Bakersfield sits about two hours north of Los Angeles along Highway 99 and has grown into a hub for arts and music while preserving its Western heritage. Downtown’s Arts District centers on the restored 1930 Fox Theater, and the city’s live music scene includes the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame and Rooster’s Honky Tonk, born from the influential Bakersfield Sound.
The Kern County Museum spreads 56 historic buildings across shaded grounds, while the California Living Museum showcases native wildlife and the Bakersfield Museum of Art features rotating exhibitions and gardens.
Outdoor visitors can bike the Kern River Parkway Trail or raft the Kern River, and Sequoia National Forest’s Trail of 100 Giants is an easy day trip east. Spring and fall bring the mildest temperatures, around 65-85°F, while summer highs regularly top 100°F.
