Top 5 Tips for Exploring Moab, Utah
“Glamping” at Under Canvas
“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”
Ellie & Kevin standing in front of our luxury glamping quarters at Under Canvas in Moab, UT
Moab, Utah is one of the most beautiful places we’ve visited in the United States. Home to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands, the distinctive red rock landscapes create a magnificent backdrop for exploring the friendly small resort town as well as the parks. Delicious food and southwestern souvenirs are abundant in the downtown business district where you can also find microbreweries, shops, and jewelry stores.
After leaving the home of our friends in Denver, we set a course for our next destination in Moab, Utah. We followed the Colorado River for much of our drive and our view of the Rocky Mountains was stunning. We continued until the landscape changed from mountains to mesas and canyons. Sophie said it best when she exclaimed “I like that God made the world so pretty.”
Under Canvas, Moab
While researching and planning the route for our “Big Trip,” Kevin discovered a place called Under Canvas that offered unique accommodations. The campground was located right down the street from the entrance to Arches National Park which was one of our must-see locations. He booked a reservation here to surprise the girls. The main, deluxe tent featured a king-sized bed, plenty of blankets and towels, and even a functioning bathroom, complete with a pull cord shower. Right next door was a very sturdy teepee with three comfy sleeping cots, one for each of the girls. It was a truly uncommon place to sleep!
Click on photo to enlarge and see descriptions.
We arrived in Moab around 5pm and quickly checked in before going in search of dinner and some groceries. Moab Diner provided us all with a delicious and filling meal. Watching all of the desserts come out for other guests made us wish that we were spending more time in Moab so we could come back and indulge.
We were welcomed back to our campsite by a rainbow that made the setting sun and surrounding landscape even more remarkable. Several tiny rabbits were hopping around as we explored the campground and it was fun to watch them as we took in the beauty of our home for the night. We were delighted to learn that Under Canvas has a campfire each evening where they supplied all the ingredients and tools for s’mores. The girls had such fun roasting marshmallows and eating the sticky treats.
Sunset at Under Canvas in Moab, Utah
Sunrise in Moab
We woke at 5:30am to watch the sunrise over the desert in Moab. Most of us are not morning people (at least not until after our first cup of coffee) but we didn’t want to waste our only morning in Moab by sleeping in. Sophie stayed sound asleep in her tepee while the rest of us dutifully checked our shoes for scorpions before heading outside to view the beautiful show that nature had in store for us. I’m so thankful that we set our alarms early enough to take in that sight!
Rachel, Colleen, & Kevin enjoying the early morning sunrise over Moab
Arches National Park
After sunrise, we packed up our van, filled up with some complimentary coffee provided in the main tent, and drove the short distance to Arches National Park. We snacked on Pop Tarts along the way so we could beat the crowds. We arrived at the park around 7:30am, ready to explore and see some of the park’s most famous arches.
We spent about 2 hours in the park getting out at Balancing Rock to walk and take pictures. We chuckled about how eager each of the girls was to capture a photo on their own devices. They were all in awe of the beautiful landscape. This trip was the first time that any of our three girls had been west of the Mississippi River so the types of topography that they were now witnessing were completely new and mysterious to them.
Our next stop was at Delicate Arch. This is the most famous arch in the park and is featured on the Utah license plate and much of the tourism literature for the state. We decided not to hike all the way to the Delicate Arch as we knew Sophie wouldn’t do very well. Instead, we took a moderate hike to get a better view and spent some time marveling at nature. After our hike, we returned to our car and set off for our next stop.
Hole N” the Rock
After leaving the park, we began to make our way out of town, but not before stopping at a place called Hole N” the Rock. It was a tourist trap that Kevin had found during his route planning. Before leaving on the “Big Trip,” Kevin had asked each of us to list 3 things we wanted to see or do on our travels. We all thought he was being silly when one of his three was to see a two-humped camel. When we entered the small zoo at Hole N” the Rock and Kevin “found” his two-humped camel, we suddenly felt like we’d been “played.” Despite the heavy touristy vibe, we thought that Hole N” the Rock was a lot of fun. In addition to the camel, we saw several other animals including a smiling pot-bellied pig and a couple of spitting alpacas, which the girls fittingly nicknamed “spit-spits.” There was also a BigFoot sighting!
After a stop for a proper (2nd) breakfast, we were on the road to the next destination on our “Big Trip.” Our route took us past Canyonlands, Devil’s Canyon National Forest, and Monument Valley. The scenery was spectacular for much of the drive.
Top 5 Tips for Exploring Moab, Utah
Spend at least one night at Under Canvas and enjoy a truly uncommon experience. We LOVED our night at Under Canvas and immediately started researching their other locations around the country with plans to book another stay in the future.
Have a meal at Moab Diner and either save room for dessert or come back just for a sweet treat! We had dinner at this wonderful diner and had a really hard time choosing just one meal each from their menu. We found our heads were on a swivel watching what was being delivered to other customers and wishing we could try them all.
Spend some time wandering around the quaint town of Moab and its shops, galleries, and local artisans’ treasures. There are so many artists who capture the beauty of this area by using the gems and colors found here in jewelry and on canvas.
Take time to fully enjoy the beauty. This location practically paints itself with its unique landscape so be sure to leave some downtime to unplug and just enjoy the nature and views around you. There’s nothing quite like the colorful sky of a desert sunrise or sunset - don’t miss out!
Arrive early at Arches to start your day in the park and beat the crowds (and the heat). National Parks around the US can be super crowded so it’s always nice to have an opportunity when there are fewer people to get out, walk around, and take some pictures that don’t include random strangers. Also, keep in mind that Arches is in a desert so, depending on the time of year you’re visiting, temperatures can soar. In fact, the average high in July is 100 degrees. Yikes! (Visit the National Park Service’s Arches webpage for the most up-to-date entry requirements for Arches National Park.)
Bonus Tip: Give your kids a camera to capture nature from their own perspective. Whether it’s their own tablet or phone, your camera or phone, or even just a cheap disposable camera, you’d be amazed by what kids, of all ages, can capture. Allowing them the opportunity to be creative helps turn an experience where they could be bored into a fun adventure. It also helps them to feel a sense of accomplishment and they’ll be so proud to share what they’ve photographed with you.
Panoramic view of the Moab Desert at Under Canvas
Utah was one of our favorite states on our journey across the country. We definitely want to return and explore much more. Have you been to any of the locations from today’s post? Have you ever dreamed of “glamping” in the desert? We highly recommend this location of Under Canvas and hope to try some of their other locations in the future. Tell us about the most uncommon place you’ve stayed while having your own Uncommon Family Adventures!
