I love that the Kern County Libraries have events each month for kids, teens, and adults. It's fun…read morebeing able to try something new! I brought my mom for the Brush and Brews event. Participants are provided with materials and could follow along with a tutorial or paint their canvas on their own. I decided to paint my own canvas. It was relaxing to have a community space like this.

We came here for a special event - they had a magician! This library was recently renovated, and it…read moreis very sharp and clean, It even smells good. The staff are very involved and attentive and readily answer questions and go out of their way to help you. I wasn't aware, but they have an event almost every single day during the summer. It is also a summer lunch site and I didn't know that either my two sons were signed up for this summer reading program and they can earn a prize for reading 10 books or 10 hours. I was worried it would be smelly and have homeless people hanging out all over the place, but it wasn't like that at all. We will definitely be coming back on the regular.

I think this is a very lovely library, and a great get away for families and people of all nature…read more (Also the flag is a nice touch and means equality not gay pride Nelson A.. , maybe pick up a book or two when your at the library.. instead of focusing on a poster you can't understand.

I love going to the library. This one in particular because is close to my house, but is hardly…read moreopen. Today a friend mention that they were having a special arts event so I took my little ones. I must say, if you don't know what to do in Bakersfield with your kiddos, check your local library. They have many events going on at all times of the year. During summer, they become the perfect place to go read a book while your kids enjoy a book, arts & crafts, or lunch. Yes, during summer they serve lunch at all the Kern County libraries! Today we were lucky and got to be part of a raffle in which they gave away a bubble maker and several books. They even gave all the kiddos who were there a choice of two books to take home. Free! My daughter was super excited since one of the options was from the series she is currently reading! Now to the bad part, their schedule. They are only open 3 times a week. Not sure if they are the only library with that schedule but is very inconvenient. Overall, the staff is great and the premises are clean and ready to welcome bookworms of all ages!

Cal State Bakersfield has a wonderful campus and library. All the resources and info you need is…read morehere. They have up to date computers, laptops, books, magazines, you name it. Professional staff work here to help out with any situation you have. Very good library.

it's a beautiful library! lots of study space and lots of free seating and outlets. only thing is,…read moreno wifi for guests so I just had to hotspot. they can assign you a desktop computer but no wifi :( also $5 to park

First time visiting the Baker Branch!!! This library's architecture has a lot of character. It's…read moredefinitely a smaller branch, but I enjoyed stopping by here today. The books are well organized for easy browsing, and an online catalog available as well. The main area has round tables and tables with outlets for charging laptops or devices. There's also a computer lab here too. I was able to participate in their monthly bingo session. That was so much fun. I'll be back here soon to get my Laufey library card.

Before there was internet, I loved going to libraries. Nowadays, though, most folks use the…read moreinternet to research and not the libraries. This library on Baker St. does have a few computers so you can surf the net as long as you have a library card number. I stopped by recently because I had some time to kill before going to work. This library is only open twice a week. Currently, they are open Mondays and Tuesdays from 11am to 6pm. The most impressive thing about the Baker St. Library is the architecture. It opened on July 8, 1915 so that makes it 109 years old!!!! Wowza!! In April 1981, the Baker Branch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places!! Very impressive!! Come and check them out!!

The Dream Center is a one of a kind place in our community. It is Kern County's only one-stop…read moreresource center for current and former foster youth offering comprehensive, integrated services and resources. For years the Dream Center has been a place where current and former foster youth can go if they need guidance and help. Their new location has more than doubled their square footage making it possible for them to provide new services for homeless and youth transitioning out of the foster care system. All of the same resources still exist. Some new additions include access to showers and washing machines. Youth can find a supportive community here. It is a spot where friends can be made and mentors can be found. There is no other place like this in Kern! I cannot say enough about how amazing this place is... The staff here is wonderful! From the front desk receptionist to the custodian; everyone who works here has a huge heart for youth and helping others. The youth I have had the pleasure of meeting throughout the years have been some of the smartest and most resilient human beings I've ever met. They are a real inspiration and I am so glad that Kern County has a place that is focused on helping their dreams become reality.

