Bakersfield is a city located in Southern California, about 110 miles north of Los Angeles. It was founded in the middle of 19th century around the times of the Gold Rush, when a number of adventurers flooded California in the search of quick wealth.
Bakersfield has been long used as major filming location with hundreds of movies, TV-shows and commercials being filmed in the city and the surrounding county, mostly because of the diverse landscape. This presents the opportunity to many tourists to visit the location where one of their favorite movies and TV shows were made.
Movies are not the only art that has roots in Bakersfield as the city has produced some famous musicians such as Country Music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard, Hall of Fame Guitarist Bill Aken and many others. Nowadays there are a number of locations where you can enjoy good music throughout Bakersfield. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace is the place to be, if you want to get familiar with the country’s heritage of the city, and other major theater locations are Rabobank Theater, Rabobank Arena and the Fox Theater. Bakersfield is also known for having many outdoor amphitheaters and a lot of bars that offer good old country and rock and roll.
The city won’t disappoint you in terms of museums either. The Kern County Museum for example can offer you a great history lesson about old times, including some Native American history. If you are visiting, prepare a few hours though, since the place has a lot to offer. You can also go to the Crystal Palace and Museum which also offers a famous restaurant with delicious food and live music for the perfect night out. Another place to check is the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, especially if you are interested in animals, fossils and space. If you are visiting around Christmas with your family, the California Area Living Museum is the place for you. It will not just show you some very interesting animals in their natural habitat, but the Christmas lights surely make it look like a fairytale.
Sports fans won’t be disappointed either as Bakersfield has something to offer in that regard. The Kern County Raceway Park is the best place for speed lovers. There is also a golf course, rafting opportunities and even a Wild Wolves Preserve, so fun and excitement are guaranteed.
If you are looking for a place to stay, there are some great hotels in Bakersfield. Padre Hotel has a great reputation as also Hampton Inn. You can also chose a Homewood suit by Hilton. If you are on a budget, there are a bunch of decent places to go such as California Best Inn, Quality Inn and Suites and Red Roof Inn.
Bakersfield can also offer some great restaurants with various types of food. The best places for dinner are Nuestro Mexico Restaurant, Uricchio Trattoria, Luigi’s Restaurant and Delicatessen, and the Hungry Hunter Steak House. If you want to have a coffee or a good breakfast, you should certainly visit 24th Street Café.