09/05/2026
One last long summer weekend, Marin style. Whether you want to spend the day on Mt. Tam, claim a spot at the beach, linger over lunch by the water, or keep things simple with a picnic and ice cream, there is no shortage of ways to make the most of Labor Day weekend here.
Start the morning on Mt. Tam before the afternoon crowds roll in. For something easy with a big payoff, the Verna Dunshee Trail at East Peak is a paved 0.75 mile loop with panoramic views. Want more of a hike? Take Steep Ravine down through the redwoods and connect with the Dipsea Trail toward Stinson Beach. California State Parks suggests the full Pantoll to Stinson route as a roughly 6 mile round trip. Holiday weekends get busy, so this is one worth starting early.
Pack the chairs, towels and a cooler and make a day of it at Stinson. Swim, play volleyball, walk the beach, or and do absolutely nothing for a few hours. Bring your lunch or grab a bite to eat at Parkside. The important part: get there early. On warm weekends, the main parking lot can fill before noon and there is no overflow lot. Lifeguards are generally on duty through Labor Day.
Few things feel more like a Marin summer afternoon than lunch on the water. Head to Tiburon for the deck and Bay views at Sam’s Anchor Cafe or Malibu Farm. Make it a Sausalito afternoon with lunch at Barrel House Tavern or Le Garage. Ask for an outdoor or view table when you can, order something cold, and give yourself permission not to rush anywhere afterward.
No summer itinerary is complete without ice cream. Our local picks: Angela’s Organic Ice Cream in downtown Mill Valley for creative flavors and dairy free options, Fairfax Scoop for small batch ice cream and housemade waffle cones, or Lappert’s Ice Cream if you are already strolling the Sausalito waterfront. Bonus points for eating it outside before it melts.
End the weekend the old fashioned way: a blanket, good food, your favorite people and nowhere else you need to be. For Bay views, try Paradise Beach Park in Tiburon. For a bigger picnic day with plenty of room to spread out, head to McNears Beach Park in
