Westworld, HBO's popular series, features Utah’s desert scenery so prominently that it is a character unto itself. You can see these sights for yourself, and all you have to do is head to Moab. A convenient hub for trips to both Canyonlands and Arches (and other worthy jaunts nearby like Castle Valley, featured in the show), the town’s natural attractions are truly grandiose. Many movies, TV shows, and ads have been shot in or near Moab.  Westworld is just the latest. John Ford discovered the area in the ‘40s, using it to mimic Texas and other western locales in movies like Stage Coach and Rio Grande. Audiences didn’t know the difference. The Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage has more on the cinematic history of the region. During your visit, you’re sure to recognize a few things you’ve seen before on the big or small screen.

For my journey, I enlisted a couple of friends to celebrate a milestone birthday with me. I’d seen photos of it, and I knew I had to see the place with my own eyes.  Traveling along Scenic Byway 128 heading south on the approach to Moab, UT, the plain, empty landscape begins to change. We soon felt as though we were passing through a portal to another world.  Huge, red rock cliffs begin to emerge along the road. You glimpse the mighty Colorado River, and the magic begins.

On our drive into town, we uttered the words “amazing” and “awesome” so much, we all felt they were quickly losing their meaning. But those are the appropriate descriptors. The beauty and otherworldliness is simply overwhelming at first, and in the best possible way.  It stuns the brain and defies description using mere words. And we hadn’t even made it to any of the parks yet. Rocks carved by sand, wind and water into unimagined shapes and impossible formations awaited.

Nearly dazed from our initial introduction to the scenery, we found our hotel, the Gonzo Inn. I chose it for its Southwestern decor and stylings, central location, and the pool. Oh yes, it has a lovely pool.  I refused to stay at a cookie cutter chain out in the rugged desert, and I made the right choice. Plus I love the Southwestern style. We had a suite, with a kitchen and living area in addition to the bedroom, and a small terrace outside.

We were also happy to find a liquor store right across the street.  Knowing that Utah is a dry state, we had some concerns about what alcohol we could find, and while there are limits on what you can buy or consume, there are ways around the rules (if you’re heading out for other parts, be sure to stock up in Moab though -- we had a hard time finding even beer once out of town). After unpacking and hanging out on the terrace, we ventured out and wound up at the Moab Brewing Company for dinner.  I had a cheeseburger and fries, with one of their delicious beers. I mentioned to the waiter that I love mustard. He brought me five varieties. Good food and drink, great service, and a gift shop made the Brewery a smart first stop. Make sure you get a t-shirt or other souvenir. I still wear mine many years later.

Our first task the next morning was a cruise down the Colorado on a Jet Boat Tour. The trip took us down a portion of the Colorado, south of Moab and just into Canyonlands. The rocks on one side of the river are often completely different from the other -- evidence of geologic artistry in every eyeful, including one cliff I swore looks like Simpsons characters. One favorite was Kettle Rock, so named because of a huge “handle” protruding off the rock face. We passed Thelma and Louise Point, the place they really shot the iconic end of the film.