This is a great place to pet animals and walk around with your kids.I loved my visit here. It is…read moreaffordable and an easy way to kill a few hours with the kids while teaching them about animals and nature. The road there is a dirt road but my friend drove it in a honda accord so nothing special or 4x4 needed during normal conditions. We walked around and fed camels, goats, bison and all kinds of other animals.

Does anyone know if it's still open on Saturdays? I want to bring my 2-1/2 year old grandson…read more Love this place. I volunteered a few times years ago and loved brushing the camel. What a experience of love on all the their 4 legged babies

Love calm zoo! It's a local treasure that should be thoroughly enjoyed by Bakersfieldians - where…read moreelse can you see black bears enjoying cake and presents on a regular basis or enjoy the train on loop or the little park inside. It is one of my 3 year olds favorite places in town. We went Saturday morning and spring mid morning is the perfect weather for calm. We pack lunch for the trip or long drive home. And Take our time walking around doing all the areas and then concluding with the train. Calm's got small town charm with a little extra and is a regular joy for our little family. Excited for their future expansion!

Not the biggest or cleanest zoo, but it was decent for $12…read more The parking lot was just a dirt field, but since there weren't many guests, it felt like we had the whole zoo to ourselves. The entrance led through a gift shop that doubled as the admission counter. Most of the merchandise wasn't themed, with just a few flimsy labeled magnets available. The zoo itself was dusty and had lots of feathers, bird droppings, and spider webs throughout. Staff were few and far between, but the ones we encountered were friendly. Unfortunately, several animals had been removed from their enclosures due to illness or ongoing construction. Still, the animals that were there were surprisingly lively. The reptile exhibit was on the smaller side, but the creatures were active. The turtle area was my favorite as they were some of the most energetic turtles I've ever seen. Coming right at opening gave me a chance to watch them eat. The birds were also impressive, some of the largest I've seen in California. It was entertaining to watch them squawk and fly around their large cages. Near the exit, there was an air-conditioned aquatic exhibit that was easy to miss. The staff member at the touch tank was very knowledgeable and eager to share fun facts and the history of the animals. Sadly, their seahorses had passed away, and they're currently waiting on donations to replace them. I spent about 45 minutes walking through the zoo twice. There wasn't a café or kid-friendly attractions, so I'd recommend eating beforehand or bringing your own snacks. The zoo would definitely benefit from a deep cleaning. For $12, it was a fair experience, though it doesn't really compare to larger zoos like the one in Fresno.

I saw the signs as we came up on from San Diego So before we…read moreI go home I wanted to stop But no Cherries We walk in and it was just a store with pies Cider and fruits and nuts I brought pistachios and fresh figs, A pie. The lady at the cashier was nice too We looked at honey with comb A juices to I bought 2 waters too

Murray Family Farms is an absolute must when you're driving to/from Tehachapi. My friends and I…read morevisited for their U-Pick blackberries and had an excellent experience. The Big Red Barn has a lot of fresh fruit, baked goods, and other treats to choose from. The real fun is when you pick the fruit yourself though. We got ourselves some sweet blackberries to take home. Out on the farm, we had the best tractor ride and learned some fun facts about fruits, as well as slid on the huge slide and played some outdoor games. While we were here, we ate some oakie pies. My favorite is thanksgiving dinner. It tastes just like November-- Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy. They have other tasty savory pies like the chicken pot pie, blueberry pulled pork, and the breakfast pie. Of course, you could get some sweet ones too! The service is very friendly and the farm truly has fun for everyone! I can't wait to come back for stone fruit season.

I have a fear of most animals ........ I visited Animal Tracks for the first time last Sunday. And,…read morenow my fear is gone. The volunteers, Stacey + Nadine their resident yoga teacher immediately made me feel very welcomed and safe, and being there amongst these docile, beautiful sweet animals really healed me and actually made me feel kind of like I was on a natural high for a few days. Still sort-of coming off of it. I'm so happy that I went. It was an extraordinary experience and I can't wait to go again. I never thought I wood feel safe amongst large exotic animals roaming free around me, but it was pretty much the safest I've ever felt thank you to everybody at animal tracks for creating such a beautiful positive experience for everyone that came last weekend. Great yoga class, gift shop and tour. Highly recommend this to anyone, especially if you think you might be afraid like me you'll see you really are not.

