Kayaking & Tidepooling Adventure in Half Moon Bay | Family-Friendly Bay Area Outing 🛶🦀🦭

This adventure ran January 11, 2026. See upcoming adventures.

Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, 10:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

You and your family are in for such a treat! We're starting 2026 with an epic double adventure — kayaking and tidepooling in one unforgettable day!

High tide in the morning for perfect kayaking conditions, and 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.)

🛶🌊 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 — a little adventure in itself! Please note that the kayak rental fee is separate from the FAS fee.

🦭🦅🐚 Amazing Wildlife: Keep your eyes open for incredible marine life!

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

• 🦭 Sea lions

• 🦅 Dozens of very colorful pelicans - you'll see them up close!

• 🐚 Other shorebirds and coastal wildlife

🚢 Boatwreck: We'll kayak around a cool boatwreck!

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

🏖️🍕☕🍰 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.)

🏖️ 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!

⭐🦀🦭🐚🔮🦪🪸 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:

• ⭐ Ochre sea stars slowly hunting their prey

• 🦀 Hermit crabs, bat stars and giant green sea anemones

• 🔮 Purple sea urchins tucked in their tiny rock caves

• 🐌 Gumboot chitons (they're HUGE!) and elegant nudibranchs

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

🦅🦉🐦 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!

📸🌊 Tidepooling: We'll be tidepooling during the lowest tide of the day for optimal viewing — bring your camera for stunning coastal shots!

🔍 Scavenger Hunt: Your kids will embark on a fun scavenger hunt and get a non-edible treat!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 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!

Approximate Location

2 Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

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

Difficulty Level

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!

Itinerary

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!

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

You’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.