Set Your Sights on San Diego: Register Now for the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

View of downtown San Diego from Point Loma.

This year’s ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Nov. 3–8, promises more than 450 educational sessions, presented by leading rheumatology experts; professional development; networking opportunities; and much more.

Registration for the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting is now open. Come join the ACR and other rheumatology professionals at the world’s premier rheumatology meeting. Take advantage of early bird registration by Aug. 16. To learn more and register, visit the ACR website.

Consider arriving early or staying a few days after the event. With San Diego as this year’s meeting location, you’ll want extra time to take in some of the sights in this sunny city.

“There are many reasons why San Diego is consistently rated one of the top destinations in North America,” says Candice Eley, director of communications, San Diego Tourism Authority. The county’s 70 miles of breathtaking beaches contribute a lot to San Diego’s laid-back warm and inviting atmosphere.

For attendees staying downtown, walking may be the easiest way to sightsee, but San Diego also has a trolley and other public transportation options. To learn the ins and outs of getting around the city, visit the San Diego Public Transportation website.

5th Street in the Gaslamp Quarter

The Annual Meeting will be held at the San Diego Convention Center, making it easy for attendees to walk to the nearby historic Gaslamp Quarter for a bite to eat, with a variety of dining options, including American, Chinese, Brazilian, Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, Spanish and Mexican. Attendees are also near Seaport Village, which features unique shops, a plethora of restaurants and a view of San Diego Bay and Coronado Island.

Also on the waterfront is the USS Midway Museum. Visitors can explore one of America’s largest and longest-serving aircraft carriers.

Balboa Park, just north of downtown, is home to 17 museums and performing arts venues, gardens, an artist’s village and fine dining. Attendees can download the park’s mobile app to ensure they don’t miss a thing.

Next to Balboa Park is the San Diego Zoo, which offers new attractions for attendees who have visited before. Scheduled to open this summer is an eight-acre exhibit called Africa Rocks. The $68 million project features new habitats for African plants and animals. A pathway winds through a West African forest, acacia woodlands, Ethiopian highlands, kopje gardens and a Madagascar habitat. Always popular are the giant pandas, koalas and elephants. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido offers a unique chance to see wild animals in a more natural habitat (package deals are available).