After three years together, QALO's graphic designer, Jair Vera, and his wife, Sophia, decided to embrace adventure and hit the open road to celebrate. A spendy vacation was out of the question; the couple was aggressively saving up for a trip to the Faroe Islands. With so many amazing things to see within a few hour radii from their California home, a road trip felt like a perfect idea. The trip was a whirlwind. Just eight days to see it all. The couple made a plan, set a route, and wound up taking in all five national parks in Utah and a few others along the way. Where all did they go? The breakdown of their Ultimate Southwest Trip included:Neon Museum, Las Vegas NVValley of Fire State Park, NV - Atlatl Rock (Petroglyphs)Zion National Park, UT- Canyon Overlook TrailBryce Canyon National Park, UT- Navajo Loop TrailCapitol Reef National Park, UT- Capitol Gorge RoadGoblin Valley State Park, UTArches National Park, UT- Turret Arch- The Windows- Double ArchCanyon Lands National Park, UTMonument Valley, AZ- Scenic Loop Drive- Forrest Gump PointGoosenecks State Park, UTAntelope Canyon, AZHorseshoe Bend, AZ For Vera, the sense of freedom that comes along with adventure is what makes it worth doing. “It’s important to break out of the daily routine and visit new places, places that took thousands and thousands of years to be carved out by the elements,” Vera said, “Places that have existed long before we were here and will hopefully remain the way they are long after we’re gone. And here we were standing on the outer rim of a canyon that spans for miles, looking over it as the sun sets on the horizon. It’s nothing short of magical.” That doesn’t mean that the trip went off without a hitch, however! Since the couple went in the off-season, the majority of cafes, businesses, offices, and visitor centers were closed for the season. The few campsites that were still open were completely booked up also. But all of that is solved with an adventurous spirit. The biggest obstacle, according to Vera, was actually time. The start of the trip was the same weekend that Daylight Savings went into effect. That made it a constant race against the sun to get to all of the sites. The couple says that there was no time to detour and explore; the strict schedule had to be maintained if there was to be any chance at completing the entire trip route. So, out of that epic journey, what was the one standout moment? Jair says it was a two-night stay in Monument Valley. “We stayed in a cozy little cabin facing the “West & East Mitten Buttes,” He explains, “Waking up to them just a few hundred yards out our window was quite breathtaking.” Of course, spending their three-year anniversary in such beautiful, magnificent places was incredible for the couple. Somewhere along the dirt roads, they realized that they didn’t need luxury hotels or expensive entertainment to have fun and enjoy life. They also made a lot of new friends. “We came across so many other couples while hiking who were wearing silicone rings. I’d ask anyone I noticed wearing one, ‘Is that a QALO ring?’ and we’d strike up a conversation. I let them know I worked for QALO, they would all immediately start going on about how much they love their rings. It was truly amazing how such a small item connects so many people who are looking to explore the outdoors with their significant other just like my wife and I were doing. At QALO, we’re not saving lives, but we are making products that carry large significance to those who are married or have families.” When asked what advice that they’d give to others considering such an aggressive road trip, Vera says it’s best to plan well in advance! “The trip is very doable if you plan accordingly. And if things don’t go entirely your way due to time or unforeseen circumstances, don’t sweat it. All the more reason to make another trip and visit all the locations that you missed!”