24 Best & Fun Things To Do In Bakersfield (California)
Bakersfield (California), is the county seat of Kern County and is at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley.
It is an important place for making energy and farming, and it’s also becoming more famous as a place to visit.
You can find a lot of things to do and see there. It’s even one of the fastest-growing medium-sized cities in the US!
There are many historic places in Bakersfield that are fun to visit and teach you something.
It also has a lot of places that celebrate local arts and culture, as well as a lot of natural sights.
Numerous places to see live music and play sports are also popular, so there are lots of fun things to do for people of all ages and interests.
You might find it hard to choose what to see and how to spend your time in this lovely and busy city. That’s why we made this list.
Below are the 24 best and fun things to do in Bakersfield, California.
1. Golden West Casino
At Golden West Casino, you can have a great time with other people.
There aren’t many casinos and gambling spots in this part of the state, but the business has been slowly growing, and now you can enjoy a great gaming experience in Bakersfield.
What games can you play at the Golden West Casino?
You can easily find poker, baccarat, Omaha, blackjack, stud, and other common games.
There are also many places to eat and drink here, so you can spend the day at the tables with a selection of beers and tasty food.
There are also regular events that make the experience even more interesting, fun, and different.
Address: 1001 S Union Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93307, United States
2. Lake Ming
In Bakersfield, California, Lake Ming is one of the most peaceful spots to visit.
In a way, it is a part of Kern River County Park.
This man-made lake is open to the public and is a popular place to water ski, motorboat, and sailing. It’s also the site of many National Jet Boat Association races.
During the winter, the Department of Fish and Game puts rainbow fish into Lake Ming that are 10 to 12 inches long.
Between now and the end of the year, you can fish for catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, and carp.
People also like to do water sports here all year, and a lot of them like to swim because it’s safer and calmer than the Kern River.
Address: 13375 Lake Ming Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93306, United States
3. Puzzle Effect
Puzzle Effect in Bakersfield is a great place to spend the day with family or friends.
It’s an exciting escape room journey that gets people to work together.
You have an hour to figure out the adventure of your choice’s codes and hints and get out of it.
This is a cool spot in this part of California that you can visit for fun.
The puzzle in each experience is tied together by its own unique plot, which is full of turns and twists.
Your critical thinking and problem-solving skills will be put to the test as you try to escape. Each room can hold up to six people.
Address: 3616 Coffee Rd C, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
4. Wool Growers
Want to do something sweet in Bakersfield? Why not go to one of the best restaurants in the city?
From 1954 to the present, Wool Growers has been serving Basque food and is run by a family.
The restaurant feels like home and has simple displays that go well with the traditional food.
Even though Wool Growers has a laid-back vibe, it gets a lot of famous people, probably because the food is so good.
The food is lively and friendly, with roasted meats, spicy Basque tomato sauces, stewed beans, onion soups, pickled tongue, and more.
In the lounge and bar, adults can try a tasty cocktail called picon punch, which is made in the traditional Basque way.
Address: 620 E 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93305, United States
5. Weedpatch Camp
Weedpatch Camp is a very important piece of California history.
If you’re interested in history and don’t know where to go, this is one of the more somber but educational places in the city to visit.
This is the camp that is the setting for John Steinbeck’s famous book The Grapes of Wrath. It is officially called the Arvin Federal Government Camp.
When it was first built, Weedpatch Camp was a “rescue camp” for migrant workers from Oklahoma and other states who had to leave their homes because of the drought in the Dust Bowl.
They were put to work in the fields nearby, and camps like this one were built so they could stay.
Weedpatch Camp is on the National Register of Historic Places and shows how migrant workers lived and what their living situations were like.
Most of the time, it’s a private and quiet place to think, and there are a few abandoned buildings you can check out.
Address: 8701 Sunset Blvd, Bakersfield, CA 93307, United States
6. Central Park at Mill Creek
A fun and relaxing break from the noise and chaos of the nearby cities can be had at Central Park at Mill Creek, which is another one of Bakersfield’s leisure spots.
Because it was built to follow an irrigation ditch, it has a simple, straight shape.
These days, it has all kinds of amenities that make it a pleasant and easy experience.
