I heart Utah, so I'd second V's suggestion. We spent a week in Zion last year. It's an easy drive from Vegas. We liked Springdale, the town outside the park quite a bit. It's smaller and IMO quainter than Moab. But Moab is the gateway to a lot of stuff. You can't go wrong.

GLC, you've lived in North Carolina if I recall. What's Asheville like--if you know--in November?