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Pacifica is a coastal city of about 37,000 people in San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco along Highway 1. It was incorporated in 1957 from a string of small beach communities, including Sharp Park, Rockaway Beach and Linda Mar, each set in its own valley between green coastal ridges.
The city feels far from the urban Bay Area despite being only 15 minutes from San Francisco. Surfers ride the waves at Pacifica State Beach in Linda Mar, anglers cast from the long Pacifica Municipal Pier, and Rockaway Beach has hotels and restaurants overlooking a small cove. Fog is common in summer, while autumn often brings the clearest, warmest days.
Much of the surrounding land is protected as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Trails climb Mori Point, Milagra Ridge and Sweeney Ridge, where the Portola expedition first saw San Francisco Bay in 1769, and the Devil's Slide Trail follows a retired stretch of Highway 1 above the ocean. The historic Sanchez Adobe recalls the area's rancho era.
Also known as Linda Mar Beach, this crescent of sand at the mouth of San Pedro Creek is one of the Bay Area's most popular beginner surf spots, with surf schools and rental shops nearby. It has restrooms, outdoor showers and a paid parking lot. The water is cold all year, so wear a wetsuit.
A small cove between rocky headlands, with a sandy beach, a seawall promenade and a cluster of hotels, cafes and restaurants just steps from the water. It is a good base for walking to Mori Point to the north. Waves can be powerful, so swimming is not advised; enjoy the views and tidepools instead.
Stretching about a quarter mile into the Pacific from Sharp Park Beach, this pier is popular for fishing and crabbing, and no license is needed to fish from it. Walkers come for sunsets, sea birds and the occasional passing whale. It can be windy and cold, so bring layers; check for closures after storms.
Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this headland has short but steep trails with wide ocean views, wildflowers in spring and habitat for the endangered San Francisco garter snake and California red-legged frog. The Bootcamp Trail climbs straight up the ridge. Park near Sharp Park Beach or Rockaway.
After Highway 1 was moved into the Tom Lantos Tunnels in 2013, this dramatic cliffside stretch of old road became a paved trail for walkers and cyclists. It offers sweeping ocean views, seabirds on offshore rocks and a historic World War II bunker. Parking lots are at both ends; mornings can be foggy.
A small Golden Gate National Recreation Area park on a ridge above Pacifica, with an easy paved path to a summit with views over the coast and a former Nike missile site. It is known for spring wildflowers and the endangered Mission blue butterfly. Parking is limited, and the ridge is often windy.
In the hills behind Linda Mar, this county park has trails along creeks and through eucalyptus and coastal scrub, including a path to seasonal Brooks Falls. Steelhead trout spawn in the creek in winter. It has picnic areas and a small visitor center. A parking fee applies; the falls are best after rains.
Built in the 1840s by Francisco Sanchez, a former San Francisco alcalde, this two-story adobe is now a San Mateo County historic site with exhibits on the Ohlone people, the mission outpost that stood here and the rancho era. The grounds are pleasant for a short visit. Open hours are limited, so check ahead.
Designed by famed architect Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1932, this public 18-hole course sits just behind the seawall at Sharp Park Beach and is owned by the City of San Francisco. Green fees are relatively affordable. Book tee times online, and expect wind and fog to affect play.
Often called the most scenic Taco Bell in the world, this wood-clad restaurant sits right on Pacifica State Beach, with a walk-up window and a patio facing the surf. It serves the usual menu plus alcoholic drinks. It is popular with surfers and tourists, so expect a crowd on sunny weekends.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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