The best places to catch a sunset

The Chronicle has launched a new weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. Enter your email at the top and check the box marked “Travel.” Waves crash on the sand below us, and the setting sun casts a broad sweep of light above the silvery Pacific, where tufts of fog hover on the horizon. Here at the Ocean Terrace, the outdoor lounge area of the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, the temperature is starting to drop, but we don’t worry about catching a chill. Fire pits are ablaze, fleece blankets are at the ready, and we’ve ordered a spicy craft cocktail called the Fire Within.

"Treat yo 'self" with a fancy cocktail near a bonfire as the sun sets in the background

The historic Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel offers not only affordable rooms but also beautiful lookout directly facing the sunset.

What an interesting way to see the sun go down then over some tide pools. It's also a family-friendly spot!

Pillar Point Bluff offers hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and dog-walkers a chance to take in the breathtaking sights and sounds of the Pacific Ocean. The 220-acre bluff top includes a section of the California Coastal Trail and offers views of Half Moon Bay Harbor, agricultural lands and the world famous Mavericks surf break.

Parking is free but depending on the year, it can be scare. On a clear day, many watch the sun go down on the beach and up on the cliffs. Some even swear to have seen the green flash above the last rim of the sun's disk.