Half Moon Bay Play Day

Today, my little daughter and I had a glorious day in Half Moon Bay with our friends, another mom who has a young son. We went to the western portion of Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve to have a nice picnic by the creek under the redwoods. The little ones threw rocks in the water of the creek and ran or crawled under the redwoods, checking out sticks of interest and banana slugs. Then, my daughter and I went on to Half Moon Bay State Beach on our own to "say hello to the ocean" before driving back to Livermore. Redwoods and beaches? What more could anyone ask for?

I have written about the Purisima Creek Trail before, and it is really a phenomenal trail, especially for little ones or for people with bad knees.

We didn't really hike this time; we walked a short distance from the parking lot to where the redwoods flank the creek and space opens up to lay down a picnic blanket. Then we let the kids eat and move around and explore!

The only "secret" to know about visiting this park is that you really should take Verde/Purisima Creek Road (following signs for UC Elkus Ranch) instead of taking the slightly shorter but much scarier Higgins Canyon Road.

On the way home, we turned toward Half Moon Bay SB's Francis Beach on a lark and just stayed a little longer. It was such a beautiful day, that it seemed like a waste not to savor it a little more.