Not to Miss Shops At The Heart of Moab

You cannot see more into the heart of Moab than this little shop. If there is only one store you visit, I would highly recommend this one! As you step through the glass door, it is as if you entered Narnia through the old wardrobe. You enter a world filled to the brim with magic and beauty, and all of it is inspired by the scenery of Moab. Along all the walls, you see beautiful painted canvases and photographs of different sights in this general region. Red rock, arches, wildlife, plants. You will see it all. That’s not all you will find though. Browsing the shelves, you will find pottery, jewelry, stickers made by local artists, and so much more! All of the pieces are spectacular works of art that just blow your mind away. So much talent is stored in one little shop, and it truly does depict the very heart of Moab and its people.

Long ago, before these lands were explored and settled by the Mormon pioneers in the late 1800s, the Native American people used to live on these lands. Archeological evidence shows that an ancient Indian tribe, called the Anasazi, established a farming community here. Hundreds of years later, the Pueblo, Navajo, and Utes tribes called this land home. Though the city of Moab was not established until 1902, the culture of Moab has been alive for hundreds of years. Those ancient years are essential to what this town has become.

Lema’s Kokopelli Gallery beautifully incorporates the history of the Moab area into this modern day and age. It contains art pieces created by and inspired by Native American tribes, including the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni. Browsing through the store, you are almost overwhelmed by the art and culture surrounding you. Woven baskets, blankets, statues, weapons, jewelry. Each item is a work of art, a piece that has been refined throughout history. I would highly recommend visiting this store, even if it’s only to see these masterful pieces of history frozen in time.

I’ll be honest, when I first walked into this store, I did not really know what to think about it. If you cannot gather from the name, it is quite literally just a t-shirt store with little to nothing else sold in it. So why am I even bothering to add it to this list of must-see Moab stores? In all of my miles of traveling, I have never seen a shirt store like this. Walking in the doors, you see racks upon racks of solid-colored shirts. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. The awe does not stop there. As you look up towards the ceiling, it is almost as if you are witnessing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling painting in the Vatican City, but the knockoff version. Each of the little pictures up on the high walls are designs that you can put on your shirt. While there are many common designs you can see in other places, there are many others unique to Moab. That is the beauty of this shop!!! Not only will you get to have a shirt as a souvenir for your travels, but it will be fully customizable to what you want. You no longer need to choose between the five predetermined ideas, but you can have a shirt that will fully capture your individual experience in Moab, Utah.

If there is one thing the western states of the United States of America are known for, it is their cowboys. The world is fascinated by the lifestyle of the American cowboy. The broad-brimmed hat, boots, buckles, and the horsemanship in working with cattle. Being in the West, it is no surprise that Moab also has a history of cowboys and ranches. That is why it is no surprise there is a cute little Western shop tourists are able to visit. First things first, if any of you love the smell of leather, this is the store for you. The instant you open the door, a solid wall of leather scent slams into you. As you continue to walk into the store, you become even more fully immersed in Western culture. Along the walls reside cowboy hats of every size, shape, and color. Down below, cowboy boots sit, waiting to be put to good use. However, do not be disappointed if those are not articles of clothing you are interested in. There is anything and everything from saddle blankets to knives to jewelry. This is a store where you could easily come to enjoy the culture of the old West.

Back of Beyond is a local bookstore. Like most bookstores, it has a majority of popular books you can find on any shelf in stores such as Barnes and Noble. But we are talking about shops unique to Moab, so take more than just the first few steps into this bookstore. As the name implies, it's toward the back of beyond where the singulartity of this little bookshop becomes apparent.

Since I am a book lover, any and all books are amazing! While I do love a good, new book, nothing beats the old classics, the antiques. The back shelves of the store are where the rare books have made their home. They lie there, undisturbed, living in a world of peace. They cherish the opportunities to have wandering eyes gaze upon them and watch as amazement lights up the faces of those who see their aged, fading covers. However, no matter how alluring their pages may be, all you can do is appreciate those books from a distance. They are special and the store does not want to risk careless hands damaging irreplaceable words of literature.

If there is one thing Moab, Utah does not have a shortage of, it is rocks. Everywhere you look, there are rocks all around you. Red rock, sandstone, volcanic rock, granite. If it exists, you will likely find it here. As you wander the red desert, you will find more than just rocks. You could find the ancient remains of Native American societies, as well as the fossils and tracks of prehistoric dinosaurs. There truly is no shortage. Lin Ottinger found a whole new species of Iguandon - named after him, he discovered (and named) the Gemini Bridges for the astronaut missions. Who knows what else is hiding behind that green velvet curtain in his rock shop!

The one downfall of finding all of these treasures in nature though is that you have to go out and find all of it. And if you are a tourist, it is difficult to even know where you should go to find those cool sights. What if you could go to one location that had it all, right within one little building? That is what Lin Ottinger's Moab Rock Shop provides. The entirety of the inside, and even outside, of the store is filled to the brim with dinosaur bones, dinosaur tracks, various types of rocks, and shards of Native American poetry. This little shop will not be a disappointment for all who enter.

All six of the above stores I mentioned are wonderful to go visit. Each store will help you appreciate and relive the times that you had in Moab. However, do not think that these shops are the only unique places to Moab. Go out and visit everything! The restaurants, the National Parks, the hikes. There is no limit! As you continue to explore this land of red rock, your wonder and love will only grow! Best of travels!