For the past three years I’ve had the honor of serving on the Global Influencer Advisory Board for Visit California where we meet yearly to go over trends happening in the travel space. Our adventures are like no other, and let me tell you the level of play each and everyone brings to these trips are absolutely priceless.
Where To Stay
The hub for my trip was the beautiful Lodge at Torrey Pines. This beautiful resort exudes classic craftsman charm and overlooks the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course and the majestic Pacific Ocean. The grounds and architecture immediately caught my eye when I arrived, and the interior was just as impressive! Its charming design and decor are both welcoming and luxurious, promising a relaxing stay from the moment I stepped into the lobby. They have a beautiful view of the La Jolla Shores beach for sunny days. With top attractions like the golf course, it’s a popular place to stay int he coastal city. A children’s pool beach is always something I look for in a stay with my family.
After check-in we headed down to Torrey Pines State Beach for a sunset welcome meeting. Pop Up Picnic Co set up a beautiful scene and lots of appetizers, so it was an hour of snacking and laughing. And let me just say we wound up catching the best sunset too!
That afternoon after a full morning of meetings, we headed to the WNDR Museum. This interactive museum is more of an experience than a classic museum. It’s a multi-sensory dive into the arts and technology. While there, we could fully engage with the artworks and multi-sensory installations. They were created by the cutting-edge artists, collectives, technologists, designers, and makers who contribute to the museum and its experience. The museum believes that everyone is an artist – even its visitors. That approach really showed through while we were there.
After dinner, we headed to The Gutter, Lafayette Hotel’s iconic game room featuring classic, two-lane bowling inspired by Henry Frick’s personal bowling alley at the base of the Frick Museum. We bowled a few frames, had a few more drinks, laughed too much, and generally had an amazing time.
The next day was our last, and we made sure to make it count as much as the previous two days. We headed out early to the San Diego Zoo for an exclusive experience. I was incredibly excited because I love zoos and the work that the San Diego Zoo, in particular, does for wildlife. They’re an international, nonprofit conservation organization that integrates wildlife health and care, science, and education into their zoo to help educate the public and develop sustainable conservation solutions to our world’s problems.
After our zoo experience, we headed to San Diego Speedboat Adventure to get our blood pumping. The cruise took us zipping along the coastline in a speedboat. It combines speed and beautiful views to create a unique boat tour experience. Between bouts of speeding along the coast, we saw seals, other wildlife, and views of the Maritime Museum, Seaport Village, and the downtown skyline.
After our tour, we headed to the iconic Mediterranean restaurant Callie for a cocktail reception and dinner. While there, we enjoyed amazing cocktails and cuisine that combines the many flavors of the Mediterranean, from Italy to the Middle East, into interesting and delicious dishes. I’ve never had anything like it.
Finally, we ended the day at the beautiful Raised by Wolves cocktail bar. Walking into this speakeasy with a hidden door is like walking into the past. Old-world decor and golden, shining oak are in full view no matter where you look, and the entire vibe is one that feels so warm and welcoming. We enjoyed a few cocktails. Soaking up the vibe and the conversation before heading back to the resort for our final night. As I lay in bed, I was fully aware that the next morning, I’d be heading home. I departed the next day, and although the trip is over, I’m already making plans for another as soon as possible.
