We arrived for our lesson and were greeted at the door, shown in and guided thru the steps to…read morefinish paperwork and get suited up. Our instructor and the staff were friendly, kind, and clear. We had a great lesson and time to practice our skills and enjoy time playing in the ocean. We appreciated being able to use the equipment as long as we wanted to after the lesson was over.

We got surf lessons for myself, my 8yo and a friend. Rod was great with the adults and the kiddo -…read morehe made us feel comfortable and confident in our ability to learn. I went into it assuming I wouldn't stand up - but I did! And, the kid really took to it and got up too! Overall I really commend Rod and NorCal for us having a great experience.

This is a special place!…read more I'm glad I'm able to do my small part in supporting this beloved local business (owned and operated by the amazing Jeremiah and Dana); if you browse a bit you'll find articles about the history of the shop, and I bet you'll also be inspired as I am by their story! I bought a Mick Fanning Beastie Super Soft along with leash, aero bar pads, etc. Prices are very fair and I enjoyed the expertise and kind customer service. You'll probably notice a lot of care seems to go into what's stocked in the store, and you'll benefit from their knowledge re: each item you're looking at. Thank you Jeremiah and Dana for a great experience & for sharing the stoke!

This is my go to surf shop. I have taken boards here for repair and bought new and used boards…read morefrom them. I find them always very helpful, friendly and honest. Their prices on boards and gear seem fair too. Also, they are also honest with beginners. I chatted with them about it before because I have seen people out on big days with rental boards where honestly it is unsafe for them to be out, but those people rented from a different shop in town. I really appreciate that they won't rent to beginners when conditions are unsafe for them to be out (both for them and for the rest of us).

Booked a lesson in a week, spent 2 hours on the road and got nothing : no one showed up for the…read morelesson. Not a text, not an email that it was canceled. Just that, just ignore. Next business day I get an email saying "we are sorry you were at the wrong place and the wrong time", which is a lie. They said they ordered the refund - will see how it goes. Found another surf school down there, will go with them next time. Ruined experience

Super nice crew! We rented wet suits and body boards for the day. They explained the whole process…read moreto my sister and I being first timers finding the perfect size suit for us. You didn't make us feel dumb for not knowing and I really appreciate that. Thank you for the good experience!

Was a gorgeous day, windy with sand particles swarming. But still gorgeous. On a weekend not too…read moremany people were there likely due to high winds and rocky waves. Parking is $7 for 3 hours-machines are near the restrooms. Be sure to place your receipt in your car- make sure it's visible. There's a walking/hiking trail alongside the perimeter. Sadly came across a dead bird and seal that were on the beach. Lots of ocean organisms on the beach as well. Tis the season with the high winds, and also part of the cycle of life. Otherwise a pretty clean Bach with a lovely view.

Spent some time here with my friend and pup on 4th of July weekend recently. After visiting the…read moreTaco Bell nearby, we decided to do a beach picnic. Pacific State Beach is also known as Linda Mar Beach. Popular beach for surfing, especially beginners and many people take surfing lessons here. There's a Coastal Trail that runs along the ocean. Known for whale watching and beautiful sunsets. Dog friendly beach but I don't know if they allow off leash. Before leaving the house, I packed a box of fresh strawberries, blueberries, pineapples and some water as well as a beach blanket just in case. My friend brought a cooler so I put everything perishable inside. And what do you know? We all sat down on the beach and enjoyed some time here. Packed with people that day, but very festive. My pup was enthusiastic about this beach outing, and ate some fruits with us. We all love a beach day! Located on Coast Hwy in Pacifica.

