This is a really beautiful and unique spot to hit on the way home to the city from Pacifica. It's open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 11am-4pm. We saw some very unique outdoor orchids, I forget their specific name, but they ran between $65-$85. They have a walkable indoor area with a variety of plants. read more

Hidden gem. I have seen the sign off the road many times over the years. I fallowed my instinct today and was pleasantly surprised. Not only a beautiful location, the plant selection and the staff was unparalleled! I can't recommend this enough. I want to keep it a secret because of how special a place it was. If you have a curious adventurous soul... this is the place for you. read more

I stumbled upon Shelldance Orchid Gardens while looking for things to do in Pacifica, and I'm so glad I did! It's a beautiful greenhouse filled with a wide variety of plants especially orchids in so many unique types and colors. I wanted to get a house plant & asked the owner for some guidance. She was kind enough to help me choose something low-maintenance for indoors. I took home a lovely peperomia plant, and it's been growing great so far. They also host yoga and meditation classes here, which I thought was such a cool use of the space. Peaceful, inspiring, and definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! read more

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For those who know and love orchids, this is a garden of Eden. Worth the windy uphill drive, it's a lifetime of collections upon collections of plants and pottery. As other helpful Yelpers mentioned, not everything is for sale, so just enjoy the exhibition. Enjoy the beautiful hilltop ocean view. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - 7/25/25: hilltop ocean view from Shelldance Orchid Garden - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

I bought a ticket on EventBrite to attend last weekend's "Yoga in an Orchid Garden", just $32, and it was spectacular! Danielle was the teacher. The class was held in the beautiful long room drenched in ferns. I loved the class and the whole place is gorgeous, indoors and outside. I'm traveling and have to get on a plane in a few days, otherwise I would have bought a ton of plants! Definitely would take another yoga class here. Gorgeous, peaceful, absolutely marvelous! Loved your music, too, Danielle. And you are a wonderful yoga teacher!! read more

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Beautiful plant nursery/sanctuary nestled on the side of a hill in Pacifica. There is a narrow short road up with ample parking. I consider myself a novice plant dad and this spot started my collection. Staff is very approachable and knowledgeable. I do feel like plants here can be pricey although you know they were grown with love and care. Overall, lots of variety & something for everyone. Even if you're not planning on buying anything, I do feel like this is a must visit if you have spare time on the weekend. Very relaxed vibe, and very botanical garden-esque! read more

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Their free garden/conservatory is amazing. Their selections have many rare orchids including the variegated one. Outside is a nice view of the crashing waves about a mile out. Service is good~ the pricing is normal. I throughly enjoyed my visit. Only thing is there are some plants that are only in the conservatory, and the staff are not a knowledgeable in which species is what. A little disorganized. But overall, I love it! Thank you read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

Shelldance hours are 11am- 4pm on weekends only. There are lots of benches outside to sit at and have a spectacular ocean view. Many specimen plant varieties that are hard to come by. Well worth the trip. read more

Came with a friend who wanted to buy an Orchid. I'm not into plants, but since we were in the area, I decided to check it out. Really friendly staff. Interesting plants. It's a great place to shop if you're a plant person and want to support a small business. Plenty of parking. read more

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We held our small wedding ceremony and reception at this charming, intimate greenhouse. The venue offers Monday-Friday weddings (4 hours) for just $1200, including tables, chairs, and a ceremony arch. Nancy, the owner, was incredibly flexible--she allowed us to set up the day before our wedding (including a ceremony rehearsal) and arrive early on the wedding day, which significantly reduced our timeline stress. We were able to hire any vendors we wanted, allowing us to cater dinner from our favorite restaurant through ezCater. Since the venue is naturally beautiful, we needed minimal decorations--just garland on the arch and bud vases on the tables. We hosted 42 guests and our coordinator's team flipped the ceremony area into the reception space using tables from the shed: seven six-foot tables for guests plus a four-foot table for our sweetheart table on the stage. Our guests loved exploring the various greenhouses and one guest even bought a couple of plants. There is a dedicated bridal suite for getting ready, though I'd recommend bringing something to protect your dress since the black floor was a little dirty. This venue was perfect for us as nature lovers, though it is more DIY-focused. We worked with fantastic, affordable vendors who now know the space well: Queen's Creative Events for month-of coordination (https://www.queenscreativeevents.com)--she also has chafing dishes and other rentals; Jenn Justice for photography (https://jjpstudio.net); Amethyst Trio for harp and cello music (https://www.sftrio.com/Trios.html); and Marilyn Nguyen (https://www.beautybymarilynn.com/bridal) for makeup and hair in Oakland. I highly recommend reaching out to these vendors, all who added a sense of calm to our planning and wedding day. Overall, Shelldance Orchid Gardens offers exceptional value for couples seeking a naturally beautiful, flexible venue. We couldn't be happier with our choice! read more

