Nothing beats a scenic drive up or down California’s Pacific Coast Highway. Personally, I like the drive from the San Francisco bay area to Monterey and Carmel. There are so many things to see and do and places to stop and explore along the way. One of those places is the small coastal beach town of Half Moon Bay.
There are hotels in the area for every price range, from budget to deluxe with ocean views. If you have time for an overnight stay in the area and you are traveling with children or pets, you might want to check out the recently remodeled Half Moon Bay Lodge.
Half Moon Bay Lodge swimming pool
This place is very kid and pet-friendly. Make sure to tell them you are traveling with a pet and they will have a doggie welcome amenity waiting for you and assign you to the pet-friendly wing of the lodge (at least they did during our stay.)
There is plenty of grass in the fenced area behind the lodge for exercising pets and kids. My husband had no idea that we were within sight of Half Moon Bay Golf Links. Be warned, if you have a golfer in the family, either bring your golf clubs or prepare for a lot of whining every time you hear the thwack of a golf ball.
Like me, my dog is motivated by food. She enjoyed the dog treats and I enjoyed the complimentary breakfast included in the price of our room. The hot breakfast included juices, coffee, fruit, yogurt, muffins, make your own waffles, eggs and sausage. Quite a value breakfast for the price of the hotel room!
Once checked into your hotel room, relax in the covered hot tub (rain, shine or fog) or swim some laps in the heated pool. There is not a restaurant on property, but steps away is an Italian restaurant with excellent seafood – fresh from nearby Pillar Point Harbor – and, during our stay, there was a day spa next door. I didn’t have a chance to indulge in the Cloud 9 Spa, but the front desk folks said it was a nice facility.
Half Moon Bay Lodge king suite
Hacienda-style rooms vary from single to king suites. Those with mobility issues will want to request the first floor of this two story lodge. Our first floor king suite had a fireplace and queen-size sofa sleeper in the living room – we were childless this trip, so can’t comment on the comfort of the sofa sleeper. The dog (and my husband) appreciated the sliding glass door with access to our open patio outside and the lush grassy park-like setting.
Our king suite rented for $309 mid-week. Check the website for current prices and value packages. Reservations can also be made on Booking.com.
Half Moon Bay Lodge review and photos by San Francisco-based food, wine and travel writer Nancy D. Brown. Top photo courtesy of Half Moon Bay Lodge. I was a guest of Half Moon Bay Lodge.
