New Year's Day 2026: King Tides Kayaking & Tidepooling Adventure in Half Moon Bay | Family-Friendly Bay Area Outing ๐Ÿ›ถ๐Ÿฆ€๐Ÿฆญ

from $0.00

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, 10:30 a.m. โ€” 4:00 p.m.

You and your family are in for such a treat! We're starting the New Year with an epic King Tide double adventure โ€” kayaking and tidepooling in one unforgettable day!

This magical phenomenon only happens a few times annually when the moon, Earth, and sun align to create the strongest gravitational pull. What does this mean? High tide in the morning for perfect kayaking conditions, and extremely low tide in the afternoon revealing a hidden underwater world your kids have never seen before!

NOTE: Early Bird pricing ends Sunday, Dec. 14, at 10 p.m. to hold our spots and to give the vendor an accurate headcount ASAP.

Part 1: Morning Kayaking Adventure (10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

๐Ÿ›ถ๐ŸŒŠ Family Kayaking in a Protected Harbor: Pillar Point Harbor is perfect for beginners and experts alike! We'll paddle through a fun maze of docks and walkways to reach the outer harbor โ€” a little adventure in itself! Please note that the kayak rental fee is separate from the FAS fee.

๐Ÿฆญ๐Ÿฆ…๐Ÿš Amazing Wildlife: Keep your eyes open for incredible marine life!

  • ๐Ÿฆญ Harbor seals (they may even follow your kayak!)

  • ๐Ÿฆญ Sea lions

  • ๐Ÿฆ… Dozens of very colorful pelicans - you'll see them up close!

  • ๐Ÿš Other shorebirds and coastal wildlife

๐Ÿšข Boatwreck: We'll kayak around a cool boatwreck!

Lunch & Exploration (12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.)

๐Ÿ–๏ธ๐Ÿ•โ˜•๐Ÿฐ Beachside Picnic & Local Shops: After kayaking, we'll enjoy a picnic on the beach with tables, bathrooms and drinking water available! Plan is for a picnic. We are working on a pizza option and will let the group know. We'll also explore local shops, including coffee and dessert spots!

Part 2: Afternoon Beach Play & Tidepooling Adventure (1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

๐Ÿ–๏ธ Beach Play: We'll head to the beach and set up before low tide, giving kids time to play on the beach before the best tidepooling begins!

โญ๐Ÿฆ€๐Ÿฆญ๐Ÿš๐Ÿ”ฎ๐Ÿฆช๐Ÿชธ Epic King Tide Tidepooling: With low tide at 3:20 p.m., we'll have optimal tidepooling from 1:30 p.m. onwards! This is one of the best tidepooling spots in the Bay Area! We'll explore tide pools teeming with life:

  • โญ Ochre sea stars slowly hunting their prey

  • ๐Ÿฆ€ Hermit crabs, bat stars and giant green sea anemones

  • ๐Ÿ”ฎ Purple sea urchins tucked in their tiny rock caves

  • ๐ŸŒ Gumboot chitons (they're HUGE!) and elegant nudibranchs

  • ๐Ÿฆญ Harbor seals (maybe, and we have to keep our distance)

๐Ÿฆ…๐Ÿฆ‰๐Ÿฆ Birding & Raptors: Keep your eyes to the sky! We'll look for shorebirds, pelicans, gulls, great blue herons, cormorants, and red-tailed hawks. Once we even saw an osprey flying with a fish caught in its talons!

๐Ÿ“ธ๐ŸŒŠ King Tide Tidepooling: We'll be tidepooling during the lowest tide of the day for optimal viewing โ€” bring your camera for stunning coastal shots!

๐Ÿ” Scavenger Hunt: Your kids will embark on a fun scavenger hunt and get a non-edible treat!

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ Meet Other Families: Connect with other adventurous families and enjoy the great outdoors together!

Difficulty: Easy. Kayaking for about 1 hour in protected harbor (age minimum, 3). Flat 0.5-1 mile hike to tidepools.

Don't miss this amazing way to start 2026: kayaking and tidepooling on a King Tide day!

We look forward to welcoming you + your family on the trail!

Pricing Types:

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, 10:30 a.m. โ€” 4:00 p.m.

You and your family are in for such a treat! We're starting the New Year with an epic King Tide double adventure โ€” kayaking and tidepooling in one unforgettable day!

This magical phenomenon only happens a few times annually when the moon, Earth, and sun align to create the strongest gravitational pull. What does this mean? High tide in the morning for perfect kayaking conditions, and extremely low tide in the afternoon revealing a hidden underwater world your kids have never seen before!