This is an updated review that is long overdue. I am a huge supporter of local and small businesses…read more(they are good for a diversified economy!), but especially women-owned businesses. Traveler is expanding its services in 2017 so look out for what is to come. Here is a quick but more in-depth background to this new establishment in Pacifica and also links to how you can learn more: I stepped into Traveler the day before Christmas to pick up a few more last minute gift items after the first couple of times I had wandered into the store. While I was checking out, I had the awesome privilege of speaking at length to the owner, Julie Cox. She also toured me around the back of the store where there are wetsuits for sale, her boards, and an in-progress Surf and Swim Club being constructed in the back (as of early February, they are now open). In other words, Traveler is a community space, not just a boutique store, that offers a sense of connection in many ways, such as holding film screenings, live music events, and yoga classes for instance. Julie Cox is not only the founder and owner of Traveler, and she is also an accomplished pro-surfer and a global traveling surf coach. According to her bio and website, in 2005, "she launched the Jule Collection along with Jed Noll (son of legendary Greg Noll) a line of jewel-inspired women's surfboards that mixed her ideas and surf knowledge with his masterful shaping." She also holds a degree from UC Santa Cruz in Environmental Studies and has worked as Operations Manager and Director of the California Surf Museum from 2008-2012. Go here to learn more: juliecoxsurfing.com and click on the About page. It is apparent that all of Julie's life experience has led her to this culmination of opening this beautiful boutique space in Pacifica. As of early February 2017, the Traveler Surf and Swim Club is up and running! When I walked the area with Julie while it was in-progress late December, I saw it is a sweet space that has easy access to parking and the ocean. It looked beautiful, cozy and inviting. It has lockers, hot showers, and other amenities (like a heated outdoor couch! and tea! and coffee!) to "ease your transition from land to water, water back to land." See juliecoxsurfing.com/blog. Yes, Julie has a blog, so go to the link to read more. I have been thoroughly enjoying perusing the blog. You can see photos of the outdoor space on Traveler on Instagram. They have a daily drop in rate and also a monthly membership rate for the Surf and Swim Club. I will continue to update my reviews as I continue to explore more of Traveler's ongoing growth. I look forward to keeping my eye on this space and the sense of community and ocean connection it brings to Pacifica and the coast. Whether you wander in the store, wander in from the ocean or wander through Julie's website or blog, you will be inspired. I certainly am.

Fantastic little surf shop. Great variety in clothing, and an excellent selection of books…read more Convenient parking. Ultra friendly and helpful staff.

Will be back for more detailed …read more This was Saturday morning. We arrived at 10 am with a grotto of 10 . It was freezing cod and extremely windy , therefore, big waves in the ocean . There were already a few people there and they caught some crabs already . ....

Unfortunately the pier is closed but the pelicans, comorants, seagulls etc. Are still there. The…read morepast several weeks whales, mostly humpbacks are around n doing flapping, head spying n breaching a lot in the area, so go n see real live whales in the wild. Apparently dolphins are around too. Great sunsets ate happening around 7:45pm. There is an easy walk along the beach n if you're really want a hike, go towards the. Golf course. Beautiful scenery n calming sounds of the ocean. It's wonderful that we have the ocean so close by, we're darn lucky ! If you want to see a bit of town go towards rock by beach, shops n dining t here. Pacifica is a great coastal town

Most fun event, seriously, what's not to love about solo dogs hanging 18 (toes) on a surf board?…read moreThe competition is broken down into small, then large dogs. Many are sporting fashionable costumes & exuding great confidence. I think. There's also vendors selling food, T-shirts, giving away frisbees, hip packs, keychains, much etc. if you think your dog has what it takes, you must sign a waiver before hitting the waves. Not every dog takes to surf lessons, so what you see are exceptional athletes with good training. Each dog is guided to the crest of a wave, then holds on for the ride to shore. The couple thousand spectators cheer them on. For those not in the know, a Taco Bell sits on the beach itself, providing an awesome view of the activity from the deck. Sooo, arrive early, leave early, to avoid the crazy traffic & lack of parking for this popular event.

