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Step 1
Revel in Bakersfield’s Basque culture at one of the frequent barbecue celebrations—usually held in a town park—or by feasting at one of the city’s many Basque restaurants. Many Basques (people hailing from the Pyrenees Mountains of Northern Spain/Southern France) immigrated here around the turn of the 20th Century and their presence is still prominent.
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Step 2
Take in a minor-league baseball game at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark, home of the Bakersfield Blaze. If you’ve never experienced small-time pro baseball (Class-A) this is a wonderful stadium to do so, in an intimate 3,500-seat environment.
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Step 3
Go antiquing at the old Five and Dime Antique Mall (hosted in a former old Woolworths) or one of the other nearby antique malls on 19th Street.
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Step 4
Turn back the clock about 150 years at the Kern County Museum on Chester Avenue. Families with children—or anyone with an interest in California history—will enjoy the attractive compound of numerous restored buildings ranging from blacksmith shops to log cabins to courthouses.
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Step 5
Have a CALM getaway at the California Living Museum, a zoo that not only showcases indigenous California animals, but plants, fossils and artifacts as well. Local wildlife on view range from Albino King Snakes to Black Bears.
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Step 6
Have a picnic at Kern River County Park, a popular weekend destination broken into five separate areas, including Lake Ming—a hotspot for water activities. Plenty of campsites are available too, for outdoor adventurers.
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Step 7
Modern artistic wonders and pristine grounds await at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. A sculpture garden makes for a wonderful stroll in nice weather, and the massive main center offers a stimulating way to beat the heat on a summer day.