I've always wanted to go inside of a Forest Service Fire Lookout, just to check out the view. A few…read moreyears ago I learned that you could actually rent them out and spend the night, like a hotel room but they always seem to be booked way in advance so I've never had the opportunity. Last week I found myself browsing the Recreation.Gov webpage, and came across the Oak Flat Lookout, which is less than an hour northeast of downtown Bakersfield. I happened to come across a vacancy mid last week and immediately booked it for $75. I spent the next several days excitedly reading about the place online, and looking at pictures others have taken up there. My fiancée and I set out for the site last Tuesday afternoon in my '87 4Runner loaded with supplies, beer and food. Rancheria Road north of SR178 turns to gravel about 5 miles in, and there was another 10 miles or so until we found the trail to go up to the lookout, which was secured with a locked gate. I had received the combination via email when I paid for my reservation and got right in, securing the gate behind me. There was another mile or so up a fairly steep and unimproved trail before we rounded a bend and bam! There it was. The Call Fire burning about 25 miles southeast of the lookout made for a hazy sky, but the view was nevertheless outstanding from 4,920 feet. We climbed the 40 stairs thirty feet above ground level, opened the trap door and emerged onto the catwalk to find an impeccable 360 degree view of the entire mountain range and east Bakersfield. We were pleasantly surprised to find the tower and surrounding campsite (and outhouse) in good condition. It was mostly clean, save for a bit of a stench coming from inside the tower. This was especially surprising considering there's really no one that goes up to the tower regularly to maintain it. You are basically relying on the last guest to have cleaned up after themselves. While there is no water or electricity as the site, there is a propane powered stove, heater, and lantern as well as several flashlights and LED lanterns in the tower, as well as two fairly comfortable and clean twin sized beds. There's also a firepit, bench, and picnic table on site. There's also phone service (T-Mobile) on the south side of the tower. We spent the evening preparing dinner, drinking wine and beer, and listening to music before we headed down to make S'mores before bed. All in all this was an awesome, and unique experience. I recommend it to anyone in the mood for something different on their next camping trip.

Pros - Views are awesome. Nice getaway. There's a fire pit, a picnic table and a bathroom. The…read moreactual lookout also has 2 beds, a sink and a stove. The stove is really easy to use. Packing tips: sheets for the beds, covers for the pillow cases, sandals to walk around in, water for drinking, water for washing dishes/hands/etc, food (can of soup, snacks, etc), toiletries, warm clothing (gets cold at night), bug spray for spiders and earwigs, paper toilet, paper towels Price: $75/night Note: No electricity and no running water Cons - Spiders and earwigs! In our first 6 hours we had already killed over 10 earwigs and 2 spiders. It also wasn't very clean - dusty and dirty. For $75/night they could do a better job at cleaning up.

Honestly, I feel like this place is understaffed and the people are really rude here. People come…read morehere for reasons either they get a restraining order to file her child support child custody you know and it feels like these people are just here to get a paycheck and go home, which is fine and I understand, but at least do your job with dignity and self-respect. I just came here to pick up a packet and they told me to wait in line with like 15 people when they called me just to come and pick it up.

Expect the family law section to make you're already very stressful personal situation far more…read morestressful. They are rude, not helpful, and follow practices that are so unnecessarily complicated and time consuming.

If you don't know about Alexis Godey, the dude was a beast. A total manly man. The kind of guy that…read morewould make Lewis and Clark look like boyscouts. The guy was a legit mountain man and the kind of guy you'd want on your team. In fact, he was lieutenant governor of the California territories for a bit. But what makes this site important, is that the bold Godey, who likely could have lived anywhere decided to buy up tracts of land near Union Avenue and (smartly) sold them off to the railroad, bit by bit. He also purchased a plot of land at this spot inside the current Mill Creek/Central Park solely due to the fact that it was on higher ground than other pieces of land. You know, because the area flooded a lot and stuff. The guy was a true legend. And this legend called Bakersfield home.