There is a 1.5-mile park that goes through the original length of Central Park at Mill Creek.
To take a break and look at the waterfalls and ducks, you can stop at the Mill Creek Bridge along the way.
You can also just relax in one of the many green areas that branch off from the long path.
Address: 500 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
7. Valley Plaza Mall
The Valley Plaza Mall is the largest mall in the San Joaquin Valley in California.
It has been around since 1967 and is one of the best places in the city to shop.
It was an impressive 900,000 square feet inside when it first opened, and the design was modern Spanish in style.
It has grown every year since 1986, and the many changes that have happened have only made it more famous.
Valley Plaza Mall has a lot to see.
You can shop until you drop at well-known stores like vans, Forever 21, H&M, Hot Topic, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, and many more.
In case you get hungry, there are many different places to eat, and if you get bored, you can watch a movie in its brand-new, 16-screen IMAX theater.
Address: 2701 Ming Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93304, United States
8. Sequoia National Forest
The Sequoia National Forest is one of the best places to visit in all of California if you are ready to drive a little ways.
It’s not too far from downtown Bakersfield—only about 15 miles from the city center.
You can stay here for a long time this weekend so you can make the most of your trip to the Land of the Giants.
This famous national park is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and has more than 30 groups of sequoia trees.
Canyons with sharp edges were formed by glaciers. Rivers flow freely through beautiful scenery, and there are many sites to enjoy this natural beauty.
Since the Sequoia National Forest is up to 12000 feet, there are many hikes that can be done.
There are many ways to see the 1,193,315 acres that make up Sequoia National Forest.
It’s possible to go whitewater rafting, kayaking, camping, or backpacking, and take many pictures of the beautiful green scenery.
There are six clearly marked wilderness areas in the forest. The Domeland Wilderness is the largest and covers 95,000 acres.
Address: 1839 South Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA 93257, United States
9. Sam Lynn Ballpark
Want to have more fun at your Bakersfield attractions?
On Chester Avenue, go to Sam Lynn Ballpark.
This park was built in 1941 and is the oldest of its kind in the Class-A Advanced California League.
A local businessman gave the park its name because he wanted to support youth baseball teams and make sure they had everything they needed.
Once upon a time, the Bakersfield Badgers played their home games at the Sam Lynn Ballpark. These days, the Bakersfield Blaze play their home games there.
Many of the games are planned for the night because it faces the setting sun.
Address: 4009 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
10. Panorama Vista Preserve and Panorama Park
Want to know about the best California spots to visit?
In Bakersfield, California, the Panorama Vista Preserve is a great place for walkers and one of the best free things to do in the city.
In the park, you can also jog, ride a horse, take pictures, paddle in the river, or ride a bike.
You’ll also see a beautiful river, lush woods, and lots of different plants and animals.
Panorama Vista Preserve covers a huge 930 acres and is meant to recover and protect some endangered plant and animal species in the area.
Some of these are the San Joaquin Kit Fox and the Bakersfield Cactus.
Panorama Vista Preserve is also home to another one of the city’s tourist spots.
The park is called Panorama Park, and it’s on a hill over the beautiful Kern River.
This is a lovely spot that looks even better at sunset. The paved trail goes around the whole loop twice, which is two miles long.
Address: 901 E Roberts Ln, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
11. McMurtrey Aquatic Center
The McMurtrey Aquatic Center is one of the best places to go in Bakersfield if you’re looking for cheap adventures that are still fun.
This leisure center is in the downtown area of Bakersfield and is a popular place for swimming and diving.
When it opened in 2004, the McMurtrey Aquatic Center had a big pool that was 8,551 square feet.
There is also an Olympic-sized heated competitive pool with 9 lanes that run for 25 yards and 9 lanes that run for 50 meters. The depth of the pool is 3 feet, 6 inches at one end and 14 feet, 2 inches at the other.
That’s okay, you can swim without worrying because both pools have lifeguards on duty during work hours.
There are also diving boards, a plunge pool, two water slides, non-deep entry, play areas for kids, a volleyball court, and even lunch areas at the McMurtrey Aquatic Center!
The center is often the site of many events, such as scuba diving, aqua exercise classes, diving, water polo, and many more.