NOTE: Early Bird pricing ends Sunday, Dec. 14, at 10 p.m. to hold our spots and to give the vendor an accurate headcount ASAP.

Part 1: Morning Kayaking Adventure (10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

๐Ÿ›ถ๐ŸŒŠ Family Kayaking in a Protected Harbor: Pillar Point Harbor is perfect for beginners and experts alike! We'll paddle through a fun maze of docks and walkways to reach the outer harbor โ€” a little adventure in itself! Please note that the kayak rental fee is separate from the FAS fee.

๐Ÿฆญ๐Ÿฆ…๐Ÿš Amazing Wildlife: Keep your eyes open for incredible marine life!

  • ๐Ÿฆญ Harbor seals (they may even follow your kayak!)

  • ๐Ÿฆญ Sea lions

  • ๐Ÿฆ… Dozens of very colorful pelicans - you'll see them up close!

  • ๐Ÿš Other shorebirds and coastal wildlife

๐Ÿšข Boatwreck: We'll kayak around a cool boatwreck!

Lunch & Exploration (12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.)

๐Ÿ–๏ธ๐Ÿ•โ˜•๐Ÿฐ Beachside Picnic & Local Shops: After kayaking, we'll enjoy a picnic on the beach with tables, bathrooms and drinking water available! Plan is for a picnic. We are working on a pizza option and will let the group know. We'll also explore local shops, including coffee and dessert spots!

Part 2: Afternoon Beach Play & Tidepooling Adventure (1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

๐Ÿ–๏ธ Beach Play: We'll head to the beach and set up before low tide, giving kids time to play on the beach before the best tidepooling begins!

โญ๐Ÿฆ€๐Ÿฆญ๐Ÿš๐Ÿ”ฎ๐Ÿฆช๐Ÿชธ Epic King Tide Tidepooling: With low tide at 3:20 p.m., we'll have optimal tidepooling from 1:30 p.m. onwards! This is one of the best tidepooling spots in the Bay Area! We'll explore tide pools teeming with life:

  • โญ Ochre sea stars slowly hunting their prey

  • ๐Ÿฆ€ Hermit crabs, bat stars and giant green sea anemones

  • ๐Ÿ”ฎ Purple sea urchins tucked in their tiny rock caves

  • ๐ŸŒ Gumboot chitons (they're HUGE!) and elegant nudibranchs

  • ๐Ÿฆญ Harbor seals (maybe, and we have to keep our distance)

๐Ÿฆ…๐Ÿฆ‰๐Ÿฆ Birding & Raptors: Keep your eyes to the sky! We'll look for shorebirds, pelicans, gulls, great blue herons, cormorants, and red-tailed hawks. Once we even saw an osprey flying with a fish caught in its talons!

๐Ÿ“ธ๐ŸŒŠ King Tide Tidepooling: We'll be tidepooling during the lowest tide of the day for optimal viewing โ€” bring your camera for stunning coastal shots!

๐Ÿ” Scavenger Hunt: Your kids will embark on a fun scavenger hunt and get a non-edible treat!

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ Meet Other Families: Connect with other adventurous families and enjoy the great outdoors together!

Difficulty: Easy. Kayaking for about 1 hour in protected harbor (age minimum, 3). Flat 0.5-1 mile hike to tidepools.

Don't miss this amazing way to start 2026: kayaking and tidepooling on a King Tide day!

We look forward to welcoming you + your family on the trail!

  • EASY. We'll kayak in the protected harbor for about 1 hour and afterward picnic on the beach; we will not be on open water.

    For beach + tidepooling, backpack/front-facing carriers are recommended for toddlers and infants, on the tidepools, which can be slippery. 

    The hike to the tidepools is flat and can be 0.5 to 1 mile. If we walk on the beach, can use a jogging stroller but there is a small stream to cross (not big but you can get wet). Hoping that we will get to the regular parking lot early enough!

  • 10:15-10:30 a.m. - Arrival & Check-in Arrive at Pillar Point Harbor for check-in and kayak prep. Please be at the kayak vendor by 10:30 a.m. Note: Parking can take some time, so plan accordingly. Very early arrivals can explore downtown Half Moon Bay shops and cafes nearby.

    10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Kayaking Block Get geared up and on the water by 11:00 a.m. for 1 hour of kayaking through Pillar Point Harbor's protected waters and fun maze. Look for harbor seals, sea lions, colorful pelicans, shorebirds and a cool boatwreck! After kayaking, time to change clothes, dry off and grab items from your car.

