Shop over 8 years ago by Liz Adams

What to Pack for Labor Day Weekend

what to pack labor day weekend

Labor Day Weekend is a week away and I’m already dreaming up a packing list for our trip to San Francisco! We are actually going for a football game on Friday night (my dad and brother’s alma mater is playing Stanford) but decided to extend our trip and enjoy the long weekend. We don’t have much on the agenda aside from a day in Sonoma or Napa (where should we go??) and a trip to the Redwoods. We also plan to indulge in fun dinners, explore the city and take the ferry to Sausalito. If you have any recommendations send them my way!

I love that the weather in SF will be a little cooler than it is in Chicago. I plan on bringing lots of classic favorites from my closet that can work for both day and night. Do you have any big plans for the long weekend? Labor Day always feels like the last time to really savor summer before it is full steam ahead into fall. I plan on bringing this striped sweater, a white blouse, my favorite jeans, a classic coat and my favorite sneakers. Here is what else I’m packing…

PS: Any SF area recommendations would be MUCH appreciated! xo

 

Shop the post: Illesteva Sunglasses  //  Bauble Bar Earrings  //  BareMinerals Lip Color  //  J.Crew Top  //  Frame Boyfriend Denim  //  Chloe Bag  //  J.Crew Leopard Flats  //  Janessa Leone Hat  //  Pearl Earrings  //  Chicwish Sweater  //  J.Crew Dress  //  Cluse Watch  //  Clare V Bag  //  Loeffler Randall Heels

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. That bag 🙂 We really loved Sonoma, a little more of a laid back vibe than Napa. Lots of beautiful, but quirky spots!

  2. San Francisco is my favorite city in the World! A16 is amazing for dinner (nice pizza place- fancy and chic but won’t break the bank).

    Sonoma- Scribe Winery is beautiful!

    Napa- make sure you drive up the Silverado Trail and you can drive back down on Highway 29 (where the Napa sign is!). All the little towns in Napa Valley are amazing- Calistoga, St Helena, Rutherford (Elizabeth Spencer Boutique Tasting room- SO CUTE!), Yountville (Mustard Grill is fanastic for lunch!)

    Our favorite winery was Plump Jack and it’s in between Rutherford and St. Helena- you should check it out! Have a blast!

  3. Ahh, we will be in SF for labor day too! We are taking a road trip from LA to SF, and ending with several days in SF.

    We’ve been told Napa is insane during Labor Day, so we are planning a trip out to Sonoma, and then of course, the Red Woods. We are also doing a sunset sail trip under the golden gate bridge – you should check it out!

  4. The Russian River area is much more laid back than Sonoma and Napa. We stayed in Windsor and there were hundreds of vineyards in a few mile radius. Truett Hurstt was a favorite, stay and sit in the Adirondack chairs next to the river. Also loved the views at Copain and Cast and the cave at Bella Vineyards was amazing. You can’t go wrong in this area. The food scene in Healdsburg is incredible as well.

    1. I agree with Kate – I like the Russian River Valley much better than the actual towns of Sonoma or Napa. Healdsburg is super adorable with plenty of tasting rooms and surrounding vineyards. Geyersville is also really cute and quaint and just a 10 minute drive north from Healdsburg. Diavola in Geyersville has the best pizza ever.

  5. You have to go to Tres Sabores (http://tressabores.com/)!!! It is the most adorable mom and pop winery with superb hospitality. They take you on a tour of their property and let you try all their local herbs including pineapple sage and chocolate mint! I cannot say enough good things about them…you have to make an appointment though.

  6. Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma is lovely…they have quite a large lavender farm on site that you have to walk through to reach their tasting room. In Napa we enjoyed Lava Vine Winery (they’re very un-pretentious) as well as Trefethen (you need an appointment) and a couple others. Have fun! I didn’t have a bad wine at any of the wineries we visited. Fyi, Sonoma is a little more casual than Napa, so you might not need to make appointments for wine tasting like you do at many places in Napa.

