Although I've known of Moss Beach Ranch because I live nearby and my son attended a horse camp many…read moreyears ago, I had never booked a trail ride before. I am SO glad I did. I had two young students staying with our family from Japan, and I thought they might enjoy the experience of riding horses in an authentic California environment. Kim and Ashley provided that and more. I appreciated the time in the ring before the ride for each rider to learn how to work with his/her assigned horse. Then we headed out on the trails behind and above the ranch, some parts of which included ocean views and lovely trees. Kim and Ashley clearly understood and cared about the horses. We felt supported and respected as beginning riders, never rushed. I have already started to think about taking future guests to enjoy this experience. A must-do on the Coast.

Kim replied quickly to my text, and we were able to set up the ride that same afternoon. The ranch…read moreis tucked into a small valley with quick access to the highway and Moss Beach, so it was easy to find but felt quiet and peaceful once we arrived. We were paired with two beautiful horses, including an enormous draft horse named Buck. Kim, the trainer, was warm, welcoming, and clearly loves her horses. She guided us through the foothills and into cool forest trails, where we even stopped to visit other horses along the way. Ashley the 2nd trainer joined us on the ride, and she was kind, supportive, and helped make the experience even more enjoyable. The entire afternoon far exceeded my expectations. From the breathtaking scenery to the comfort and confidence we felt with the horses, it was unforgettable. I highly recommend Moss Beach Ranch if you're looking for a truly unique and memorable riding adventure.

We love this place! My daughter has been taking lessons here for a few months and I couldn't say…read moreenough nice things about this place. Diane and my daughter's instructor Kailey have been such a huge part of my daughter's healing and happiness. I do believe that horses provide therapy and this has seriously been life-changing for my daughter. In the short amount of time, she has learned so much about riding, horsemanship, and has a real passion to keep learning and going far in the sport. I haven't seen her so passionate about anything like this in a long time. They really take the time necessary to train each person on every aspect of horses and horse riding. It's beautiful to watch and I love having my daughter come home and tell me all of the things that she's learning. It's hard work but the feeling of accomplishment is like nothing you can imagine. I have seen several of the instructors and every single one of them is very positive and uplifting and I am not used to that because in the past when we have been around riding instructors, I have noticed that there has been a lot of negativity. Not at Sun Valley equestrian - it's all about positive energy and loving what you do. I just can't thank them enough for the impact they are making in my daughters life.

I board my gelding at Sun Valley Equestrian and couldn't be happier. There is a wonderful arena to…read moreride in with beautiful scenery surrounding you. I've seen many riding academies and Sun Valley is one of the best out there. They have several different trainers to bring out the best in you and your horse. They are able to cater to beginning riders as well as advanced riders for lessons, schooling shows, etc. Their students are taught all aspects of horsemanship so they understand safety as well as a bond with the horse they are riding. The trainers are knowledgeable, friendly and always willing to give a helping hand if you need it. The trainers are highly skilled and each have their own specialty. There is a multitude of knowledge and years of experience in this barn. The owner, Diane, is a great business woman who cares about her staff, students, horses and her boarders. This is a rare thing to find. Her business is truly an equestrian family!

I visited Millwood ranch today with my wife and my year-old toddler and the first thing we are told…read moreby a staff member was "why are you here? This is private property". If that is the case, just have a sign up-front which mentions "Private Property. Keep Out!" We live in the neighborhood and just came up to look at the ranch and enquire about the classes being offered for adults and children. But expecting basic civil conversation is probably a tall order for the staff at Millard. I would like to point out that this was a lady who is supposedly a trainer there. There were a few other bystanders (possibly staff) who just kept quiet and chuckled. STRONGLY AVOID!

Well i board at Millwood and its the best place by far in the surrounding area. with miles and…read moremiles of trails and a real Ranch feel the horses are as happy a bunch as i have ever seen. It is well kept and everybody gets along the management is always helpfull and do a great job. You really cant ask for a better place to board your horse. 4 years boarding at Millwood Ranch each year gets better.

We were introduced to Joe and Arlene's Double J Ranch via a friend. They are doing an amazing job…read morewith teaching kids about horses; the right philosophy and approach, with a deep understanding of horse psychology, and no skipping the hard work of properly caring for horses. They also take great care of their rescue horses, all with their unique needs and personalities, which is great exposure for any budding horse lover.

I contacted Joe to set up a party for 10 year olds and he was very responsive and helpful. We…read morevisited the ranch to check out the facilities and he let my daughters take a quick ride and watch a horse feeding. When the party date arrived the place was decorated and the girls had a wonderful time taking turns riding a horse and a pony. They even had a horse kissing booth which the girls found fun and engaging. It was a wonderful experience with smiles all around. I plan on having my younger daughters party there in a few years. I also discovered they have weekly ridings and even a Halloween riding event so I will definitely be bringing the kids back soon.

This is a wonderful place. Nan, the manager, is extremely intuitive and develops a unique…read morerelationship with each horse. That says, she can tell when even the slightest thing is off with them. Tons of trail access a huge plus.

I am so lucky to have landed at MSR! Nan is truly wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and a crazy…read moreawesome cook too! Lots of trails to ride, good friends to ride with and peace of mind knowing my two boys are well cared for, are just a few of the many reasons I love it here!!

What a great spot! Parking was easy, the staff was nice. We sat outside with our dog. Lots of…read moreumbrellas for the sun and an incredible view! The staff brought a water bowl for the pup without us asking, which was very kind of them. We had a large group, and we were all pleased with our meals. My only negative is that I asked for no avocado. Then my tacos arrived with a tiny sliver of avocado. It was very odd and made us laugh. My friend also got the tacos with avocado and they do not skimp of avocado when it's asked for.

