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Best Western Lighthouse Hotel
- 105 Rockaway Beach Avenue
- Pacifica, CA 94044
- (800) 832-4777
- Local: (650) 355-6300
Who says that traveling on a budget has to be boring? During your visit to the Pacifica area, there are plenty of free or low-cost things to do that may surprise you. Bring your camera or sketchbook and get ready to see breathtaking natural beauty, unforgettable museums and many of the most famous points of interest that make California so inspiring. Here are some of our very favorites:
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach is just a bit south of Pacifica. In this amazing and fragile habitat, the tide pools are home to hermit crabs, blue sea anemones, limpets, sculpins, sea urchins, snails, starfish and more. Harbor Seals and Sea Lions are a friendly sight as well. The first thing you’ll learn when you visit: it is OK to look, but not touch or collect any souvenirs. This is a special place where visitors need to respect nature. Hours: sunrise-sunset. Call the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Ranger Station at (650) 728-3584 for details.
The Golden Gate Bridge The famous Golden Gate Bridge; a single-span suspension bridge that measures 4,200 feet from tower to tower, is just a short drive from Pacifica. The Pacifica Visitor Center can provide you with easy and scenic driving instructions that will take you over the Golden Gate Bridge and to the Marin Headlands lookout, where you will experience the most spectacular views of the Bridge, Alcatraz, and the entire city of San Francisco. An interesting fact is that the San Andreas Fault runs out to sea for a short distance between Pacifica and the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Linda Mar Beach, also known as Pacifica State Beach, is one of the most popular surfing spots in the San Francisco area and is also famous for a Taco Bell right on the beach.
McNee Ranch provides some of the Bay Area’s best lookouts from Montara Mountain. On a clear day, the Farallon Islands, which are actually twenty-five miles off the coast, look close enough to reach out and touch. For more information, contact the Half Moon Bay State Beach Ranger Station at (650) 726-8820.
Muir Woods National Monument is known for its giant redwood trees that are uniquely sheltered in a hidden canyon. These trees are over 250 feet tall and over 1,000 years old. The forest floor at Muir Woods is equally as amazing as the canopy.
The Pacific Coast Fog Fest is a two-day annual celebration where visitors enjoy many types of good food, arts, crafts, photography, and entertainment. Bands play a variety of music all weekend, including Blues, Jazz, Andean Pan Pipes, Rock & Roll, and Country. Admission is free. Call the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at (650) 355-4122.
The Pacifica Pier is the place to catch salmon, striped bass, perch and much more without boarding a boat. The price is right (no license is needed to fish off the pier, unlike the beach), the chances are fair, and this is one place where you definitely are not going to get seasick. The pier is located in the Sharp Park area of Pacifica, about fifteen miles south of San Francisco. Next to the pier you can enjoy the comfortable promenade and picnic area. Bait, tackle, good fishing tips and advice can be had nearby. (650) 359-9790.
Palace of Fine Arts was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Today the site features a classical Roman rotunda with curved colonnades in an idyllic park setting. Visitors may picnic, stroll by the lake, or visit the Exploratorium, a hands-on science exhibit in the adjacent building.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse Rich in maritime history, the majestic Pigeon Point Lighthouse is located south of Pacifica and is the tallest lighthouse on the west coast. Half-hour tours and docent-guided history walks around the breathtaking grounds are available from 10am-4pm, Friday-Sunday, except during rain or bad weather.
The Sanchez Art Center With three beautiful galleries, this art center has become one of the Bay Area’s finest cultural attractions with exciting art exhibits changing every five weeks. This outstanding center houses artist studios with multimedia art, photography, ceramics, paintings and more. Guests may also experience the very popular ”Pacifica Performances,” showcasing eclectic musical offerings by performers ranging from jazz, classical, Celtic, voice, piano, blues, rock, cabaret, children’s shows, magicians and more. Pacifica Performances offers a comfortable venue where all ages can be entertained. Please call (650) 355-1894 or 359-2978 for art exhibit information, and (650) 355-1882 for more information on Pacifica Performances.
Shelldance Orchid Nursery This incredible business began on San Francisco’s Union Street selling Tilandsias in shells. Soon they moved to Pacifica to expand their bromeliad collection while exploring on collecting expeditions to tropical rainforests. A magnificent rainforest display highlights the large orchid nursery room which is breathtaking. For more information, contact them directly at (650) 355-4845.
Sweeney Ridge provides remarkable glimpses of varied geography, including three of the largest mountains in the Bay Area: Mount Tamalpais (“Sleeping Maiden”), Mount Diablo, and Montara Mountain. The Farallon Islands jut out from the Pacific Ocean and look within easy reach on clear days, though they are actually twenty-five miles away.
San Francisco Chinatown, Alamo Square, Golden Gate Park. You don’t have to spend a dime to take in all the sites that can be seen while walking through the varied neighborhoods of San Francisco.
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