It's fair to say that Moab doesn't tempt travelers with a lot of traditional tourist establishments, but all you have to do is raise your eyes to the horizon.

The locale is so striking that you'll want to get outdoors and explore, and the astonishing sights of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are just minutes from town. But there's nothing wrong with just enjoying the enthusiastic vibe of the town.

Museum of Moab

This regional museum (118 E. Center St., 435/259-7985, www.moabmuseum.org, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and noon-6 p.m. Sat. Mar.-Oct., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and noon-5 p.m. Sat. Nov.-Feb.; ages 12 and older $3, families $7) tells the story of Moab's and Grand County's past, from prehistoric and Ute artifacts to the explorations of Spanish missionaries. Photos and tools show pioneer Moab life, much of which centered on ranching or mining; here, too, you'll find displays of rocks and minerals, as well as bones of huge dinosaurs, including the backbone of a sauropod found by a rancher just outside town.

Hole n' the Rock

Albert Christensen worked 12 years to excavate his dream home (15 miles south of Moab on U.S. 191, 435/686-2250, www.theholeintherock.com, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, $5 adults, $3.50 children ages 5-10), situated within a sandstone monolith south of town. When he died in 1957, his wife, Gladys, worked another eight years to complete the house; it's now a full-on roadside attraction. The interior has notable touches like a 65-foot chimney drilled through the rock ceiling, paintings, taxidermy exhibits, and a lapidary room. The 5,000-square-foot, 14-room home is open for tours daily and offers a gift shop, petting zoo, picnic area, and snack bar.