10 Best Things To Do in Pescadero, California
Pescadero is an idyllic small farming town on the Bay Area Peninsula, just south of Half Moon Bay. The combination of lush farmland with beautiful beaches is what makes Pescadero feel magical.
When I say small town, I mean it. The population is fewer than 600, though summer weekends bring in visitors from around the state looking for things to do in Pescadero.
The rich soil in the area drew in settlers who started farms and began building up the town in the 1860s. Pescadero still retains much of its old American pioneer charm with historic buildings and thriving farms.
Growing up in Half Moon Bay, we made frequent trips to Pescadero. We usually visited the farm animals on weekend day trips or on school field trips.
I love coming back to this hidden gem on the California coast to visit the local farms, grab some freshly baked bread, and breathe in the ocean air at the beaches along Highway 1.
Though it may be a tiny town, there are still plenty of fun things to do in Pescadero. Visit on a day trip or make it a full weekend trip!
What To Bring to Pescadero
Though spring and summer can be warm and sunny, the ocean breeze brings in cool wind over the town. I always pack layers when visiting the peninsula for this reason!
Lightweight jacket: Bring something you can easily carry around to throw on when the brisk wind chill hits ya. A lightweight puffer is ideal, though you may want a packable raincoat in the fall and winter.
Closed-toed shoes: For visiting farms, skip the sandals. You don’t want mud (or worse) squishing between your toes! I wore Converse, and they were perfectly fine for a visit to Harley Farms.
Cash: The state beaches have parking fees that are cash only. It’s also nice to have cash for farmstands or small shops in town.
Water bottle: I bring my Owala water bottle everywhere, even if I can get water at restaurants. It’s nice to have while driving around, while at your accommodation, or while on a farm tour in the sun.
Sunscreen: An ideal day in Pescadero will mostly be spent outdoors. Lather up with sunscreen before heading out for the day and reapply midday or as needed. My favorite brand is COOLA, but bring whatever works for you.
Backpack: My go-to day trip bag is an anti-theft backpack (in the medium size). It’s roomy, cute, and comfortable to wear all day while exploring. If you want a top-of-the-line day pack, Peak Design has the best quality stuff.
Hair tie or clip: If you have long hair and don’t want it munched on by baby goats, don’t forget a hair tie or hair clip.
Turkish towel: Heading to the beach? This Turkish towel comes with me on all my coastal adventures. It’s lightweight, packs down well, and is perfect for lying on the beach.
Where To Stay in Pescadero
Pescadero Creek Inn: Located in the heart of downtown Pescadero, this charming inn is in a historic building with cozy rooms and a lovely garden.
HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel: Stay right next to the lighthouse on the gorgeous Pescadero coast in this hostel. It even has a hot tub with ocean views!
Costanoa: Enjoy a glamping tent, studio cabin, or one of the rooms at this property surrounded by nature.
Best Things To Do in Pescadero
Between baby goats and sparkling beaches, you don’t need a massive itinerary of things to do in Pescadero. In this case, it’s more about quality over quantity.
What I love about Pescadero is the slow-paced, down-to-earth lifestyle.
There’s no rush to visit a bunch of attractions as you check off a to-do list. Instead, take your time at each activity, enjoy it, and feel the peacefulness that radiates from Pescadero.
If you’re looking for things to do in Pescadero, look no further. This is my list of activities and restaurants you can’t miss while visiting Pescadero.
Get Artichoke Bread at Arcangeli Grocery
Most famous for its freshly baked loaves of artichoke garlic bread, Aarcangeli Grocery is one of two grocery stores in town. As you walk in, you’ll spot them on the shelves near the front entrance.
I was thrilled to pick one up and find it was still piping hot, fresh from the oven. The artichoke loaves contain an entire quartered artichoke.
As a lukewarm fan of artichokes, I loved the bread part but wasn’t head over heels for the artichoke pieces. If artichokes aren’t your thing, then grab a garlic loaf instead, sans artichoke. The bread is incredible!
