Top 12 Things to Do in Bakersfield, California

Activity	Description
Country Music Hall of Fame	Showcases the “Bakersfield Sound” with interactive exhibits and memorabilia.
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History	Features prehistoric fossils and interactive exhibits.
Kern River Parkway	Offers a scenic float trip with opportunities for picnicking.
Fox Theater	Historic theater screening films and hosting concerts.
C.A.T.S.	A big cat rescue and education center.
Padre Hotel	Historic hotel with farm-to-table dining.
Murray Family Farms	Family farm offering tours, pick-your-own fruits, and a bakery.
Greenhorn Mountains	Hiking trails in the Sequoia National Forest.
First Friday Downtown	Monthly arts festival with music, crafts, and food.
César E. Chávez National Monument	Memorial site with exhibits on the labor leader’s life and work.
River Walk Park’s Astronomical Observatory	Observatory for stargazing and educational programs.

Here are 12 top things to see and do when visiting this Central California city.

Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame

Name and Location:
Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, Tennessee.

History and Significance:
Established in 1967, the museum is one of the world’s largest and most active research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music.

What to Expect:
A vast array of historical country music memorabilia, exhibits featuring the legends of country music, and interactive displays.

Visitor Information:
Ticket purchase required. Open daily. Parking available nearby.

As the hometown of country legends Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, Bakersfield embraces its place in country music history. The Bakersfield Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum presents interactive exhibits following the rise of the “Bakersfield Sound” that has influenced country music since the 1960s. Marvel at Merle Haggard’s restored boxcar home where he lived in his early days while making a name playing in local honkytonks. Visitors can also play classic records on a vintage jukebox, view rare performance footage, or touch memorabilia highlighting over 50 inducted members like Dwight Yoakam and The Maddox Brothers & Rose.

See Prehistoric Wonders at Buena Vista Museum of Natural History

Name and Location:
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, located in Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
The museum focuses on the natural history of the Kern County area, including paleontology, geology, and anthropology.

What to Expect:
Fossil exhibits, geological displays, and interactive science exhibits showcasing the region’s prehistoric past.

Visitor Information:
Admission fee required. Open Thursday to Sunday. Special events and programs available.

At Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, guests are transported back to when prehistoric creatures roamed Kern County over 12 million years ago. Visitors can view an array of real fossil specimens embedded in sediments inside glass cases hovering above a glowing floor for dramatic effect. Displays include ancient camel, horse and elephant skeletons, fearsome saber-tooth cat skulls, and replica dinosaur nests with fossilized eggs. Interactive exhibits let you see yourself as a fossil through CT body scans while a hands-on discovery room keeps kids entertained. With new exhibits rotated in regularly from working excavation sites, the wonders at Buena Vista are ever evolving.

Float Down Kern River Parkway

Name and Location:
Kern River Parkway, extending through Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
The parkway is a part of the Kern River corridor, a significant natural resource for the area, providing recreational opportunities and wildlife habitats.

What to Expect:
A scenic river perfect for floating, kayaking, and fishing, with walking and biking trails along its banks.

Visitor Information:
Access is free. Water activities are seasonal. Rentals available from local outfitters.

For relaxation under blue skies, float Kern River winding through the Kern River Parkway. Rent inner tubes, rafts or kayaks to drift along 3 miles of calm waters surrounded by nature. Underneath towering cottonwoods and willows, keep eyes open to spot blue herons fishing while ospreys circle overhead. The experience offers the perfect way to chill out over a couple hours, rocking gently over tiny rapids around bends revealing green fields, forests and the distant hills blanketed in a purple haze. Finish off with a satisfying picnic along the rocky shores after drying out.

Wander Fox Theater for Films and Concerts

Name and Location:
Fox Theater, located in downtown Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
Opened in 1930, this historic theater is an iconic venue for performing arts and entertainment in Bakersfield.

What to Expect:
A variety of shows and events including concerts, movies, and cultural performances in a beautifully restored setting.