My friend brought me here for my birthday, and as a huge animal lover, I was really excited to…read morevisit! This is a small, cute animal sanctuary, and while it's definitely on the smaller side, I think that's where donations can really make a difference. There's so much potential for this place to have more space and continue helping even more animals. The staff was absolutely wonderful...friendly, welcoming, and very knowledgeable. They shared stories about the animals with us, along with some interesting wildlife facts, and I really enjoyed learning more about the animals we were seeing. The only thing I would have really loved was more interaction with the animals. But I completely understand that they're wild animals, so that's not always an option...and honestly, a girl can dream, lol! One thing that really stood out to me was how happy everyone seemed to be working there. You could genuinely tell that the staff cares about the animals and enjoys what they do, and I think that says a lot about the organization. We had a great experience and I would definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area and looking for a quick, fun visit. Just keep in mind that it is a smaller sanctuary, so if you're able to, please consider donating! Your support can help them expand, care for the animals, and continue the wonderful work they've been doing for many, many years. Such a sweet place with people who clearly have big hearts for animals!

Another wonderful day at the farm! The kids had a blast feeding the animals and seeing all of the…read morenew improvements and new animals. They had baby pigs and bunnies! Come out and play for a few hours. Highly recommend!

Adorable farm with friendly animals. You feed them fresh chopped fruit and vegetables, not just dry…read morepellets. Very organized sections and places to sit. They have lots of snacks to buy and fresh delicious lemonade. Very friendly and welcoming staff.

Can't say enough great things about this place. They did an awesome job accommodating our young…read moregrandkids. It's something when a 2.5 year say they are sad to be going home!!! Can't wait to go back!!!

Awesome family bonding time! This was our first stay and it was great! Met several families who…read morewere repeat guests.

Well outside of the residential areas of California City, this nicely managed visitor center is a…read moresimple trailer in a small parking lot that can hold 20-30 cars. Dirt road most of the way but it is clearly maintained. The foot traffic only areas are nicely designated with graded dirt paths lined on either side by rocks that show you where to walk and where not to walk. Signage is tastefully sparse but informative. There are also little kiosks along the way with pamphlets. They also have some docent guided tours. Didn't see any titles but I guess sometimes they avoid people. Anyway, it was a nice flat ground hike with desert scrub bushes, Joshua trees, insects, lizards, etc. It's not "touristy" but if you like wildlife preserves this is worth the trip. It will only cost you the drive.

Desert Tortoise Natural Area is open most of the year. It is all natural and beautiful. You may or…read moremay not see a tortoise, they are free and don't come when called. Parking is free and on some days visiting is free. You take Highway 14 (for most travelers) and keep going to California City, which is a sleepy little town. You will see the sign for the Natural Area, take that for a few miles and you will find the Tortoise Natural Area. On the weekends there are tour guides. I like the weekdays and to go on my own. It is a beautiful walk and whether you want to walk just a bit or several miles you can. The area is flat. It is never crowded and in the distance you can see the amazing Sierra Mountains. It is just lovely. It does get very hot in the daytime, it is in the middle of the Mojave Desert, so wear sun screen and bring some water with you for the walk. Have fun.

What a wonderful conservation center, endorsed by none other Dame Jane Goodall (may she RIP)…read more Started by one man motivated to help one gibbon, it has become a world-renowned center for conserving one of our closest relatives and a highly endangered genus, the Gibbon. Our tour focused on the importance of helping our fellow primates survive and the risks that we, their cousins, create for them through development, deforestation, and poaching. We were provided with a lot of information related to Gibbons' development, social relationships, and habits. Did you know that Gibbons get "married" and "divorced"? Most commonly, they mate for the life of the couple but it doesn't always work out. We were told about one previously happy Gibbon couple with four children that divorced over.....discipling the children! (Are you surprised? I'm not!) The center is immaculately maintained and the Gibbons appear extremely happy and healthy. We were fortunate to see a year-old baby interacting with family members and to hear the famous Gibbon calls when we first arrived. The center could benefit from a designated handicapped parking spot in front to facilitate entry. If you want to learn more about how to help Gibbons, schedule a tour! Highly recommended.

