Half Moon Bay

Since we rescued Lois, we hadn't made it out to the coast, so this past weekend with its amazing weather was the perfect opportunity. And, with so many dog-friendly beaches, Half Moon Bay was the natural choice.

Destination

We headed for Poplar State Beach, just south of where highways 92 and 1 meet. At the end of Poplar Street, right off highway 1, there's a nice parking a

rea for the beach that isn't full if you get there early enough. It's a great dog-friendly beach, and wasn't too busy even on this sunny Sunday. On our trip, there were several dogs playing to the south end of the beach, and almost all were off- leash. The beach technically requires leashes, and I would advise them if you aren't confident with your voice control over your dog.

Recreation

We had plans to walk around a bit, too, but we climbed down to the beach first to cool off the dogs. Lois and Clark had a blast playing on the sand, but weren't too keen on the cold ocean

waves. So, after they had been sufficiently dunked, we hiked back up to the top.

Just south of the entrance to the beach are a few small trails that direct you to Wavecrest, 200 acres of conservation land protected by Peninsula Open Space Trust. This is dog-friendly land with trails that follow along the cliff top and afford great views of the beach below. There are also several benches and spots along the cliff that can be used for a picnic. On a hot day, it's a great place to walk around with the ocean air to cool you and your pooch off.

For Lois' first excursion, I'd say it was a great success! The beach time and the hike plus a fun car ride was all that was needed to make her and Clark happy (and sleepy!). I'd definitely recommend this trip next time you're on the Coastside!

View Half Moon Bay in a larger map

/