Road Trip - Day 8 and 9 Moab Utah & National/State Parks

To finish day 7 we brought in our luggage, marveled at our view and then headed back into Moab for some dinner. We decided to try some BBQ at the Blu Pig. The Blu Pig has 2 pet friendly patios, amazing staff, and delicious food. For my full dinner review visit here.

Later that night Greg and Fred cuddled inside while I opted for some star gazing and photographs. My stubborn husband lol didn't want to believe that we would get cold at night so he didn't light the stove. Needless to say we were freezing! Poor little Fred was under the covers and curled up against us. If you are camping at Moab Under Canvas and it's going to be 50 degrees at night go ahead and light the fire. 

This morning we definitely had a cold start and breakfast being a little late actually was a good thing. We got to let the sun warm us up a bit before heading out. For breakfast we enjoyed a burrito for Greg and Quinoa with coconut milk and brown sugar for me. Quinoa has become one of my favorite breakfast items thanks to this trip!

We packed up our day stuff and headed towards Moab to Arches National Park. Arches is is just a short drive back towards Moab and it is absolutely amazing! You can't believe your eyes and the pictures truly don't do it justice. Unfortunately only the parking areas are pet friendly. We would take as many photos we could within the pet friendly areas. At several stops especially at the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint and the Sand Dunes Arch Greg and I would split up. I would hike one area while he watched Fred and then vice versus. ​

After a few hours of driving around and hiking we were getting pretty hungry. We decided to try Eddie McStiff's for lunch on their pet friendly patio. For my lunch review visit here. After lunch we opted for some more sightseeing so we drove to Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is about a 40 minute drive from Moab and it's also well worth it. The drive to Canyonlands and Canyonlands itself is beautiful,  vast and memorable. Unfortunately it has the same pet policy allowing dogs only in the parking areas. Since we were limited again we didn't spend as much time here as we would have liked. ​

For dinner we opted to have a little picnic back at our tent. We stopped by the State Liquor Store for some wine (not the best selection), Moonflower Community Coop for some prepared and allergen friendly snacks, and finally at the local grocery store for some cups and utensils. 

Later that night we sat out on our deck relaxed and gazed at the stars. Greg definitely lit the stove tonight and we were toasty warm. The fire did eventually go out so the next morning was a bit chilly.

We knew we had a lighter schedule for today so we slept in a little bit. We gathered up our stuff and headed to Dead Horse Point State Park for some pet friendly hiking! The drive to Dead Horse Point State Park is also a beautiful sight and is about 20 minutes from Moab Under Canvas. 

We pulled up to the visitor center and purchased our entry pass (The America the Beautiful Pass isn't valid for this park). From there we hiked the East Rim Trail to Dead Horse Point. The trail is easy to moderate although Fred did end up wanting to be in his carrier (we have found he does not like loose rocks for his walking path). For the feint of heart like me there are a few areas where the trail is just steps away from a cliff lol but I did make the round trip trek! You can easily spend several hours on this trail marveling at the amazing view points. The park also gives you wonderful feel of being in nature and realizing there are so many terrific ways to spend your life.

As we made it back to our car both of our stomachs were grumbling with hunger. For lunch we headed for BBQ at the Blu Pig for the 2nd time (the first night we arrived in Moab we went for dinner). We had another delicious lunch on their pet friendly patio and thoroughly enjoyed chatting with our waiter Joe. 

On the way back to our camp we stopped at City Market for some snacks for dinner (you will definitely be full after eating a meal at the Blu Pig). I also find that grocery stores can be great for finding local foods as souvenirs for foodies in your life. 

Sitting on the deck of our tent at Moab Under Canvas is one of the most relaxing moments of our trip. You are surrounded by beautiful scenery, the comforts of your tent, and wonderful staff. That evening I trekked outside in the dark and cold again for some night time photography. The next morning also provided me with some amazingly cool shots of the sun slightly on the horizon while the stars were still out. ​