If you didn't already know... I'm in San Jose, California this week attending a Search Engine Strategies (SES) conference. I flew in on Saturday afternoon with fellow All Webbers Michael and Jessica, and will be here until Friday. For those of you not aware, SES is a week-long event (Monday - Thursday) with several different kinds of search-related sessions, as well as a 2-day exhibit hall where attendees can visit with search-marketing vendors.

After getting settled in yesterday, we decided to take in some sight-seeing and putt around the San Jose / San Francisco area (we did have a 1 1/2 days before the conference).

Saturday afternoon, we visited the "Winchester Mansion and Mystery House" in San Jose. If you never been there, I'll spare you the long background story. The mansion was designed by a wealthy widow named Sarah L. Winchester and features 160 Victorian era rooms, 3 elevators, and 47 fireplaces. We took one of their hour tours, and to be perfectly honest, I had a very good time. Every room has a story to tell, and every story was uniquely odd from the next.

Michael and Jessica at the entrance to the Winchester Mansion.

Sunday we decided to saddle-up and head north to San Francisco where we spent most of the day taking in the sights at Fisherman's Wharf, however, we came prepared to tour the Alcatraz Island... formerly a federal prison. We took the self-guided/audio tour which explained, via a tape recording, the many different areas of the prison as well as the many stories that go along with them. The overall experience, from the boat ride in to the tour itself, was great and one I would definately recommend to those visiting the San-Fran area.

Me inside one of the prison cells at Alcatraz.

Well that's if for now. I will be attending many sessions, the exhibit hall, and several after-conference events, including the annual Google Dance, a SEMPO gathering, and a trip to Yahoo! headquarters to visit with our Yahoo! Store reps. With that in mind, I will do my best to provide daily coverage of the events that take place here as well as any major news and announcements associated with this conference. So... stay tuned!

Oh, and if you're attending the conference this week and should happen to see me walking around make sure you stop me and say "hi". I'll do the same.