The Coastside in Pictures 2017: Beaches, Bluffs & Biodiversity

Since every picture tells a story, we thought we’d kick off a new year of Coastside Slacking with some of The Geek’s favorite shots of 2017, highlighting our local beaches, bluffs and biodiversity. Many of these images are appearing in the blog for the first time. Enjoy!

Note: Most of the pictures below originally were published in our Coastside Slacking Instagram feed. You can find that feed here.

Sand and Surf at Montara State Beach

Perhaps we’re bias, but our home beach boasts the best stretch of sand and surf on The Coastside. It’s great for enjoying long walks, sunsets, a good book or the most talented surfers this side of Mavericks as they thread the devilishly tricky waves offshore.

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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Montara State Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Backyard Botanicals

There’s always something blooming in our back yard in Montara. Sometimes the Geek likes to zoom in for insight into the secret life of bees and butterflies. Oh my.

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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Macro photography at Montara CA. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Kiteboarding at Waddell Beach

Tired of bobbing at Surfer’s Beach waiting for the perfect wave? Try attaching yourself and your board to a kite on a windy day at Waddell Beach. How these daredevils don’t end there day in a snarl of boards, limbs, vinyl and string we’ll never know.

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Waddell Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Waddell Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Sights from the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail

Walkers, runners, cyclists and skateboarders can enjoy a a cornucopia of oceanside delights along the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail, which runs mostly uninterrupted from the Pillar Point Harbor landing to Wavecrest Open Space.

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Pelicans at Half Moon Bay. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Pillar Point Harbor. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Surfers Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Surfers Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Unplugged

It’s impossible to find a single image that captures the diversity of the beaches, bluffs and garden of undersea delights you’ll find at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve along the coast of Moss Beach. Stop by during a negative tide.

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Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Martins Beach is for Everyone

How can some place so beautiful be embroiled in such controversy? If you arrive at Martins Beach Road and find the gate is closed, just park in the makeshift lot aside Highway 1 and walk on down. Multiple courts have ruled that this beach is open to all.

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Martins Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking
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Martins Beach. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

If you like a dose of history with your Coastside wanderings, make a stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest in America! You may very well spot seals, sea otters or whales cavorting offshore. And there’s a hostel! So, you can spend the night if you want.

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Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Dawn Page/Coastside Slacking

Want more?

Looking for more images of people, places and things to do Coastside on the San Francisco Peninsula and beyond? Check out our instagram feed by clicking here.

 

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