Address: 1325 Q St Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
12. Kern County Raceway Park
There is only one race track in Kern County, and it’s a half-mile long.
In 2013, the oval-shaped racetrack took the place of the Mesa Marin racetrack. It is a stadium with 5,000 seats, 18 concession stands, and an impressive 21 VIP suites, giving it a total capacity of 17,000 seats.
People come to Bakersfield, California, for fun events like the K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series, and different car shows.
When it comes to places for race fans to go in the city, the Kern County Raceway Park is the best.
The park has a track with a banked surface that goes from 12 degrees to 14 degrees.
Turns have a backstretch climb that is ten feet higher than the straight pit. This makes it easy for cheering fans to see!
Address: 13500 Raceway Blvd Interstate 5 and, Enos Ln, Bakersfield, CA 93311, United States
13. Gaslight Melodrama Theater
You should go to the Gaslight Melodrama Theater in Bakersfield if you want to do something artsy that kids will enjoy.
It’s one of the best places in Bakersfield to see live art!
You can eat snacks and small meals or drink wine, beer, and soft drinks in the Moosehead Lounge before or after the show if you get hungry.
This Gaslight Melodrama Theater is family-friendly and specializes in old-time melodrama, with a focus on spoofs and parodies of crime, fantasy, sports, and the Wild West.
There are often comedic sketches, jokes, singing numbers, dancing, and Vaudeville styles in performances.
There are also magic shows and puppet shows, and kids can join education programs that teach them how to sing, dance, act, improvise, and put on makeup for plays.
Address: 12748 Jomani Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93312, United States
14. Kern River Parkway Trail
The Kern River Parkway Trail is a path for people to walk that links to The Park at River Walk and to many of Bakersfield, California’s best things to do.
Around the trail, there are ways to get to Beach Park and Panorama Park. This is why so many bikers, strollers, and runners come here.
You can also walk around and watch the sun go down.
The Kern River Parkway Trail goes from Enos Lane to Alfred Harrell Highway, which is 21.4 miles, along the Kern River.
This is an asphalt path, but no motorized vehicles are allowed on it, so you can take your time and not worry about cars coming up behind you.
The trail is in the wildlife preserve of the 6,000-acre Kern River Parkway, which is the largest municipal park in the county.
It has been there since 1976 and goes from Kern Canyon to Interstate 5.
The most famous trail is the one with the same name, but there are other paths as well, some of which are only for horseback riding or biking.
Address: Bakersfield, CA, United States
15. Camelot Park
Camelot Park is a fun amusement park with lots of things to do.
There are lots of fun things for families with kids to do in Bakersfield, California.
You can have fun on child rides, splash boats, a baseball field, mini-golf courses, and go-karts, among other things.
There are also a lot of arcade games at Camelot Park, such as Haunted Hotel, Deal or No Deal, Spin N Win, and Big Bass Wheel.
People from all over California also come to see events like All Night Play, First Friday Fellowship Night, and The Ultimate Group Package every season.
Take a look at the park’s calendar this weekend if you want to go. There might be something fun going on!
Address: 1251 Oak St, Bakersfield, CA 93304, United States
16. The Park at River Walk
One of the most relaxing things to do in Bakersfield is to visit the 32-acre Park at River Walk, which is also known as River Walk Park.
It has a stream, two lakes that are linked by it, four bridges over the stream, and more.
It’s also where the Bright House Amphitheater is located. The amphitheater is made to look like an island and is one of only two outdoor stages in the city that size.
Near the Park at River Walk is the Kern River Parkway Trail, which is great for getting some exercise. There is also a concrete creek to walk through.
Anglers can have fun getting fish like carp, bass, crappie, and more.
You can take a break at one of the six covered lunch areas. There are also many other barbecue pits and picnic tables, a gazebo, and a playground for kids.
Address: 11298 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311, United States
17. Murray Family Farms
Murray Family Farms is the best place to stay in Bakersfield with your family.
This place is super busy with events and has lots of different things to see and do.
As a fully operational farm with a wide range of farm activities and yearly events, it is one of the best places in the area for families to visit.
A lot of different U-Pick events happen at Murray Family Farms every year.
Orange, blueberry, strawberry, cherry, and stone fruit U-Pick events are held at different times of the year depending on the fruit’s growth season.