Even with the artichoke, I consumed a third of the loaf for breakfast as we walked around the tiny downtown. It was just that good.
There’s a deli at the back of the store where you can get a delicious sandwich on their freshly baked bread. I recommend grabbing sandwiches for lunch and eating them at the benches out front.
Check out the Downtown Shops
Speaking of the tiny downtown, Stage Road—the main street—is less than a quarter mile long, with about a dozen shops and restaurants dotted along it.
This area is the heart of Pescadero. It's surrounded by green pastures and undulating hills that make up the majority of the town.
It’s pretty sleepy, but not “ghost town” sleepy. On any given day, people are meandering about, grabbing coffee, buying groceries, or just enjoying the day.
Most shops are only open on weekends, while the grocery stores and restaurants are open 6–7 days a week.
Aside from the deli sandwiches at Arcangeli Grocery, you have a few other lunch options in the charming downtown.
Duarte’s Tavern is the main sit-down restaurant, though it’s pretty expensive for the type of dishes they serve.
Taqueria De Amigos is a no-frills Mexican food spot inside a gas station convenience store.
Downtown Local is a trendy coffee shop with a range of drink options and some baked goods.
Eat Olallieberry Pie at Duarte’s
Duarte’s Tavern is an iconic spot in downtown Pescadero. Started in 1894 by the Portuguese Duarte family, it’s still run by the younger generations today.
Their menu has mostly classic American country dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. I didn’t love the fish and chips, especially for the high price of $28 (plus tax and tip).
The artichoke soup and green chile soup, however, are what they’re most known for. One not-so-secret secret menu item is a combo of both soups in one bowl. If you’re getting soup, try the combo!
My favorite menu item is the Olallieberry pie. What’s an Olallieberry, you ask? I had never even heard of it before visiting Pescadero. Though the answer might not clear much up — it’s a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry.
I liken it most closely to a raspberry, which is probably the closest familiar berry I can point to. Either way, it’s a deliciously tart berry with a touch of sweetness. Perfect for a pie.
Treat yourself to a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, and your taste buds will be happy.
Explore the Beaches
Although Pescadero is a farming town, it’s also located on the coast with stunning beaches. Head out of town to explore the lovely beaches that run along Highway 1.
You can stop at each beach and walk down to the shore, or just enjoy the views as you cruise down the highway. There are some spots to pull over along the way if you want to hop out and snap some photos.
Pescadero State Beach
As you exit town on Pescadero Creek Road, you’ll pop out at the parking lot for Pescadero State Beach (just across the highway).
This mile-long stretch of beach has both sandy and rocky areas below the rugged cliffsides, which are blanketed with plant life and seasonal flowers.
A rock jetty leads you from the beach out over the ocean for epic photos or just some unique views!
Pescadero Point Beach
Heading south, park in the pull-off on the side of the road to access Pescadero Point Beach.
It’s not the most ideal spot for lounging on the sand, but it is perfect for tidepooling at low tide. If you like rocks, there are tons of unique ones at this beach!
Bean Hollow State Beach
Nature-tumbled pebbles in place of sand are what give this beach its name. According to a posted sign, “the pebbles on this beach have eroded from ocean-bottom deposits left millions of years ago.”
This beach also has tidepools at low tide and incredible rock formations. Its various geological features will keep your eyes busy as you take in all the beautiful views.
There’s a set of sand-covered wooden stairs to reach the beach. The parking area is a perfect place to take in the views if you don’t want to traverse down the stairs, or if the ocean conditions are too wild.
Pet Baby Goats at Harley Farms Goat Dairy
The best thing to do in Pescadero is take a tour of Harley Farms Goat Dairy, where you can hold and play with baby goats.
Harley Farms offers guided weekend tours throughout the baby goat season (February–June). These tours allow you to play with baby goats, learn about the farm, and try some of their delicious goat cheese.
