Bakersfield

Nestled on the banks of Kern River, Bakersfield is replete with abundant natural beauty, where the magnificent Greenhorn Mountain Range casts its shadows on the town's charming landscape, and motley serpentine trails weave through the wild Sequoia National Forest. A tapestry of parks, museums, theaters and restaurants validate its cultural, forward-looking character. Having its roots deeply entrenched in the California gold rush, this flourishing town is also dotted with oil fields, which have played an important role in its past, while also framing its present. As if this was not enough to render this place an eccentric, fascinating canvas, the city is also where the 'Bakersfield Sound' genre of music came to being. The Kern County Museum here is insightful and historic, as is the Beuna Vista Museum of Natural History & Science, while the ancient Buck Owens Crystal Palace reverberates with the harmonies of soulful country performances.