This week I took a whirlwind business trip to San Diego to attend a board meeting. I flew out of DCA around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning arriving in California just after noon pacific coast time knowing that my departure flight back home would take off in just 24 hours. If I was going to fly more than 10 hours in two days, I was definitely going to make the most of my time on the west coast.

I stayed at the beautiful Hilton Bayfront Hotel right on the water. My room had a comfy king-size bed, a nice flat screen TV and a beautiful view. I’d scoped out a Mexican restaurant on Yelp near my hotel before making the trip, and made that my first stop after dropping my bags in my room. Lolita’s began as a mom and pop shop in the 80s and now has about 5 locations in California including the one I went to right next to Petco Park. After just a couple minute walk from my hotel I was enjoying a delicious chicken burrito and an enormous plate of chips and guac.

I still had a few hours before my meeting and would have loved to take advantage of the sunny, 60-degree weather to go for a run along the water, but seeing as running is still off limits I hit the fitness center to use the elliptical instead. The fitness center was great – very well equipped with plenty of cardio machines that all had individual TVs and a view of the pool and the bay if you preferred that instead.

After the board meeting I flew out to attend wrapped up at 7 p.m., I was running on fumes since I’d been awake since 3 a.m. local time. My supervisor and I swung by a reception for a quick drink and some hors d’ouerves before heading to one of the hotel restaurants for some burgers.

I took advantage of waking up super early Thursday morning by lounging around, enjoying a Starbucks breakfast and going for a quick walk along the water. It was a gray and rainy day, but I was in California with just a few more hours to spare so I was going swimming. I did laps in the hotel pool overlooking the bay and soaked in the hot tub before hustling back to my room to shower, pack and head home. And just like that I was back to D.C., 40-degree temps and a regular Friday.