The SoCalGal family had been having one of the best family vacations imaginable with the Adventures by Disney Southwest Splendors trip. The children were shaken out of their idea of what America looks like (it’s not all coastal!) by their experiences in Sedona, and participating in a child-friendly hike in the Grand Canyon. But what about the parents? All the adults on the trip through Arizona and Utah were sure getting in a lot of quality family time, but sometimes…well, let’s face it: Sometimes a little adult time without the kids is worth its weight in gold.
Adventures by Disney knows this. That’s why the penultimate night of our family travel tour of the Southwest featured a “Kids Only Dinner/Adults’ Dinner” and Disney Movie Night. At the time, the tour group was staying at a somewhat romantic hotel – Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah. Now, the Colorado River winds right past the lodge’s restaurant, and sunsets seem to set the eponymous cliffs on fire. The children all ate their kiddie fare somewhere else, and watched a classic Disney flick. It was no surprise to see most of the parents enjoying a romantic meal here at the Cowboy Grill, enjoying every child-free moment of this evening.
There is a small winery here; I’d say it’s “boutique,” but that word somehow clashes with the wild west ethos of Red Cliffs Lodge. The desert heat and constant sun makes for a good dark red wine (more thin-skinned grapes need a milder climate to truly do well). SoCalDad and I shared a bottle of Castle Creek Winery Cabernet Sauvignon with our steak and ribs. And yes, we spotted several couples from our Adventures by Disney tour doing the same. We toasted each other, enjoyed a well-prepared and hearty, western meal, and watched the sun slowly, slowly set. As the nocturnal desert fauna began to stir, all those parents at the Cowboy Grill seemed to feel the romance of the place. An evening stroll, holding hands, completed the mood. We all knew that the next day would be a fun family adventure; white water rafting down that very same Colorado River we were watching sparkle under emerging stars. Tomorrow, the air would be filled with the sounds of children laughing, screaming, and splashing water on us. But for now – for this one romantic evening – we took the time to simply enjoy each other.
[...] — from horseback riding and hiking to river rafting and mountain biking — that the Moab area has to [...]