Very nice small zoo. Not crowded at all on a Saturday afternoon. Pleasantly surprised to find out they had a train ride and a playground! We were actually able to get up close to both the mountain lion and the bear and they were awake and active! The raccoon came right up to the fence to greet us. Cute reptile house. A really nice time for us and our toddler son and his grandparents. read more

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Nice small zoo. All the kids loved the small zoo, they were able to see and learn about all the native animals. We did go in the summer so bring water and some fans it gets really Hot!! read more

CALM Zoo - Learning about sea life from the great staff at Calm zoo. - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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What can one say about CALM? Where does one even begin? It's the only place in town that I've taken out-of-town visitors - just because. I was there the year it opened, and now, many years forward, am thrilled that it's become a mainstay in our community. It has thrived and grown beyond expectations. I know a couple of the docents and you couldn't find anyone who loves and appreciates animals more than they. The activities during the year, such as "Boo at the Zoo," and the outstanding Christmas lights, have helped bring about community awareness, which in turn, helps support CALM. read more

If you live in Bakersfield and love wild animals and love to see them from a close distance or want to educate your kids about nature , this is the place to be at . A part of Bakersfield for the community . read more

Love seeing the animals but the light display isn't as good driving by as it was walking around. Won't go back until they change back to in person visit. read more

Our first time out at CALM and it is such a great place to enjoy mother nature. There aren't as many animals as I expected but just enough for a toddler to enjoy and be excited. I love all of the scattered picnic tables we brought some snacks to enjoy under the large shade trees, it's really a relaxing place. I don't even feel like im in Bakersfield. We purchased the annual membership on Groupon ($50, regular price $75) with Buena Vista Museum and it includes admission for 2 adults and 6 kids to CALM BVM and KCM along with lots of other museums around CA. We will definitely be back! read more

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We brought in an abandoned fledgling red tailed hawk that was underweight, emaciated and abandoned. CALM took it in and nursed it back to health. Not even the Government Wild Life Association would do anything. I and many others are so grateful for the help CALM gave. I will be donating regularly to CALM in the future!!! read more

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

An amazing zoo like experience. They have a very good variety of rescued animals to see, a playground, a train to ride and a very nice little gift shop. It's tucked away from everything in Bakersfield, feels like your in the wilderness. I will definitely go again. My 5 year old had a blast! read more

Went for the Christmas lights.... great time as usual Went early and no lines for the train. Great picture time for the lights. read more

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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"Twilight at Calm" was so much fun! We went the last weekend in August. It was the perfect getaway from the blazing Bakersfield heat. Our group of 30, a healthy mix of kids and adults, arrived around 6pm. Even though we were only there for 2 hours we were able to squeeze in a lot. (The park closed at 8pm for this special event.) Hands down, the train ride and the petting zoo were a highlight for everyone. (FYI: Make sure to buy a train ticket at the main entrance, it's only $1 and bring lots of quarters for the animal pellet dispensers.) Since we went in the evening, the animals were wide awake & very active. Honestly, we had such a wonderful time that we can't wait to go back next year! read more

CALM Zoo - Bear sighting - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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UGH!! As a mother, I have always loved taking them places especially CALM. Today as I was in the gift shop, these two high school girls were being so rudely spoken to by the desk woman. From the sounds of it they were supposed to volunteer at a certain time but it was miscommunicated between the girls and establishment. I PRAY that when my kids grow up and they want to volunteer their time, they will never be spoken to in such a manner. So sad to see this kind of behavior on their staff who are constantly around people of all ages. read more

This is a nice gem in Kern County. They have a good amount of animals to look at and learn about. They are always updating and making the enclosures better. The employees always seem like they enjoy their job so much. The X-mas light event they do is outstanding. If you are looking for a time to attend I would definitely consider the light show. Although you don't see the animals very much. Prepare to stand in line to get tickets for the light show though. read more

I am a big big big fan of wild life rehabilitation centers for animals. I have loved CALM for as long as I can remember. I've even applied to work there. I give heavy praise to the people taking care of earths most beautiful creatures that otherwise may not have had the chance to survive if it weren't for wonderful learning centers such as CALM. It's enjoyable for all ages. read more

This is a nice little zoo ran by really nice people and they do a beautiful Christmas display of lights every year during the holidays.

