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In search of the great pumpkin - a fall road trip to Half Moon Bay
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Winners of the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Nothing says autumn harvest better than the ripe, earthy smell of a pumpkin patch. Luckily for us Northern Californians, the world's pumpkin capitol is practically in our own backyard.
Many warned of the horrendous traffic down to Half Moon Bay. But if you're as smart as Jill Odle and the crew of five that road tripped there this past weekend for the 39th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, you'll avoid Interstate 101 and take Highway 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) instead.
After passing the dramatic cliff sides of Pacifica, Moss Beach, and Montara, you can't help but get excited about the season as you spot row after row of bright orange pumpkins lining the fields on your way towards Half Moon Bay's Main Street. "I can't believe we got down here from Oakland and San Francisco in less than an hour," says Jill as she parks her Isuzu Trooper at the Main Street parking lot.
A bridge circa 1900 leads the way to the festival. An old sign says that it was "the first concrete bridge erected in San Mateo (County)." This gives you the first glimpse that this adventure is dotted with history. A few blocks further down the road is the Zaballa House, the oldest house standing since 1859, having survived multiple earthquakes. It is also home to a charming B&B that is perfectly situated in the heart of Main Street. A string duo of mandolins is playing next to the AARP tent at nearby Mac Dutra Park, whose tall brick tower is topped with an old bronze bell.
Boutiques line the street, including the "Coastside Gallery," a 'shee-shee' restaurant cleverly named "Chez Shea," a chic-looking place named "Abode Natural Home Beauty," and the "Have to Have It" antiques yard boasting a cornucopia of fun stuff to dig through. The festival booths add another dimension with anything from sushi soap to high-end metal art.
The kids are out in full force donned in lion suits and Cinderella gowns. They swarm around Farmer Mike's famed pumpkin carvings as he intricately cuts out Puff the Magic Dragon.
"We came here to see the winner of the pumpkin weigh-off and get pumpkins of our own," says road tripper Jennifer Farrelly. This year's winner of the great pumpkin weigh-off was a 1,658 pound pumpkin from Iowa.
As the daily fog rolls in, the crispy air blends with the smell of grilled turkey. And if it didn't already feel like homecoming, a huge screen TV projecting the Saints v. Giants game is propped up next to the beer and sausage booths. Men happily walk around carrying turkey legs in their fists, barbarically tearing into the juicy flesh.
Festival-goers dodge in and out of food booths to sample everything pumpkin -- pumpkin fudge, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin ale, and even, pumpkin mac-and-cheese, sprinkled with pumpkin spice and pumpkin seeds. After all the pumpkin frenzy, the road trip crew heads out in search of a pumpkin latte to keep them awake.
At the exit, there are farmers' market stands representing the bounty of HMB. "Wow, I've never seen brussel sprouts attached to huge stalks like this before," says Heather Voden as she buys one before hitting the road. She dreams of roasting brussel sprouts in olive oil for dinner.
Though there are also gourds of all sizes, the crew decides not to buy any after all. "Everyone is a bit pumpkined-out," says Joey McGovern. And with that, they hop in the Trooper and head back north to the cities, filled and content with their country pumpkin adventure.
Even without a festival, however, Half Moon Bay is one of the best area road trips to kick-off the fall season. To plan your own HMB adventure, check out these pumpkin patches and other outdoor activities. Stop by the Moss Beach Distillery for a "ghostly" dining experience on the way back home. Just be forewarned about the hanging lamps that sway unexpectedly above the bar. The "ghosts" love to play.
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