Half Moon Hotel

If San Francisco evokes the image of a metropolis with its crowded streets and dense population, you will be surprised to learn that a few miles south and west you will find Half Moon Bay, a rural oasis of charm at the edge a stretch of virgin panoramic sea California.

It was in this small village you will find many small shops and the pace a little more relaxed than in urban bay less than half an hour north-east. There are lighthouses and farms nearby, flower markets, spectacular tidal pools, and a port with fresh crab, salmon and halibut that are found on the tables of some excellent local restaurants.

Half Moon Bay is indeed special, and that's probably all because of his name - how a place called Half Moon Bay to be anything but a dream enclave overlooking a small fairy tale about the sea?

Our last visit to Half Moon Bay has been strengthened by our accommodation - a place called the Beach House which offers 54 colorful loft suites perched on a cliff overlooking the picturesque coastline. The suites are spacious and welcoming, designed as studios open to enjoy the ocean view. Each unit includes a private terrace or balcony and separate bedroom and living spaces. All the amenities are there: a wood burning fireplace, wet bar, microwave, refrigerators, down comforters goose - you name it.

The Beach House Cape Cod has a look that matches the nearby beach and marina. You can walk the trails in width to the marina or the beach and feel that you really are a long way from the big city.

Of course, spa services of the hotel will remind you that you're not exactly in Kansas - there is a whole menu of available spa enhancements, including the cover of Paris signature lavender, Reiki massage and aromatherapy.

Just a five-minute ride from the hotel is the shopping district of downtown Half Moon Bay, a place to explore the intricacies and while you are looking for something special to bring to friends and family. Many shops, restaurants and cafes are located along historic Main Street, not to mention more bakeries per capita than any town we visited.

A restaurant called Cetrella was recommended to us and is described as a "smart casual Mediterranean bistro" with perhaps the building's newest and most impressive in the shopping district downtown. The menu was incredible in its variety but it still offered the choice between simple seafood, beef, pork, lamb and even rabbit. Among our favorites were the mesquite grilled Creekstone Farms Dry aged Black Angus sirloin and seared salmon Cypress Island - , cooked to perfection. Vegetables served in a dizzying array of different dishes, were cooler than we can remember - which should not be surprising considering there are farms near the restaurant. All and all, Cetrella has been a hit with our family and, apparently, with everyone in town, too - this great restaurant was almost full capacity, even a night on weekdays.

Another nice place for dinner in Half Moon Bay is Sam's Chowder House, our choice for lunch the second day. This fairly new restaurant is just steps from the hotel and offers stunning views over the bay. Our point of choice: clam chowder.

Once you've shopped and dined at your heart's content, the next step in exploring and which begins with the right beaches at Half Moon Bay. There are about 55 miles of beaches along this part of the Coastside area - the area just west of the mountains of the San Francisco Bay Area cities - and it seemed like a good number of them were entitled to Half Moon Bay. We took a path along the cliff and went to another trail at the beach in windy day where we had miles and miles of beaches to us. Probably the least windy days there are more visitors enjoying the.