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City in California, United States
Photo: Robert Hale, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bakersfield is a city in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Bakersfield is famous for being the home of country music singers Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, and has the nickname "the country music capital of the West Coast."
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Bakersfield Neon Arch
A landmark sign that's sometimes seen in movies and TV shows set in the area.
CALM
This zoo is in a park like setting in northeastern Bakersfield. It features rare or endangered animals that have been hurt in some way and will never be able to go back to the wild.
A great place to visit, with 56 historic exhibits in a lush shady 16-acre (7 hectares) setting. The historical exhibit buildings include everything from an 1800s log cabin to a 1936 gas station, with jails, one-room school, Victorian era homes and everything in between. The Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center is great fun for the kids. Outstanding special events are offered all year. Just a short hop from Highways 204, 99 or 58 this is great stop just north of downtown Bakersfield. Check out the website for more information on current exhibits and special event offerings. Admission is charged, but $8 for adults is a bargain. Picnicking is welcome on regular admission days, and some events offer free admission. Car shows, an annual antique show, and Clock Tower Holidays are all worth the visit.
For over 60 years, BMoA has provided outstanding exhibits and offered unique educational opportunities in the visual arts to Bakersfield and its surrounding communities.
Originally centered on a collection of Miocene fossils from the local Shark Tooth Hill, it now focuses on Geology, Anthropology, and Paleontology.
Kern County's major agricultural attraction offers fresh and you-pick produce, educational and group tours, a hay wagon and picnic grounds.
Hosts sporting events, concerts, circuses, and other shows throughout the year.
The downtown Fox Theater schedules standup comedy and musical guests. Built in 1930 in Spanish Colonial and Art Deco styles, and restored in the 1990s.
One of the last original, functioning lunch counters of the defunct Woolworth department store. Serves burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, floats, ice cream and fries.
Caribbean.
Middle Eastern.
A favorite breakfast spot serving hearty American food.
A local ice cream parlor and candy shop that has been featured on the Travel Channel on several occasions. Make sure that you try one of their famous black and whites and don't forget to buy a box of Dewar's chews on your way out!
Microbrewery that serves up reasonably priced beer and pub style food.
Happy hour is Tu-Th 2-6PM & all day Sunday & Monday.
This upscale boutique hotel offers five unique food and beverage venues. Has great transit access, with the Greyhound station one block away.
Relatively upscale shopping mall, home to a 14-screen movie theater, a Vons grocery store, several restaurants, and numerous shops.
A sprawling collection of major retailers and restaurants including Target, Kohls, Home Depot, Cost Plus World Market and CVS Pharmacy.
The only indoor mall in Bakersfield. It is also one of the nation's first such malls, dating back to the 1960s. Home to Target, the Apple Store, JCPenney, Forever 21, H&M, Macy's, and numerous small shops and restaurants.
By train
Amtrak also serves Bakersfield, with a nice main terminal downtown.
By bus
Many bus lines pass through Bakersfield with bus stations or stops in different parts of town:
By car
Bakersfield is at the junction of California State Routes 99 and 58, about north of The Grapevine at the junction of CA-99 and Interstate 5 and about 115 miles (185 km) north of Los Angeles
By bus
By bike
Biking is not a typical mode of transit, but it can be done. However, most bike lanes are on arterial roads with multiple car lanes and high speed limits.
By taxi
By foot
The downtown core of Bakersfield is very small and walkable, with shopping centers and parks.
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Bakersfield · Regional · BFL
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