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Springtime is a pleasant reminder that summer is soon arriving, and that winter is finally leaving! It seems as if all the animals, plants, and trees take part in the celebration by putting on their most gorgeous colors, dressing in their finest frocks.
Moab, Utah is the perfect place for the family to experience that springtime with a healthy mix of enchantment and outdoor adventure while relishing full days of all that nature gives.
Spring is also a wonderful time for the whole family to discover the most popular outdoor destinations while they are still crowd-free and enjoy the season’s temperate climate.
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Downtown Moab
One of Utah’s best places to visit is the small town of Moab which has just over 5,000 permanent residents. A great place to start your family adventure is the Main Street of downtown Moab. Begin at the visitor’s center and check out their amazing 4K theater for an introductory experience designed to orient you to the high desert.
Before you set out on your outdoor adventure, take the time to roam through the Moab area checking out its various eclectic stores, eateries, outdoor retailers, food trucks, museums, and other great places.
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Whether you are planning an extended trip or just have a few days in the Beehive State, there are plenty of fun things to fill your itinerary from rock climbing, mountain biking, a short hike on kid-friendly trails, river rafting, retracing prehistoric dinosaur tracks, adventuring over various road trails, and so much more.
National Parks Around Moab
Like most travelers to this popular spot, it was the world-famous sandstone landscape that initially attracted our family to the area. If you go during spring, your family can enjoy an entire day of adventure without restricting your outside time to only the late afternoon of summer’s incredibly hot days.
Arches National Park Iconic Sandstone Formations.// Photo by SoloTravelGoals on Unsplash
We knew that visiting the Arches National Park would be a definitive mark of a well done vacation. The spectacular scenery of the dramatic sandstone displays that fill Moab’s backyard are unforgettable.
A great day trip, that starts with a scenic drive just 32 miles southwest of Moab, is to Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands NP includes over 320,000 acres of majestic landscape displaying the raw power that gravity plays on Utah’s Green River and the Colorado River in the high desert.
Best Moab Attractions
With the season’s warm weather, you could easily spend a week in either of Moab’s national parks and not see everything – that’s why planning your trip ahead of time is critical to ensure you make it to the most unforgettable sights.
For instance, how could you be so close and not see Dead Horse Point State Park, located just 32 miles away? This breathtaking panorama was the spot where legendary cowboys of the west corralled wild mustangs in the 1800s. Be sure to check out the Best Places to Visit in Utah for more information about this!
Additionally, you can spend a weekend glamping near Moab! This activity is fun for all ages, especially kids!
The Mighty Colorado River as it Bends Around Dead Horse Point, Utah.// Photo by Michael Hart on Unsplash
Wet Fun For All
Your kids will love the Moab Recreation & Aquatic Center, complete with indoor and outdoor pools for a great way to cool off and relax after an active day. One of the best times we had was splashing through the streams and falls at Mill Creek which offers fantastic views of the surrounding canyons.
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Dinosaurs, Rivers, and Fun Shows
When your kids have had enough of sandstone, pack in some Mesozoic Era fun at Moab Giants along a ½ mile trail that features over 100 life-size replicas of the dinosaurs that once inhabited the desert landscape. Then go rafting down the Colorado River, discover ancient petroglyphs, and close the evening with family fun at Moab’s Backyard Theater, a unique family-friendly outdoor theater with weekly music and magic shows.
Starry Skies of Moab, Utah.// Photo by Tom Gainor on Unsplash
Moab Skies
The one thing my two Buzz lightyears are always excited to talk about when we remember this family trip is the whimsical night skies I hope they never forget. Families can stargaze on their own but I recommend contacting the National Park Service for information regarding one of their many Ranger-led stargazing events before leaving this amazing place.
Photo-Fit Adventure
Your step tracking devices will be ready to explode by the time this trip is over – mostly because you will only be able to reproduce those magazine-worthy pictures if you are willing to put in the walking miles to reach some of the most photogenic backdrops like the infamous Delicate Arch.
Off-roading Madness in a UTV across Moab’s canyons.// Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
Hell’s Revenge offers (families) an exhilarating 4×4 tour from Moab across some seriously wild trails. As you venture higher into the desert, your family will be treated to outstanding views of Negro Bill Canyon, Abyss Canyon, La Sal Mountains, and the mighty Colorado River. It’s one of the best things you’ll do!
To get discounts on tours in the area, try Viator which offers 51% off last-minute tours (and great deals on advanced ones too).
When You Go
Getting To Moab From Los Angeles
United and Delta offer connecting flights to Moab (CNY) from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). If you fly United, you’d stop in Denver and if you fly Delta, Salt Lake City would be your layover airport.
An excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia!
Otherwise, it’s about an 11-hour drive if you take the I-15 N and I-70 E or 12 hours if you take the I-40 E. Your family can overnight in Las Vegas with the first option and Flagstaff, AZ, with the second.
If you are planning on driving to Utah, this Utah road trip guide will allow you to have a smooth ride down!
Where To Stay: Moab RV Parks, Moab Campgrounds, and A Hotel
For our family vacation, we agreed beforehand that one of the best things we could do to experience Utah’s scenic and dramatic landscape would be to camp out under the stars. We wanted to stay in a Moab RV park so we used VRBO to score a trailer for a great nightly price.
Our two young kids loved having the loft to themselves, or maybe it was just the fact they could go up and down the retractable ladder about a million times throughout our trip.
Upper Big Bend Campground, Utah.// Photo by Ben Duchac on Unsplash
If vacationing on a budget is a priority, camping out at the ‘tent only’ Up The Creek Campground or reserving a spot at any of the scenic campsites operated by the Bureau of Land Management are great options. The tent, RV or cabin-friendly Moab KOA Holiday Kampground gives visitors the campground experience in a semi-resort setting. Or, if camping is a little much but you still want that outdoor dream, consider a unique glamping option like UnderCanvas.
Vegan Foods in Moab
After a full day of trekking and helping your kids fill out their Junior Ranger Booklet, everyone will be more than ready for a nice warm meal. If you decide to cook your own food fireside, then you’ll want to take a short drive to the Moonflower Cooperative Market. Here, you can stock up on fresh produce, bulk items, kitchen and cleaning essentials, and a nice warm tea from their deli department.
Delicious Lentil and Chickpea Tacos.// Photo by Shannon Nickerson on Unsplash
Our family has been running on vegan fuel since just before the birth of our eldest son. We believe embracing this lifestyle has kept us strong and healthy whether we are homeschooling, chasing our wild ones, or making memories on the trails.
There is such an eclectic mix of food options in the Moab area. We found several restaurants that lovingly catered to vegan visitors. So, for our two treat meals, my boys loved the cool vibes at Moab Kitchen while enjoying a plate of seasonal plant-based goodness. Just a few minutes away, the falafel pitas at the Sultan Mediterranean Grill were also an instant hit. And since we lived in Thailand once upon a time, we headed on over to Singha Thai for our favorite dessert – mango sticky rice – umm umm, good.
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