COMMENT BY
James from Vancouver, WA
COMMENT ABOUT PLACE
Vancouver, WA
COMMENT
Incredible Area!
I lived in HMB for 17 years and loved (almost) every minute there. Beautiful hills to the east of the town and the Pacific ocean to the west. Close to San Francisco, San Jose, Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Santa Cruz, et al. Day trip to Monterey/Carmel, Sacramento (if you have to), and overnights to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Humboldt County. During the winter, HMB hosts the largest and heaviest cold water surfing waves in North America (up to 60 foot faces) bringing in surfers from around the world. Great restaurants, all price ranges (but this is the Bay Area). Low crime rate, neat, clean. Now for the "almost." Traffic is terrible during commute hours and special events, such as the Pumpkin Festival and Dream Machines. Local traffic has been worsened by the installation of a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, although the hotel and grounds are gorgeous. Public restrooms are hard to find. "Must-Dos" include sitting on the beach at sunset (when there is no overcast) and making certain you have a sweater or jacket with you, even in summer. Springs and Falls are the nicest times to visit.