California Living Museum Reviews

Looked at this zoo in the travel book and decided to go and see it. I would so recommend this quiet little zoo to see local wildlife and plants. Ideal for families with young kids but we took our 22, 23and 18 year old kids and they loved it as well. The bears were just lovely and the eagle very majestic . Our faves were the chipmunks and little squirrel. Entry is VERY affordable!! Take a picnic and make a day of it!

When we found ourselves in Bakersfield California with the need to entertain our grandchildren CALM provided us with something that interested them and satisfied our need for a fun educational experience. The venue was selected by our 12-year-old granddaughter.

The location is a bit challenging to find if you’re out of town, but thanks to GPS it turned out not to be a problem. We were also pleasantly surprised to discover that the admission fee is waived on the last Saturday of each month for children under 12.

Young staffers and volunteers made the visit pleasant. Based on the numerous signs and plaques it is clear that the property enjoys great community support.

This is not the San Diego or Smithsonian zoos, but it involves the younger children in a way that is very entertaining and educational for them. The most notable exhibit was the Reptile House.

This was an interesting place to visit. Not being from California, I was unfamiliar with some of their native plants and trees and animals. This was a great place to learn more about those things.
From what I saw, a lot of the animals are there due to injuries. Very fascinating display of baby tortoises. Nice play area. Very small gift shop with no postcards! ( the helpful worker went back to look in the storeroom too! Very nice gesture!) The train was not running the day we were there. Beautiful view of the Bakersfield mountains.
Nice indoor displays and touch pond of water life in area. Very friendly and helpful volunteers there.
Would I go again? Sure!

What a great setup. We like visiting here anyway, so we thought we would try this. Nicely arranged in the landscape, with a lovely train ride and a carousel, the lights are great. There is enough to do for the family. Good lighting, simple but cool sequenced lighting effects - just a lovely evening out. Great volunteers, a friendly crowd. Highly recommended.

This is a great place that seems to be growing. I had not visited this place since years before but it seems like they have made some good improvements over the years.

we go to a lot of zoos. This one was a bit of a challenge. The parking lot was undergoing some paving, making entry a bit strange. The beginning exhibits we difficult to navigate, and some of the animals seemed AWOL. That said, CALM does it education roll, with local animals that are otherwise unable to make it in the natural environment. Lots of clean up was going on, but it seemed like some of the signage could be inproved in IDing the residents! CALM, we are told, reports to the Departmet of Education. It is not an upscale zoo. They are park of FOTZ and honor reciprocal entry. Open 9-4 daily. Recommended...put do not expect Asian and African animals, this is local.

We did a family outing to see Christmas Light Extravaganza. One year grandson got to sit on Santa's lap for a picture and ride the train ... fun ... fun! We got to experience hot chocolate and kettle corn ... yum! Then, of course, light displays were phenomenal.

CALM is a fantastic place for a day outing. The people take such great care of these beautiful animals that can’t take care of themselves in the wilderness anymore. Fun place to take children to learn about animals and their environment.

I took my grand children to visit CALM when they came to see me and to try out my new "family membership". The boys and my oldest grand-daughter (11) were fascinated by the snakes, amphibians and other creepy crawly things in the reptile house, but the little ones were most interested in the cats and birds.
We had a wonderful time, and stayed for 4 hours; even eating a picnic lunch near the ponds. They had so much fun they want to go back again soon! When we got home we all took a nice nap!

Come to CALM and bring the family and kids. See bobcats, porcupines, bears, reptiles, owls, eagles, foxes, mountain lions, shorebirds, goats, racoons up close. This is a wonderful little zoo totally committed to taking care of/rehabbing animals from this -part of California. Support this great little place! Coming soon: Longhorn sheep! Come this summer for the Twilight Tours on Saturday evenings- many animals out and about as the heat dies down.
Bring a picnic- only snacks for sale to eat. Great gift shop!

