Pacifica vacation rentals

Just 20 minutes from San Francisco, the small beach town of Pacifica feels worlds away from the big-name destinations along the west coast. The city offers the perfect combination of nature and adventure, with miles of shoreline lapped by ocean waves. Pacifica’s beaches are distinct and varied, with soft golden sand, rare black sand, and pebble beaches just a couple of miles apart. There’s a strong surf culture here, with kayakers and paddleboarders keen to take to the water.

Along the seafront, you can enjoy a handful of bars, restaurants, and art galleries. The coastal bluffs and inland forests offer miles of hiking and biking routes with clifftop views and colorful wildflowers. Fishing and crabbing are also popular, especially during dungeness crab season, when the Pacifica Pier fills with locals hoping to pull in the prized crustacean.

The average temperatures in Pacifica vary slightly and are pleasant with low chances of rain most of the year — excluding some cold weeks in the winter. Anglers will want to consider booking their vacation rentals in Pacifica for July, when the bays around the coast are full of salmon. If you’d like to take advantage of the free crabbing available from the Pacifica Pier, it’s best to visit in the winter months when Dungeness crab is abundant. There are several surf events throughout the year. In September, you can celebrate Mexican California at Rancho Day Fiesta, with rancho food, Californian music and dancing, and crafts.

Sam’s Castle

Modeled after a Scottish castle, Sam’s Castle was built in 1908 as a safe haven overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It served many purposes over the following years, including a speakeasy and WWII barracks. In recent decades, its eccentric owner filled it with art, antiques, and other curiosities from his time as a theater decorator. The castle is now open periodically to the public.

Surfing at Linda Mar Beach

The southernmost of Pacifica’s beaches, Linda Mar is a mile-long stretch known as one of the best areas for surfing in the Bay Area. It has forgiving breaks suitable for newbies to challenging swells for advanced surfers. Seafront stores have all the equipment you could need to get out onto the waves safely.

Montara Mountain Trail

For unparalleled, 360-degree views of the Bay Area, you can hike to the summit of Montara Mountain from San Pedro Valley Park. Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountain range, the peak is 1,900 feet above sea level. The trail takes around four hours, and the vistas from the top are well worth it.