Western or English riding styles, and students pick up skills that range from jumping to dressage.
In addition to lessons, an experienced guide leads riders on trail rides across the surrounding terrain five times per week. On each excursion, parties climb rolling hills and traverse verdant ravines, even riding to spots that, like the private drinking clubs at Churchill Downs, are accessible only by horse.
Located steps from a seashore brimming with avian and marine activity, the Half Moon Bay RV Park and Campground's ample campus hosts RV trailers and old-fashioned tents for overnight stays. Walks along the coastal trails or evening gatherings around the barbecue pits provide communion with the natural order, whereas the adjacent Cameron's Inn Pub and a wireless network maintain campers' connections to the outside world. Volleyball courts and horseshoe pits provide more entertainment than spotting parabolas in a campfire.
