Every year in May, I visit a different region of my own country. In the past several years, my Springtime travels have been taking me to popular national parks. This year, I chose to spend a long weekend in southern Utah. Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park were to be the primary focus of my trip. On the first weekend of the month, I headed to Logan Airport in Boston for my westbound flight.
Berkshire Farms cafe in the airport terminal B and E, offered a flavorful Sunrise Juice with carrots, orange, and strawberries. A toasted bagel with tomato and lettuce provided a decent breakfast for me. After my quick meal, I boarded the flight to Denver.
My connecting flight from Denver to Moab, Utah was not boarding for a couple of hours, so that gave me time to grab some lunch at the airport. “Modern Market Cafe” on Denver Airport’s Concourses B and C, offers a couple of vegan options. I enjoyed the tofu scramble and a cup of curry sweet potato soup.
Upon arrival at the Moab Airport that Saturday, I was immediately awestruck at the natural beauty of the region! This was not your typical airport. A stunning canyon landscape surrounds the small arrivals & departures building. Once my bags were dropped off at the hostel, I hit the pavement for an invigorating two mile walk to downtown Moab for some exploration of the city attractions. The gorgeous canyon views followed me with every step to and from the downtown area.
Downtown Moab is picturesque and quaint with a variety of local gift shops, boutiques, museums, art galleries, and dining establishments.
By sheer coincidence, I stumbled upon a lovely shop that includes Lavishy vegan wallets as part of its merchandise.
The Museum Of Moab was a “must-see” on my itinerary. Its collection contains local gems and minerals, memorabilia on the local settler’s community, mining equipment, Native American pottery, a history of the region’s dinosaurs, an exhibit on Madame Curie and the region’s uranium, plus much more.
Many unique and fascinating sculptures can be found on Moab’s town center sidewalks.
Moab has a new food truck that is all vegan! Obviously, that was my destination for my first dinner in town. Moab Kitchen (Moab Kitchen) offers several staples on its menu and a couple of temporary specials.
Since my visit was during Cinco De Mayo, I opted for the Jackfruit tacos with pineapple salsa and seitan asado taco with habenero salsa. My appetizer was a Sri Lankan samosa. Lime soda water quenched my thirst. The meal was wonderfully tasty.
That evening, musicians were entertaining the diners at the food truck’s outdoor seating area.
Heading back towards town center after dinner, I noticed an interesting bridge and pathway, where locals and tourists alike partake in a lovely stroll along the river. Under the bridge, the concrete walls have been painted with colorful and vibrant murals.
I spent some time in several of the downtown art galleries and perused the jewelry shops. Whether it be local minerals and gems or local Native American jewelry, the shops in town can accommodate.
Before I called it a night, there was just one more downtown venue that I just had to experience. Moab Garage Company (Moab Garage Company) is a really popular ice cream shop located on the main road. They offer both vegan ice cream and a couple of vegan baked goods each day. Decadently good chocolate chip cookies proudly displayed on the counter that evening.
I enjoyed the delicious key lime pie ice cream as my evening treat.
My first day in Moab was wonderful. From the stunning panoramic canyon views to the interesting museum and local attractions to the satisfying vegan food, it was a pleasure to arrive in this southwestern oasis. I eagerly looked forward to the following day’s adventures in the national parks.