The license to travel is one of the best perks when I'm working overseas. It's a waste not to explore new places when you have a home base where you can recuperate or when you need to break the monotony of your life.

I recently had to make a work trip to San Diego, and I drove instead of taking a plane, as Los Angeles (LA) is about two hours away from San Diego by car, depending on traffic.

Road trips are a highlight in the United States (US). In Singapore, our road trips often take us through Johor Bahru, Malaysia. There aren't many options for driving around since Singapore is an island, and we typically take all our road trips to Malaysia.

However, in the US, road trips are great when you have the time to travel and don't mind driving for long hours. From LA, I drove to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and San Diego for family vacations, and those were comfortable experiences.

I have also realized that it is more convenient to have a car when you have a baby on board, as my wife has insisted on bringing a sterilizer and humidifier for our trips in the past. Those devices take up a lot of space, and it always feels like I'm moving homes with my son around.

For the upcoming Japan trip, thank goodness my son is old enough that a sterilizer isn't particularly necessary.

Rancho Bernardo Inn

I had to post about Rancho Bernardo Inn (RBI) during my recent stay to remind myself that I should bring friends and family there one day.

RBI is the most sought-after accommodation every time my colleagues had to travel to San Diego for a work trip. 

The place is beautiful, and it features a golf course for golf enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to play golf, so it's wasted on me. If you enjoy taking walks and embracing nature, then it's for you.
 
The view from my room is beautiful, but I had to remind myself to ensure I'm not exposed as folks who golf can look into my room.

The rooms are simple, roomy, and clean.

RBI is a great place to stay, but there aren't any designated activities for children outside of swimming pools. After work, my usual treat for the day is to sit by myself for dinner and to enjoy live music.

Breakfast is great at RBI. Here's my Eggs Benedict for reference.

If you are around the area, then RBI can be an excellent option for accommodation.

A Little Exploration At The Office

At the San Diego office, every time I report to work, I'm greeted by a giant piece of nostalgia.

No prizes for guessing where I work.
 
Every time I see racing game setups, I think about my son. The very first word he learned isn't "papa" or "mama," but "car"!

Benaiah likes to spin the wheel and would laugh as he plays with his favorite toy.

I wish time would freeze for moments when he laughs and smiles for something simple. It's a pity that toddlers grow up and out of their pure innocence.

Scavenger Hunt At La Jolla 

I don't have a habit of exploring during work trips because it was always happy hour after work. It's a time to build relationships and camaraderie with colleagues, and I would return to my hotel room feeling pretty tipsy and bloated from the food.

However, the leadership decided to enroll us in a scavenger hunt for team bonding!

La Jolla is a seaside neighborhood in San Diego, and the scenery at the ocean is breathtaking.

My photos aren't doing justice to the place. You have to be there to take in the beauty of La Jolla.

Through the scavenger hunt, I got to explore the walkable areas within the vicinity, and I will consider bringing my family here for a holiday!

The scavenger hunt was challenging and embarrassing. One of the challenges was to propose to a stranger. If they said "Yes," our team would receive 10 points. If not, it was one point.

We had to find a dating couple and ask if they would reveal how they met before they became an item. We had to dance in public and video-record it.

It felt like college all over again.

After the scavenger hunt, we went to Puesto at the Headquarters in the heart of San Diego's Seaport Village for a company dinner.

Seaport Village has lots to explore, but I was with my colleagues, and it was late in the evening. I'll revisit with my family when we have the chance.

Also, during my drive from La Jolla to Seaport Village, I passed by the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier. It is both a museum and a tourist attraction— another place to add to my checklist. 

Del Mar Plaza

After a workshop, my VP and some leaders were looking for dinner, and one of our colleagues brought us to Del Mar Plaza.

It's a beautiful place that's relatively near the ocean, and it looks cozy.

We went to II Fornaio Del Mar for our dinner.

I didn't whip out my camera and start taking pictures because I didn't want to look like a tourist in front of my director and VP. It's a great vibe there where everyone is chilling and enjoying the ambiance.

I have a ton of photos for today's post and highlights for myself so that I know where to bring my family the next time we visit San Diego. I spotted Mission Bay while I was driving, and I thought it was beautiful, too. There's too much to explore, and it would be great to bring my family for another visit again.