Bakersfield is a convenient town to spend the night when travelling across California: for example, if travelling between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, or between Sequoia National Park and Death Valley. Once primarily known for its oil and agriculture, the traditional farming town has since become an excellent destination in its own right.

Home to ‘The Bakersfield Sound’, a gritty form of country music, Bakersfield also contains more Basque restaurants than anywhere else in the country. The Basque style features the gathering of communities to enjoy traditional hearty food served on long communal tables and originates from the French and Spanish immigrants who herded sheep in this area in the 1800s.

Boasting great museums and an arts district featuring the Art Deco style Fox Theatre, step slightly further afield and you will find some really pretty walks that allow you to stroll amongst the grazing Tule elk and colourful carpets of wildflowers of the Wind Wolves Nature Reserve.