We walked in to Moss Beach distillery around 2:30 p.m. on Labor Day and we were surprised that we…read moregot a table immediately. They were very busy but extremely friendly! My fiance was not a fan of the table that they sat me at while he parked the car so when he came in he asked if we could switch. They were more than happy to accommodate and we got a new table facing the ocean view window, but not next to it, because those are reservation only, completely understandable. Our server came by and was very friendly and took our order immediately. We decided to start with the poached shrimp cocktail and for our mains we ordered the pesto stuffed salmon with wild rice and the citrus beet salad with chicken added. After we finished our appetizer the hostess came by to kindly request we switch tables as they had a large party coming in. She took us over to a beautiful table right next to the window with an amazing view of the ocean! We were super thrilled! Our food came shortly after and I have to say the salmon was impeccably delicious. The assortment of fresh vegetables was wonderful, artichoke hearts, string beans, carrots and more cooked beautifully. My fiance really enjoyed his grilled chicken over the top of his beet and citrus salad. We actually switched plates for a bit because we wanted to enjoy each other's meals. We ended the meal with a cup of coffee that was strong bold and just my type. We also had the mango coconut a top buttery biscuit dessert and it was the perfect sweetness to end our meal. We had an unbelievable experience on a super busy holiday and everyone was so kind. The whole team worked together flawlessly. Thank you for the unforgettable experience!

Friendly Pony Parties was an absolute highlight of our school's End-of-Year Carnival! Their team…read morewas professional, communicative, timely, and incredibly friendly. They brought a variety of animals including baby bunnies, goats, a piglet, ducks, and chickens and the kids were obsessed! Students were smiling ear to ear the entire time! Their staff did an amazing job creating a fun, safe, and engaging experience for our school community. You can tell they genuinely care about what they do and about making events special. We are so grateful they were part of our carnival and would absolutely recommend Friendly Pony Parties for school events, parties, and family gatherings. We would happily book them again in the future!

Communication was very poor and unprofessional. I reached out via email with my event details. They…read morerespond back with price only and no confirmation of the date is available. I ask for confirmation - no response. I follow up with a call and text. They respond back letting me know they are tied up with something and will respond within a few days. I receive no response - no email or text. Follow up again with calls and texts. Finally they respond indicating they are tied up with personal matters and that my date was already booked. At this point I had wasted 2 weeks with them only to be told it's not available. They strung me along when they could have been more professional from the beginning and telling me they don't have any availability so I can look elsewhere for my event. Overall very unprofessional experience with them.

Green Oaks Creek Farm is one of those places that embodies the promise of sustainable living in the…read more21st century. The coastal communities located between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz are ideal spots for such experiments in low-impact land use, and they offer great alternatives to corporate food culture to those lucky enough to access them. Green Oaks Creek is a small, family-owned farm and rural retreat located south of Pescadero between the Pacific and the Santa Cruz Mountains. You can tour the farm, camp out, stay overnight in a yurt, or even hold a wedding on their eco-friendly property. These all sound really great, and the farm - part of a historic orchard and ranch property settled by the Steele family in the early 1900s - is near to lots of cool places to visit: Pigeon Point lighthouse, Año Neuvo park, Butano park, Coastways Ranch, etc. But this review is about the food. On three acres of land dedicated to organic strawberries, flowers, herbs, and vegetables, the folks at GOCF produce some very lovely and delicious products, which the sell at several farmers' markets in the area and through a CSA program: Palo Alto (Sun), Pacifica (Wed.). and Half Moon Bay (Sat). Their stand is small but superb. We've gotten some fantastic Seascape organic strawberries, sweet and rich in flavor, as well as ultra-fresh green garlic, mixed greens, and lettuce. It's a lovely little set-up with something new every week, including cut flowers. We are happy to have found them and look forward to their late spring and summer offerings. Perhaps we'll visit the farm in the future, too!

We chose this place as a way to spend our anniversary weekend. We wanted to be away from the city,…read moreclose to the beach and hiking places, and we were enticed by the green, sustainable character of the Farm. What we found was not a green grass to camp on but a dry, dusty, stubbly field. The "kitchen" is this 3-walled, straw bale structure which looked unkempt, at first sight, and had rotting food in the fridge and questionable utensils. The outdoor bath is not dedicated to the campers, but actually shared with the farm staff. You'll find multiple towels and toiletries strewn about if you try to use it. But most of all, there was no sense of being welcomed by the owners. It was like having guests was an afterthought. It gave the impression of a couple of latecomer hippies that were on their way to failing their return to the land, and had a hard time keeping it all together: the farm, the retreat business, and their lives. We were going to spend two nights and ended up leaving the next morning to go back home.

My daughter and I visited a few weeks ago and this place is a hidden gem!…read moreLori made us feel very welcomed when we checked in. My husband had just passed away and we needed a little getaway. This was the perfect destination that soothed our souls. The Seals are within walking distance to view! The ocean is literally within steps of this cozy, beautiful inn. Hiking trails all around within walking distance! They let us use comfy bikes everyday which we took advantage of and biked to Half Moon Bay and a few ocean view restaurants. This is a beautiful and clean Bed and Breakfast! We had a gorgeous view of the English Garden from our spacious room. The daily breakfast included fresh berries, egg and cheese, fresh croissant and granola! The unlimited European lattes added a nice touch! We felt so spoiled with the homemade cookies in the afternoon and the free wine tasting in the evening around five. The entire staff was so friendly, helpful and made us feel right at home. My daughter and I look forward to returning! Absolutely a hidden gem!

This is one of the very best places on the coast to stay.. amazing that it is so close to San…read moreFrancisco & SFO. I hate to say any more as I don't want it to be over run... I still want to be able to stay there again... it is a gem.... shhhhh