C.A.L.M. is a great place that rescues and cares for animals that were injured or born into captivity. My family and I have been going there for years! Every year around Christmas, they do their Holiday Lights where you can get hot cocoa and walk around and look at fun light displays and even watch a light show with trees by the food tents. They do birthday parties if you call and make a reservation where they can bring out certain animals and talk about them for the kids. My friend had her daughter's 3rd birthday there and they had a worker bring out an owl and a snake. The staff is always so friendly and knowledgeable and it is a great place to go with little ones, or with friends. :) read more

Loved this place, the staff was super friendly the admission was cheap. You can pay 25 cents to feed the goats which was super fun. It's a really nice little zoo to visit. If you're in Bakersfield looking for something fun and cheap do do, then come by and visit C.A.L.M. They're a children's playground, so If you have little ones then they will love to play on the playground. read more

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Bakersfield best gem. Besides from being a zoo to visit, it also is a place that cares for injured wildlife and rehabilitates them to be able to return to the wild. There is an awesome train that you can ride for just a $1 a ride and it's all ran and maintained by volunteers!!! read more

Nice zoo and you help animals by going. Mainly a collection of animals local to this area and California. Nice play area and a cute gift shop. read more

I love it. During the Christmas lights event, I always get the caramel popcorn; it's warm and freshly made. Also volunteering here for about 3 hours is a good way to spend some time with children because they get to see the animals from a closer distance and a different point of view. All of the animals are injured or cannot survive in the wild alone so CALM Zoo rehabilitates them and gives them a second chance at happiness. Another thing, all of the plants in the zoo are native to Kern County. read more

Another thing that you all probably know, I'm a devout animal lover. Most times I am far more sympathetic towards the members of the animal kingdom than I am my own species. So, I had to visit this place. I took the quick drive out here and arrived in just a few minutes. Thanks to my Waze lady, my route was accurate and easy. I pulled in and parked. I walked up to the front entrance and found myself inside. I was reminded of the big cat breeding facility up in Rosamond. Not LA Zoo crazy high budget, but more people trying to help. Not that LA Zoo isn't trying to help. For the small fee of nine dollars, you get a ticket into this place. After I paid my nine dollars, and picked up a refridgerator magnet, I entered. After a morning of water and coffee, my bladder needed some desperate relief. So first stop past the gates was the restroom. It was clean and functional. Then I set out into the zoo itself. Lots of animals here. Far too many to mention by name. There were big cats, big birds, and many many other wonderful examples of flora and fauna clearly labeled for people to learn about. In one of the enclosures, a red hawk had been fed a whole dead chicken, and people watched in horror and amazement as the predator used it's sharp beak and talons to tear its prey apart. In comparison to the large avians, there are little ones as well. But be careful of the lil Acorn woodpecker though. He likes to hang out right on the wire cage, but he'll peck at you if you reach for him. It was entertaining to know (and experience!) that an eighty five gram bird can so easily startle a grown man thousands of times his own size. As I wandered around and explored the place, I found many many neat animals. Many strange and exotic, and many local and familiar. Lots of which were rescues. One of which was a tiny ground owl who had gone blind. Eyes had been nearly completely covered with cataracts. I took photos of the tiny raptor as her handler answered every question the small group around her had. It was neat to see all of them up close. One such example was a porcupine by the name of Pebbles was having her enclosure cleaned on my way out, and she was so cooperative and friendly. Strange to see something that prickly acting that gentle and polite. I got several pictures of Pebbles. It was great to watch the cats acting greatly similar to my own little lions who lived at home. Bobcats, Mountain Lions and lynx lazily stretching, clawing at logs, and then rolling over looking like they would like nothing more than a belly rub. The animals seemed in good health, and seemed well. I enjoyed the opportunity to see them all. Overall the place is great. It's amazing to have an opportunity to learn about the animals, both foreign and local alike. It's also amazing to have a group of people looking out for the welfare and care of these creatures. Zoos are great. Absolutely be sure to go and check this one out if you're up in the area. read more

