Is Pacifica The Bay Area's Most Underappreciated Gem?
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.
I drove from Pleasanton to Pacifica last Sunday (58 miles) to listen to a dear friend sing the Blues at the Surf Spot off the Coast Highway. It was an amazing day with aqua skies and a fresh ocean breeze. The afternoon high reached 73 degrees and I soaked up every sunray, basking in the golden sunshine and strumming my fingers and thumping my feet to the beat of "Otilla and the Back Alley Boys". I snapped a picture of the pristine conditions and texted it to a friend. His reply, "Very beautiful. There is so much beauty here in the Bay Area."
That got me thinking! It's true. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are blessed and surrounded with beauty. From the ocean sprays of the Pacific Ocean to the majestic Redwood Trees which line the Peninsula. The East Bay boasts some of the best hiking and cycling trails (and don't forget my favorite, Lake Del Valle). From the North Bay's colorful Air Balloon rides to the South Bay's hidden Los Gatos Creek Trail, the Bay Area has it all going on.
With "so much beauty" taunting us each and every day, I want to try writing about one community each week in my blog. Any suggestions, please let me know! But for today, I will begin with Pacifica!
Pacifica is located just 12 miles south of San Francisco along the scenic coast of the Pacific Ocean. It stretches six miles along the coast, and nearly 40,000 people call it home. Known for its natural beauty, Pacifica is filled with numerous hiking trails through rolling hills that overlook the ocean surf and forested canyons. The city is snuggled in between small valleys. There is Sweeney Ridge to the east, Montara Mountain to the south and the Pacific Ocean's rocky bluffs to the west.
While we all are aware of those notorious drippy fog filled summer days in Pacifica, the weather is actually a cool summer Mediterranean climate typical of coastal areas of California. The average high temperature this time of the year is mid 60s, with the warmest time of the year at an average 71 degrees in September. The southeastern portions of Pacifica (Park Pacifica) is much sunnier than the rest of the city.
Pacifica is known as a surfer destination, with Linda Mar a terrific location for family picnics. Rockaway Beach is a popular location for hanging out after shopping and dining.
And of course there is the fishing. Pacifica Pier is where I always head to when there is a storm bearing down on the Bay Area. I love to see the waves lap onshore! But when it is not raining, the local fisherman can be seen reeling in Striped Bass and Salmon. That's some good eating!
For the nature lover...
- Numerous hiking trails in the green, rolling hills
- Municipal fishing pier and promenade
- Surfing on miles of ocean beaches
- Spectacular sunsets
For the athlete...
- 18-hole golf course
- An indoor swimming pool
- Top ranked, professionally designed Skateboard Park.
- Pacifica Islanders - A Minor League Football Alliance (MLFA) Team
- Several playing fields and parks
- Still more hiking, still more surfing and of course, the Surf Spot. Dog and kid friendly.
What more can one hope for on another beautiful day in Pacifica!
I would love to hear from you! Please send weather questions, observations and photos to me, Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com and I look forward to hearing from you!