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Hidden in the coastal hills near the small beach town of Pacifica is this amazing little gem of a garden! It's a nursery that sells orchids, cacti, and many other interesting plants. But their orchids are the most beautiful... with interesting varieties of differing colors, shapes, and sizes. There are several greenhouses that you can stroll through to see the beautiful flowers and plants. A small gift shop offers pottery, wind chimes, books, and hand-crafted jewelry. Outside you'll find winding country roads with wild flowers, birds, and other small critters. And if you look up you'll see the majestic coastal mountains with fog/mist blown in from the ocean amid rays of sunshine. An idyllic place for a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city! Plants are slightly more expensive than, say, Trader Joe's, but with way more unique species. Staff is super cool and friendly. read more

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It's a tricky place to find off of Hwy 1, but once I circled around and found the driveway to take me to Shangri-La - it was orchid heaven. I parked my car and walked towards the building that resembled a greenhouse. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. There was so much to absorb. The people that worked there are passionate. They're downright lovely. I was in the market to find an unusual orchid plant for my girlfriend's birthday. Fortunately, I bumped into Tim to help me learn about orchids and the plants that they had at SOG. He wasn't pushy at all. He was INFORMATIVE and knew every single plant as if it were his child. I stumbled upon a plant that was so unique I had to purchase it for my sister. Impatiens niamniamensis, in short a Congo Impatient plant that was incredibly eye catching. Tim was able to say every plant name that was either Greek or Latin... impressive to say the least. I will be back to explore more, but if you have the chance to see eye candy, visit this nursery. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - This is the Impatiens niamniamensis aka the Congo Impatient. - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

this is my wife's favorite nursery. Their variety is amazingly abundant, the plants and flowers....are so healthy. Not to mention the staff knowledge and the lady owner just make us keep coming back. The only drawback is the driving. There's only one way to get there and the sharp turn off the highway 1 is hairy scary read more

The good: This orchid greenhouse sells more than just orchids! My mom got 2 small pots of chrysanthemums here for $11 each. They were perfect for the Vietnamese new year coming up. It also looks like this spot is a venue for small weddings. I liked how the exterior of the shop had a nice sitting/garden area where you could see the view of the ocean. The gift shop sold items like wind chimes and pots. There were lots of special plants that I've never seen before. I don't know a ton about plants but the offerings here were fairly priced and healthy-looking. I look forward to taking my orchid-loving MIL here in the future. The bad: They're only open on weekends and during narrow hours. The road up here is narrow and windy. The rows/aisles are very narrow with plants possibly blocking your way. It can be difficult if you're bringing kids or if you aren't slender. It doesn't look wheelchair accessible. The interesting: The gravel parking lot is shared with a hiking trail entrance. read more

We took my mom here on Saturday to find her a Cymbidium orchid for her birthday but there wasn't too many and of the few that was available, she didn't like them. I think it's just not the season for orchids because many of the orchids looked old. Some of the plants looked like they had been there for years and I wonder if they were even on sale. I don't know if there's only one green house because I was in the main store green house where all the living moss is. Although we didn't find an orchid that we liked, I have to say that this place is very pleasant to experience. First of all, the fragrance of the many plants reminded me of a nice perfume but it was all natural. We looked at hundreds of plants and it felt more like a plant museum than a store. Prices were not cheap but not outrageous. I would say that many of their cheaper orchids are available in bigger sizes and lower prices at your local Whole Foods or Trade Joe's. The outside of the store had a really nice panoramic view of the city. Definitely recommend for a day trip. read more

