The Moab condo will be getting a few improvements in the near future. New downward facing light fixtures have been ordered for the master bathroom and the guest bathroom upstairs.  These will provide much better lighting and less glare.  Also on the way are beautiful plush Liz Claiborne towels.  It’s important that all guests enjoy a quality experience whether you are taking in the beautiful scenery or stepping out of the shower.

Speaking of upgrades, The Rim Village Vista Moab condo development has seen some enhancements.  The new swimming pool is going in and a 2^nd basketball hoop and backboard were added.  There is also a play area for children with a slide and other activities.

Whenever you stay at the Moab condo there will always be plenty to do both indoors and out.  All 3 bedrooms plus the living room have large, flat screen TVs.  You can enjoy dozens of cable TV channels or just soak up the beautiful view out the picture window.

However, this time of year you might as well enjoy the stunning scenery and the gorgeous weather!  The days are getting longer with sunset around 8:15 PM or later.  River rafting season will be kicking off soon.  Water levels could be a little bit higher than usual this year so plan accordingly.

There are lots of great rafting trips that you can take with the Moab condo as your home base.  Both of the Green River and the Colorado River offer excellent opportunities to get on the water and ride the rapids.  It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a gentle float or that big-time adrenaline rush.  The local rafting companies have you covered.

You might even wish to consider coming back in July or August when the warmer temperatures make time on the river even more enjoyable.  River rafting trips at Moab Adventure Center come in all sizes from a one-day trip to 14 day journeys into the Grand Canyon.  Make sure you plan ahead as the most popular trips get booked up well in advance.

It’s a huge week at the condo in Moab!  What is referred to casually as Jeep Week among the locals is actually a Jeep Safari that began in 1967.  The original sponsor was the Moab Chamber of Commerce. The very 1st trail was “Behind the Rocks Trail” (according to legend the road was made by a BLM employee and equipment.)  The “Moab Rim” ride was then added the next year.

What started out as a small local event has grown into an entire week of festivities.  As I was driving out of town last Saturday literally thousands of people were pouring in.  I saw RVs towing trailers with Jeep’s on them.  There were Jeep’s towing camper trailers to sleep in.  Some enormous SUVs were towing enclosed trailers that had one or two off-road vehicles inside.

Every shape and size of Jeep, ATV and OHV was making a veritable parade down Highway 191.  The epicenter of activity is located very close to the condo in Moab at the Spanish Trail Arena.  This facility has plenty of room to handle the registration, raffle, barbecue dinner for the Boy Scouts along with a vendor exposition.  No longer a handful of locals romping in the desert in their OHVs; this is a world-renowned event!

Needless to say the condo in Moab was booked all week and we only have 3 open nights remaining in April; arrival 4/21 – depart 4/24.  In May availability is limited to the following nights: 14, 15, 29, 30, 31.  Since April through June is the peak time during the 1st half of the year, we recommend making reservations as far in advance as possible.

If you missed Jeep Week there is another big event October 24 – 26.  The 19^th annual Jeep Jamboree is a fun event during a very pleasant time of the year. 

During my recent visit to the condo in Moab I did a side trip to Natural Bridges National Monument, Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley.  The colors were spectacular although I did run into some snow flurries one morning on the way to Natural Bridges.  These are beautiful places with incredible rock formations that are rarely found anywhere on earth.  If you have time and the weather cooperates it’s definitely worthwhile to spend a day or 2 visiting these natural wonders.

If you decide to make an overnight trip of it I recommend staying at Goulding’s Lodge or The View hotel.  The former is located 1 mile from Highway 191 at the edge of Monument Valley.  The View is actually inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.  You’ll find the most amazing views along with a great restaurant, expansive gift shop and friendly staff.

It’s a rainy day at the condo in Moab.  So what kinds of activities are there to do when the weather is not conducive to mountain biking or hiking? 

Well for starters there are lots of shops and restaurants in town.  One of our favorites is Fiesta Mexicana located on Main Street in the heart of Moab.  The food is consistently good and the portions are generous. 

Today my friends and I had lunch there and enjoyed a delicious feast.  I advised my guests that it’s best to order one of the combination plates and share it between 2 people.  So we did and were very pleased with the results.  D and T enjoyed the camarones in the chile verde sauce while my friend and I shared a 3 item combo.  The chicken enchilada, taco, chile relleno along with rice and beans was very tasty and filled us up! As much as I like cooking at the condo in Moab having a meal out is fun every now and then!

The margaritas are a house specialty and they are enormous, too.  My guess is they are at least 14 ounces.  So, don’t let the $9.99 price tag seem high as it’s a bargain considering you’re really getting 2 drinks in one glass.  Just ask for 2 straws and share it with a friend.

Now about those other activities…  Main Street in Moab is lined on both sides with all types of retail stores, restaurants, adventure travel companies, etc.  The Visitor Center is a great place to start and gather some information. 

As you wander down Main Street be sure to stop in and visit some of the art galleries.  You’ll find Native American jewelry and crafts, southwest style art and knick-knacks galore.  The colors in the art work and jewelry are just stunning.  You don’t need to spend a ton of money to buy a keepsake that will trigger pleasant memories after you return home.

There’s also a movie theatre with 3 screens, the Moab Aquatic Center and the Museum of Moab.  After dinner treat yourself to some ice cream at the Moab Diner & Ice Cream Parlor – 189 South Main Street.