Moorpark is known for being the fourth safest city to live in the country. It is a great place to grow up. I have many great memories here, and I wouldn't want any other hometown. The hardest thing about living here is trying to explain to people where it is. Here are some things that you know if you grew up in the small town of Moorpark.
1. We Celebrate 4th of July on the third of July.
There is no reason why and no way how to explain this concept to an outsider. They just ask why and you say "I don't know, but I wouldn't have it any other way." The community gathers at Arroyo Vista Park to mingle and watch the fireworks. It is Moorpark's favorite day of the year.
2. We love the Ventura County Fair.
We complain time and time again that there is nothing to do, so when the Ventura County Fair comes to town, it is the place to be. You see all of Moorpark at the fair to enjoy the concerts, rides and fried food. Every year the band line-up is one Mariachi band, a few older bands and country bands. Plus, no one can resist a ferris wheel selfie.
3. Vons was the place to hang out in middle school.
I never was cool enough to take a picture on the wall by the carts by Vons, but I can remember seeing multiples of them when I first got my Facebook account. To this day, with many kids not even going outside anymore, I see teens loitering outside of Vons with Starbucks in hand as they have the time of their life. If you ask any kid what there is to do in Moorpark they would respond "go to Vons."
4. If you love Mexican food, "El Tap" is the place for you.
Moorpark is full of hidden gems, especially with Mexican food. The most popular I've come to find is El Tapatio. They serve authentic Mexican food with a smile, kind service and great food.
5. Football games are the only thing to do on a Friday night.
There is not much to do in Moorpark, but when it is football season you have something to do every Friday night. In middle school, you don't find yourself watching the game as much. You go to hang out with your friends at the top of the bleachers while trying not to get caught by the security guards. However, once in high school, you are filled with school pride. You start standing in the student section as you cheer for the football team every Friday night.
6. The Oaks Mall is the cool hangout place when you are a teenager.
If you go to the Thousand Oaks mall, you are bound to see hoards of teenagers hanging around the place. Going to the mall on the weekend gives you something to do, and it isn't that far. When we were in middle school with no money to spend, we spent our time in the Apple Store taking pictures and getting froyo. Now we spend our time at Stacked and The Cheesecake Factory. My personal favorite is looking at the dogs.
7. We have so many pizza places.
Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Round Table, Dominos, Little Caesar's and more. For being a small town, we have a tremendous amount of pizza. I'm not complaining because I love pizza, but it is a little bit of an overkill. If you like pizza, this is the place for you.
8. There are so many trucks.
You can't drive down the street without seeing at least three trucks. We have trucks coming through all hours of the day getting to and from freeways. It doesn't bother me much until I am in a rush and stuck behind four of them.
9. Underwood Farms is the cutest thing to happen to the city.
If you are a fan of the Kardashians, you see them going to Underwood Farms all the time, somewhere that I loved and went all the time when I was little. During the Octoberfest, many celebrities stop by to take their kids to the farm we've all grown up loving.
10. It is a great place to grow up in.
Most of us complain that there isn't anything to do, which is true for the most part. It is a small community that gave me a lot of good memories and amazing friends.