There are also holiday events, some of which are more U-Picks and others with meet-and-greets with animals and temporary attractions.
There are different things to do on Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day!
Murray Family Farms grows fruits and veggies on 70 acres of land. It is an organic farm.
Fun things to do include a butterfly house, a train ride, picnic tables, an animal park, and hayrides.
It’s possible to see ducks, chickens, turkeys, pigeons, geese, goats, peacocks, sheep, and a lot more!
Address: 6700 General Beale Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93307, United States
18. Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center
One of the best places in Bakersfield to see big shows and events is the Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater, and Convention Center, which used to be called the Rabobank Arena.
The Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League play their home games at this fun, multi-use building that opened in 1998.
The California State University plays their home games there.
With a floor space of 17,000 square feet, the Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater, and Convention Center has room for 6,400 people.
Inside, there is a 17,840-square-foot display hall with a theater that can hold 3,000 people.
The Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame is in the southern hallway of the building. It is where you can learn about the famous athletes from the city and county.
The Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater, and Convention Center is a place where many different kinds of shows happen.
At the site, you can see sporting events, concerts, symphony orchestras, Disney on Ice, monster truck rallies, Broadway shows, live movie remakes, and a lot more!
Address: 1001 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
19. Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science
The Fox Theater is close to the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science.
It is conveniently located in the city’s center area and is full of fossils and other interesting things from all over Kern County.
This makes it one of the best places to visit in Bakersfield for history buffs or people who want to learn while having fun.
The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science is mostly about three things: geology, anthropology, and fossils.
The museum opened in 1995 with the help of the amazing Sharktooth Hill Miocene fossils from the Bob and Mary Ernst Collection.
This is the largest group of fossils of that type ever found in that place.
These fossils are still the most important thing in the museum!
Enjoy a lot of fun things to do at the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science.
You can learn about the Yokut people and other Native Americans who lived in the area in Native American Lifeways, which has a copy of one of their towns.
There are more than 50 taxidermied animals from Africa in the African Animals displays. If you like dinosaurs, you can go upstairs to the Paleontology Collection and Paleo Lab.
But there’s more: a model of Yosemite Valley, a copy of a triceratops head, a group of von Zittel illustrations, and a bunch of rocks and minerals.
Toys and kids will enjoy The “Oh” Zone, a place to learn through play and discovery.
Address: 2018 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
20. Fox Theater
The Fox Theater opened on Christmas Day 1930 and quickly became one of the most popular places for tourists to enjoy entertainment. It showed movies, “talkies,” operas, and bands.
It was built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style at first, but it was soon changed to an Art Deco style.
Sadly, the theater would not be able to stay open, and by 1984, it had been abandoned and was falling apart.
The Fox Theater Foundation was set up in 1994 to get the theater back up and running and fix it up.
The theater is open today and looks just like it did in the past. It has a cute, old-fashioned charm and beautiful artistic and aesthetic features.
It has comedic acts, concerts, movie showings, ballet shows, dance recitals, and a lot more on its schedule.
If you like art and want to do something fun in the city this weekend, check out what’s on display here!
Address: 2001 H St, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
21. Bakersfield Museum of Art
Want to know what the best things are to do in California?
The Bakersfield Museum of Art, or BMoA, was founded in 1956 to encourage people in Kern County to be creative and show off their artistic skills.
Art lovers should make this one of their top things to do in Bakersfield. It’s full of works by California artists from the 20th century.
Most of the time, photos, drawings, and sculptures are shown, but other types are also there.
The Bakersfield Museum of Art is about 17,400 square feet and has a banquet hall, classrooms, and two big galleries.
Outside, there are many lovely gardens with statues and other works of art that can be seen from the outside.
The most well-known of these parks is the Tejon Ranch Sculpture Park. It’s fun to walk around the grounds and look for art.
Address: 1930 R St, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
22. Kern County Museum
Some of the best places to see in Bakersfield are just north of downtown, near the center of the city. One of these places is the Kern County Museum.
Families will love this place, which tells the story of Kern County’s past through more than 60 carefully restored historic houses and a lot of artifacts spread out over 16 acres.