I've been here multiple times since childhood. It's easily the best place to learn about the wildlife in California's central valley, and it's great for individuals, couples and families.

Take your family and enjoy a picnic in a beautiful shaded setting. There are lots of animals, and a small children's museum and gift shop.
At Christmastime this several acre of zoo lights up with a splendid light show that rivals any in the US. Allow several hours to visit at Christmastime and about three hours on a normal visit.

CALM was one of my favorite day trips as a kid, and until recently I hadn't been there in years.

It still holds up to my memory of it. It's a fun way to have a day, have a snack and walk around.

The annual Christmas Light Celebration is a must see!

In December there is the evening light show and train ride through the grounds, hot chocolate and snacks available for purchase. Super for a family night out or a romantic stroll with a friend!

Wonderful place that is immaculate. Animals are up close to enjoy with beautiful grounds for a casual stroll, or picnic. Your visit would be helping an amazing organization that cares for all kinds of injured wildlife in the area as well as ongoing education for children. In December they have a holday light extravaganza that is just magical!

This is a great place to visit with family. Interesting to see different animals and they are kept in humane conditions.The lights at Christmas are also really fun to visit!

The lights were beautiful, took about an hour and a half to walk through. Kids aged 6-13 all enjoyed it.

This place is just ok. Needs alot of work and more updation needed. Wish there were more animals and stuff for the kids to do.

Very small zoo. Animals were all sleeping. Stayed for an hour. My son spent most of the hour on the very small playground

I was there for CALM's 34 B.D. Celebration. Another volunteer and I had a booth from the Buena Vista Natural History and Science Museum. We were across from the Bears--who enjoyed "birthday cakes" (made of watermelons and sugar-free Coolwhip).
We saw hundreds of visitors. Many children--including my six-year-old granddaughter--who LOVED her day there.

Great for kids to experience animals of the Central Valley in their natural habitats. The employees keep up the facilities quite well and are very friendly, knowledgeable, and informative. This is not the typical zoo experience in comparison to the LA Zoo, Fresno (Chaffee) Zoo, or the San Diego Zoo. CALM is very small. Don't expect sea lions, elephants, giraffes, etc......but do expect a good time with animals of the Central Valley.

This was my first time visiting the annual light show, although I' d heard from others that it was fantastic! So when my grandsons were here after Thanksgivng, I took them and their mother to view this amazing attraction. It was beyond anything you can imagine, with helpful guides and parking attendants, to a carousel ride, train ride, and so many beautiful light shows, complete with syncopated music at one point! Outstanding, and well worth the money. They also had hot drinks and caramel corn tomhelp keep people warm!

CALM is a great place for children and adults alike. Lot’s of wildlife from large mammals to bugs. You won’t be disappointed. Bring a lunch and enjoy the shade under the big trees or come during the Christmas Season and enjoy the spectacular lights. Either way, you can’t go wrong visiting this little jewel.

I took my three kids to CALM when we were in Bakersfield. My kids were running there with a big excitement and curiosity. the animal's presentation shows are very educational! All children could touch the animals and ask questions. The stuff is very polite. The gift shop has very reasonable prices. Take sunscreens, hats, snacks, and plenty of water.

Visited this sanctuary for California indigenous animals in mid-November on a day that workers were installing the Christmas lights around the grounds. Particularly enjoyed seeing the bears and especially the bobcat, who came within inches of me, on the other side of a glass partition of course! An owl was the only creature that spoke to me. Just wish I could have seen it on an evening when the holiday lights were on.

The Christmas lights were just amazing. We'd never been to Bakersfield before but read about the lights at CALM and decided to make a weekend of it. The lights, carousel and train ride were all included in our $10 senior ticket. A real bargain. I'd like to come back next year with more of the family.

It's so relaxing and we enjoy all the animals. My sister who had a stroke when she was 29 loved all the animals and loved being outside. The hardest part was pushing the wheelchair. You need to have someone strong with you.

