The first thing you will realize about Moab is laid back people. People there drive @ 20 mph on a 40mph street. You would also realize it's a very hot desert and touches 90's consistently in summer. I was told by locals that April is the best time to visit Utah.
Here is my list of to-do suggestions for the outdoor-enthusiasts and fun-loving people. Before you read my suggestions, I have a confession to make. I don't enjoy hiking much and I am not one of the people who goes to places just to take pictures. When I suggest visiting a place, it should have been really spectacular.
- Mountain biking
Moab is considered to be the mecca of mountain biking in westeren United states. I have no idea which place it's in the east. Moab is home to world-famous slickrock trail . Moab has trials for all skill levels. We hired a guide and biked in a intermediate skill-level trail close to arches national park. Most of the biking traits came naturally for me as I biked a lot when i was a kid. There were cases when I needed expert guidance. On the trail, we got to see dinosaur tracks as well as remnants of old Indian civilization. We witnessed a breed of tall rabbits as well.
- Rock-Climbing
Moab offers rock-climbing for all skill levels. Talk to Dave from "Canyoneering, rock-climbing and repelling". You don't have to be very fit, but you will need muscle in the legs. This was my first time rock climbing. I ended up shouting "blair" a lot of times.
Collect Dinosaur fossils / See Dinosaur tracks
Here is something I didn't expect when i planned my visit to Moab. On one of the biking trails, we got to witness dinosaur footprints. This is the same trail we mountain-biked on. It's worth hiking to this spot just to see the tracks. The guide had a theory on how the tracks got preserved for millions of years. The whole plateau went below the sea level and sand deposited on it. When the place came back up, the sand solidified preserving the tracks. You will have to see it to believe it.
There is a shop in Moab, where they give away dinosaur fossils!!!!!!!!!!! I ended up collecting some free bones and also bought tusk of an elephant which roamed Utah 15000 years ego. The owner of the shop is supposedly a well-known geologist. We were told that a dinosaur species was named after him!
- Hike in Arches national park
Visit the national park very early in the morning. You got to be there before sun is up. Hike to delicate arch (or) double-o-arch. The yellow dispersed sun-light in the morning makes the arches even more beautiful. Don't forget your SLR. The hikes are not very strenuous, even the weak hearts can hike these hills. The HULK was here!
- Visit Canyonlands national park
Well, did i contradict myself? Didn't I say i never enjoy just visiting places and taking pictures? This place is exceptionally spectacular. I have been to Grand canyon, but I could never understand how people appreciate them so much!! But, here are the canyons, which have been preserved for millions of years and you get a feel of how a place looks like when it comes right up from ocean. This area is still rising every year.
- Rafting
Don't raft in muddy Colorado river. Go rafting in XXX river
- Canyoneering / Repelling
For those who don't have courage or energy for rock climbing should at least try canyoneering. Well, this is no fun if you have rock-climbed before.
- Get fooled and dazzled by La-sal mountains
The mountains look snow-capped, especially in the evening. They were named by a Spanish explorer as "la-sal" meaning 'mountain of salt' in Spanish because he didn't believe there could be snow in this hot place. The dazzling part about these mountains is that depending on weather and time of day, they look to be covered in snow and the sight keeps changing!
Little things worth noting
- Check out Mexican restaurant on the main street
- Check out trees that survived since dinosaur age
- Visit Navajo Indian reservation
I have been itching to go back to Moab. If i had only one day left to live, i would mountain bike all day and eat lamb biryani for dinner!
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