For serious surfers, Half Moon Bay is synonymous with Mavericks, the surf break and invite-only competition that draws the most talented of athletes. For regular folks, this coastal town less than an hour down Highway 1 from San Francisco sits on a crescent-shaped bay where you can fish, picnic, and surf smaller waves at one of several sandy stretches that make up Half Moon Bay State Beach. Boats can be launched at Pillar Point, and mountainside trails in San Pedro Valley Park and McNee Ranch State Park (part of Montara State Beach) offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Cruz Mountains. Further south toward Santa Cruz, a trio of state parks immerses you in California’s famous Redwood trees: Portola Redwoods, Butano, and Big Basin Redwoods. Half Moon Bay has a couple of RV parks with amenities, and some state parks have RV campgrounds.