Out for an adventure with a fellow plant fiend and fanatic, we saw the sign for Shelldance and saw on Yelp that we had hit one of the times they are open. Their retail hours are only Saturday and Sunday from 10-5, so we decided to flip around and drive up the hill to see what kind of trouble we could get into. The property is indeed old, and found atop the hill at the end of a dirt road. I heard a bit of the history of the place and it's been around for quite some time, originally focusing on air plants in shells and the like, but now a collection of lots and lots (and lots!) of indoor plants in their several greenhouses. Know beforehand that there is a small gift shop and one greenhouse with a few benches where things are actually for sale. Much of the property and greenhouses are either for display or for a rental venue. It would appear they do some amount of business as a wedding or event venue and we saw the main area where that happens. Not very big, but if you're a plant lover then you'll love getting hitched with the greenery all around you. We wandered for hours. As a couple of plant junkies, that was pushing it--we could have stayed much longer. But we had other places to be later on and so we got our fill of oohs and aaahs and photographs all along the way. We spoke very briefly with Nancy the owner, and asked a few questions about varieties and items for sale. I'm not sure what the revenue stream is here--with only two retail days a week it's probably not that. We saw a few spaces in the greenhouses that might be rented out to others (?) but with so much bench space dedicated to not selling, I do wonder how they remain. I'm just glad they do. From the name, you might suppose it's a massive supply of orchids, but I didn't see a crazy amount of them. I was actually much more fascinated with the tropical plants (too many to name favorites!) but beyond some of the more common moth orchids and lady slippers, there weren't too many exotics. Again, I think this is a hugely positive thing as I was able to see varieties of plants that are so uncommon and hard to find that I enjoyed the discovery. On the other hand, I do wish things were a bit more clearly labeled, and it looks like there's not a lot of time/staff given to the display items in the long greenhouses; I wanted to stay the whole weekend and deadhead, organize, label, and address the nutrient needs of some of those items tucked farther back. That's far more than a weekend's amount of work, but with some time I think it would be absolutely stunning. Speaking of stunning, that plant wall in the bride room (?) is really phenomenal. What a backdrop! Between that and the massive monstera, I couldn't stop taking photos. Plant geeks will really love this spot. Casual plant peeps will appreciate the orchids and the succulents, but will probably not spend much time in the greenhouses. Fine by me, more time to peruse uninterrupted! read more

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A very tranquil place to escape to. The employees there are all very friendly and make it feel like visiting some good friends. They have a beautiful set of orchids, and they have a beautiful wedding reception. The care they put into wrapping is top-notch. I will definitely visit again. read more

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On the way to Pacifica Beach, I stopped by here because a coworker recommended it. I walked in with the expectation of seeing orchids everywhere, however, that wasn't the case. Perhaps it was due to the season or something else. Instead, there were a couple different "rooms" that held a great amount of different plants. From hanging plants, to succulents, to an occasional flower or orchid here and there. Most of the more stunning orchids were by the entrance way. But the collection itself wasn't what I was expecting. After telling my coworker my experience, she appeared surprised because when she had last visited, the orchids apparently lined up the rooms and there were plenty flowers. She also stated that there is an area dedicated to wedding ceremonies (which I did see -- a cleared out area with a stage). I don't think I'd come back here, it felt like a regular plant shop, except with plants I'm not too fond of. But especially because leaving the area was a nightmare. There's somewhat of a blind spot when exiting into the main road and the cars drive really fast. However, if you're very into plants, and in the area, I'd say why not? read more

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A MUST to visit this enchanted place in P town!!! We spent two hours walking through the gardens while inhaling pure energy. The staff are warm and friendly, they make us feel as if we were family. read more

