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| Photo courtesy of The Ritz Carlton website |
A couple weekends ago, my guy and I were on our way to spend an afternoon in San Francisco but half way there we decided to go to Half Moon Bay. It was one of those spur of the moment decisions that led to a wonderful and oh-so-memorable afternoon!
After having lunch and walking around Half Moon Bay, we were headed home when I asked my guy if he could stop by The Ritz Carlton so I can take in the beauty of it all. It's a majestic looking hotel that looks like it's been there forever but it is only about 10 years old. I just expected to drive by the place...
...but my guy had an even better idea...rather than just drive by we should go in and look around and have a drink at the bar! Oh boy, was I excited!!! We had just walked in the bar and looked around when the hostess approached and told us that there was also a bar outside with open seating. I will choose sitting outside over inside almost anytime!
You can see where we sat under the green umbrellas in the photo below...
It was the most amazing afternoon, sitting there on the patio of this beautiful hotel sipping a glass of wine, people-watching and looking out at the Pacific Ocean! I could have sat there all day! Pure bliss!
Half Moon Bay is known for it's foggy days but the day we were there it was absolutely beautiful!
After we sat there for awhile we decided to walk around the grounds. On the other side of the hotel, the rooms have outdoor seating with fire pits. If I ever stay here, I want one of these rooms. I can just imagine how nice it would be to sit out there with a fire and listen to the waves while looking at the stars! I know...I'm a big-time dreamer!
The view below is some of the big, beautiful new homes that are close by....
I would have loved to sit in the adirondack chairs that look out over the ocean but someone beat us to it. What a great place to watch the sunset...
There are many outdoor seating areas with fire pits...
I told my guy that I would love to get married right there on the grass overlooking the ocean (below), even if it is a golf course! (ok...please don't read anything into that...I'm not planning a wedding!!!) Wouldn't that be an amazing place for a wedding though? ahhh a girl can dream!
Here's a better view of where we sat and had drinks under the green umbrellas...
They do weddings here under the gazebo and there are some beautiful wedding photos on their website...
Here are some more of the outdoor seating areas with fire pits. They sell S'more kits (marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers) so you can sit out there and roast marshmallows and make S'mores under the stars!
This was one of the most memorable afternoons I've spent in a long time! I would love to stay here someday but it's way out of my budget! The rooms with the views are over $600 a night but what an amazing experience that would be! I wish there were a way I could afford it but since I'm about to be unemployed at the end of the year I'll just dream about it! Maybe some day if I win the lottery...lol ...a girl can dream!
As we were leaving and waiting for the valet to bring our car another group of people were standing next to us. I had seen the woman a few minutes earlier posing for a photo and we exchanged smiles. My first thought when I saw her was that she looked like "old money" ...probably from San Francisco. Then up pulls this HUGE Rolls Royce and they get in! Wow...they must be that top 1% I keep hearing about!
Click here to visit their website: The Ritz Carlton - Half Moon Bay
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22 comments:
Oh I have such fond Memories of Half Moon Bay...We went there often when I was a child... We stayed with an Uncle ( one of those that's not really an uncle but becomes a member of the family) He was an artist and painted the most beautiful portraits... We often went to the local fairs and Pumpkin Fest.. I also remember stopping on are way there at these water springs that were coming out of the sides of the mountains and feeling up jugs with water...I really could go on and on about Half Moon Bay... : ) But I must say there was Certainly no Ritz Carlton when I was there... : )
Wow what a majestic place Cindy! I would have loved sitting there with a glass of wine drinking in all of that beauty!
Now thats one place we missed, it is gorgeous, we will just have to come back...to look, a tad over our budget too!
Thankyou for sharing!
Oh you made me homesick! Born and raised in Half Moon Bay. Last time I came down for a visit to see my parents (who still live in my childhood home) I went and picked up a crab sandwich at The Flying Fish Co after browsing around town and took it down to the cliff tops at the Ritz. I sat on the cliff top by the stairs to the beach to eat it and enjoy the awesome scenery. So I guess you can say I lunched at the Ritz, lol! Love, Esther Sunday xx
WOW CINDY!!! That looks like a storybook setting. Gorgeous, I can see why you love it. Maybe better things are to come and you
will get to stay there. Miracles do happen. LOL. You have a very nice guy it seems. I am so happy for you. It was so nice of him to
stop there. Hey he even has a nice shadow.LOL.
