Bakersfield

The growing city of Bakersfield, about two hours north of Los Angeles in California’s southern Central Valley, is full of pleasant surprises. Once known only for oil and agriculture, Bakersfield—or Bako, as the locals affectionately call it—has become a hub for arts and culture while still retaining the richness of the region’s past. 

Bakersfield History

Long before it became known for its Basque restaurants and oil fields, Bakersfield grew from a mid-19th-century settlement along the Kern River into a key agricultural and transportation hub in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley. The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s spurred development, while fertile soils supported booming industries in citrus, grapes, and cotton. By the late 1800s, immigrants from the Spanish and French Pyrenees arrived to herd sheep and plant orchards, establishing a strong Basque presence.

That heritage is still celebrated in what is now the country’s largest concentration of Basque restaurants. In the 20th century, Bakersfield expanded rapidly with the growth of nearby oil fields and agriculture, while also developing a distinctive cultural identity through music—most famously through the “Bakersfield Sound,” a raw, electrified strain of country music popularized by artists such as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. 

Things to Do in Bakersfield

Fast-forward to Bakersfield’s citified attractions, including the gallery-filled Arts District, home to the 1930 Fox Theater, where performances range from pop music to film noir. 

Find out more about hardscrabble musical pioneers like Owens and Merle Haggard with a visit to the Kern County Museum, a collection of 56 historic buildings spread out among grassy lawns. You’ll also get a lesson in California’s oil industry: Kern County’s wells pump 70 percent of the state’s “black gold.” Afterward, shop for vintage finds at Bakersfield’s Antique Row, then pop over to the swanky Padre Hotel for a cocktail on the rooftop lounge.

The Wind Wolves Preserve

There’s plenty of nature to be had around Bakersfield, too. Wildflowers blanket the local grasslands and nearby Tehachapi Range in spring. See them in March and April at the 93,000-acre Wind Wolves Preserve, the West Coast’s largest nonprofit nature preserve. At any time of year, these vast grasslands are a haven for wildlife and an inspiring place to take a hike or pedal your mountain bike.

Visit a Nearby Living Ghost Town

Drive about 120 miles east, and you can step into the spirit of the Wild Wild West in Randsburg, a living ghost town along U.S. Route 395. Explore old mines, wander wooden boardwalks, and visit the iconic Owl Cafe, where mining artifacts, prospecting supplies, and desert hospitality bring the distant past to life.