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The Moreno Valley Destination is located in the southern portion of the state of California. Many cities fall inside of the destination’s boundaries, including Los Angeles, Anaheim, Riverside, and others. Los Angeles, the largest city in the area, typically draws a large number of tourists due to the high density of businesses and attractions in the entertainment industry.[2] People also come to the area to visit a variety of theme parks that are there, with Disneyland in Anaheim being one of the most well-known. Moreno Valley itself can be translated as "Brown Valley" and is named after Frank Brown, who initially provided water for farmers who settled there in the late 1800s. Moreno Valley hosts different activities that are open to the public throughout the year, ranging from music and film showcases to holiday home display contests. A notable aspect of the town is a large ‘M’ which is painted on nearby Box Spring Mountain. People can hike to the top of the mountain to view the letter up close and to experience the sights of the valley. Visitors can also explore both Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests where there are more trails for hiking and biking, as well as a number of lakes, streams, and mountains that can be reached via those trails. Temperatures in the Moreno Valley region typically range from near freezing in the winter to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.[5]
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]
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]
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.
The Venice Beach House is a 1911 craftsman-style home located in Venice, California. It has a total of nine guest rooms available for reservation, each with its own unique name and theme that ties to the history of the city. Two of the rooms, the Abbot Kinney and the James Peagood rooms, have private balconies that offer guests the chance to see Venice Beach, which is a short distance from the inn. Additionally, with the exception of three of the guest rooms, all of the units have en suite bathrooms. The Warren Wilson and Speedway rooms share a bathroom, and the Tramp’s Quarters’ bathroom is located in the hallway. The backyard of the property can host a variety of events, such as weddings and dinner parties for up to 100 people. A number of people who have stayed at the establishment have enjoyed the atmosphere of the house as well as the close proximity to other attractions in the Venice Beach area.
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The Enchanted Manor, found near Universal Studios, Hollywood, and Disneyland, was originally built in 1947 as a family home. It was then bought by the current owner, Georgia Durante, in 1983. The manor includes a full kitchen, living room, Breakfast Room, and land living room. When there are more than two people reserving the unit, the Great Room and the Secret Room can be opened. On the grounds, there are a number of attractions and activities for those staying at the manor, namely a saltwater pool with three waterfalls, two barbeque areas, a playhouse, a fire pit, a private outside seating area with a fireplace, a gazebo bar, and a large artificial tree with 1,500 lights. Weddings, reunions, and birthday parties are some of the common events that can take place at the establishment. Georgia says the motto for The Enchanted Manor is "They come as strangers, and leave as friends."
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