Adorable pups wearing life vests and sunglasses/ goggles, riding the waves in front of crowds…read morefilled with half humans, half dogs!?! At the beach on a beautiful warm day? Heck yeah, sign me up! There were lots of dogs and their humans all over Pacifica State Beach this past Saturday, for the annual World Dog Surfing Championship. So many dogs doing their thing (ie. peeing in the sand in front of beachgoers, flicking dirt onto people as they dug holes in the sand... but surprisingly not a lot of barking), playing with other dogs, and getting spoiled by dog-lovers with so much attention, as well as toys and treats from vendor tents in the back. There were plenty of items for sale including cute T-shirts from California Canine, and plush squeak toys and travel accessories from P.L.A.Y. (Pet LIfestyles and You). But there was no food for humans for sale at any of the tents, which was odd for this type of event.. not even snacks or drinks. But I guess it's good that the event was located right next to the Taco Bell Cantina. And at least they had porta potties available at the beach near the parking lot. In order to view the actual dog surfing, you had to be in the water, some of us even knee deep. So it's good I wore shorts on this day cuz that made it super fun to get up close and personal with these awesome dogs, some even surfing right toward me as I took photos and cheered them on with the rest of the crowd. The big question we had before attending was, do the dogs really surf by themselves? And how? Well here's how it worked. The dogs were grouped into heats (small, medium, and large dogs... tandem, etc.) Then two or three boards went at a time, near the shoreline of the water. There would be a at least one human at each end (in the water, and near the shoreline) for each dog or pair of dogs. One human was further in the water and would wait for the waves then give the surfboard a push toward the shore once the dog was balanced on it (some dogs even sitting on the board instead of standing), the other human would catch the dog/board on the other end... that is if the dog(s) didn't fall off into the water, or jump off and start running into the crowd. Those that stayed on the surfboard while gliding on the water apparently got more points, since this was a contest and they were being judged. The same dog would have multiple turns over and over, it's like no limit to how many tries... but I think it was mostly to put on a good show for us viewers :D The speaker system wasn't that great, so it was kind of hard to hear the announcers and tell what was going on if you were just lying on the sand, stretched out on your beach blanket or mat, instead of joining the crowds in the water. It would have been better if they had music playing or something like that to make it a little more lively. But it was fun regardless, getting to just relax, lounge, enjoy a picnic and conversation with one of my favorite people. And entertaining enough to watch other people's dogs all throughout the area, and talk to their owners. They also had a fashion show, with dogs wearing fun costumes, some even matching their humans (ie. a couple and their two dogs all dressed like watermelon). Some aspects of this event made it seem somewhat chaotic at times. Parking wasn't too difficult to find in the nearby neighborhood, but traffic was a bit slow and confusing getting there. Also, volunteers/staff at the event often yelled to tell people to make space for the surf dogs on the sand, like they were walking the red carpet or somethin, and judges yelled to tell people in the water to move, if the dog ended up floating in your direction while "surfing".  There probably could have been a little bit better organization, but I actually liked the subtle chaos and unpredictability, I mean as long as the dogs were having fun, and they had safety measures in place for everyone (police, fire truck, first aid, medic truck), attendees, especially dog-lovers, had a lot to appreciate about this unique and free event on the beach! We certainly had a good time :)

Rock the Goat…read more Smallish beach located inside Sonoma Coast State Park that's known for its eponymous rock formation and for being in the cult classic film "The Goonies." The Good: * Several small parking lots * Picnic tables * Restroom in the parking lot * Free to visit * There's a colony of harbor seals that reside here, and you can see the babies during pupping season from March - August. The Meh: * No dogs allowed at this beach due to the seals. The Ugly: * Not recommended for swimming due to sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * As usual, Yelp's location is absurdly wrong, and the mods are asleep at the wheel. Big shock, eh? If you want to get here, put 9528 Goat Rock Rd, Jenner, CA 95450 into your GPS or just use Google, whose locations are always correct. Conclusion: Nice beach to visit if you're in the area and especially if you like to visit old film locations.

Lots of I interesting rocks an pebbles to be found! Just look down! And keep walking and walking…read more Great for rock enthusiasts. There are some dried up sea life in the sand too like dried sea urchins and hermit crab shells Free parking

We loved our visit to Moss Beach! We enjoy Sunday drives to different beaches and this was an…read moreexcellent choice. Within this area, we also checked out the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. There's a small free parking lot here as well. If you have to use the bathroom, it's well maintained and clean. We enjoy the coastal beaches. It's beautiful and serene. It's even more relaxing to hear the waves with a sunset or sunrise. I still enjoy a foggy morning with a good cup of coffee. It's a nice walk to enjoy mother nature. If you enjoy animals, the seals are fun to watch! Lots of birds flying around, too.

