Hike to see elephant seals, wine tasting, pet baby goats, and explore charming Pescadero
The “Slow Coast” is a special stretch of Highway 1 in Northern California between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Most of the drive is along the coast so you get treated to gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean along the way as well as passing farms and beaches. I’ve taken many day trips down this stretch of highway over the years and put together my list of favorite places that you can hit all in one perfect day trip to Pescadero from San Francisco.
One thing to note, I love to take my dog everywhere, but because some of these destinations are in State Parks with wildlife and one stop at a goat dairy, I recommend leaving the dogs at home for this one.
Morning Hike
Most of the places along the route do not open until 10 or 11, so I recommend having coffee and breakfast before hitting the road. Start off with an hour and a half drive to Ano Nuevo State Park for a 3-4 mile hike to see elephant seals. There is an entrance fee to enter and park. April through November you can walk and view elephant seals on the beach. You do have to hike through some sand so make sure you wear shoes you don’t mind getting sandy. If you leave this until later in the day, they do stop allowing visitors in towards the end of the afternoon so I recommend going earlier in the day.
If you prefer to hike among the redwood trees, Butano State Park is just inland from Pescadero and has many great options for a hike in the area.
Wine Tasting and Baby Goats
Next, drive 15-20 minutes to Harley Farms Goat Dairy. When you arrive, go upstairs to the tasting room for Sante Arcangeli Family Wines. You can do a full tasting or just get a glass of wine to enjoy while you walk around. Outside, you can watch and pet baby goats. They also offer tours of the farm if you are interested in seeing more of the goats. Don’t forget to spend some time in the dairy shop and buy some fresh goat cheese for later.
Downtown Pescadero
You will probably be hungry by now. Drive 2 minutes to Downtown Pescadero. For lunch, I recommend either sitting at the bar at Duartes or getting a picnic lunch at Arcangeli Grocery. At Duartes, I always get the artichoke soup and olallieberry pie. Arcangeli Grocery is just down the street. Even if you already have lunch, you have to get a loaf of fresh artichoke bread. It is the best with the goat cheese you bought at Harley Farms. If you decide to have a picnic lunch, there is also a deli and many other delicious options at Arcangeli Grocery. They have picnic tables behind the store and there are often cyclists there on weekends.
After lunch, wander around the adorable town of Pescadero and the cute little shops. The entire stretch of downtown is pretty small so you can easily walk the entire thing. There are a few little stands with crafts next to Arcangeli’s. I also recommend stopping the coffee shop, Downtown Local. The kitschy décor inside is worth perusing, even if you aren’t in need of caffeine.
Slowly Heading back up North
After leaving Pescadero, you will slowly make your way back to San Francisco. There are a few worthwhile stops on the way back, depending on how much time you have left in the day. There are often farm stands along Highway 1 with fresh fruit, depending on the season, that are worth stopping at. If you want to pick your own berries, there are U-pick farms that allow you to pick your own berries. Be warned, it is usually more expensive than you think! There are also plenty of beaches along the way if you feel like you need some more beach time.
As you make your way north, one of my favorite stops is the San Gregorio General Store. If you stop by in the afternoon, this place often has live bands. It is part general store with clothes and touristy merch and snacks, and part country bar. It feels like it is all locals around and it has been a great time every time I have stopped by. Grab a beer and wander around the shop while listening to live music.
My other favorite stop along the way back is the Moss Beach Distillery. This restaurant is designated as a California Point of Historical Interest. It was open as a speakeasy during the prohibition era and is now haunted by the famous blue lady ghost. The real appeal of this place is the firepits overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This is one of the most beautiful places to have a beer and a snack looking out at the Pacific Ocean before heading home.
Back to San Francisco
It is only about 30 minutes back to San Francisco from Moss Beach Distillery. If you have other favorite places along the Slow Coast, let me know.
Leave a Reply