Visitor Information:
Event ticket purchase required. Check their website for upcoming events and details.

Dating back to 1930, the opulent Fox Theater glows as one of Bakersfield’s most famous attractions. The impressive neon marquee with ever-changing messaging draws your eye before entering the lobby gilded in gold trim with plush velvet curtains. This historic movie palace still screens classic films in its 750-seat theater equipped with state-of-the-art sound. Visitors will marvel over the ornate Spanish Baroque details from wrought iron chandeliers to hand-painted tiles and sconces dressed up with metal embellishments throughout this visually-striking venue. Beyond movies, the Fox hosts everything from stand up comedy to live musical performances in an intimate venue.

See Exotic Big Cats at C.A.T.S.

Name and Location:
C.A.T.S. (Cats Anonymous to Sanctuary), located near Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
A sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and care of abandoned and abused big cats and other exotic animals.

What to Expect:
An opportunity to see and learn about big cats and other animals in a safe and caring environment.

Visitor Information:
Visits by appointment only. Donations are appreciated. Strict safety rules in place.

For guaranteed up-close big cat encounters, head to the Center for Animal Training & Safety (C.A.T.S.) just outside Bakersfield. This special facility focused on conservation and rescue provides a safe habitat for lions, tigers, leopards, cougars and more. Visitors can observe feeding time for vocal lions or watch sleek panthers leap effortlessly onto platforms during daily educational presentations included with admission. For an extra special experience, book a private Safari Tour taking you behind the scenes to interact with cheetahs and tigers through fences under staff supervision. All proceeds fund C.A.T.S.’ breeding programs, rescue efforts and conservation work worldwide to protect vulnerable big cat populations.

Sample Local Eats at the Padre Hotel

Name and Location:
The Padre Hotel, located in downtown Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
Opened in 1928, this historic hotel is a landmark of Bakersfield’s urban development and architecture.

What to Expect:
Fine dining with a variety of cuisines, including local and seasonal specialties in a luxurious setting.

Visitor Information:
Dining reservations recommended. Accommodation available for overnight stays.

For fantastic farm-to-table cuisine in hip environs, dine at the restored Padre Hotel’s trio of unique restaurants off the lobby. Sitting regally in downtown Bakersfield since 1928, the Padre entices with swoon-worthy food and drink options that all seize upon the region’s agricultural bounty from citrus fruits to almonds. The farmhouse chic Belvedere Room impresses with craft cocktails and tasty shared plates. The more casual Marketplace and Wine Bar lets you curate a meal of artisan cheeses, fresh seafood and specialty salads. Or splurge on exquisitely prepared steaks and seafood inside the dim, sleek environs of the upscale Farmshop.

Tour Murray Family Farms

Name and Location:
Murray Family Farms, on the outskirts of Bakersfield.

History and Significance:
A family-owned and operated farm offering a hands-on agricultural experience and promoting local farming.

What to Expect:
U-pick fruits, petting zoo, seasonal activities, and farm-fresh produce for sale.

Visitor Information:
Admission fee required. Open seasonally. Check their website for hours and activities.

For a quintessential Bakersfield experience, spend an afternoon exploring family-owned Murray Family Farms famous for berries, sweets and hospitality. Catch a tractor wagon ride through fields blossoming with juicy red strawberries and blackberries ready for pick-your-own harvesting. Or browse the bakery, winery and expansive farmers market showcasing seasonal produce straight from their farms. Lovely picnic grounds beckon families to relax over wine, cider and appetizing food options from wood-fired pizzas to tacos, ice cream, even Bavarian pretzels. With free admission and activities offered year-round like cider pressing, beekeeping demos and cooking classes, Murray Farms delights all ages.

Hike the Greenhorn Mountains

Name and Location:
Greenhorn Mountains, near Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
Part of the Southern Sierra Nevada range, the Greenhorn Mountains offer a natural escape and stunning landscapes.

