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From Princeton Harbor south, there are four miles of beach that form the crescent of Half Moon Bay. The coast curves from facing southwest at El Granada to northwest at Kelly Avenue, so at any time of day or year, some part of this beach is picking up whatever signals are being sent from north or south.
Most of the time, the surf along here is junk, as it is too exposed, and the bottom is usually flat and not really surf-conducive. But with the right combo of conditions, these beachbreaks can be mind-boggling good.
On the official maps, these beaches are, from north to south, El Granada Beach, Vallejo Beach, Miramar Beach, Naples Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, Elmar Beach and Francis Beach. There is access to these beaches all along Highway 1.
Like most places at the northern top of North Central California, all of the Half Moon Bay beaches are almost impossible to predict. The weather is in a constant state of flux year-around, and the bottom contours are constantly changing. As a general rule, 90 percent of the time you check these beaches, they're bad. But if the winds are offshore or glassy, and the swell is small to midsize, preferably from the west, take the road less traveled, get lucky and you may happen on the hottest hundred yards with no one around.
-- Ben Marcus
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variable, depends on sandbars
W, NW, SW
small to overhead
E or glassy
potential for 9, but rare
sand, some rock.
beginner to advanced
good tube riding board, sense of adventure, friends
year-round
Most of the roads off Highway 1 lead to the beach. Some end in State Parks, some end in dirt parking lots.
easily avoidable
easily avoidable
5. Moderate.
3 a few creeks flow into the water from nearby farms.
Loneliness, Currents, Shorebreak poundings. Angry farmers.
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There's a great Mexican food place on PCH and Kelly Avenue called Tres Amigos (650-726-6080). Go there for the bomber burrito. For after-surf latte, a good bagel and friendly service, try La Di Da coffee house. It's on Kelly, about three blocks inland of PCH.
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There is camping at Half Moon Bay State Park, toward the south end of the crescent. Turn right at Kelly Avenue to get to the entrance to the State Park. There are 51 sites, available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can check the website at http://parks.ca.gov or call 650-726-8819.
Or try
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Did you bring your sticks? Just south of Half Moon Bay, a number of roads turn off the freeway and pass through the Half Moon Bay Golf Links, a public course, built near the beach. Some of the roads that pass through the course make it to the beach and some of these beaches seem to have reefbreaks at the end. Worth a look. You never know. It's a nice golf course, anyway.
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Cowboy Surf Shop is on Highway 1, a few miles past Maverick's at 2830 Cabrillo Highway North. This place has been there a long time, and it is dialed in about local conditions: 650-726-6968. Also on Highway 1, a few blocks north of Cowboy's shop, is the Half Moon Bay Surf Shop: 650-726-1476. Jeff Clark Surfboards is located inside of the Maverick's Roadhouse Cafe. He'll make you a stick for mega Maverick's or puny Princeton, whatever you want: 650-728-0503. Half Moon Bay Surf Shop (650-726-1476) is located in downtown Half Moon Bay.
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