Half Moon Bay Makes Chronicle's 'Must-See Small Towns' List

The coastside of San Mateo County has a quaint appeal for day-trippers, according to lists of the best small-town escapes published on SFGate earlier this month.

Half Moon Bay's famous pumpkins and world-class surfing got the town a nod on SFGate's best small-town escapes.

The kudos came on the Get Lost travel blog, which highlighted cute towns within a couple hours drive of San Francisco that are worth a weekend visit.

The list, published in the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle, included Monterey Bay gems Aptos and Carmel, wine country destinations Healdsburg and St. Helena, Sierra foothills charmers Nevada City and Placerville, and Marin County favorites Bolinas, Mill Valley and Sausalito.

SFGate readers added their own favorites on this round-up of 20 more must-see small towns. The picket fences and quaint downtown helped Pescadero make SFGate's reader-submitted list of favorite small town get-aways.

The tiny agriculture town just inland from the Pacific Ocaen in San Mateo County is beloved for Duarte's—especially the yummy soups and Cioppino—the steepled church and locally made products like fresh-baked bread, goat cheese and honey.

Tell us: what are your favorite day trips within an hour or two?