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Impressive. There are multiple sections or rooms featuring different types of tropical plants from various orchids, bromeliads (including Tillandsia), ferns, African violets and philodendron. I was awe struck by the Tillandsia collection: usneoides, ionanthas, funkianas, bulbosas and more and lots of them. Some HUGE! Orchids I noticed: cymbidium, oncidium, phalaenopsis, cattleyas, vandals and others whose names I don't know. Succulents: Baby Toes, string of pears, various echeveria, lithops, haworthia, various kalanchoe, various stone crops, hens and chicks, various aeoniom AND SO MUCH MORE. My two disappointment are: not everything you see is for sale. And, not everything has a price marked. read more

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Shelldance Gardens is a beautiful oasis of green all year round! Even this week, in the cold of the rainy winter, there are plenty of beautiful blooms on display and on sale! Nancy, who runs the garden, is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. I have asked her approximately 13,383 questions about growing orchids, and she has been gracious and thoughtful with each answer. The garden is separated into a couple different areas, some with flowers for sale and others with flowers on display. Just make sure to observe the signs posted around the gardens and you'll see which plants are off limits and for sale. There's also a neat meditation room with chairs that are nice to sink into for a quiet moment. Finally, it seems like this place is also incredibly popular with weddings as it provides everything a happy newlywed could hope for in a venue: gorgeous plant displays, views of the Pacific Ocean, a changing room (which is the meditation room I mentioned,) as well as an indoor spot for both ceremonies and receptions. Regardless of if you're a plant lover or looking for a gorgeous venue for an event, look no further than Shelldance! read more

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This place is a fun hidden secret. I never would have known about it if it weren't for a friend who lives in Pacifica. A quick sharp turn while heading north into the City, and up a small hill is this greenhouse of a gem. Shelldance Orchid Gardens offers Orchids and much much more. I'm not a big plant person but it's growing on me. My wife is really into them and I'm learning. Exploring this place felt more like a visit to the botanical garden vs many store we've visited. This place is all about the plants. No fancy stuff on the outside. Just huge greenhouses to raise all the different varieties they have inside. Come with a camera because it's a beautiful place to take pictures of plants, the mandatory selfies and it looks like they also do weddings here. I got caught up looking at all the different flowers and cool looking leaves. As a bonus this place is also right at the trail head of the ridge. Win win for us! Will probably be back again soon, to see more plants, hike the ridge again or possible both. Until next time, cheers! read more

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Shelldance Orchid Gardens is a must visit when in Pacifica. Not only is it retail space, selling beautiful indoor plants, pottery and locally made art, it also hosts various classes, has sweeping coastal views from their parking lot and serves as an event space. If you're a plant lover, I'd encourage you to check out their unique array of indoor options. Need help in finding the right plan for your space and skill level? Their staff is happy to help you out and it's clear they love what they do. I've visited even when not looking to make a purchase and just enjoyed their vast inventory and relaxing space. I've learned that they host some Sunday yoga events which I'd love to attend but need to find the right time to do so (coming from the East Bay & arriving on time requires some planning.) They are located right off Highway 1 on the Northbound side. If you're heading south you'll have to make a U-turn. There is signage calling out where their turn off is. You'll drive up a winding short road that ends at their parking lot. The same lot serves as a trailhead for one of the local hiking trails-not sure which trail, but it's one of the ridge trails managed by Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It makes a great day trip if you're looking to check out local attractions before your hike. Hours are limited so be sure to call ahead. Last I checked it was weekends only that they are open. Love, love, love this garden store and grounds. I've made several purchases here, including plants that have thrived over the years. Check them out and support local businesses. read more

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Beautiful... definitely recommend... but have to not mind the occasional spider . They were setting up for a wedding... it was going to be absolutely amazing and fantastical... I loved all of the details in all of the rooms... it was like being in a fairytale. read more

One can never have too many orchids! Very nice and knowledgeable staff who are happy to help you. They will even nurse your disasters back to health! Hours are limited. read more

