Half Moon Bay

Tucked along California’s Pacific coast, Half Moon Bay is a place whose character is shaped by ocean weather, broad beaches and the farms of the San Mateo County coast. South of the San Francisco Peninsula’s urban core, coastal bluffs meet fields growing flowers, vegetables and the pumpkins for which the area is known. Its historic downtown preserves late-19th- and early-20th-century commercial buildings, while nearby Pillar Point Harbor remains an active harbor. Just offshore at Mavericks, powerful winter swells have made the break internationally known among big-wave surfers. Each autumn, the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival reflects the town’s agricultural identity. Continue with other webcams from the area to see how this part of the San Mateo County coast connects regionally.

California occupies a long Pacific coastal belt in the United States. Its terrain ranges from the Sierra Nevada and the fertile Central Valley to deserts in the southeast and the rugged shores of the Pacific Ocean. The state includes both Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, and extensive protected lands such as Yosemite National Park. California’s cities have exerted worldwide influence through film, technology, agriculture, and music; Hollywood remains an enduring symbol of the American screen industry. Its scale means climates and local character can change dramatically from one county to the next. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of California.

The Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts define much of the United States — their ports, fisheries and trade routes have long tied the country’s economy to the wider world. Between them, the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Mississippi River basin form sharply different regions, from high western ranges to broad agricultural heartlands. Cities carry much of the national story: New York’s Statue of Liberty, a gift from France dedicated in 1886, remains an enduring symbol, while Washington, DC concentrates major federal institutions. Indigenous nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain essential to the country’s identity. Find related webcams in the surrounding areas to build a fuller picture of the United States.