Highland Park, Half Moon Bay, CA

Highland Park is the hillside neighborhood on the east side of Half Moon Bay, at the point the coastal flat starts to climb toward the ridge. Terrace, Silver, Highland and Upper Terrace Avenues curve with the slope, and the upper courts look west over town toward the water. The houses of Highland Park are all detached and sit back from the street with more room around them than in the flats below. Wide lots are the neighborhood's signature. The cul-de-sacs at the east end, with names like Pumpkin Hollow and Red Hawk, hold houses that look less alike than the ones on the main avenues, and the street trees have had decades to grow. Main Street's galleries and restaurants are downhill to the west. Carter Park, at Main Street and Stone Pine Road, is the nearest city park, and Half Moon Bay High School stands on Lewis Foster Drive. The beach is a little under a mile downhill, and most people ride or drive to it, since the walk back climbs. The commercial strip along San Mateo Road is the neighborhood's kitchen. Peet's Coffee handles the morning line, and Mavericks Crepe Cafe at 146 San Mateo Road is the breakfast place, with sweet and savory crepes. New Leaf Community Markets at number 150 has a deli and bakery counter alongside local and organic groceries. Daily life is easy by car. San Mateo Road is the way out to Highway 92 and over the hills, and Highway 1 is a few minutes west. For bigger shopping trips, Safeway on Cabrillo Highway North is the full supermarket in town. Peet's and the grocery share the same strip, so a morning stop and a shopping run often happen in one trip. Hills decide how the day works here. Downtown is close, but the walk home is uphill, and a bike or a car usually wins. Mornings on the upper courts tend to start with the town laid out below and the ocean beyond it.