Did you know that the IOCDF starts planning the Annual OCD Conference 3 to 4 years in advance? We take very seriously the challenge of finding a city and hotel that provides attendees with a fun, engaging, and rewarding experience. As part of planning for #OCDCon, I typically travel to 3 to 5 different cities and as many as 20 hotel sites to find just the right fit for our community. Once we have chosen a city and hotel, in the year leading up to a conference, I take a trip out to familiarize myself with the Conference hotel. My goal is to work on logistics for all of the workshops and activities that take place on and off site. I also want to make sure you maximize your experience in the amazing cities we are travelling to.
In August of 2016, I had the pleasure of visiting the site of our upcoming July conference, the beautiful and unique city of San Francisco, California. Not only is the conference hotel (San Francisco Marriott Marquis) a beacon of hospitality for any tourist coming into the city, it is also conveniently located near many interesting attractions, historical sites, picture-worthy neighborhoods and fun restaurants.
The best thing to do when visiting a new city is to explore its neighborhoods and take lots and LOTS of photos. What stood out to me about San Francisco was the wide array of colorful buildings, curvy hills and streets, and funky houses.
One of the most popular neighborhoods in San Francisco is the Mission District, home to many amazing restaurants, oodles of culture and art, and street after street of visually stunning residences. Another popular neighborhood is Alamo Square, home to the “Painted Ladies” of Full House fame. Both neighborhoods are fun to explore, and easy to access via the city’s different transportation options.
Our conference hotel is located within walking distance of some of the best attractions the city has to offer, including the Embarcadero and the San Francisco City Hall (where Marilyn Monroe married Joe Di Maggio in 1954). The hotel is also only about a 15-minute walk from Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can watch the seals sun themselves.
If you have the time, don’t miss out on heading over to the Presidio area to get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It truly is magical! And if you plan on coming in early or staying after the conference, I strongly suggest making your way out to Sausalito. It is just over the Golden Gate Bridge and it is home to boat houses, seafood restaurants with incredible views, and lots of fun shopping. Just on the other side of Sausalito is Muir Woods: a walkable forest filled with gigantic Redwood trees.
San Francisco Travel is an excellent resource for conference attendees who would like to get outside and see some sights! Their website provides tons of information on things to do and local attractions, and they were also hospitable enough to put together a list of discounts on attractions and dining, just for #OCDCon attendees.
We at IOCDF are so thrilled to be hosting the 24th Annual OCD Conference in such a fun city, and we cannot wait to share it with you in just SIX WEEKS from now! If you haven’t registered yet for the Conference, please register now – and take advantage of the Early Bird discount, which ends this coming Friday, May 26th at 5pm EST!
Looks like some fun places to go!
Mellissa thank you for sharing all this interesting and useful information. This will be my first trip to SF! Chloe and I are excited for the conference and to explore.
See you soon!!!