Moab and Arches National Park Family Vacations

Moab, Utah, is an ideal destination for families who love playing in the outdoors. Its stunning natural landscapes - from towering red-rock towers to terracotta arches to snow-capped mountains that have evolved over millions of years - beckons mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders and wildlife viewers. Because Moab sits in the east-central section of the state just south of the Colorado River, there are plenty of opportunities for adventures on the water, too, such as wild whitewater rafting trips or mellow float rides.

Because the colors and scenery are so striking in Moab's desert environment, Hollywood has long filmed movies in the area, from the 1950 western Rio Grande, starring John Wayne, to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and City Slickers II.

Moab's permanent population is only about 5,000, but that number swells with visitors, especially in the spring, summer and fall. If out-of-towners don't come for the world-renowned mountain biking on Slickrock Bike Trail, they're touring Arches National Park, just five miles from town and filled with more than 2,000 catalogued arches (natural arches must be three feet across). Moab also makes a great home base for exploring nearby Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.