C'mon, this is a joke right?  Unfortunately with ole Buck gone, what's left?  Personally, being a someone who's lived all over the states (SC, VA, TX, IL, CA in San Diego) and then moving HERE, the things I've enjoyed the most about Kern County is the scenery.  The Kern canyon  for one, and driving up in the mountains.  I'm one of those people that likes to "see where this road goes" and I've enjoyed that the most.  Like taking the drive to see Caliente and  then continuing to see cows, freerange, in the road, and going on to come out by Lake Isabella  (it's a pretty drive) .  You can't forget  Red Rock canyon or  the trail of 100 Giants.  I just recently decided to take the drive down Granite Road in search of wildflowers this past Monday.  But here in town, there's nothing...absolutely nothing that interests me.  I guess that's the big city girl in me, sorry.

 CALM is on my list as is Pioneer Village.  Jerry's Pizza should also be on any music lover's list.

 The mistake people make when talking about Bakersfield is assuming it could be a tourist town.  It is not.  The biggest draw for out of town people that I see anyway, is sports.  There are a lot of soccer tournaments and there used to be a lot of softball touraments.  We have March Meets along with other drag races and, of course,  the boat drags.  We have conventions and dog shows.  I'm sure there are many things I haven't mentioned but for straight tourism?  Nahhh...we just don't have it.  "They" shot themselves in the foot as far as a draw to the city when they allowed Mesa Marin to be shut down.  "They" pinned their star on the housing industry out there to the detriment of our tourism pocket...heh...hope that works out for them.

As much as I love Pioneer Village, I doubt many people drive from far away just to visit it.  Same with CALM.  If you want a tourist attraction, build a Branson, or put in a theme park with the biggest loopdeloop/twisty tun/flip em rides you can think of.  Camelot (or whatever it's called now) just won't cut it.

Otherwise, accept that this is a hometown where people live and work.  Accept that we don't have horrendous traffic and millions of people fouling our air even more than it is.  Accept that tourism is just an hour or so away.  That excitement is in your neighborhood but not in your front yard.

Enjoy what you have and remember...be careful what you wish for, it may not be as grand as you think it is.

 you tube Bakersfield tourist video..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch...

Whaddya mean?

<spits> Bak's got tourist attractions.

 This is from the Bakersfield Californian, This will draw in the tourist dollars !

http://uk.youtube.com/watch...

 then too, there's always Bruce's Truck Stop

 Good East Coast turnaround market there....

My sis stops at Bruce's Truck Stop quite frequently when she comes to town for short visits. Not a scenic wonderland, however.

The one thing that would truly benefit everyone in this town is having the Kern River with water over the hot summer months. I cannot understand anyone who does not think getting water pumped, with existing pumps in place, would not be an economic benefit. Why do we have a Riverwalk Park if there is virtually no river? Why plan some grand retail and mixed use area if the only things going in the development are medical buildings, a few restaurants and another swath of unnecessary single family homes cut in half by a dry river bed? 

Bakersfield really has very few distinguishing  features for any tourist at this time. I guess it could be eyepopping for the uninitiated visitor to see an oil derrick pumping next to a medical office building, but after that  the landscape and  architecture in this town are Ben Bland designs all. CALM is a nice place for a quick visit. There aren't any great golf courses here, which is unfortunate given the amount of retirees here in town, which means any well-to-do visitors who would spend major dollars to enjoy a signature course never bother with itinerary that includes Bakersfield.    

The county does have the Mojave Desert, the Kern Canyon, the Grapevine with Tejon Ranch and the Tule Elk Reserve for naturalists. We are also in very close proximity to Magic Mountain and Universal Studios for day trips. I guess those must be the draws.  

 We have some family coming next month for their first visit and having the darnedest time finding something to show them in town.  Hope y'all can think of something.

 Nocouch..I don't mean to sound mean but people have already listed the things to do here.  You need to read the suggestions again.  There really isn't much that jumps out at you unless you take them out of town.

Pioneer Village...CALM...The Kern Canyon...Lake Ming...Hark Park during the week at dusk when you can see the peacocks.  THis is NOT a tourist town.  Take them on a drive over the Lions Trail and explain the history of Havilah and how the Lions trail used to be a stage coach route and how the bandits used to sit in the switchback ess curves to rob the stage.  Take them to the Taft museum so they can see the history of the largest oil reserve.  Take them to the rose fields in Wasco. 

The thing is, most people, even the ones who live here, don't bother to check out the history so that they have a working knowledge of what the county is and what it represents. 

