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Perfect afternoon in Pacifica
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Fishing from the Pacifica Pier
Pacifica, a charming beach town, just south of San Francisco is the perfect romantic destination for an afternoon, day, or weekend. Ideal on a sunny day, Pacifica is also a great place to visit in any type of weather. This is a relaxed beach town, so no dressing up is required. It is located a mere 15 miles from both San Francisco International Airport and downtown San Francisco.
There are more activities than you will probably be able to take advantage of: hiking at San Pedro Mountain, with ocean views; bowling at Sea Bowl; a Segway tour of the coast; enjoying the beach; and watching the surfers.
For a hearty breakfast, lunch, dinner or just cocktails head to Nick’s Seashore Restaurant. In the evenings they have live music. This is a local’s place, so sit back and observe the crowd. Everyone knows everyone here.
Stroll along Rockaway Beach near Nick’s. During storms the waves crash up over the rails into the parking lot and even the second story of the Best Western ocean-view restaurant. There are also a handful of shops in the Rockaway Beach complex and a few other restaurants. Consider renting a Segway from the Segway shop here and taking a tour of the scenic Pacifica Coast along paved trails.
For a nice view of the surfers, drive south to Linda Mar. There is an often photographed Taco Bell on the beach, a popular surfer lunch spot. This is also the location where people picnic and catch some sun.
San Pedro Valley Park is nearby, drive away from the beach near the grocery store. There is good hiking here on several trails, some with ocean views. The Hazelnut Trail, a personal favorite is a short loop that can be completed in approximately 2 hours. There are picnic tables to enjoy lunch and a visitor center in the park and even horse-shoe pits, but bring your own horse-shoes.
If you enjoy bowling, Sea Bowl is a fun afternoon diversion. Perched above the coast, it has excellent views of the ocean, reasonable food and drinks, and good bowling.
The Sharp Park Golf Course, designed by the same golf course designer as famed Pebble Beach, is one of the few courses with most holes along the ocean. It is a public course so has reasonable green fees.
The Pacifica Pier is picturesque and worth visiting. Local’s fish from the pier; it's one of the few places to catch salmon from land. The Chit Chat Café does a brisk business with satisfying soups, sandwiches and seafood. This is also the location of the annual Fog Fest, held the last full weekend in September each year to celebrate sun, sand and surf as it defines life in this coastal town. There are vendors and artists displaying their wares.
If you decide to spend the night for added romance, there are six motels to choose from in Rockaway Beach. They range from Best Western and Holiday Inn Express to the locally owned Sea Breeze Motel adjacent to Nick’s.
Whether you spend an afternoon or day in Pacifica you will leave refreshed and energized. Its close proximity to San Francisco makes it an easy escape and place to return often.
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