What a fun & beautiful place! We took our 2 year old son & he had a blast exploring the vast, wonderful rows of incredible plants. The orchid varieties are spectacular & we bought 3 to take home. Everyone is so friendly including Patches the cat. Highly recommend! Be sure to plan your visit as they are only open weekends. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Orchid - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Did not buy plants but THANK YOU for having the porta potties open so we could visit them before our Sweeney Ridge hike. Very much appreciated!!! read more

One of the Bay area's best kept secrets for plant lovers and wedding planners! As huge plant lovers, my partner and I were looking for an intimate venue that still incorporated Mother Nature. We looked at a few options including a church that had floor to ceiling glass windows to even having it at a regional park at a picnic site. The only hitch was that we had a limited budget to work with. Then our wedding planner suggested this gem of a place. A wedding in a greenhouse is so freaking smart because the surrounding plants are already a beautiful setting. All of our guests raved about our venue pick and I could not agree with them more. Nancy was the sweetest person to work with and was so helpful with last minute arrangements. Her whole staff are lovely people and this is a very special space. Even though it is a greenhouse, part of the space is more like an exhibit of rarities and I love that some plants are labeled "do not sell - it belongs to Nancy!" There are mystical corners everywhere you turn and you simply feel like you're in another world at Shelldance. They are only open on the weekends though and many of their weekend evenings seem booked with weddings so try and call to make an appointment if you're visiting to check out the space. If you're going to buy plants, then set yourself a budget because you might go crazy in there! I managed to only walk away with a staghorn fern but it was tough putting down the five other plants I wanted to bring home with me! read more

Not recommend for orchid cuz they've no selections...about four pots. I guess others green plants are fine. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Greenhouse - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

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A walk in paradise! You can walk in and get lost in the beauty of the plants. They also have an outdoor seated area with ocean view, great spot to relax. I walked out with a beautiful orchid. Highly recommend! read more

It is very embarrassing to admit this but I have never been to Shelldance Orchid Gardens before today. For the last 10+ years I have lived in Pacifica, I have done as many of you have. Drove by thinking "interesting sign" and went on down or up the coast on the way to somewhere else in my life. It was much the same the previous years as well when I cruised on by on my STeed. Today Leslie and I discussed going to Shelldance after our Valentine's Day meal together. After the meal she was kind of wishy washy about the visit but I had control of the wheel so I forced here to come along with me. Shelldance has a great location. A great view of the ocean. And the best thing is a great feel both welcoming and a little old timey at the same time. I would just love to come back one afternoon for an orchid to go along with afternoon tea. Now they don't serve tea that I know of. But maybe they would welcome a cup if you brought extra. I am not sure if the room next to their work rooms are available for rent. I would not be surprised if they since there was a stage in the rear of one of the rooms. I think Shelldance would be a very cool place to have an intimate wedding. Though their art room was empty on our visit, I am sure the coastal light coming in from the afternoon and evening sun will deliciously illuminate the art room. Another cool fact I learned is Shelldance offers both workspace, and plant care. If you are into growing your own orchids but don't have the environment then Shelldance is your place. If you are going on a trip and need someone to care for your prized plant while gone Shelldance can take care of it with the rest of their plants in a great environment. By the end of our visit we had decided to pick out an east to care for Valentine's Day gift of a Chenille plant for our daughter. The people running Shelldance were helpful, informative, and pleasant in assisting us with the choice. (surprisingly nice price too!) Thanks Nancy! I cannot believe how long it took me to visit Shelldance Orchid Gardens. I know my next visit will not be long in coming. (see pictures uploaded from our visit) * A little update. After visiting their web site I see they DO rent the rooms out for events. There is also more to Shelldance than Nancy's totally unassuming nature would lead you to think. Have a look at www.Shelldance.com for more information on both. :-) read more

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Overpriced and a lot of sad orchids. The photo posted with this review was a common sight. The women working knew absolutely nothing and made up prices out of thin air. Plants were not labeled or marked with a price. They quoted someone $17 for a tiny, common succulent. I won't be going back. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Common sight at Shelldance - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

