What to Pack:

The average temperature for San Francisco over our conference dates is 64 to 53 with only .04 inches of rain per month.

However, that doesn't tell the whole story. This is how they put it on the SF visitor welcome site:

San Francisco is blessed with a temperate marine climate and enjoys mild weather year-round. Temperatures seldom rise above 64°F or fall below 53°F in late June/early July. Morning and evening fogs roll in during the summer months, but rarely persist. Visitors are most comfortable with a light jacket or coat handy. An all-weather coat will take the chill off cool evenings. Lightweight summer clothes are seldom practical in San Francisco.

To which I want to add, in other words, don't "think summer" or as Mark Twain was said to have commented, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." If you plan to watch the fireworks down on the bay, bring a down jacket, a space blanket to sit on, another one to wrap around your legs, a hat, gloves. Or, maybe that's just me, but I find it freezing, especially down on the water after the sun goes down. Burrrrrr. Of course, it can also be warm and sunny mid-day, sundress/shorts weather.  Bring a big suitcase. - diane

Hotel meeting rooms, with zone AC, are just like the city - temperatures fluctuate.
Expecially in the meeting rooms, they fluctuate from freezing to sweltering. (Though you won't swelter outside in SF.)
Come prepared. People often complain they are freezing but you also want to be ready to strip down if things get hot.
Definitely pack long sleeves (a sweater, sweatshirt, an underlayer) but plan to dress in easily adjustable layers. Be
able to shed down to short sleeves or sleeveless.

Days are long, so plan on casual, comfortable clothes and shoes.
We suggest business casual for the conference - that is, shirt with a collar (polo shirts are fine)
and slacks or khakis rather than t-shirts and jeans. And, casual business for the
banquets - men should wear a shirt with a collar, jacket and tie are optional.

The hotel has a fitness center/spa and an outdoor heated pool. Bring a swim suit and workout clothes.
Pack casual clothes and comfortable shoes (and blister band-aids) to tour the city - it is a walking city!
Beautiful, walkable, hilly.

Pack your favorite noshes - nuts, dried fruit, prunes, power bars, tea bags, extra individual
coffee packs to use in the in-room coffee makers (the small ones 1 - 4 cups) - you’ll be too busy to look for a store.

Bring your own notebooks, bags. The conference doesn't supply
writing paper/notebooks/pens/tote bags/ etc.

>Diane, Tell everyone to pack an extra suitcase to haul home all the books they'll buy.
>Remember how frantic I was last year trying to find one at last minute.
>John

> Diane,
> This year I had what I thought was a great idea and thought maybe others could
> benefit. After a couple Smart Marriages conferences when I returned home with
> a fist full of handouts and notes that were hopelessly jumbled, I vowed to
> make a change. This year I brought an empty 3-ring binder, a paper punch,
> 3-hole notebook paper, and a highlighter. As I collected handouts and notes, I
> punched them and added them to the notebook. I labeled the notebook and now
> have everything that I got at the conference organized and useful.
> Debbi Steinmann

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