Half Moon Bay (San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Pacifica: neighborhoods, living in, price)

[MtnSurfer]

Can someone describe what living in Half Moon Bay is like?

1. Do you commute up the 92? If so how is that?

2. Are the beaches kind of dirty from all the Bay traffic?

3. Is the water usually pretty clean for surfing, swimming, etc... or considered more polluted? I know it is cold. I have surfed Ocean Beach. Wetsuits are not optional.

4. Do you think it is worth the premium price to live there?

Thanks,

- Derek

[sonarrat]

Once you get west of 280, 92 is actually the two-lane, mountainous San Mateo Road. It has a 35 mph speed limit and lots of switchbacks. It's not horrible, but even minor problems shut it down for extended periods of time. And your alternatives are frequently no good, because 1 has a notorious stretch in Pacifica known as Devil's Slide, which is prone to closure due to, you guessed it, mudslides. And forget about 84 (La Honda Road). Even the people who live in Pescadero and La Honda drive up 1 to 92 instead of going through that hell.

On the plus side, the beaches are nice and quite unspoiled compared to Ocean Beach. I can't comment on how it is to live there, but the cold and gloom would get to me, personally.

[MtnSurfer]

Thanks Sonarrat,

I didn't realize that road was so bad. At least it isn't as 'long' of a drive as the 17 from Santa Cruz to SJ. But 35mph is pretty slow.

How long would you estimate it might take to get from the 280 to the coast on 'a good' day. The reason I ask is that I am also looking at East Bay neighborhoods. But I want to take the 92 to the coast on days off. I am not real fond of Ocean Beach for scenery, etc... Although the waves are pretty good there.

Thanks,

- Derek

[sonarrat]

It takes 15 minutes from 280 with no problems. The thing is that there isn't much gray area - either it's 15 minutes or you're stopped for an hour plus.