There's no public transportation from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay. There are two ways to get here by car: the fast way and the scenic way. To save time, take Calif. 92 west from either I-280 or U.S. 101 out of San Francisco, which will take you over a small mountain range and drop you directly into Half Moon Bay. A better--and far prettier--route is via Calif. 1, which technically starts at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge and veers southwest to the shoreline a few miles south of Daly City. Both routes to Half Moon Bay are clearly marked with numerous signs, so don't worry about getting lost.

Downtown Half Moon Bay, however, is easy to miss since it's not on Calif. 1, but a few hundred yards inland. Head 2 blocks up Calif. 92 from the Calif. 1 intersection, then turn south at the Shell gas station onto Main Street until you cross a small bridge. For more information, call the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce (tel. 650/726-8380).