The Pioneer Village outside of the Kern County Museum is probably its most famous feature. This is where all the preserved buildings from the late 1800s are shown.
Homesteading cabins, an oil derrick, general shops, a one-room school, and railcar jail cells are all there for you to see and learn about.
There is also a cool, interactive exhibit outside that talks about the city’s past in the oil business and how it helped the county grow.
But don’t forget to see the museum and shows inside, too!
Kids can learn about science in fun and interactive ways at the Lori Brock Children’s Discovery Center. There are also displays about singers like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard who got their start in Bakersfield.
There are also displays about the Native American people who used to live on this land, as well as displays about farming, railroads, and mining that use photos, documents, and items to tell the stories.
Address: 3801 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
23. California Living Museum
The California Living Museum, or just “CALM,” is northeast of Bakersfield’s center area.
This zoo is part of Kern River County Park and has won a lot of awards. Unlike most museums, it’s only about showing off local wildlife and giving people the chance to learn about and get close to different kinds of animals.
The business is also approved by the Zoological Association of America.
The 14-acre California Living Museum is like a park and is home to many kinds of plants and animals that live in California.
Around the world, more than 80 kinds of animals are hurt or can’t live in their natural environments.
There are only a few animals that can’t be released because they are too sick or injured.
Still, CALM works hard to make sure that the animals they take care of can live in places that are like their natural environments.
The cats of California exhibit has mountain lions and bobcats. The Birds of Prey exhibit has eagles, owls, and hawks. And the open exhibit has black bears.
The waterfowl pond is home to mallards and other migrating birds. The mammal round is home to many kinds of foxes. There is also an underground reptile house and a yard full of deer.
You can do a lot of different things besides just looking at the shows.
Get up close and personal with domestic animals in the contact area. Read books in the reading room to learn more. At the DiGiorgio Education Center, see fossils from the Pleistocene and Miocene periods.
The discovery rooms have changing activities that kids will love, and nature lovers will enjoy the small version of the Kern River’s banks.
Address: 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93306, United States
24. Hart Memorial Park
There are many great places to go on vacation in Bakersfield. Hart Memorial Park is one of the best open leisure areas and one of the city’s biggest parks.
One of the best free things to do in Bakersfield is that there is no fee to get in.
It is spread out over 370 acres and has a lot of great features. It is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and along the Kern River.
There are many paved trails in Hart Memorial Park. In the eastern part, there is a bike path, and in the northern part, there is a horse trail.
It’s pretty easy to find your way around these trails because many of them are named after natural features in the area.
The playground is great for kids, there are baseball backstops and lots of big fields for lawn sports, and there is a picnic place for people who are hungry.
There are two deep pit barbecues, two booths, seven gas burners spread across two grills, and a bandstand in the second area.
Hart Memorial Park is another great place for anglers to fish.
This place has two lakes where you can fish. The lakes are filled with game fish like bass, rainbow trout, and bluegill.
You can also take a nice, calm walk along one of the three rivers.
There are other things to do here if you want something a little more interesting, like two disc golf fields and places to rent boats!
Address: Hart Park, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
25. Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
Outside of Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, there are other fun or famous things to see in Bakersfield.
Some people just call this music hall “The Palace.” It opened in 1996 and was designed by the famous singer, artist, and songwriter of the same name.
It looks like a town from the American Old West in the 1800s and has beautiful Western Revival building.
The Crystal Palace is famous in California for hosting concerts, shows, and classic western dancing. People dress in western clothes and eat tasty food from a music-themed menu.
You can try tiny chimichangas, nachos, salads, soups, pasta, filet mignon, baby back ribs, and “The Palace Mud Pie,” which is Buck’s favorite dish.
It’s not just a music hall, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace is more than that!
It’s also a museum, believe it or not, a coffee shop, a bar, and a nightclub.
It’s full of things that are connected to Buck Owens, like clothes and costumes, guitars, and information about his work.
Address: 2800 Buck Owens Blvd, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
Start Planning Your Trip To Bakersfield
In Bakersfield, California, there are a huge number of fun things to do. Each one is just as much fun as the last!
Bakersfield is a busy and friendly city where everyone can find something they enjoy, whether it’s outdoors, sports, art, music, animals, food, or history.