Taking the Kids: To Half Moon Bay

By Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Media Services on Jun 26, 2015

When we arrived, we stopped at Harley Farms Goat Dairy (www.harleyfarms.com/) in tiny Pescadero to sample goat cheese (do we want pistachio and apricot, sun-dried tomato, chive?) -- the best I've ever tasted -- for our picnic overlooking crashing waves at Bean Hollow State Beach. Dessert? Creamy fudge made with goat milk. At Harley Farms, kids can watch as goat cheese is made and ogle the baby goats! (Starting in May, every Saturday, you can check out the Coastside Farmer's Markets, www.coastsidefarmersmarket.org/.)

As we walked along Pebble Beach with its distinctive small pebbles instead of sand, local kids explored the tide pools, oblivious to the cold water and wind. An Anemone! A Sea Star!

At Pescadero State Marsh, we followed a trail to watch scores of baby herons in the rookery and laughed at the harbor seals sunning on the rocks at Pescadero State Beach.

One night, we headed to dinner at the popular Peruvian restaurant La Costanera (www.lacostanerarestaurant.com/), located on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Spectacular views, spectacular food. (The restaurant is Michelin rated.) We feasted on ceviche (there are more than a dozen to choose from), empanadas (the best I've ever eaten), Causas (chilled whipped potatoes topped with mushrooms asparagus and avocado) and excellent seafood Paella. Despite the gourmet eats, I'm told the place is popular with families and is noisy enough that you don't have to worry about your kids disrupting anyone's dinner.

Everywhere here is casual and kid-friendly, it seems. The Pastorinos live nearby, but checked in at the Ritz with their two kids (ages 11 and 16) for a special treat, settling in on the Club Level where they even gave us boxes to take snacks for our hikes. "It is so easy," Dana Pastorino said.

So easy to entertain the kids and at the same time, help them connect to the natural world.

More goat cheese, please!

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For more on Eileen's visit to San Francisco and Half Moon Bay, read her trip diaries at http://www.takingthekids.com/category/travel-diary/ and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.