    12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. - Lunch & Exploration Beachside picnic (tables, bathrooms, drinking water available). Pizza option details coming soon! Explore local Half Moon Bay shops, coffee spots, and dessert shops.

    1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Beach Play & King Tide Tidepooling Head to the tidepools for beach play and exploration (0.5-1 mile walk depending on parking). Low tide at 3:20 p.m. means optimal viewing! Discover sea stars, hermit crabs, bat stars, anemones, sea urchins, gumboot chitons, nudibranchs, and more. Watch for shorebirds, pelicans, herons, and raptors overhead.

    5:03 p.m. - Optional Sunset Stay for the stunning coastal sunset if you'd like!

  • 2 Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZYoEhX1MxGVBD3pf8

  • 1. Add this adventure to your cart and check out

    2. Join the WhatsApp chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FkryqB1w6eS5lLDSdX7Qce

    3. Use a pass: https://bit.ly/useapass

    4. Complete loaner kit request form: https://bit.ly/loanerkit

  • FAS FEE

    Full Day Adventure (Kayaking + Tidepooling):

    • EARLY BIRD until Sunday, Dec. 14 ๐Ÿฆ: $100 for single-income family

    • EARLY BIRD until Sunday, Dec. 14 ๐Ÿฆ: $110 for dual-income family

    Important Details:

    • LATE FEE: Please sign up by Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, 10 p.m., or a $20 late fee will be charged. This is because the vendor needs an accurate headcount ASAP and for us to hold our spots

    • One pass covers a family, meaning parents and children (you can bring an extra person on your pass, but 2 extra people will need to buy their own pass).

    • After 2 kids, $10 charge for each additional child to cover treats + educational materials. The fee applies to your oldest child(ren) first.

    • Passbooks cannot be used for this special outing.

    • Outings are not refundable. A one-time credit transfer to another outing โ€” to be used within three months โ€” is possible, please email us: miranda@mommymehiking.com

    • Full payment must be made to secure your spot (we don't take cash; only digital payment).

    • Spots are LIMITED and the only way to hold your place is by adding this outing to your cart and checking out!

  • Rental lasts about 60 minutes. Vendor provides kayaks, paddles, PFDs (life vests for kids 30+ pounds; families with smaller children will need to bring their own), water resistant paddle jackets and wet suits for free. You must be on time!

    Pricing:

    • Double kayaks: $60 per kayak

    • Single kayaks: $30 per kayak

    How many kayaks does your family need?

    • 1 adult = 1 single kayak ($30)

    • 1 adult + 1 child = 1 double kayak ($60)

    • 2 adults = 1 double kayak ($60)

    • 2 adults + 1 small child = 1 double kayak ($60) - small kids (age 3 and younger) typically sit between a parent's legs

    • 2 adults + 2+ children = 2 double kayaks ($120)

    • Large families (2 adults + 3-4 kids) = 2-3 double kayaks ($120-$180)

    Single parent with two older kids? Let us know! We can see if another adult can kayak with one of your children.

    Payment Instructions: Pay Miranda via Venmo or Zelle: 650-888-2765

    Label your payment: "KAYAKING - [Your Name] - [Quantity]"

    Examples:

    • KAYAKING - Martinez Family - 1 double" + pay $60

    • KAYAKING - Chen Family - 2 doubles" + pay $120

    • KAYAKING - Leitsinger Family - 1 double + 1 single" + pay $90

    Please include your name if different from your social media handle on Venmo!

  • WHAT'S INCLUDED
    *Guided adventure, scavenger hunt and educational activities
    *Digital guide that will make this event EASY for you and your family! (Natural + cultural history, plus food + coffee stops + more)
    *In-person guided adventure
    *All logistics
    *Adventure checklist (what you need to bring)
    *Treat for the kids
    *Arts + crafts activity

    Youโ€™ll also get access to:
    *First-aid kit
    *Loaner kit of hiking gear (48-hour notice). Please inquire about what gear is available; I have items for kids and adults, like single/double jogging strollers, Baby Bjorn infant carrier, toddler backpack carrier, hiking poles, etc.

    • Kayak rental fee

    • Food

  • Every 10th: For every 10th family who signs up for this outing, we can welcome a family for free. This is geared toward low income families. We don't check income; this is an honor system.

    Note: Families joining under the Every 10th program must still pay for their kayak rental (please see kayak rental fee section on this page).

    If you want to join under the Every 10th program, please write Every 10th in the payment section. When deciding, we will give priority (among other factors) to those who have never joined an outing to ensure that everyone gets a chance to attend.