Are You Going to BlogHer 2011 in San Diego?

Are you going to BlogHer this year? I am and I am so looking forward to a few days and nights away with some old and new friends… even if it is in my own backyard.

This is my first time attending BlogHer (I attended my first Blog Conference back in March) but I followed BlogHer’10 very closely last year. I watched blogs, Twitter and Facebook; checked out all the party pictures online and dreamt of frolicking the streets of New York with all the awesome people that were there. Alas, I was at home with a young baby and totally freaked out about the Bed Bug scare (that’s not what kept me home– that part was the baby). Uh yeah, Bed Bugs. I get all freaky like that after having a baby; kinda like Mama Bear on over-drive.

I digress.

This year I’m planning and researching as much as I can, as early as I can so I can make the most of the experience. Luckily I don’t have to fly or travel far but I will be staying at the hotel cause I’ll be too pooped to drive home.

In case you’re wondering, here are some tips and sites that I’m watching while preparing for BlogHer 2011 in San Diego, baby!

Tips for traveling and Family Activities while in San Diego

• 1.5 hours before your flight might not enough at the airport anymore. My parents recently flew across the country (leaving from San Diego) and even with a 5:00am flight, they almost missed their plane getting there 90 minutes before the departure. Let me note, my dad is the most picky traveler you will ever meet (not that its a bad thing) but he doesn’t mess around. Leave yourself plenty of time at the airport. Hey, that’s what Twitter is for, right?

• Call the Marriott Marquis (where BlogHer is being held) because people are cancelling their reserved rooms and new blocks of rooms open up periodically. I’ve heard people say they couldn’t reserve a room and then a week later a different person was able to get a room at the Marriott. Just keep calling if you want to stay at the BlogHer hotel. If you don’t want to keep trying or get anxious like I do, there are plenty of other hotels close by with availability.

• If you’re traveling with small children/babies, call the hotel you are staying at to see if they have Pack N’ Plays or Porta-Cribs and reserve one! The last thing you want is to get to the hotel thinking you’ll have a pace for your baby to sleep and you don’t. Bring your own sheets though. I’ve seen some ratty crib sheets at nice hotels before…

• If you’re bringing your family, plan things for your husband and children (or whoever is coming along) so they can keep busy while you play and learn. Some of our favorite places in and around Downtown San Diego include:

The New Children’s Museum

The San Diego Zoo

Sea World

Seaport Village

Balboa Park

IMAX Dome (check back for the August schedule in a few weeks)

San Diego Junior Theatre has Hairspray- The Musical playing during BlogHer (ages 8+)

Corvette Diner is a family-friendly 50′s restaurant with burgers, fries, milk shakes, bubble gum, jukeboxes and straws in your hair. Yes, straws.

Padres Games- if you come early in the week, the Padres will be playing at home Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Some sites I’ve found that are packed full of information for BlogHer’11 (and some information on San Diego in general)

The San Diego MOMfia

San Diego Blog Conference

Fashionably Organized

Mom Spark Forums

and of course

BlogHer

Are you going? Leave me a note so we can meet up!