I always like to finish the year with a Yelp review of a place that my entire family enjoyed! I…read morehave been to the Gibbon Conservation Center three times, but it was a first for a couple of people in my family! We were celebrating my great niece's birthday, and she's a big animal lover, like I am, so I had to figure out something that she had never experienced before. She just loved GCC! We've always had awesome tour guides, that are so informative and helpful answering questions! The gibbon's are such characters, and each are unique in their own way! We love it when the gibbon's break out in song! I can't imagine hearing this out in a jungle, if you don't know what is making the noise! It was so awesome to see a mama with her baby on our last visit! We've been there in February, and it can be a bit chilly for the 10 AM public tour, and this last time it was August and we were blessed with cooler weather, so it was perfect! Bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and I recommend a hat. I also recommend clothes shoes as you are walking in dirt, and as a safety precaution for diseases, you do have to dip the soles of your shoes in a bleach solution before entering. For our August tour, we were the only people, so it was almost like a private tour, which was amazing! The tour is about an hour, but we were there for an hour and a half last time! You need to make a reservation, and the tours are done on Saturdays and Sundays. The public tour is $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors and $10 for children 3-12. Don't forget to tip your tour guide! They always put it right in the donation box! ;) They also have a little gift shop, and I get so many compliments on my gibbon earrings! This is such a wonderful experience for anyone, and you go away with a smile and a wealth of information regarding gibbon's!

First time here with my family in the summer heat!…read more Parking is plentiful when we arrived right before opening! The entrance is a short walk from the lot. On your way to the entrance , there are lots of vendors: food, aqua Fresca, clothing, hats, umbrellas, etc! So if you forget something at home, You'll be fine! Note/ there are people who protest at the front gate but they didn't bother anyone. Inside the zoo, there's a coffee bean truck, dippin dots, ice cream trucks , plenty of spots to purchase food , drinks, snacks, and refreshments. I saw a few grills and cafes as well. Overall look of the zoo echos many reviews left on Yelp, of it being run down and looking old and needing some maintenance. One thing to point out, the staff at ticketing gate didn't check my purse or diaper bag.... I would think just for security measures they would check pockets and bags. There is an area for kids / playground. There's also a small area where you can get up close with Vietnamese pigs and brush goats! There were no horses, elephants, or lions. I liked the how the zoo created an environment where it felt like we were traveling to Africa or North America , or Asia! I really like the Asian themed bamboos, and temple like structure! It was my favorite part! We purchased pictures taken by the photographer at the end of the trip for memories! It was nice to enjoy this time with my family. Thanks LA ZOO!

If you're coming on a hot day, do bring a hat and umbrella as shady spots are limited and sparse…read more During the summer, I would recommend that drink stands open at the same time as the park as it was already so hot and people were already waiting to buy drinks and ice cream. I think they opened about an hour after the park opened. The zoo needs some revamping as well as their directions are a bit confusing. Also, a few animals weren't at the zoo anymore and I personally didn't see any notice until arriving upon an exhibit. Despite that and the heat, we had a good time. My niece loved the flamingos, goats, and the alligator. We also went on the carousel (I had bought two tickets as the person at the ticket booth told me to), but I didn't feel comfortable having her ride on the carousel animals alone (I think they didn't have belts). The ride attendee was very nice and let us go on twice since I was going to stand on the ride with her instead.

Nice place. Water fountains are awesome. Relaxing view. I really enjoyed visiting Hart Park in…read moreBakersfield. It has a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere on many days, especially if you love nature. The water, mountains, trees, and scenery are very beautiful and make it a great place to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes when there is shooting practice at the pistol range nearby, it can interrupt the peaceful feeling a little, but overall the park is still very nice and worth visiting

This is an amazing park! It was so green and plenty of space for people to get their own spot. I…read morewent in the afternoon, so it was hot! There were a lot of ducks in the lake. I plan to come back another time to enjoy the scenery in the morning.