Moss Prevention A…read morethree-mile stretch of beach located in the eponymous census-designated place of Moss Beach that features typical amazing California coastal views and clifftops. The Good: * Free to visit. * Small parking lot. * Restrooms in the parking lot. * The main reason people come here is for the amazing tidepooling at the J.V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, which is a tidal reef ecosystem that one can explore during low tide. * The Cypress Grove at the top is a fun place for photos. The Meh: * A fairly tall staircase is required to access the beach area, and if you cannot handle a few flights, then it is best to skip this place; it is definitely not ADA compliant. * As far as beaches go, if it were not for the tidepooling, I doubt I would ever come here for the beach itself. It is small and not really noteworthy, especially since you have to schlep your stuff down that huge flight of stairs. The Ugly: * The parking lot is not that large and fills up very quickly, especially during the summer months. There is neighborhood street parking available, but I would personally prefer not to bother the neighbors. Conclusion: Come for the exploration and not much else.

This has got to be one of my favorites trials/ hikes in Pacifica so far! The weather was beautiful…read morewhen we went and a majority of the trails are quite wide so it doesn't feel crowded. The trails vary in difficulty and steepness, but the views are beautiful all around. Parking is very limited and there was a bit of traffic due to the one lane road, but it was worth it. After your hike you can talk a walk or picnic on the beach and drive down to one of the nearby restaurants.

Mori Point is absolutely amazing on a clear warm day...which is not that common in Pacifica. Hence…read morethe missing star... Not to mention the arduous task of dealing with parking when one does stumble upon that perfect day. I would still bring a light jacket if you think you will still be here around sunset. The coastal breeze brings a nice chill in the evening no matter how warm the day is. The hiking trail is not hard at all, perhaps a bit challenging for some older folks or someone very out of shape. "Located on a promontory just south of the city of Pacifica, the 110 acres of Mori Point are one of the newest additions to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. High up above the cold waves, the site boasts sweeping views from Point Reyes all the way to Pedro Point. It protrudes several hundred feet out into the Pacific and is plainly visible from any high point in the City of Pacifica." - https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm I feel like a cheat; cut and paste...lol. Then again, I didn't know all this information about Mori Point. I didn't pay attention and actually thouth it was called Maori point and was somehow related to the Maori folks from the land of the long white cloud (aka New Zealand). "Restoration activities have helped the area recover from invasive species infestation and centuries of use by humans. In the 1700s, the Spanish mined a nearby limestone quarry to supply whitewash for San Francisco's Presidio buildings. An Italian immigrant, Stefano Mori, purchased 19 acres of farmland here in 1888. Mori built a guesthouse/restaurant, the Mori Point Inn, which developed a notorious reputation during the Prohibition days and was operated by the family until the 1940s. Mori Point was a site of gravel and sand extraction during World War II; quarrying and later off-road vehicle use left the landscape scarred. In 2000, with the help of the Pacifica Land Trust, the Coastal Conservancy, and concerned community members, Mori Point was purchased by the Trust for Public Land and added to the Golden Gate National Parks." - https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point History "For nearly a century, Mori Point served as a haven for settlers, travelers, boot-leggers and diners. Today, after a generation of development battles, this spectacular place serves as a haven for walkers and wildlife and is a link to national parklands on Sweeney Ridge and Milagra Ridge along the San Mateo coast." - https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm " * The terrain here is varied; walks around Mori Point range from a level and easy 0.5-mile stroll to a steep and challenging 1.5-mile hike. * Beautiful wildflower blooms are at their peak in the springtime, with the most flowers usually present in April and May. * Parking is available on Mori Point Road or Bradford Way. * Walk to the tip of the promontory for stunning views; it's quite windy on the bluffs so dress accordingly. * Stroll down to Laguna Salada and listen for the croaking of the red-legged frog. * Walk barefoot on the black sands of Sharp Park Beach. * During WWII, workers used a pulley system of long cables attached to cement anchors to pull buckets of sand ashore. Several of these crumbling blocks remain on the western hillside." ~ "Tips and Highlights" - https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point Wish I had read this before. Some good tips and helpful information