CITY OF HALF MOON BAY by Amazon Stones

Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,842 as of the 2000 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea.

Attractions

Half Moon Bay hosts its popular "Art and Pumpkin Festival" on Main Street downtown in October.

The Odd Fellows Building at 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay has been the home to Ocean View Lodge #143, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) since April 18, 1868. Ocean View Lodge members were instrumental in the incorporation of the City of Half Moon Bay. The first Mayor John "Nick" Carter and the original city councilmen were members of this fraternal benevolent society. Ocean View Lodge donated land for the first developed city park- Ocean View Park and developed the first low cost senior housing facility on the San Mateo County Coastside- Ocean View Plaza, which it sponsors to this day as part of its ongoing benevolent work for over 140 years.

Cameron's Pub restaurant, located in Half Moon Bay off State Route 1, owns the "World's Only Double Decker Video Game Bus." For the adults, Cameron's also owns the "World's Only Double Decker Smoking Bus".

Half Moon Bay Golf Links is a public golf course facility with 36 holes of championship golf including the American parklands-style Old Course, which was designed by Arnold Palmer and the Arthur Hills-designed Scottish Links-style Ocean Course. The Ocean Course was the site for the 2008 Samsung World Championship (part of the LPGA tour). The facility also includes Mullins Bar & Grill restaurant, named after local legend Clyde "Moon" Mullins.

The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, located on the Pillar Point Harbor, is the only brewpub on the San Mateo County coast.

Crab Landing Seafood & SteakHouse \ Sushi & Oyster Bar, located in the heart of Pillar Point Harbor and voted # 1 bay area view, is the only establishment like this to have two full service bars, upstairs & downstairs levels, a patio and such extensive menu selection.

There are two hotels by the Pillar Point Harbor: the Oceano Hotel and Spa and the Pillar Point Inn. During open season fresh local fish is available to the public to purchase directly from local fisherman at the Harbor. Barbara's Fish Trap overlooks the harbor and is famous for their fish and chips, fried calamari and clam chowder.

The remnants of the village of Purissima, perhaps the only ghost town in San Mateo County, are four miles (6 km) south of the city, near the junction of State Route 1 and Verde Road.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain operates a hotel located along the city's southern coast and is surrounded by Half Moon Bay Golf Links.

At the north edge of Half Moon bay is the famous big wave surf area, Mavericks, off Pillar Point, where pro surfers challenge waves over 50 feet (15 m) and one Professional Surfer, Mark Foo, died.

Montara Mountain, located North of Half Moon Bay, is a popular outdoor recreation spot, and home to the old Highway 1. Visitors to the Harbor have the chance to purchase freshly caught sea food straight off the boat. Check with the ranger station at the start of the pier for that day's catch.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, located just North of Half Moon Bay past the small airport, is a natural refuge for plants and animals adapted to live at the edge of the ocean. Home to tidepools that feature some of the amazing sea life of the northern California coast, it is open to the public as well as guided tours.

Half Moon Bay, and the areas immediately around host several state parks and beaches, including:

• Half Moon Bay State Beach
• Venice State Beach
• Poplar State Beach
• San Gregorio State Beach
• Pomponio State Beach
• Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Pillar Point Harbor

The Pillar Point Harbor at the northern edge of Half Moon Bay offers a protected landing for boats and provides other marine infrastructure. In the late 1980s a new master plan was developed for the Harbor. A variety of fish species have been identified in the harbor area. The most abundant fish include flatfish, particularly the speckled sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus) and the commercially important English sole (Parophrys vetulus), several species of rockfish (Sebastes sp.) with boccacio (S. paucispinis) most abundant, many members of the surfperch family, the most abundant being shiner (Cymanogaster aggregata) and dwarf surfperches (Micrometrus minimus), and the commercially important Pacific herring (Clupea harengus). Smaller populations of many other species, including significant commercial or sport species such as various surfperch, flatfish including halibut (Paralichthys californicus), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), and cabezon (Scoraenichthys marmotarus) also are found in the harbor during the summer. Abundant winter species include starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Pillar Point Harbor is home to the famous Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, known for its homemade beer, nightlife, and ocean views.