Well, it’s been almost two months since I actually returned from my honeymoon(!!), so I guess it’s probably time to recap my favorite parts! After our intimate marriage ceremony in New Hampshire followed by some combo work/friend wedding time in New York, my husband, Jacob, and I were (finally!) off to relax and unplug in the beauty of Southeastern Utah. Moab in particular had been a pretty regular vacation spot for his family when he was younger, but I had never been to that part of the state, so Jacob was excited to introduce me to his favorite area things and I was psyched to explore and hopefully find some new spots to make memories of our own!

For sure not the most bumping area, we were very excited to use our honeymoon to take lengthy hikes, soak in our airbnb‘s hot tub at night, and luxuriate in not responding to emails or having cell service for most of our days. That being said, Moab and Southeastern Utah is probably not a place I’d recommend if you’re looking for a lot of night life or a lot of interaction; instead, it delivers fully on natural beauty, outdoor activities, and finding some calm.

Here are my top picks and things to know if you’re visiting soon!

• Arches National Park: For sure the draw to stay in Moab, Arches is just down the road and you can get all the way to the other side of the park in under an hour. That leaves many, many hours left in your day to hike in the park! My favorites of the park were Delicate Arch and Tower Arch (be sure to look out for the “marching men“!). We loved packing our own lunches with grocery store supplies (cheap, delicious, easy!), hiking them into a scenic spot, and taking a break to eat and gaze out at the beyond beautiful scenery! Pro tip: fill your water bottles early and refill often!
• Moab Restaurants: There were two standout restaurants we ate at while staying in Moab: 98 Center and Desert Bistro. The first is a Vietnamese spot that delivers on flavorful, filling fare! The service was great, too, and we loved chatting with a neighboring table about their trip. Their food skews vegan/vegetarian, but as two meat-eaters we loved everything we ordered, especially their craft cocktails! The second place that really stood out was Desert Bistro, on recommendation of my husband’s father, and I am so glad we went. The food here was truly incredible and the service was beyond stellar. Everything about the experience is so thought through from wine suggestions, an ever-changing menu, the lovely patio out back, and delivers on a very high caliber!
• Canyonlands National Park: Between an hour and four hours drive from Moab, Canyonlands is split into three sections by the Colorado and Green rivers. We were able to hit two of them on this trip, and I can’t wait to come back sometime soon to check the third off, too!
  • Island in the Sky: Filled with sky-high mesas, there are actually a ton of establishing shots filmed here for the recent hit, Westworld, which we figured out after bingeing the show upon returning from our honeymoon! This is definitely the most trafficked area of Canyonlands, and there are a handful of easy, family-friendly hikes, as well as some more difficult expeditions. Pro tip: fill your water bottles (bring a handful) at the visitor center as there aren’t any other water distribution spots in the rest of the park!
  • Needles: My favorite day of our honeymoon occurred while we visited Needles, so I know I will always hold a fondness for it in my heart. This area is less accessible than Island in the Sky and the hikes are lengthier and more strenuous, but the views and total immersion in nature are beyond worth it. Depending on the season, I’d definitely recommending bring a few light layers, as we started the day (in mid-April) with some chilly temperatures but were pretty warm by lunchtime.
  • The Maze: We did not make it to this third area of Canyonlands on this trip, but I have these hikes bookmarked for our imminent return! [1], [2], [3], [4].
• Weather: The weather posed a bit of a challenge when we visited because we had some days in the mid-50s where it was in the 30s at the top of our hikes, and others in the mid-70s where we were sweaty by the time we summited.
• Salt Lake City travel: The week we spent in Southeastern Utah was far and away one of the best of my life. However, I do have one very small regret, and that is that we didn’t pad our trip by a day or two in SLC. I would have loved to explore the city more than just driving to/from the airport, and these posts all have me jonesing to get back and spend some quality time there! [1], [2], [3], [4], [5].

Anyone else been to Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, or anywhere else in Southeastern Utah lately? What did I miss?? What do you recommend to visitors? Let me know in the comments!