Wow, gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. I'm certain I read a blog a couple of weeks ago that posted a wedding at the Ritz in Half Moon Bay. My in-laws used to own a home there and we visited once. It's such a beautiful part of our country. Thanks for sharing.
very romantic and beautiful place.
I love the outdoor firepits at each room.
Wow! For $600 a night I wonder what the rooms look like.
Hey girl, what are you talking about being able to afford the room? You make that guy of yours pay! :)
Well, THAT was fun, Cindy. I don't know a thing about Half Moon Bay and now I've put it on my bucket list. This first or so photo of yours, I said to myself, "hmmm...Biltmore." I've never been to the Biltmore back East (isn't it North Carolina?) but Mom has fond memories of eating holiday breakfast (Christmas) at the gracious one in Los Angeles built around the time she was born (1920s). I've toured it, it's a gorgeous hotel (I happen to LOVE downtown L.A.; so much amazing art deco details in the historical buildings and SO much fun to take a hosted walking tour so as not to miss anything). I've been to the Biltmore in Santa Barbara for brunch and high tea and company functions because I used to work and live in S.B. It's sumptuous, too. It seems to me that the USA has its share of grand hotels and I haven't even seen past the tip of the iceberg yet; like you, I hope and dream.
But to think this Ritz Carlton is new, wow, top drawer with all the current-day innovations; so cool...lucky you(!) and what a great idea you had to "drive by" AND how sweet of your guy to accomodate whereas some other guy might grumble!
Glad you had such a nice day. You take wonderful photos. So scenic. I thought it interesting that among the guests, somebody was walking a dog!
I'm going to look this up on a map right now (feeling ignorant that I'm drawing blanks on Half Moon Bay!) so I can where it is and get oriented; makes sense if they get a lot of S.F.-style coastal fog, the firepits are cozy to get your mind off of it! California beaches are fantastic in the fog...Cambria, Carmel, Big Sur, Mendocino; adds to the allure, but it can sure get cold.
Makes me wonder who owned that beautiful bluff before the hotel was built (maybe part of one of the old Spanish land grants?). Sometimes I moan seeing the last pristine coastal lands leaving private hands for public but, I will say, when there's access, there's also views we were never able to see before.
You've given the Ritz some good free advertising, not to mention a link to their site. They should give you a nite's stay in exchange...least they could do!!!
Beautiful place, I think you deserve a free night there for that plug. LOL
What a wonderful place. Thanks for sharing, Cindy. I love San Francisco, but have never been to Half Moon Bay. I have put that on my bucket list now!
What lovely photos, and such a pretty place to stop off at sounds like you had a great time.
...oh yes, isn't this such a lovely place ~ the view alone is to die for!
when we visit half moon bay, we like to sit down at that beach, (they need a few of those fire pits down there! lol!!)
it is fun to people watch as all the "old money" walks by, and perhaps someday,
a room with a view would be nice:)
but for now, i am just grateful to have seen how lovely the sea looks from such a swanky place...and you know what, the sea is just as beautiful here as it is from anywhere else on the pacific coast!
great photo's, you really captured the Ritz's "air" :)
xo, Rosemary
Hi Cindy,
Oh, I miss Half Moon Bay!! I used to live in Sacramento and visited there a lot (never did make it to their pumpkin festival, though!) I haven't been back to CA in 10 years! Seeing your pics makes me want to pack my bags and go! Thanks so much for sharing!
Cindy
All I can say is WOW. Nice afternoon.
My dad lives in Pacifica which is 20 minutes North on the coast from Half Moon Bay. That whole area is so serene and relaxing. Thanks for sharing...I just lived vicariously through you! ;)
How fun for me to live vicariously thru you today, Cindy! Great photos. So glad you had such a nice day!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Reminds me a little of Pebble Beach. The hotel on the Golf Course is really nice. They have rooms with views and fireplaces. I love walking through the grounds and smelling the fireplaces burning.
Looks a really wonderful place to stay for the weekend.
Ciao
wow.... a great post
www.weinteriordesign.com
Cindy,
Beautiful post of a beautiful place. My hubbie and I did get to stay there one night at the Ritz on his birthday this past September. The rooms are lovely and we did not have a water view so our room wasn't as expensive. I posted about our stay and Half Moon Bay and while we were there a wedding was outside in the gazebo..truly beautiful. Everyone stopped to watch as you could see the ceremony from the dining room. I hope someday when you get that new fabulous job you will stay there!
Wow.. Grate blog. very beautiful. I really love that. Sure I come back here.that is a Miracle place.wonderful place.thank for all.
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