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Moab, Utah - Adventure Capital of the West

Family Fun Vacation Tips

By Mary Campbell - Macaroni Kid Lodi, CA October 22, 2020

There is no better time than now for outdoor adventure, and Moab, Utah is the perfect family fun destination for your next trip! 

The red rock playground that is Moab will make your feel like a kid again, as you explore the National Parks, find your way through canyon mazes, feel the beauty of the natural arches, and travel alongside the Colorado River.  There is no end to adventure in the Moab area, but here are just a few of our top suggestions!

Where to Stay: 

Springhill Suites Moab - with 2 stunning pools, 4 hot tubs, 8 waterfalls and a kid’s canyon splash pad, this is hands down the most family friendly hotel in town.  After a day full of adventure, we couldn’t wait to get back for a dip in the pool.  

The rooms are spacious and perfect for our family of 4, with a complimentary hot buffet breakfast daily and high speed internet, it checked off every box of what I look for in a hotel for family vacation.  

This hotel is also located on the Colorado River, and is the closest hotel to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.  


Things to do:

While there is no shortage of outdoor activity in Moab, here are our top 5 activities: 


  1. Canyoneering - not for the faint of heart, but worth every second of the views!  Hiking across sand dunes and over rock wash, we found ourself at a chasm where we faced our fears and rappelled to the bottom of the small stone room.  Working our way through the canyon we emerged to find ourselves at an enormous natural stone bridge, which was our second rappel spot.  The guides were amazingly experienced and fantastic working with kids (and adults) who have a few jitters about scaling a rock wall.  Moab Adventure Company receives a 5 star review from our family! 


  1. Hummer Tour - imagine if the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland came to life… that is what you’ll experience on the Hummer Tour with Moab Adventure Center.  We were climbing up over rocks and hills that I didn’t think was possible in a vehicle.  Our guide, Craig, made the trip even more adventurous with his fun narration and comedic comments.  We laughed until we cried.  My kids have told everyone about this adventure that asks about their trip to Moab.  Another bonus was that Craig was an excellent photographer and took so beautiful photos of our family (Christmas card photo is now checked off my to-do list).  



  1. White Water Rafting - The Colorado River runs right through Moab and provides water adventure the whole family can enjoy.  We participated in a half-day rafting trip with Mild 2 Wild Rafiting and took in the picturesque scenery of the red rock canyons and soaring stone towers while we navigated through a few rapids and tried to stay in the boat (and stay dry!).  The water levels are different throughout the year, so be sure to inquire about how strong the rapids are depending on your desired level of adventure.  


  1. National Parks - Moab is home to two National Parks, nestled between the red rock wonders of Arches National Park and the incredible sandstone landscapes of Canyonlands National Park.  We purchased an Annual Pass for all the National Parks ($80), but if you have a 4th Grader, check out the Every Kid in a Park program to claim your free pass.  We spent 2 half days exploring Arches, and our favorite family hike was the Sand Dunes Arch… where the kids had plenty of rocks to climb and the canyon was full of soft sand to play in.  


  1. Dead Horse Canyon State Park - Many locals told us that this was the place for the best sunset view!  Dead Horse Point stands 2,000 feet above the Colorado River with immense vertical cliffs.  The sunset here painted gorgeous colors in the sky and across the canyon walls.  The photos we took are definitely frame worthy! 


Plan your next family trip to Moab and find your family fun in the "Adventure Capital of the West"!


Macaroni Kid Lodi was hosted for these activities, but as always the experiences and recommendations are 100% my own.