Historic Star Hall of Moab

Only one block off of Moab’s Main Street, this renovated theater (2008), has served Moab as a social gathering place since 1904. Now boasting two dressing rooms for performers to make ready before appearing upstairs on stage. The sound and light technician is hired in addition to the venue rental. Seating for 289 people, plus 3 spots for wheel chairs and ample parking make the Historic Star Hall a reasonable location, simply for the ease of access. So if your gig line up can be navigated through Moab, Mix Business with Pleasure and plan a stop and some sightseeing in Moab Utah.

Historic Star Hall Moab

A parcel of private land is situated between the railroad and Hwy 191, just south of Hwy 313 to the Island-in-the-Sky District of Canyonlands and a second access to the Gemini Bridges region of Moab’s backcountry.

Parking: This parcel has a Prairie Dawg portable toilet to maintain some hygiene at this very popular trailhead. The sign instructs users to pay $5 for up to 3-days parking. Visitors are able to climb aboard a favorite toy to explore for a day or head up toward the Gooney Bird for some camping, say, around Bride Arch. $2 is indicated for those enjoying use, utilizing shuttle services, which require no parking.

Must knows:

Fires: Often the desert is issued a fire ban. Find out the status of fires before you burn. Do not collect fire wood. Bring your own wood. Educate yourself about how Utah mandates fire pans.
Campsites: There are designated camping spots created and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). No reservations are taken to use the campsites. It is based on first come – first served.
Be respectful. Avoid bushwhacking a new spot. Do research before you arrive. Contact Archview Resort Campground, cabins and tent sites. If they are booked on your dates, you are unlikely to get a backcountry site, especially if you arrive after 3:30 p.m. to make camp. OR if you know Archview has some sites and the backcountry is full, use Archview as your Plan “B”, as it is nearby at the junction of Hwys 191 & 313.
Poop: BLM backcountry camping in the Gemini Bridges requires you carry toilets to pack-out your poop. Help prevent spreading disease and contain crap and carry it out. Be courteous.

Gemini Bridges Moab Parking

Dead Point Magazine great climbers resource. Contests. Meanwhile, watch 9 minutes of climbing. 

Chichen Itza

There’s a lot to be said for going to the source. Just as we’d rather eat fresh food from a farmer’s market than overly processed, packaged plastic, with a little searching, you can create vacations with authentic, close-to-the-source travel options as well. A huge agency with phone operators working in call center cubicles can certainly book your tickets and hotels, or you can do-it-yourself with a lot of pointing and clicking, but if you want some on-the-ground expertise in the destination you’ll visit, you might give PureTravel a shot. With a focus on adventure travel, this new company (working itself up to launch for a decade) brings resources together so you can find a tour operator or travel provider in the place you’ll visit. For example, if you are headed to Everest Base Camp, you could book a trip directly with a Sherpa in Nepal as opposed to a trying-to-do-everything company in Colorado. Local knowledge and experience are everything if it is important to you to get off the air-conditioned buses and away from the large group tours. Booking directly with local providers also benefits the communities you visit by keeping your dollars closer to the source. PureTravel’s ethos is “Go Direct, Save Money, and Give More Back.” The company vets all tour providers to be sure they uphold sustainability and green standards and have a commitment to their community’s development.

Your search is simplified by breaking possible trips down into categories that might matter most to you: history and culture, water sports, climbing and trekking, family adventures, etc.

If you’re not booking a trip yet, you can sign up for their newsletter to be kept abreast of special opportunities, time-sensitive trips (coinciding with a festival, for instance), and new offerings.

Are you packed yet?