Casa del Mar, Half Moon Bay, CA

Casa del Mar is the low, flat beach tract in the northern part of Half Moon Bay, with several streets ending in dune grass. Highway 1 runs along its eastern edge, and the dunes are close enough that the surf is audible on quiet nights. Homes in Casa del Mar are mostly single-story beach-tract houses, and many have added a second floor over the years to catch an ocean view. Newer houses are slowly filling vacant lots left from the railroad era, when promoters gave the streets European city names. Venice, Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna and Naples are all here. Venice Boulevard runs straight into Venice Beach, one of the four beaches in Half Moon Bay State Beach, while the paved Coastside Trail passes through, giving walkers, runners and cyclists a flat, paved line along the coast. The state beach's four access points share one long run of sand. Kehoe Park, a small city park with play equipment, sits inside the neighborhood. Granola's Coffee House at 116 Cabrillo Highway North is where people go for coffee, with house-made baked goods that include vegan and gluten-free options. A few doors along, Taqueria La Mordida at number 80 serves Jalisco-style dishes, and Sunshine Donuts shares the same address. Errands are close. Safeway at 70 Cabrillo Highway North is open around the clock and is the grocery most people use, and the strip along Highway 1 holds sushi, Thai, Vietnamese and a few fast food places. Highway 92 is a short drive south for the trip over the hills, and Main Street's restaurants and shops are in the same direction. Being the lowest, flattest ground in the city means fog and wind arrive here first and tend to linger. Sand drifts onto the streets closest to the dunes. On the closest blocks the front door and the waterline are barely a stroll apart.