Kick back and relax in Moreno Valley
Sat neatly in a small fold between the chaparral tops of the San Bernardino Mountains and the rugged Mojave borderlands of the San Jacinto Mountains, Moreno Valley certainly has a handsome spot on the flatlands that carve through the ranges around Los Angeles. It's a quiet, relaxed cut-out of Californian suburbia at heart though, where the hulking outline of Box Springs keeps watch over some large shopping malls and the enticing Lake Perris Waterpark. At the same time, Moreno Valley vacation rentals offer country retreats that are both close to the South Cali peaks and within striking distance of downtown LA.
Head to the reserves around Moreno Valley
Known to locals as just the Lake Perris Waterpark, the Lake Perris State Recreation Area to the south of town is home to some of the most family-friendly camping and kayaking in the region. Right next door is the Perris Auto Speedway, which might be just a shadow of the racetrack this corner of Riverside once hosted but still does well to get the adrenaline going with its mud-track showdowns on 2 wheels. Meanwhile, the sinewy ridges of Box Springs Mountain loom to the north-east, hiding boulder-spotted hiking trails and some awesome panoramic lookouts atop the valley.
Moreno Valley is lakes and peaks
There was a time when petrol heads would flock to Moreno Valley to watch speedsters roar around its hair-pinning Riverside International Raceway. Today, that once-famous track is now retired, and the surroundings here have been allowed to pursue other, less heart-thumping activities. Cue the clutch of excellent nature parks and outdoors exploration areas where Moreno Valley vacation rentals offer access to trailheads and wildlife refuges. Others boast water parks and kayaking lakes, campgrounds and mountain biking routes. It's the perfect spot if you're looking to get out and about with the family close to Los Angeles.
Meet Moreno Valley in the spring and fall
With mercury levels cranking up during the middle of the summer here, and the rugged peaks of Moreno Valley just a tad too far from the LA coast to make it a veritable summertime destination, it might be worth steering clear of scorching June, July, and August. Much better is to seek out those Moreno Valley vacation rentals in the springtime, or during the cooler fall, when there are milder and breezier conditions for hiking, kayaking, and camping in the great Californian outdoors.
Moreno Valley: Nestled between the rugged ridges
Moreno Valley sits in an amphitheater of rising mountains. To the east are the sun-scorched lands of the Chino Hills, cutting off the town from the Pacific Ocean and the Los Angeles Basin. To the south, the wild, wild San Jacinto Mountains shoulder their way atop the horizon in a medley of Ponderosa pine forests and cedar groves, where the tips of the peaks are like islands of snow and wetland habitat for parts of the year. Then come the famous San Bernardino ranges to the east, lurching up to host chaparral slopes and rare mountain lions.
How to get to and around Moreno Valley
The nearest airport is in Los Angeles - Ontario Intl. Airport (ONT), located 23.1 mi (37.1 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you might consider flying into Palm Springs Intl. Airport (PSP), which is 41.7 mi (67.1 km) away.