“Tell me once more about the eternal surf.” – Rob Bignell
Like many people, I’ve always been mesmerized by the sights, sounds, and scents of the ocean. There’s nothing comparable to standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the undulating ocean, except perhaps gazing out at the same cliff and sea from a world-class resort.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have visited some of the most picturesque and magnificent resorts in the world, and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is the most stunningly situated and photogenic property I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.
Location
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is located in the coastal city of Half Moon Bay, California, which is about 30 minutes south of San Francisco. The property is perched just inland on a set of pristine cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the setting is simply breathtaking. Here are a few images.
These pictures do not do the property justice, but you can get a sense of the grandeur and scope of this setting. I took these early in the morning before other guests started to emerge, which is why many images are dark. That said, at that time of day, the serenity of the ocean setting was superlative, and is my favorite memory of my time on property.
The Property and Accommodations
That a property the level of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers plush accommodations is no surprise. But it is the character, quality, and individuality of the accommodations that separates this resort from other luxury properties. The property feels at once, grand and intimate, which is something many luxury properties strive to achieve, but fail to deliver.
But the truly inspirational views are captured from the guest suites facing the interior of the property, the cliffs, the surf, and the sky. Without question, the most spectacular views from any room I’ve ever visited.
Dining – Navio
There are numerous dining options on property such as The Conservatory, the Eno Wine Bar, and The Ocean Terrace, but since we only stayed for one evening, I’d like to focus on the property’s signature restaurant called Navio. Navio embodies that easy and flavorful Coastal-Northern California dining that makes the region so famous. Click here to view the Dinner Menu.
I’d like to first remark about the absolutely sublime service from the entire Navio staff. I had heard many great things about Navio, including the staff, and our experience was over-the-top great. I especially appreciated the detailed knowledge about the fresh fish, which is sometimes a challenge for servers in a seafood restaurant, and very helpful for us because there were some fish with which we didn’t have much experience.
Here are images from our lovely and memorable dinner at Navio:
My mouth is watering just posting these pictures! As you can see, we sampled both meat and fish, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and imaginatively prepared and presented; including lovely cooking treatments and styles.
Spa
As you would expect with a top echelon luxury property, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay features a luxury Spa, which you can read more about by Clicking Here.
I unfortunately did not have the time for a treatment, but I did make time to visit, and to (against the rules!) take some pictures. Don’t worry, I went when no one else was there, and I really wanted to show my readers the interior of a high end spa, complete with a lovely sitting room, cold and hot pools, and cucumber cold towels. Splendid.
Activities
I generally don’t discuss the activities available at a luxury resort, but The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay simply has more amenities and activities than I have seen anywhere else. Usually, you’d have to go on a Costa Rica Focus tour for an extensive bird-watching expedition to see such rare and exotic birds or perhaps visit Bondi beach for the ultimate surfing experience, but here, these activities are available for all. I thought it a disservice to not mention a few of those activities, such as Sea Kayaking, Horseback Riding, Wine Tasting, Surfing, Ritz Kids, and Bird Watching. You can read about these in more detail by Clicking Here.
The Activity I wanted to briefly discuss is the accessibility for resort guests to the Half Moon Bay Golf Club, which features two championship golf courses. I briefly walked over to the Club, and it’s quite impressive, which also includes a separate Bar & Grill if you’re looking to have a golf getaway with some friends. Super cool, and I will most certainly be back for a guys golf trip! Here are some pics:
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay has something for everyone, and then some – ocean, spa, dining, golf, and some of the most beautiful views you will ever see anywhere.
I’d like to thank the entire staff at the resort for making me feel so very welcome and appreciated. Much of what makes luxury resorts so special are the people that you meet who work so very hard to make your stay special and memorable. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay staff couldn’t have made us feel more welcome. We didn’t want to leave!
I highly recommend that you visit The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, and find your own sense of solitude and your own eternal surf. You will look back on those memories with much gratitude, and you may even smell that lovely sea air.
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay – Contact and Social
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay – 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay, California 94019 – Google Maps
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritzcarltonhalfmoonbay/
Twitter: @RitzCarltonHMB
Instagram: @RitzCarlton
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ritzcarlton/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ritzcarlton
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+ritzcarlton
More Pictures!
Thanks so very much to everyone at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay for a most memorable visit, and for the use of the lovely main image for this post. I can’t wait to return when I have more time to golf and further explore the property!!
Please note that I was welcomed by the resort as a special media guest, but that as always, my opinions are own.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this post! Happy Traveling!
#agp
