7 Best Outdoor Activities in Bakersfield CA

7 Fun Things to Do in Bakersfield

Bakersfield is large enough to offer a wide mix of activities, but it still feels closely tied to outdoor living, family outings, and hobbies that come with a lot of equipment. That makes it a good city for people who are always balancing fun plans with limited space at home. (Census.gov)

California Living Museum (CALM)

The California Living Museum, better known as CALM, is one of Bakersfield’s best-known family attractions. CALM focuses on native California animals and plants, operates a wildlife rehabilitation center, and offers regular zoo admission several days each week. The zoo also features the Children’s Railroad on select weekends and special events, which adds another reason for families to make a full day of it. (California Living Museum)

CALM is a strong choice when you want something educational without feeling like homework. It works especially well for families with younger children, visiting relatives, or anyone looking for a local outing that feels distinctly tied to California. (California Living Museum)

MB2 Entertainment

For a more fast-paced afternoon, MB2 Entertainment gives Bakersfield families a different kind of outing. Its official site highlights attractions such as arcade games, mini golf, bumper boats, go-karts, batting cages, bowling, and laser tag, making it a flexible option for birthday parties, group outings, or weekend plans. (MB2 Entertainment BKD)

This kind of attraction also comes with extra gear over time. Sports bags, batting equipment, folding chairs, coolers, and party supplies can start to take over a garage quickly, which is one reason many families look for extra storage space close to home. That is where Derrel’s storage types and storage unit size guide can help readers match their space needs to what they actually use. (Derrel's Mini Storage)

River’s End Rafting

If you want something more adventurous, River’s End Rafting is one of the most distinctive outings near Bakersfield. Visit Bakersfield describes its trips as Class II-III whitewater from the mouth of Kern Canyon to Lake Ming, while the outfitter’s site promotes “The Blaster” as a two-hour run designed for a wide range of skill levels. (Visit Bakersfield)

Rafting days are fun, but they also leave you with helmets, dry bags, river shoes, folding tables, towels, and other bulky items that do not always store well at home. Derrel’s packing and self-storage tips make a useful internal resource for readers who want to protect outdoor gear between trips. (Derrel's Mini Storage)

Murray Family Farms and The Big Red Barn

Murray Family Farms remains one of the most family-friendly agricultural attractions in the Bakersfield area. The farm describes The Big Red Barn as its flagship location and the home of seasonal events and pick-your-own fruit, with farm activities available on select weekends. (MurrayFamilyFarms)

This is the kind of outing that fits Bakersfield especially well because it reflects the area’s agricultural identity while still feeling fun and accessible. It is also a reminder that local families often need room for seasonal décor, coolers, harvest supplies, extra tables, and hobby equipment that only gets used during certain times of year. (MurrayFamilyFarms)

McMurtrey Aquatic Center

McMurtrey Aquatic Center is one of the city’s most practical warm-weather attractions. Official Bakersfield and Visit Bakersfield sources describe it as a multi-use facility with an 8,551-square-foot recreation pool, a 50-meter competition pool, double water slides, and interactive wet play equipment. Public recreational swim is offered during the summer season, while lap swim and water walking are available year-round in the competition pool. (Visit Bakersfield)

Pool days are easy to enjoy and surprisingly hard to contain. Towels, swim bags, shade gear, folding chairs, and bins of summer equipment can pile up fast, so this is another natural place to mention Derrel’s storage unit size guide for readers trying to free up closet or garage space. (Derrel's Mini Storage)

Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway

For people who prefer noise, speed, and a more event-driven outing, Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway stands out. The official raceway site and events pages show active 2026 programming, while Visit Bakersfield identifies it as a major local venue for motorsports fans. (Kern Raceway)

Race fans often accumulate more than tickets and memories. Trailer accessories, detailing supplies, spare parts, folding canopies, and even extra vehicles can become part of the lifestyle. That makes this a natural place to work in Derrel’s vehicle storage, RV storage, and boat storage pages for readers who need more room than a standard driveway can offer. (Derrel's Mini Storage)

Wind Wolves Preserve

Wind Wolves Preserve offers a very different Bakersfield experience. The Wildlands Conservancy describes it as a 93,000-acre preserve in an ecologically unique region where influences from the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert, and San Joaquin Valley come together. The preserve also offers free interpretive programs and camping options for visitors who want more time outdoors. (The Wildlands Conservancy)

This is a strong option for hikers, photographers, campers, and anyone who wants wide-open scenery instead of crowds. It also reinforces a simple truth about Bakersfield living: outdoor hobbies tend to come with boots, packs, tents, coolers, and seasonal equipment that need a clean place to go when the trip is over. (The Wildlands Conservancy)

Why Bakersfield Activities Often Lead to Storage Needs

One of the easiest ways to make this blog more helpful is to connect local fun to a real household problem. In Bakersfield, that problem is often space. Families and hobbyists do not just need room for daily life. They also need room for outdoor gear, sports equipment, hobby vehicles, event supplies, and items they use only part of the year. (Derrel's Mini Storage)

A short scannable section helps here:

• Rafting and hiking can leave you with bulky outdoor gear.
• Pool season can fill closets with towels, chairs, and bins.
• Farm outings and family events often come with seasonal extras.
• Motorsports hobbies can create overflow from the garage or driveway. (Visit Bakersfield)

That is why Derrel’s Mini Storage fits naturally into a Bakersfield lifestyle article. Readers can browse Bakersfield-area options through Derrel’s Bakersfield storage page, compare features across storage types, and use Derrel’s online payment access page to manage their account more conveniently. Derrel’s site also highlights multiple Bakersfield locations and a wide range of storage options for household, business, and vehicle-related needs. (Derrel's Mini Storage)

Bakersfield gives residents a little bit of everything. Families can visit CALM or Murray Family Farms, active groups can head to the river or Wind Wolves Preserve, and thrill-seekers can spend time at MB2 Entertainment or Kern Raceway. When those activities start creating clutter at home, self-storage becomes less about keeping things out of sight and more about keeping life organized. (California Living Museum)