Bean Hollow State Beach(Pebble Beach)

Located to the south of Half Moon Bay, Bean Hollow State Beach is an oceanfront state park. This state park has two separate beaches - Pebble Beach and Arroyo de los Frijoles Beach - which are situated in rocky coves below oceanfront bluffs. The beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach are separated by a mile-long rocky headland. Pebble Beach is in the northern part of the state park and is a pebbly beach with rocky and sandy portions. Arroyo de los Frijoles Beach is in the southern part of the state park and is a generally sandy beach with some rocky parts. A creek flows through Arroyo De los Frijoles Beach into the Pacific Ocean. The beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach do not have lifeguards. However, the area around these two beaches has many amenities including restrooms, picnic tables, barbecue spots, and walking trails. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach. 

The beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach offer many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, picnicking, wildlife watching, fishing, hiking, swimming, and surfing. The water near Bean Hollow State Beach is dangerous for aquatic recreational activities due to cold temperatures, extremely strong currents, and dangerous waves. However, extremely experienced swimmers and surfers enter the water near the southern part of Bean Hollow State Beach during milder water conditions. We recommend being careful while standing near the water in the beaches of Bean State Beach as sneaker waves can pull you offshore. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Bean Hollow State Beach including migrating whales, seals, and sea lions. Interesting tidepools are also present around the beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach - these tidepools are home to many amazing creatures including crabs, anemones, and sea urchins. Pebble Beach is famous among tourists for having a variety of beautiful stones including agates, jasper, chert, and jade. These rocks often wash up on the beach from an offshore gravel bed which dates back to the Pleistocene geological era. However, it is important to note that it is forbidden to remove any of these wonderful stones from Pebble Beach. If you are planning to fish in the water near Bean Hollow State Beach, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations.

A one mile long nature trail is present between Arroyo de los Frijoles Beach and Pebble Beach in Bean Hollow State Beach. This self-guided nature trail offers a unique way to explore the coastal biodiversity of Northern California. The nature trail winds through a fascinating community of native coastal plants including coast buckwheat, beach primrose, lizard tails, and seaside daisies. Interpretive signs posted along this trail also offer interesting information about the local native flora. Bean Hollow State Beach also has unique large rocks which bear tafoni geological patterns - which are splendid honeycomb-like patterns usually caused due to weathering.

Getting to the beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach is easy - the access points to both the beaches are located along Pacific Coast Highway/Cabrillo Highway. Free parking lots are also available near both the beaches. In addition, the two beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach are also connected to each other via a mile-long nature trail. 

As an interesting fact, the name of this state park (Bean Hollow State Park) is an English translation of the Spanish phrase "Cañada del Frijol", which was used to describe this area during the 19th century.

There are many attractions near Bean Hollow State Beach. Pigeon Point Lighthouse (also known as the Pigeon Point Light Station) is one of the tallest lighthouses in the West Coast region of the United States. This lighthouse was built in the 19th century and is a part of the United States National Register of Historic Places. While the lighthouse itself is currently closed to the public, visitors can explore the area around it, which is a part of the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. This state park offers an interesting insight into the rich cultural and natural history of Northern California. In addition, this state park also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Northern California shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. Memorial County Park is a 20-minute drive away and spread over 673 acres. This recreational park is set amongst dense redwood forests. This park offers many fun activities including camping, hiking, wildlife watching, and picnicking. In addition, the park also has a nature center and a camp store and it also organizes campfire programs. You can also see many interesting animals and birds while hiking in this park including woodpeckers, raccoons, western gray squirrels, Steller’s jays, and skunks. If you are looking for another attraction near Bean Hollow State Beach, Arata’s Pumpkin Farm is an interesting theme park set in a pumpkin farm. This theme park offers an exciting hay maze, a spooky "haunted house" themed barn, a petting zoo, and a children’s playground. In addition, the theme park also offers toy-train rides, pony rides, and interesting hayrides.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Bean Hollow State Beach. Cascade Restaurant & Bar offers delicious burgers, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, pastas, soups, and salads. Duarte’s Tavern offers outstanding American cuisine with touches of Portuguese culinary influence. The restaurant is also known for serving amazing seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Bean Hollow State Beach, Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos offers amazing Mexican dishes including quesadillas and tacos.

If you are looking for a hotel near Bean Hollow State Beach, there are many great options within a 20-minute drive. The 5-Star Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers numerous amenities including three restaurants, a spa, two golf courses, a lawn with firepits, fitness center, tennis court, a pool, and a spa. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Oceano Hotel & Spa Half Moon Bay Harbor is 35 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a spa, and a fitness center. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star 1855 Zaballa House which is set in a 19th century mansion and offers a variety of amenities including complimentary breakfast, evening wine-and-cheese tasting sessions, and an elegant guest lounge. The hotel also has an exhibition of artifacts highlighting Half Moon Bay’s vibrant history. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Bean Hollow State Beach, the 2-Star Costanoa offers many amenities including a restaurant, picnic areas with barbecue spots, a spa, saunas, and a hot tub. In addition, the hotel also offers biking trails and horseback-riding sessions.