Outdoor Water Activities on The San Francisco Peninsula

With sunshine shining on us for most of the year, The San Francisco Peninsula offers a vast variety of outdoor beauty, making our region so unique and enjoyable all year round. Whether you’re looking to kayak on the Pacific Ocean or surf in Pacifica, you can find it all here!

KAYAKING & BOATING


Kayaking is one of the best ways to experience the Peninsula. Explore the beautiful Pacific Ocean and kayak among seals, birds, and other marine life at Pillar Point Harbor with Half Moon Bay Kayak. This Half Moon Bay kayaking company allows you to discover the world of sea kayaking in the Pacific Ocean. Their fleet is made up of single, double, and triple kayaks and a wide variety of paddleboards, perfect for a nice family outing.

If you're looking to learn the ins and outs of kayaking, California Canoe & Kayak is the place for you. The teaching style is interactive and action-oriented, and the instructors provide students with a dynamic learning environment.

If you happen to be on The San Francisco Peninsula's bayside, make sure to pack a picnic and rent an electric boat with Edgewater Marine in Foster City. You can rent Duffy Electric Boat by the hour and float on the relaxing Foster City lagoon.
 

SURFING


Always wanted to experience the thrill of surfing on the Pacific coast? You’re in luck! Numerous beaches in San Mateo County offer surf access! Starting with Linda Mar State Beach in Pacifica, this popular beach is always packed with surfers and it includes a recreation trail, surf camps, lessons for beginners, and restrooms with showers.

Meanwhile, down in Half Moon Bay, surfers can visit Surfer’s Beach located next to Pillar Point Harbor. This beach under the right conditions creates a nice surf break, perfect for those looking to experience surfing in Half Moon Bay. The beach also offers restrooms and restaurants are located nearby. Another great spot is Mavericks Beach, the setting for the famous "Mavericks Surfing Competition".
 

MARINE WILDLIFE


If you’re a more hands-on person, you may explore marine life up close at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, CA. This rocky seashore hosts a living community of marine life that is of great interest to visitors and naturalists alike. A variety of seaweed, crabs, sponges, sea stars, mollusks, and fish make their homes in the inter-tidal; that area between low and high tide.

Interested in whale watching in San Mateo County? Located in Pacifica, the Pacifica Pier is one of the best locations for whale watching in the San Francisco Peninsula. Gray whales can be spotted from February through April from the shores. Although blue whales are not as common as gray whales, they are typically also seen along the coast from late spring to fall. As for the humpback whales, the prime watching season occurs in the summer and fall.

Down in Pescadero, visitors may plan a visit to Año Nuevo State Reserve. The park’s Natural Preserve offers an extraordinary wilderness experience, where every year up to 10,000 elephant seals return to breed, give birth, and molt their skin amongst the scenic dunes and beaches. The park also features the Marine Education Center boasting a natural history exhibit, bookstore, and theater!


 

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