Moorpark is a weird, beautiful little pocket of Ventura County. It’s the kind of place you might drive right through on the 118 or the 23 without realizing you just missed a 100-year-old tortoise named Clarence or a world-class pint of German lager. Honestly, most people think of it as a quiet bedroom community, but if you actually pull off the highway, there is a lot of soul here.
It’s not trying to be Malibu. It’s not trying to be Santa Barbara. It’s just Moorpark.
Getting Wild at America’s Teaching Zoo
Most towns have a park. Moorpark has a zoo where the students are the keepers and the animals are the teachers. It’s officially called America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, and it’s easily one of the coolest things to do in Moorpark if you have a couple of hours.
You aren’t just looking at animals through glass here. Because it’s a training facility for the EATM (Exotic Animal Training and Management) program, you’re constantly seeing students interacting with the residents.
Clarence the Galapagos Tortoise is the undisputed king of the hill. He’s over 100 years old. He weighs about 600 pounds. Seeing him move is basically a lesson in patience. Then there’s Ira, the African lion who literally reigns over the campus. If you go on a weekend, catch the Wildlife Theater shows at 12:15 pm or 2:30 pm. They’re student-run, a bit raw in the best way, and you get to see things like training demonstrations that you’d never see at the LA Zoo.
Quick tip: They only take cards (no cash), and they aren't fans of American Express. Also, get there before 3:00 pm if you want to see Clarence before he heads to bed. Tortoises keep strict hours.
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High Street: The Heart of Old Moorpark
If you want to feel like you’ve stepped back into 1912, go to High Street. It’s lined with these massive, ancient pepper trees that Robert W. Poindexter planted back when he was first plotting out the town.
The High Street Arts Center is the anchor here. It’s an old-school theater that puts on surprisingly high-quality productions. For the 2025/2026 season, they’ve been doing everything from Oklahoma! to Cinderella. There’s something about the creak of the floorboards and the intimate seating that makes a local play feel like a major event.
Right down the street, you’ve got Carrara Pastries. Look, if you don't get a cannoli or a slice of tiramisu here, you've messed up the whole trip. It’s authentic Italian—the owners are actually from Lucca—and the espresso is strong enough to power a small jet.
Farming is Actually Fun at Underwood
You’ve probably seen the Underwood Family Farms stickers on SUVs all over Southern California. This place is basically the Disneyland of agriculture.
Depending on when you show up, you’re either picking strawberries, getting lost in a corn maze, or dodging thousands of pumpkins. In March 2026, they’re actually hosting a Tomato 101 event with "Tomatomania" where you can learn how to grow over 100 varieties of seedlings.
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It gets crowded. Like, "don't-even-try-to-park" crowded during the Fall Harvest Festival in October. If you can, go on a Tuesday morning. It’s quiet, the air smells like dirt and green things, and you can pick your own produce without a thousand toddlers running into your shins.
What it costs (usually):
- Weekdays: $5.00 - $8.00
- Weekends: $12.00 - $22.00 (depending on the festival)
- Kids under two: Free
Hiking the Dust and Sage
If you need to sweat, head to Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park. It’s over 12 miles of trails. It’s rugged. It’s dry. It’s very "California."
You’ll see horse riders out there because the trails are wide and sandy. If you hike up to the ridgelines, you can see all the way across the Tierra Rejada Valley. It’s quiet enough that you might actually hear your own thoughts for once. Just watch out for mountain bikers—they come down those hills fast.
Speaking of hills, if you’re into golf, Tierra Rejada Golf Club and Rustic Canyon are right nearby. Rustic Canyon is famous among golfers for being a "links-style" course that doesn't use a ton of water and follows the natural lay of the land. It’s affordable and notoriously difficult if the wind picks up.
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The Beer and the History
After you’re done hiking or animal-watching, you should probably go to Enegren Brewing Company. They specialize in German-style beers. No "mango-habanero-glitter-IPAs" here. Just really good, clean Lagers, Pilsners, and Dunkels.
The taproom is in an industrial park (the "Alley"), which is very on-brand for great SoCal breweries. They often have food trucks or pop-ups in the courtyard. It’s the kind of place where locals bring their dogs and kids and just hang out for three hours.
A Bit of Weird History
Moorpark has some strange claims to fame.
- Atomic Power: On November 12, 1957, Moorpark became the first city in the world to be lit by a non-military nuclear power plant (the Sodium Reactor Experiment). For one hour, every light in town was powered by the atom.
- The Mammoth: In 2005, a construction crew found 75% of a mammoth skeleton in the foothills. It was about 800,000 years old. They call it the "Moorpark Mammoth."
- The Apricot: The town is named after the Moorpark Apricot. They used to grow everywhere here. You can still find some old orchards if you know where to look, but most have been replaced by houses.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you’re planning a day trip, here is how you should actually do it to avoid the stress:
- Start Early at the Zoo: Go right when they open (usually 11:00 am on weekends) to see the animals before they take their afternoon naps.
- Lunch on High Street: Grab a sandwich at Lucky Fools Pub or a pastry at Carrara’s.
- Afternoon at Underwood: If it’s spring or fall, spend two hours picking whatever is in season.
- Golden Hour Hike: Hit Happy Camp Canyon around 4:00 pm for the best light.
- Finish with a Lager: End your day at Enegren. Grab a 4-pack of The Lightest One to take home.
Moorpark isn't a flashy tourist trap. It’s a place that rewards you for slowing down and looking at the trees, the history, and the 102-year-old tortoise. It’s simple, and honestly, that’s why it’s great.