Bakersfield, California may not be glamorous Hollywood but it can offer historical locations as well as modern ones. It is also a large, fast-growing city that cannot be described as boring. Bakersfield does have many faces. For one, it is one of San Joaquin Valley's biggest towns. For another, it is known for being an agricultural center and a source of oil. If you go around Bakersfield, you will enjoy Bakerfield's interesting sights and sounds, along with modern establishments. So you are still in touch with the old and the new. You'll also get to enjoy both Bakersfield's big city lifestyle, music, and rural charm if you know the perfect places to visit.



Getting to know the people of Bakersfield

Bakersfield, California is just as much as a melting pot as the other cities in the state. Some of Bakersfield's notable former and current residents include the Grammy award-winning band Korn (Brian Welch, David Silveria, James Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, and Jonathan Davis), country singer Buck Owens, actress Kelli Garner, and former California governor Earl Warren.

On Bakersfield neighborhoods

The most diverse neighborhood within the city is Southwest Bakersfield. This may be because it used to be the focus of Bakersfield development from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Bakersfield culture

Bakersfield still has old museums and rundown buildings which are symbols of the city's past. Just by looking at them, you get to have a feel of what it was like to live in the city decades before. The museums of course feature artifacts coming from the place itself plus an exhibit on oil, an important Bakersfield product. The exhibit basically talks about how to mine oil. A distinctive style of Bakersfield country music is also featured. You can also get a better taste of Bakersfield culture outside of its museums by attending events such as nostalgia-themed drag racing and other more family oriented festivals.

Playing Bakersfield sports

Sports and recreation in Bakersfield goes beyond the horse races and drag racing. The city proves itself to be far from boring. You can try a handful of them such as football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. On water, you can go boat dragging, white water rafting, or water skiing. If you want to stay on dry land, however, you can go cycling, play tennis, or go for extreme rock climbing. There are lots of ways to make your stay in Bakersfield more exciting. For a more unforgettable experience, don't forget to bring your friends as you try some of the sports mentioned above.

A glimpse inside Bakersfield hotels

When picking a place to stay in at Bakersfield, you can consider a variety of choices. If you want a place that is completely modern and familiar, you can go for one of the city's modern hotels. This means that you will be sticking with the fast-paced, big city life in Bakersfield. You do have the option to go the other route; you can pick a hotel in the city's slower-paced countryside. In any of the countryside lodgings, you can enjoy Bakersfield's rustic side.

Sampling Bakersfield restaurants

Bakersfield restaurants have familiar and exotic offerings. If you have a sensitive stomach, you may feel more comfortable sticking with dishes that you already know. This means sticking with modern restaurants in the city proper. However, if you are adventurous enough and want to experience the local foods of Bakersfield, you need to give its exotic restaurants a try. Partly because of its multicultural makeup, Bakersfield can offer many types of dishes. As per the price of the dishes, you can also make adjustments because you have a choice between fine cuisine and casual dining.

About the author

Susanna Raymonds is primarily a food critic. However, her visits to several American towns and cities have inspired her to write about those trips. Ms. Raymonds claims that being a food critic is making her diet suffer but she enjoys sampling new dishes, nonetheless.