Some friends of mine recently tied the knot in Half Moon Bay. During the wedding weekend, our free lodging choices included a couch 30 minutes away and a house rental that—while five minutes on foot from the venue—was booking up Big Chill-style with the bride’s college friends. We did what any sane wedding guests would do: We shacked up at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay instead.
The location can’t be beat: The majestic hotel is sited on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There’s a reason why human beings are drawn to bluffs. They bring us dangerously close to the edge of the world; standing there, we can simultaneously marvel at the deep blue expanse before us and contemplate our smallness in its presence. A perfect place to have a five-star spirituality experience.
We checked into a modestly sized, but beautifully designed room on the top floor, from which we could see the ocean and watch golfers play on the world-class links. The room's silvery blue color palette evokes the water, and the textures and materials, such as wicker and wood and brass, are reminiscent of a ship. In true Ritz style, the bathroom is a suite unto itself, with a roomy shower, deep soaking tub, and double vanity. Great for one person, even better for two.
Brunching at the RCHMB is a legendary affair. Skip the breakfast buffet in the Conservatory, where (*shudder*) families with rowdy children dine, and make reservations instead for Navio, the property’s sophisticated signature restaurant. The Sunday all-you-can-eat brunch is almost overwhelming. While there’s plenty of French toast and scrambled eggs to be had, we suggest converging upon the dim sum, pork roast, sushi, and fresh seafood bar with oysters and heads-on shrimp and tin after tin of caviar. At the twice monthly BBQ Bloody Mary brunch, you get all of the above, plus the likes of juicy brisket, smoked sausage, and a bloody mary bar with so many liquors, salts, and add-ins that it’s statistically insurmountable to calculate all the possible combinations for your morning cocktail. Regardless of which service you choose, you are well advised to take a lap before deciding on a game plan.
After sufficiently popping shirt buttons at brunch, walk off the meal on the Coastal Trail, which spans the property and extends 7.5 miles to Pillar Point Harbor. Or, after a bit of a rest in the Adirondack chairs on the Ocean Terrace, rent one of the hotel’s cruiser bikes and pedal all the way to PPH. It’s flat terrain, so no extraordinary quad exertion required. Just remember, the fresh sea air is an effective antidote against food coma. If you’re craving a hike in the woods, drive 15 minutes on Purisima Creek Road (head inland from the fire station downtown) to Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve. The main trail is a flat romp through a thick, dewy forest where you may spot Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg taking a stroll, no doubt seeking his own spirituality experience.
