A city of Bakersfield’s size, with over 350,000 people living there, naturally offers a wide variety of entertainment options. So that you can work up a sweat, have a good time, and enjoy yourself, we’ve put together a wide range of activities.
Hidden Gems In Bakersfield CA, whether you call Bakersfield home or are just passing through, I hope you enjoy these top picks for where to go and what to see.
List Of 10 Hidden Gems In Bakersfield CA Today
1. Puzzle Perfect Bakersfield
If you’re looking for an exciting escape game in Bakersfield, look no further than Puzzle Perfect Bakersfield, also known as the Bakersfield Escape Room. It takes one hour to play through each scenario, and there can be a maximum of six players. Basically, if you don’t make your getaway in under an hour, you’re free to go.
The best part is, of course, figuring out how to get out of the room and solve the puzzles on your own. There are many different scenarios, some of which are titled “Amnesia,” “Grim Stacks,” “Knight & Rook,” and “The Crimson Storm.” Visit the website of Puzzle Perfect to see previews of the available rooms and for more information.
2. Buena Vista Museum of Natural History
Insights into the natural world and Earth’s past can be gained here by visitors of all ages. Explore displays covering fields as diverse as anthropology, astronomy, anatomy, and paleontology.
The museum holds an art competition every month. The monthly theme is a chance for kids to express themselves creatively and potentially win some cool prizes.
You can expect to see displays that focus on things like minerals and fossils, prehistoric life, and Native American history. We recommend checking out the Buena Vista Museum’s online resources, where you can get a glimpse of their exhibits, learn about what’s coming up, and even place an order before you go.
3. California Living Museum (CALM)
There is a zoo in Bakersfield, and it’s a good one. Birds, mammals, and reptiles of all shapes and sizes from all over the Golden State can be found at the California Living Museum.
Numerous species of flora and fauna, including acorn woodpeckers, black-tailed mule deer, raccoons, and desert tortoises, can be observed here. Programs for children and adults are available throughout the year.
In addition, the Children’s Park features a train ride, an aquatic touch tank that is 10 feet in height, and farm animals for visitors to interact with. There is also a gift shop and annual memberships for both individuals and families.
4. Bakersfield Museum of Art
Bakersfield’s Museum of Art is a great example of why every city should have one. Many art exhibits of varying media are held here throughout the year to highlight the work of local and international artists.
The museum hosts programs for students of all ages and conducts outreach visits to area classrooms to introduce students to the visual arts.
Classes in Yoga are taught by the White Wolf Wellness Foundation in an effort to promote health, well-being, and fitness among the museum’s visitors. The Bakersfield Museum of Art now offers discounted or free admission to anyone with a SNAP card thanks to the Museums for All program.
5. Central Park at Mill Creek
The central business district of Bakersfield, California, saw extensive renovations in 2009. There was a section devoted to Central Park at Mill Creek. The city redesigned its landscape by bringing in a million pounds of boulders from the Kern River and installing a covered pedestrian bridge and chic concrete walkways.
The park is home to a playground, a large lake, and numerous trees and green spaces. In addition, the Bakersfield Museum of Art is located nearby, so you can swing by here before or after your museum visit.
6. Murray Family Farms, The Big Red Barn
Murray Family Farms is the place to go if you want to have a good time on a farm. Take a hayride or a tractor tour of the farm, visit the animal farm and petting zoo, dine on farm-fresh fare at the Cal-Okie Kitchen, and more!
Come out for the October Fun-fest at the pumpkin patch and the Christmas on the Farm celebration in the winter. When you visit the farm, be sure to stop by the Big Red Barn, the farm’s enormous produce store, where you can stock up on fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and more.
7. Stars Theater Restaurant
An eatery and a theater in one, the Stars Theater Restaurant features both local and touring acts. Soft drinks, tea, and lemonade are available alongside burgers, chicken, fries, and salads. At the bar in the lounge, adults can order a specialty alcoholic beverage.
Bakersfield Music Theater (BMT) produces two musicals each summer. For children and young adults between the ages of 6 and 18, BMT offers summer acting camp.
8. Hart Memorial Park
Beautiful Heart Memorial Park can be found in the valley between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Kern River. There’s a lot of fun stuff to do in this natural area. Hart Park Lake is a great place to catch bass, bluegill, and rainbow trout, and the park also features numerous playgrounds and picnic areas.
You can go for a bike ride or a hike on one of the many trails, or you can simply kick back and read a book under a shady tree. Both a 9-hole and an 18-hole disc golf course are available. Just 10 miles from the heart of the city, this hangout is a favorite of locals.
9. Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
The Bakersfield Sound, perhaps you’ve heard of it. In Bakersfield, California, a subgenre of country music emerged that was heavily influenced by rock and roll. Buck Owens was a country music legend and a key figure in the development of the Bakersfield Sound, and his album, Crystal Palace, is named in his honor.
What a great variety of activities there are here. During non-quarantine periods, its music venue hosts weekly performances by a number of country music acts. There’s a restaurant on-site that serves a wide variety of dishes, including chicken fried steak, chimichangas, chili fries, salads, steaks, pork chops, and more. There is also a museum there dedicated to Owens’s life and work.
10. Fox Theater
The Bakersfield Sound isn’t just found on Buck Owens’s albums. The Fox Theater in Bakersfield is another fantastic location for similar country music performances. It’s opening on Christmas Day, 1930, could have been a lucky coincidence.
There was a threat of demolition in the 1980s for this elaborately decorated theater, but it survived and transformed from a movie theater into a performing arts venue.
The Fox has great acoustics, so we think that will work out perfectly. Amy Grant, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tanya Tucker, and are just a few of the upcoming acts scheduled for 2021. Specific 38.
Bakersfield has a lot more to offer than the seven places listed here, but they’re a fantastic introduction. Derrel’s Mini Storage is the place to go if you need a little extra room for your personal or professional belongings. Our facilities are spread out across the region.
FAQs Hidden Gems In Bakersfield CA
What is Bakersfield famous for?
Bakersfield is known as “the country music capital of the West Coast” because it is the birthplace of country music legends Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. The Kern River Golf Course and other outdoor activities like hiking, zoos, rafting, tubing, and tours of Bakersfield’s natural attractions and wildlife are also major draws for visitors.
Was Bakersfield ever underwater?
The water was relatively shallow, but it was teeming with marine life. Scientists estimate that millions upon millions of marine animals may have lived and died there over the course of 700,000 years. They claim that there is no proof that the animals died all at once in an earthquake or from a toxic red tide. Mortality there was a slow but steady process.
What does Bakersfield have to offer?
Several prominent figures in the world of country music can trace their roots back to Bakersfield, as can the popular music genre known as the Bakersfield Sound. The city also has a number of museums that have won national and international awards and are well worth visiting.