  7. Yyaaaassss!! I love your collage posts and so happy to see them back! I love your blog by the way, even seeing that ADORABLE Charlie boy, but…these are always so fun and give me so much inspiration! I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed them! Thanks, girl! 🙂

  8. Hi Liz! One of my cities! You should try and go to Tartine Bakery in Dolores Park. It is so delicious and super cute. In the Napa area, if you have time to go to St. Helena, there is amazing winery/restaurant called Farmstead. Also, the cutest Main Street with another must stop bakery called Model Bakery. Enjoy your trip!

    1. Model Bakery is the best!!! There are literally a hundred amazing places in Napa. R+D is great. Morimoto for Sushi. Just driving around Napa is beautiful. 🙂

      SF is amazing too! So many great holes-in-the-wall. You have to see The Palace of Fine Arts and the Marina.

  9. I agree that Sonoma is more laid back. If you can make it up to Healdsburg it is worth it. Copain is nestled on the top of a hill with sweeping views of the surrounding area. They require reservations but their seated tasting is paired with little bites of food. Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves is a lovely family run place with wines named for the owners daughters. The caves are amazing and the front lawn is perfect for a picnic. I would highly recommend both!

  10. Hey Liz! Any update on that great white crossover top you showed on your instagram a couple weeks ago? I’ve been obsessing over it! 🙂

  11. Will be there too, although moving to SJ for the weekend for a weekend. About midway between Napa and Sonoma is Domaine Carneros which has a sparkling pinot noir and pretty views from the courtyard. In SF definitely visit the Ferry Building Market.

    Depending on timing, the beaches down south like Santa Cruz and Capitola are also worth a visit.

  12. San Franciscan here! Be prepared for a variety of weather – lately I’ve been out in my (heaviest) jacket, a quilted Barbour, most days. We know to dress in layers and always have a sweater and/or wrap scarf in our bags! Outside the city (e.g., Oakland, Napa), will be blazing hot though.

    Do: Golden Gate Park (easy with a little one!), Muir Woods, SF MoMA, Cal Academy of Sciences, Biergarten (in Hayes Valley), and the Ferry Building.

    Eat: Ferry Building, Burma Love, 4505 Burgers, Craftsmen and Wolves, Plow, Marlowe or The Cavalier, and Burma Love.

    For Napa, I recommend Yountville – the eateries are incredible as are the vineyards.

    Lindsay Jill
    http://www.lindsayjill.com

  13. Chestnut Street in the Marina is a darling place to do some shopping and stroll with your hubby and babe. Then, take a little walk down to the Marina Green for some fun on the grass overlooking the bay and Golden Gate! A16 is a super spot for a date night with your husband and Delarosa is a great place for a fun lunch with your two favorite guys. Have fun!

  14. I live in San Francisco, some of my favorites are……
    For brunch Rose’s Cafe on Union St. I second that Chestnut St. has really cute shops and is close by. Zazie in Cole Valley is amazing but can have a bit of a wait.
    Dinner spots. Americano in Hotel Vitale if you are by the ferry building. SPQR or Florio on Fillmore St., in lower Pacific Heights. The Front Porch on 29th for great southern food and fried chicken!
    Others recommended the girl and the fig and Domaine Carneros, both are amazing. I’m really missing a glass of Le Reve being 9 months pregnant. It’s seriously the best thing ever.

  15. Bring a few more layers than anticipated. Here are a few great restaurants in the city – El Techo (amazing drinks, carnitas and rooftop atmosphere), Cafe Basik (acai bowls), Marlow (great burgers), Judahlicious (great vegan breakfast spot), Barcha, Troya, Delarosa, and Piccolo Forno!

    1. It runs on the bulky side but generally I think their items run small! I haven’t received it in the mail yet but I ordered a small.

  16. As a local, there are too many to choose from!
    I’d suggest charming Healdsburg for more boutique, less touristy wine tasting than in Napa. Then hit the Shed or Mateos for lunch.
    For hiking among Redwoods, visit Point Reyes, order oysters for lunch at saltwater oyster depot, and stop at cowgirl creamery in the point Reyes station for delicious cheese on your way back.
    In the city, Blue bottle coffee, B Patisserie for pastries, Buena Vista for an Irish coffee, the farmers market at fort mason, A16 for wine and pizza, Octavia for a special dinner, Tacolicuous for California- Mexican food and good spot for kids!