It’s one of the most unique activities in California!
While the tours are offered three days a week, you can visit the farm any day to see the animals and visit the shop. You just can’t go into the enclosures or visit all areas of the farm like you can on the guided tour.
I could have spent hours getting my hair eaten by baby goats and having them jump all over me. It was the absolute best time hanging out with these clumsy, spunky kids.
They keep a count of the baby goats on a chalk sign throughout the season. It was at 104 when we visited in early March, but they were expecting closer to 160!
Take a Photo at the Heart Barn
One of the most picturesque spots in Pescadero is a dark brown, wooden farm adorned with painted hearts. They look just like those candy hearts that arrive in stores around Valentine’s Day.
The barn is butted up to the main road that leads in and out of Pescadero (Pescadero Creek Road). It’s not labeled as anything on Google Maps, but you can find it around 1836 Pescadero Creek Rd.
Slow down to check it out as you drive by or hop out for some quick photos!
Visit the Pumpkin Patches (Seasonal)
During Pumpkin Season in October, the Peninsula is flooded with people visiting the pumpkin patches. Half Moon Bay, in particular, is famous for its pumpkin patches and annual pumpkin festival.
Pescadero also has a pumpkin patch in town: Bianchi Flowers & Pumpkins. During October, they offer U-pick sunflowers and pumpkins. You can pick your pumpkins right off the vine!
Heading south down Highway 1, you’ll find Rancho Siempre Verde. They host an annual fall festival every weekend in October with a wide variety of activities, including U-pick flowers, tractor rides, and wreath making.
Admire Pigeon Point Lighthouse
I love lighthouses! They’re just so picturesque with tall towers set against a gorgeous ocean backdrop.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse has been undergoing restoration for the last two years. They’ve made incredible progress on it, given the state of disrepair it had fallen into.
The California Parks site posts semi-regular updates with photos of the progress.
Though there are chainlink fences around the lighthouse, it’s still worth visiting. The views of the coastline from here are stunning, and the lighthouse is looking renewed
Since 2001, the lighthouse tower has been closed to the public for safety reasons. When the restoration is completed, I hope they’re able to reopen it again. Those views from the top must be breathtaking!
One unique feature is the hostel in the buildings next to the lighthouse. They get awesome reviews — likely due to the ocean views from the rooms and lovely outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the coast.
Get Pies at Pie Ranch Farmstand
Continuing your scenic drive down Highway 1, stop for a pie at the Pie Ranch Farmstand. Pie Ranch is an organic farm focused on educating people about regenerative agriculture and the social, economic, environmental, and political impacts of food.
They’re a non-profit organization doing good for their small Pescadero community, though their impacts reach far and wide.
On the farm, they provide field trips, volunteer opportunities, community events, and much more. You can even rent out the four-bedroom farmhouse for retreats!
Beyond the farm, their roadside farmstand offers a limited selection of pie flavors six days a week (closed Tuesdays). Pies can sell out by midday on weekends, so arrive earlier if you want to get one.
Note: You cannot buy a slice; you must buy a full pie. Luckily, they have a “cutie pie” size that’s pretty small. Honestly, I could eat an entire cutie pie by myself…though it’s probably best shared with 2–3 people.
Shop at San Gregorio General Store
If you’re heading back north, make a quick stop at San Gregorio General Store. I had low expectations, thinking it would be some knick-knacks or western wear.
Wow, was I wrong!
This store has an impressive selection of high-quality items, including ceramics, candles, scarves, books, postcards, and clothing. We spent quite a bit of time walking around and looking at everything.
In addition to the store, they also have a full bar and picnic items. On weekends (Friday–Sunday), they have lovely live music from the afternoon through early evening.
Pescadero makes for a perfect Bay Area Day Trip, being just an hour south of San Francisco. Be sure to also check out Half Moon Bay on the drive down!
More California Posts You Might Like
Pin It For Later
