Moab is one of those magical places where wonder and beauty await you around every corner. The desert landscape with rust red rock formations towering over endless canyons is so beyond anything I experienced whilst growing up in New England. I don’t think I’ll ever grow bored of the view.
Every time Liam and I explore Moab’s vibrant community, we leave with treasured memories of wilderness excitement. You can read about our Moab-pandemic-adventures while “stuck” in Utah, or about my Birthday Road Trip through Southern Utah’s National Parks in my previous articles.
This trip to Southern Utah was different, more special, because we could share the awe-inspiring scenery with our families.
Both my mother and Liam’s father individually flew out to visit their children in Salt Lake City with Arches National Park-themed intentions. Each parent with their own hobbies and interests, each their own custom-planned Moab vacation. A weekend full of personalized-fun to share with our parents how deeply in love we’ve fallen with Utah.
So we set out, two weekends in a row, on the 4-hour drive to Moab. Starbucks in hand, there was no amounts of radio static or missed turns could deter us from our goal. Once arriving downtown around 10am, we stopped for delectable breakfast sandwiches from Sweet Cravings Bakery & Bistro. Iced vanilla chai lattes and bagels stuffed with eggs, bacon and cheese refueled our energy levels for a long weekend of expeditions.
With my mother, we brought my dog along for a 3-mile hike to Corona Arch on the outskirts of Moab. Most popular for it being a dog-friendly trail, this 2-hour hike is a casual stroll through desert canyons and red rock pillars. Perfect for any age, the “moderately strenuous” footpath has both cables and ladders to assist with elevation throughout the sandy route. Corona Arch is not a part of Arches National Park, so it is free to enjoy by people and paws alike.
Downtown shopping for t-shirts & souvenirs brought us to the main strip of Moab, an artsy avenue with unique gifts in every window. Lunch at the food truck fields had us contemplating between Mexican, Chinese, chicken fingers, or smoothies…. Too many options!
With Liam’s father, we booked a 3-hour UTV tour of Moab’s backcountry through Ultimate UTV Adventures. The steep, bumpy off-road trail titled ‘Hell’s Revenge’ kept us on our toes the entire drive! Our group separated into two cars for the tour, myself and Liam in one, Mr. Shanahan & his friend in the other. Liam drove the first half, I the second, both of us whipping and drifting around sandy corners. This tour is definitely not for those with a fear of heights! Driving up and down precipitous cliffs got a bit unnerving at times, but we aren’t the type to back down from a challenge.
Both parties wanted to at least drive through Arches National Park, if only to check it off a bucket list. Along the 22-mile drive, we stopped to view North & South Window Arch, Balanced Rock and Sand Dune Arch. No significant hikes during this park tour, only sightseeing.
For dinner, both parties chose burgers and watermelon margaritas at Zax Restaurant on Main St. We spent our night relaxing on the outdoor patio watching the sun go down over the surrounding canyons before heading back to our Airbnb, a tiny house! Liam found the cutest little tiny house for us to stay in for the night, large enough to sleep 6 people.
If you have any follow up questions about Utah, Moab, or the Arches, please email me at hello@alostblonde.com
♡ Abigail Reagan
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