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I love CALM for many reasons. 1. They care for and provide for animals while offering the public eye descriptive information, amusement and wonderment. 2. It has been the annual field trip location for my Kindergarten class 4 years in a row! It's perfect in size for the little ones, puts on a show in their amphitheater each time, and captures the hearts of little children with the playground structure! 3. December Lights! Oh my, what a spectacular outing this is! We took my nephews who just loved it all! The train is a BIG hit! (Took off 1 star because of the bathroom situation! 3 stalls each is NOT enough for all the yearly attractions/events they hold) read more

We love CALM because they help rehabilitate the animals there and take good care of them, as we can see. Been going to CALM since it opened and is the only place to see live bears and mountain lions. Great job CALM! read more

Wonderful, don't miss it!! Also there are opportunities to volunteer if anyone in your family would like to give back to the community.

What a wonderful thing to have in our community. C.A.L.M. is a wonderful, interactive, family-friendly museum with knowledgeable staff who make you feel welcome and educated about the animals. I recently visited and learn so much about my favorite animal, moon jellies! The new touch tank is so fun. I got to meet with Athena the owl and even take a few pictures. They keep their prices low and easy to manage. Another awesome feature they have is the Condor Challenge. I was there for a Yelp event and it was an incredible team-building experience. It would be perfect for co-workers and larger groups of friends. read more

Very nice park. Very affordable. I love that the animals are rescues from all over. I loved the variety. My Niece amd Nephew were fascinated as was I. We also rode the train which was only an additional $1. Great day. Will return. read more

Bought tickets for the train that "opens" at 11 today per the lady at the front desk. Went at 11:30 to get on the train and was turned away by a really rude old man. He said the train was for the students only and to come back in 2 hours.. told the ticket lady, she told me to go back and get on the train that it's fine. So back to the train we go... just to get yelled at by the old man.... with a smile he tells me.. I could just not let you on at all today. Pfft.. you guys need better communication.. disappointed kids, waste of time, and money. read more

Very well maintained, animal enclosures are always clean, we like to visit a few times a year.

It's just OK the price is decent $12 for adults $10 for 12-17 youth and 3-12 $6 it's really cold so it makes it not so enjoyable. I have been to the moonlight festival in Arcadia now that is something spectacular this is a basic lights on trees a train long long line but it's Bakersfield so this place gets packed I will not be coming back next year read more

I've been to CALM so many times with my son, both for their beautiful Christmas lights display and to pass time enjoying the animal habitats. What I like about CALM is how the animal are treated humanely and with respect, despite the fact that this is not a "heal-and-release" programme. My son also really loves the fun little playground and picnic area, where there's usually someone to play with around his age. They have a gift shop full of cute animal-themed merchandise, as well. The cost is not too bad either. Last time we went, my 3-year-old and I got in for 14$, I think. For those that purchase the family membership, I know there are lots of other benefits, as well. read more

I remember coming to C.A.L.M (California Living Museum) as little girl of the 90's.... Now I'm taking my daughters here! Calm has been around for a long time! Since 1983 actually. This small zoo features native animals to the San Joaquin valley. Snakes, lizards, deer, Hawks, badgers, bears, local water fowl and beavers. Many more also... Plenty of parking. There is a small gift shop right when you enter. Very helpful staff and the volunteers are wonderful. It's not much finically to get in the door. But if you're a family of 4 and plan on going twice.. You might as well get a membership for the entire year. Two visits costs the same as a yearly membership. The zoo is on the small side and it doesn't require so much walking that you're just exhausted when your through with your visit. There is a play area for kids. Picnic benches for lunch. Lots of shade. Calm hosts birthday parties and you can even get married there. My daughters and I always have a good time here. The zoo needs all the support from local residents that it can get. So come by, enjoy a few hrs with your family and keep CALM going! Many animals need calm as much as calm needs them! CALM, 5 stars. read more

