What Moreno Valley is known for

The Moreno Valley Destination is named after the city of Moreno Valley. Despite this, the city in the area with the most notoriety is the city of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States. It is primarily known as being the “Creative Capital of the World.” This is because there are more people who work with the arts in some form in Los Angeles than in any other city in the world. The city’s economy is primarily influenced by those who work in the entertainment industry, with Hollywood being one of the most prominent defining factors of the area. Los Angeles is also the manufacturing center of the United States, with technology, fashion, aerospace, and other industries being prominent in the city.[2]

There are a variety of famous landmarks in the city of Los Angeles. One of the most notable landmarks that people can visit is the Hollywood Sign which is situated in Griffith Park on a hill overlooking the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. Hollywood itself is a popular tourist destination within Los Angeles. This area, known as the “Thirty-Mile Zone,” has many locations that tourists can visit such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Madame Tussauds, and Paramount Pictures filming lots, which visitors can take a tour of.[6] Other notable attractions around Los Angeles include the Griffith Observatory and the USS Iowa, a large battleship that operates as a floating museum open to the public.

Many people travel to the Moreno Valley Destination to experience the artistic culture of the region and the many theme parks that showcase it. One of the most famous parks of those in the area is Disneyland in Anaheim, California.[10] Visitors to the destination will also find two national forests that offer a variety of outdoor activities in Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino National Forest. There, people can hike and bike on a variety of trails that explore the more mountainous areas of the otherwise flat terrain. Within the Angeles National Forest is also Mount San Antonio, which has trails that people can use to hike to the top of the 10,000-foot summit.

The best time of year to visit Moreno Valley is often recommended to be in the summer, from early June through early October. During this time, the temperature averages between 58 degrees Fahrenheit and 94 degrees Fahrenheit at its usual highest point.[5] Over the course of the summer, Moreno Valley hosts various events that people can enjoy. Different musicians and groups perform a variety of live music at the city’s amphitheater throughout the summer. Both American and Mexican Independence days are also celebrated in the city’s Fourth of July Parade and El Grito festivities respectively.[4]

Geography

The climate in the Moreno Valley Destination is typically hot in the summer and moderately cool in the winter. A large portion of the destination has been developed, especially as one travels towards the coast. Further inland, undeveloped areas are arider with mountains surrounding the region. Usually, temperatures will stay around 66 degrees Fahrenheit through the colder months and will rise to an average of between 82 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. While it is rare for the region to experience snow in the winter, it has been known to receive small amounts on occasion.[5]

One of the most prominent natural features of Moreno Valley is Box Springs Mountain, which is easily identifiable by the large "M" painted towards the top of the mountain. The letter is equipped with lights that will occasionally be lit up by the city for special occasions such as the commemoration of the city’s creation.[1] There is also a trail that leads to the top of the mountain called the Hike to Box Springs M Trail that visitors can take to visit the summit and observe the rest of the valley. From that summit, visitors can observe Perris Lake, a large lake that acts as the area’s water reservoir where people can participate in water sports or enjoy established beaches along the shore.

The beaches on the coast of Los Angeles are a popular aspect of the Moreno Valley Destination. To the north, there is Santa Monica Beach which is home to the Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier. The pier has a variety of games and amusement park rides, such as the West Coaster rollercoaster, that people can enjoy. Venice Beach to the south of Santa Monica offers visitors the opportunity to buy souvenirs from local vendors at the Venice Boardwalk and to skate at the Venice Beach Skatepark, provided they have the equipment to do so.

Unique to the state of California and the Moreno Valley is a variety of native species, many of which are specific to the region alone. Some such animals that can be seen in nature include cougars, bobcats, bighorn sheep, California sea lions, and California quail, among others. In total, there are about 160 species of mammals throughout the state.[9]

History

Some of the early inhabitants of the Moreno Valley Destination were Native American tribes who were indigenous to the region. The tribes built many milling stations around the region that they would mainly use for milling chaparral seed. Eventually, the area was settled by the Spanish and became a part of Mexico before being included in the land that was annexed to the United States by Mexico in the mid-19th century. During this time farmers began to occupy the area, using water that was pumped in by Frank E. Brown’s Bear Valley Land and Water Company to irrigate their farms. The region became known as Moreno Valley around this time in reference to Frank Brown, as "moreno" is Spanish for "brown." The city was officially established with this name in 1984.[1]

Around the turn of the 20th century, many of Moreno Valley’s farmers were forced to move due to the water pumping service being stopped due to a drought in the area. However, the region would see new growth in 1918 when the United States Airforce built March Field during its military expansion in World War I. The airbase’s presence resulted in several communities being established and during World War II there was another surge in people moving to Moreno Valley. During the 1950s and 1960s, auto racing became a popular sport in the area. Many people would travel to watch motorcycle and car races, most of which occurred at Riverside International Raceway.[3] A number of notable people raced there during this time period, including film star Paul Newman and racing drivers Carroll Shelby and Skip Barber. By the 1990s the population had grown significantly once again and has continued to see a steady rise since then. Today, the city of Moreno Valley is home to roughly 225,000 people[8], with the Moreno Valley Destination having a total population of around 15 million.