The Coastside Trail, just south of Half Moon Bay, begins at an unlikely spot: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The first mile takes you on a paved trail alongside the hotel facilities and golf course. Walking north, the trail stretches along the coast, overlooking beautiful beaches and dramatic Monterey cypress trees. In March, the ocean views were foggy, with small dots of colorful flowers. The trail descriptions boast more flowers and birds later in the spring, but nevertheless, we saw a red shouldered hawk preening himself before the hunt.