Now if your guests aren't into history and are into tourism, you'd better take them to Magic Mountain or Pismo.  Or Greenhorn.  Nothing exciting but very pretty there.  Get creative, instruct yourself in the surroundings here.  Go out and find things...it won't come to you. 

 Not mean at all.....(sorry it might have sounded sarcastic).  I have Pioneer Village, CALM, Crystal Palace and Kernville on my list. Is Taft Museum worth the drive through the less scenic (trashy neighborhoods, cows standing in their own s*** and on each other) to get there?  We don't need to be entertained but would like to help live down the "armpit" idea the family has of  Bakersfield.  Where is Lions Trail? (4x4, dirt,?) Is the little Train Museum in Shafter nice? Hart Park has peacocks?  You are right, I don't know the history of the area very well but always willing to learn. 

When my mom came to visit, folks were really helpful with suggestions.  Some have been mentioned already, but others haven't, so this link might help you:  http://people.bakersfield.c....

 Thanks.............for the ideas on your blog.  They are coming in May for a week:  would like to keep them busy with the best choices , not bored with the wrong ones.  So the more ideas I get the better.

 Thanks Murphy - I got Crystal slated in for the friday nite show.

Murphy - Is live music played during brunch at Crystal? Otherwise, we'll probably stick with the friday nite Buckaroo show and go else where for Brunch. I do like the idea of buying your seat though - no lines or waiting.

 The Shafter museum is only open on Saturdays at specific times.  Check google for the exact time.  I never seem to catch it at the right time and funny you mentioned it...motopoet and I were just talking about it last night.

To get to Taft you don't go through cow patties.  Just take Taft Highway (119) all the way.  It gets into rolling hills and isn't much of a drive scenery wise but the museum is worth it if you're in to local history.

If you're going to Kernville anyway...take 58 to the Caliente turn off, across Walker Basin (lots of history there too) and on up the Lions Trail through Havilah, the original county seat of Kern County, and over into Kern Valley up to Kernville.  Have lunch up there, and when you leave take the canyon road home.  It's a complete loop and a great day trip.

The Lions Trail is what the road used to be known as from 58 to Bodfish and is paved all the way.

When you go to Pioneer Village, don't forget to go in the museum and take the stairs to the mezzenine.  You'll find clothing and memorabilia from the local county/western artists along with other really neat stuff.

Don't mind me, I'm honestly one of the last of the local cheerleaders as most on the blog just want to point out the down side of living here. 

 I forgot Minter Field, lots of history there too.  They're having an air show April 19.  See info here..  http://www.minterfieldairmu...

 Forgot another thing.  Yes, there are peacocks in Hart Park.  If you go at dusk you'll get to see them migrate to the trees and fly up to roost.  Just make sure to go during the week.  Also if you drive on the road nearest the river, you can walk down on the bank.

The thing about Bakersfield is that there isn't much to entertain YOU.  You have to get out and find the cool places around the county.

Another place to go is Tehachapi Mountain Park.  The snow is probably all gone but it's a beautiful place to go.  Geeeze...don't get me started.  Too late...you already did.

 Nancy there is still a little snow up at mountain park.

 I used to love to take my daughter out to hart park .  Feed the ducks and see the peacocks and paddle-boats.

I was out there a few days ago and there where no paddle boats...........Maybe they where put up for the winter.
When I was a kid we used to go out to the park on Sundays and cruise and party. Those where the good old days.

 The Hart Park paddle boats are no more! Does anyone know how the peacocks came to be at the park?

 I have no idea how they got there but were probably brought in many years ago for the zoo that used to be in the corner by the ranger station.  Here's a link.

http://www.associatedconten...

 That's what I was thinking, Nancy, since they do seem to congregate around the ranger station. I miss the days of the carnival rides and paddle boats. It would be great to see the old water wheel refurbished.

 My favorite ride at the park was the Tilt A Whirl.  Unlike the kids of today, our 8th grade graduation trip was to Hart Park.  It was really exciting since, after all, it was around 20 miles from my neck of the woods. (or thereabouts)  I developed a "crick" in my neck and was disappointed at having to spend my trip in a lot of pain.  Our PE teacher Mr. Yeager, had fixed his daughter Candy's stiff neck before and I begged him to fix mine.  He was a wise man and refused to "pop" my neck.   Wow..think of the lawsuit people would file now if anything went wrong.

I hung in there and went anyway.  As I recall I had a great time and the Tilt A Whirl continued to be my favorite ride throughout my younger years.  Haven' been on one of those things in many years.