What to Expect:
Scenic hiking trails, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking views. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

Visitor Information:
Free access. Trails vary in difficulty. Prepare appropriately with supplies and inform others of your plans.

Adventurous travelers and avid hikers adore escaping into nature found within the lofty Greenhorn Mountains inside Sequoia National Forest. The challenging summit trek up Greenhorn Peak Trail transports hikers nearly 3 miles in elevation through conifer forests with occasional oak and cedar providing shade before gorgeous granite peaks dominate the horizon. The vista stretching below over the hot Central Valley floor reminds you this landscape remains synonymous with the spirit of the old American West. Plan to devote a full day tackling the demanding switchback path to the top and back to fully soak up the solitude.

Get Artsy at First Friday Downtown

Name and Location:
First Friday event, held in downtown Bakersfield.

History and Significance:
A monthly event that celebrates local arts and culture, promoting community engagement and supporting local artists.

What to Expect:
Art exhibits, live music, street performances, and food vendors. A vibrant atmosphere showcasing the local arts scene.

Visitor Information:
Occurs on the first Friday of every month. Free to attend. Starts in the evening.

On the first Friday evening of every month, Bakersfield celebrates the arts at this lively street festival occurring downtown on 19th Street between H and L streets. Against a backdrop of historic buildings, visitors browse local vendor craft booths while admiring classic hot rods and kids’ activities like creating giant bubbles. Catch an early dinner at one of downtown’s many excellent restaurants before perusing galleries hosting new exhibit openings. Then groove to live music filling the block as the evening crowd pours in to support blossoming artistic talents around Bakersfield.

Tour the César E. Chávez National Monument

Name and Location:
César E. Chávez National Monument, located in Keene, near Bakersfield.

History and Significance:
Dedicated to the life and work of civil rights activist and labor leader César Chávez. It’s a testament to his efforts in improving conditions for farmworkers.

What to Expect:
Historical exhibits, Chávez’s gravesite, and insights into the farm labor movement in the United States.

Visitor Information:
Free admission. Open daily except for certain holidays. Guided tours available.

California’s newest national monument, dedicated in 2012 by President Obama, honors civil rights and labor leader César E. Chávez at historic Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz ranch. Watch the award-winning film detailing Chávez’s advocacy for migrant farmworkers and the rise of the United Farm Workers movement. Outdoor walking paths guide you through gardens nurtured by his family where Chávez wished to be buried alongside Navy Corpsman and peace activist Luis Valdez. The contemplative site includes interesting exhibits of Chávez’s office space along with personal artifacts that spur discussions on human and civil rights, nonviolent activism and modern issues facing immigrant laborers today.

See Stars at River Walk Park’s Astronomical Observatory

Name and Location:
Astronomical Observatory at River Walk Park, Bakersfield, California.

History and Significance:
The observatory is a public facility aimed at promoting astronomy education and offering celestial viewing opportunities to the community.

What to Expect:
Stargazing events, telescope viewings, and educational programs about astronomy.

Visitor Information:
Observation events are typically held on specific dates. Check local listings for schedule and possible entrance fees.

For some stellar stargazing, visit the George M. Lowery Astronomical Observatory housed at the River Walk Park Observatory Campus – the first place designated as a Dark Sky Site by the International Dark Sky Association. Inside this modern astronomical observatory look through telescopes offering gorgeous views of planets, star clusters and galaxies up close. Special monthly events feature expert talks about space exploration and discoveries before guiding groups outside to study the heavens alongside powerful telescopes. Even simulations of black holes and nebulae inside Starship theaters make gazing at constellations sparkle for kids through senior astronomers.

Enjoying Bakersfield’s musical roots, natural landscapes and historical attractions opens visitors to a spirited city with no shortage of interesting sights. From guitars commemorating the town’s country music fame to public art celebrating cultural diversity on city streets, embracing Local traditions and heritage makes any trip distinctively Bakersfield.