Went with a college class and IT.WAS.AWESOME I loved the fun trivia posted alongside enclosures. Without planning, I got to see the opossum presentation at amphitheater and hold a kingsnake in the herpetology cave. Also caught the big cats during breakfast. They put the food dishes next to the viewing windows! Take quarters so you can buy duck and goat feed if that is your thing. Small enough to see it all in one day, big enough that you may consider packing a lunch and staying the whole day! and cheap enough that you should consider a season pass! read more

It's a tiny zoo, and truthfully I felt sorry for the bald eagles being kept in a relatively small aviary, but it's a nice day trip for families. There aren't any extraordinarily rare animals, in fact I wondered why some of them were put on display as they were the sorts you'd find in your own backyard: raccoons, scrub jays, skunks, etc. While you can walk most of the space in under an hour, there's playgrounds and park areas for the kids. Right now, the mountain lion and bobcat exhibit is under construction, with the biggest exhibit on view being the bears. We went in the middle of the day and all the animals were hiding or asleep. Seems like they take a break from the midday sun and heat, and it might be better to go earlier. $9 per person, $5 for kids. read more

My kids love this place. What else can I say? We get the annual pass and whenever they're in a funk we take them to CALM and the positivity comes back. We live nearby, so that's what makes it great for us. read more

Great place and they wonderful work and provide a great educational opportunity for kids and adults alike

We decided to get out on the weekend and explore a little of Bakersfield. I looked up a couple of places and we decided on CALM. This place is a gem in the hills of Bakersfield. We exhibits are simple, but functional. The price of admission beats any trip to an amusement park, and we actually learned something about the local animal population. The bears were fantastic to see, even if they only wanted to lounge around. The absolute highlight were the mountain lions on display. The exhibit puts you incredibly close to the creatures, so you feel like you're next to them. The place is quite and the crowds are small, so you feel like you can take your time and enjoy the exhibits. I'm looking forward to bringing my nieces and nephews here in the future. read more

Such a great deal and no matter how many times we come here it never gets old. If you come here during December you can enjoy the stunning lights, drink hot chocolate, getting into the Christmas spirit. This review is for the zoo itself. The staff is so friendly and patient. Sometimes there are people carrying hawks and they always stop and answer the many questions my boys have. Every exhibit is well maintained and for being a "small" zoo there are many animals to see. Our favorites are the bears and mountain lions. And on top of that there is a playground and picnic area so pack a lunch and when you have completed your tour of the animals you can eat and let the kiddos play. read more

OMG! this place is AMAZING! You can get so up-close with the animals! I had a friend visiting from Australia and all she wanted in the whole world was to see a raccoon... When you visit another place i think it makes sense that you want to see their native animals! Among our favorites were definitely the raccons, then the bobcats, bald eagles, great horned owl, saguaro cactus, rattlesnakes and the cougar! We spent most of the day here and walked around the zoo 2-3 times visiting all the animals multiple times... Just wish that darn opossum would have woken up so she could have seen it... As locals we take some of these animals for granted... but her excitement brought our native species into a whole new light for me... AND i learned about animals i didn't even know we have here!!! Who knew we have porcupines and 6 different species of fox?!?!? read more

Great for spending the day with the family, also kids enter free last Saturday of the month. read more

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I love going here!! Lana always remembers me and my family! Great staff and Lana is awesome! Can't wait to go back! Coolest spot in Bakersfield for you and your family! read more

I love this place, I came to Bakersfield to visit and I went to this place, I really love it, the prices are very decent and the place is just amazing, great people and the animals are really good taking care of! Will be back next time I came back to Bakersfield! read more