I love living in California. Growing up on the East Coast, LA was never my dream—NYC was—and I happily lived there for over eight years. Then my Saturn Return hit me hard and I needed a very drastic change, and that drastic change was LA. Best. Decision. Ever. While there are a ton of things to explore all over the world, California has a wildness to it that is difficult to match. Drive two hours north, and you’re enjoying oysters on a rocky coast with an ocean view. Drive two hours east, and you’re in the middle of the desert. That’s what makes California so special—there are so many different climates and terrain to explore—when you’re looking for a getaway, you don’t even need to leave the state. Just hop in your car and go.
I love to travel and when I’m trying to save money for something, it’s often for a trip. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a stop to that. I had a 3-month trip to South Asia planned that had to be cancelled due to the lockdown. At first, I was beyond devastated, but then I realized “hey, you’re new to LA and you haven’t even begun to explore California yet.” That’s when I wiped the tears and started day tripping all over the place—Palm Springs, Ojai, Joshua Tree, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, and Solvang are the places I have been so far—some more than once. Those are the places that are over two hours away, but LA has a plethora of day trip spots that are an hour away or less—such as Vasquez rocks. A popular photoshoot and filming location in the desert about 40 minutes north of Los Angeles (it’s actually where some of the first Star Trek episodes were filmed🖖). Due to the short distance, it’s a perfect day trip from LA.
Regardless of the distance, when I travel, I don’t like having a bunch of stuff on me. In fact, I don’t really like even having a bag with me. I like feeling free and I like not having to worry about leaving my valuables somewhere by accident. That’s why I’m obsessed with my new fanny pack from Ayla & Co. Most fanny packs on the market today are tiny and can only fit a phone and some cash. The Ayla & Co. fanny pack is on the larger side, so it’s able to fit a plethora of things without feeling too heavy on your waist or back. You’re also able to wear it two different ways—around your waist like a traditional fanny pack, or across your body like a sling bag (like I’m doing below).
I of course had to bring it along on my day trip to Vasquez Rocks. My dad was visiting from the East Coast and I knew I had to take him there since he’s a Star Trek fan. All I needed to bring with me was my phone, some cash, sunscreen, lip gloss, and sunglasses—all which fit perfectly in my fanny pack (with room to spare!). I was able to roam the beautiful park with my family with my hands free knowing all my items were safe.
After enjoying Vasquez Rocks for about an hour, we drove to nearest town for an early dinner. It was the perfect day trip from LA and I highly recommend it. Now that I have my Ayla & Co. fanny pack, I’ll be using it every time I travel. I’m in the process of planning a trip to Italy in the Fall and I can’t wait to bring it with me.
If you’re looking for a travel friendly bag that will allow you to remain hands-free, look no further than Ayla & Co.
What items do you always have to have with you when you travel?
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*Ayla & Co. provided their product for review, but as always, opinions are my own.