  17. For the Sonoma vs. Napa debate – choose Napa if you are doing a pre-booked tour, have a driver (def recommend this), or make reservations at the wineries. Do Sonoma if you’d rather just drop into places (without an agenda). Either can be done in 1 day for sure. Either location I recommend choosing a winery to have lunch at too – they have picnics available for purchase at some, so fun!

    Classic SF spot but definitely worth checking out the Ferry Building.

    Have fun!

  18. I second all the opinions saying Sonoma is wayyyy more laid back (and not as busy) as Napa. Our very favorite (small, family) wineries are Unti and Yoakim Bridge – both beautiful, absolutely delicious wines (my parents have been going back to and buying from both for years). Also near to both is a little town called Geyserville, which is VERY unassuming at first glance (it looks a little run down and sad, quite honestly)… there are several fabulous tasting rooms on their little main street (Mercury has super interesting wines and the guy, Grady, that runs the tasting room is so much fun – and at Meeker, the tasting room is the lobby of a historical bank. Adorable, and delicious wine!). There is a restaurant called Catelli’s that serves the most amazing Italian food (I legitimately dream about their meatballs sliders and their kale citrus salad), has lots of awesome craft cocktails, and their back patio is amaaaaaazing. Again, you would never guess how cute this place is from the front – but you walk in, through the sort of rustic-chic restaurant itself, and the back patio is lush and green and fabulous, with a huge checkerboard print patio and giant, colorful umbrellas to shade you from the sun. Incredibly instagram-worthy 😉 Enjoy!!

  19. My sister got married in Sonoma last August. The best thing we did all weekend was also the cheapest, shortest, and most unique: a self-guided walking tour of a winery. It feels like you’re trespassing when you walk unattended through the vineyards (great photo ops!). It was amazing and quick. There are 6 participating wineries (www.sonomacounty.com/articles/free-vineyard-walking-tours) and we visited Schug Carneros Estate Winery.

    We also took a day trip to visit Lagunitas and Russian River breweries. Lastly, we drove along Highway 1, stopped on the roadside to watch surfers, and ate lunch (actually two lunches) on Bodega Bay (Fisherman’s Cove and Spud Point).

    Have a great trip!!

  20. We visited San Fran this past June. Picking up ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery and eating it in Dolores Park is a must. Also loved the cocktails at The Progress on Fillmore Street. Enjoy!

  21. Napa: Go to Stony Hill!! (Reservations are required). Stony Hill Vineyard is the 2nd oldest family owned winery in Napa, and it’s surrounded by National Park. It is a beautiful estate, and you will likely be the only people on your tasting/tour. Stop by Gott’s Roadside for lunch.

    Sausalito: Scoma’s/ The Trident have outdoor seating and offer great views of the Bay right on the water. Lappert’s ice cream is on point, and I’ve heard great things about Napa Valley Burger Company.

  22. Definitely check out Fish in Sausalito. Cute outdoor restaurant on the Marina that is great for families! I also loved Flour + Water in SF.

  23. Hey Liz!

    What size did you get in the Theory coat listed in the “what else you are packing”? I find that their stuff typically runs on the smaller side, but coats like this usually have a little extra room in them.

    Thanks!

  24. It’s been absolutely freezing (coming from a Bay Area native) and foggy daily, so definitely bring layers!
    Delfina is the Mission has amazing Italian and also has a pizza restaurant for a more casual meal. If you’re in SF on Saturday morning there’s a huge farmers market at the Ferry Building.
    Enjoy your trip!

  25. Make reservations for Napa now!! Harvest is coming up quickly. Best brunch in the area is Archetype in St. Helena (hands down – gorgeous cocktails as well!). Charles Krug and Elizabeth Spencer are favorites of ours. Elizabeth Spencer is a bit more low-key and you don’t absolutely need a reservation. Alpha Omega has great reads and Mumm has some of the best views (they don’t take reservations for parties less than 6, though). We are checking out Quintessa Sunday morning.