Such a beautiful and peaceful nursery/garden. They have a very rare atmosphere here. It is so peaceful and beautiful. So glad we found this place. We saw the sign on the mountain and went up to the light to wait for ten minutes for the green arrow to make a u-turn!! It was worth it. I wish this place was closer to me, so I could just go walk through the green houses daily for extra peace. There is also a sweet kitty cat to greet you! Make sure u stop by and drive up the super steep windy driveway with a tree and cypress type tunnel. This property is a little piece of heaven at the ocean. Love it! read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Beautiful gem. Our experience was amazing. There are so many rare varieties of plants for sale. Definitely an experience if you are a plant lover read more

Such a gem and neat place they have here. So many unique varieties of orchids and indoor tropical plants in a huge tranquil greenhouse space. The owner and staff were extremely friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. This place is the best of its kind and highly recommended. Will be back again with friends and family. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

A great place to look around, a wide variety, a lot of interesting plants. Many tropical plants and succulents. Appears they propagate plants there, many "starts" in unsellable condition. It doesn't seem like the focus is selling to the public. Most plants are unlabeled and don't have a price. The or bids are really quite expensive, small $17 and large $41. read more

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I was very impressed with the service I received here the other day. I had an opportunity to visit before they were closed down do to covid. I purchased a beautiful succulent but I had to return the next day to pick it up. Unfortunately when I returned they had been ordered to close. I called and the message said pickups were still available. When I returned not only was the plant there, they had repotted it better than I ever could have . It really made my day in an otherwise stressful time. Her dedication and kindness are very apparent and appreciated. I will be returning and recommend anyone to check it out as well. read more

Shelldance Orchid Gardens - Afterglow - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Pacifica, California

Loved stumbling across this beautiful garden - just at the same foothill of where you can climb the Sweeney Ridge. This place had so many different types of beautiful airplants and orchids, really felt like there was so many options in terms of what to get. There are some plants not available for sale - but it's worth seeing them all anyway. Highly recommend - they even sell books for growing orchids and pots for the orchids too! read more

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I have been going to Shelldance for years. I would not go back. I was quoted a price for an item while in the nursery. The older woman (not the owner) said an extremely different price. I told her that is the price when I asked and she went into a long conversation about how that isn't right. She walked away (BTW-the other staff members are absolutely lovely!) She returned and said "I really feel bad about our previous discussion." I said "I am sorry that the interaction was negative" She said "I don't think you feel sorry at all"!! I was flabergasted, paid and left. Because of her behavior-I won't be going there again. I don't care if the price was incorrect, she could have handled the price error better and she could have been polite and not verbally accosted me. I used to love going there-up in the hills with a huge hunt and find green house. But NOPE! I have been in retail and you just don't speak to folks like that-I was in such shock, I just left. AGAIN-the young staff is lovely! they were helpful in answering questions and totally polite but this one-with the hat-needs a lesson from Miss Manners-don't care if she is a friend, etc. you just don't speak to folks this way when it was totally uncalled for. read more

My reaction after visiting the Shelldance Orchid Gardens: WHY IS THERE SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE OUTSIDE THE CITY THAT NOBODY KNOWS OUT! For those of you along the Peninsula and around the Bay Area looking for things to do off-the-beaten path, I really recommend exploring Pacifica. There's a bunch of things to do here that range from archery, hiking at gorgeous trails such as Devil's Slide and Pedro Point, and this little gem: Shelldance Orchid Gardens. Shelldance is a completely FREE experience for people who love flowers. It's right on highway 1, so it is very accessible to people traveling along the coast. It's located a little ways up a hill that you can turn into on the highway. If you are headed north, it will be a quick turn on your right. Since most people don't know about Shelldance, there will be tons of parking space. We pulled up right at the front of the gardens. Though the garden itself looks small from the outside, you can spend hours here, gazing at the different breeds of orchids and flowers at this place. I have to say I have a really good time at Shelldance. I am personally not the biggest fan of gardens and flowers, but I appreciate the experience once in a while. The best part is that it's free and open to the public on weekends. Plus, there's also a gift shop if you want to bring some back for your own garden. I have to give this place an "omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating! Have fun and prosper, read more

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