This place is so lovely and family friendly. The kids love going and it is a pleasure to go. We live 90min away, but find it is worth coming to. Staff members are great. The park down the road from the zoo is very nice as well.

This is the best place to bring out of town guest, family or friend. Its also a great place to have a birthday party. I have had both my daughters and grandson's birthdays out there. Or pick up a sandwich and take out there. There are tables under the trees there is creek the runs thru CALM. You can see so many animals out there. The "big" cats and brown bears exhibits are wonderful, you can see them close up. Oh I forgot and the snake exhibits. Its all great! Its the best place to take the kids.

CALM was a cute little rescue zoo that was perfect for my 3 year old to run around for awhile and burn off some energy. We saw a variety of animals but it was much smaller than a regular zoo and a lot of the animals were ones that we can see out in the wild. It was a good price and it also looked like a fun location for events, we saw a corporate event and a small kiddos birthday party happening which looked really fun! I don't know if I would go back unless I just needed to waste a little time while visiting the area.

During the Christmas season, and on most other week ends there is a nice train ride that is sometimes overlooked. They keep adding new features and attractions, and kids seem to love it!

We have visited a few times, during summer and also Christmas time. Every time we have visited, it has been very enjoyable. The variety of animals is good. The area is clean and well maintained. I would recommend it for those who are looking for a nice activity while in Bakersfield.

I stopped at this zoo with my 3 sons aged 4 months - 14 years. We all enjoyed it and there were a lot more animals to see than I expected. It was pretty hot and we probably would have enjoyed it more had it been cooler out. I think they could use an extra set of bathrooms and a cool place to sit. Our favorite exhibits were the bear habitat and raptors.

Amazing light show. Up there with Disney!! So worth the time to check it out! Especially learning the story behind the creator. How can you not love Christmas lights!

This is a very nice, clean zoo. All the animals are native to California. My favorite things were the bears, Mountain Lions, Pelicans and Owls. A staff member had was bringing a larger owl around to see people and it was really wonderful. She was very friendly and knowledgable. There new costal room has jellyfish that are pretty cool too. They also have a whale vertebra in there, which I'm always a fan of observing (I know I'm weird).

It's not huge, so you won't spend a whole tone of time here, but it is big enough for sure. They also have a playground that our son enjoyed. When in Bakersfield, where there isn't a whole ton to do, this is a must. If you want to go see the Woolworth's and antique malls, but want something fun for your children too... bring them here after. They have a squish penny machine too!

Fun place to take the kids. And educational too. The zoo has most of the animals from the local area. Could be a bit warm in the summer time.

This is a must see if you live in Bakersfield or visit around Christmas. The light show is amazing and it's the number one fund raiser for CALM

well worth taking kids to see animals our grand children love to see everything but the snake exhibit because it is in doors and a sloped walk going in and out they feel a little uneasy but love everything else

I have been a member of Calm almost since it opened and it was very small then. It is an amazing place. The animals are from CA . Some have been injured and rehabilitated
It is so worth visiting if you are local or from a distance.

For a family trip with wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandkids, it was a lovely afternoon. The grandchildren were delighted at every turn. The grandson's favorite was the reptile exhibit and all the children loved the petting zoo area.
Senior citizen & AAA discounts are available.

I have gone to see the Christmas lights at CALM a few times. It is so beautiful and amazing. Everyone should see this at least once.

Took our whole family, two sons, daughter in love to be & our 19 month GRANDson to see the Christmas Lights extravaganza at CALM, the California Living Museum, & it did NOT disappoint! Everyone is friendly & helpful. Our Grandson was in awe as we're most of we adults. We caught a ride on the train & rode around the perimeter. Was a perfect Family night!

I visited CALM a while back and made it a point to return when I was in Bakersfield again. I visit the San Diego zoo often and although CALM does not compare, it's small and intimate setting really is wonderful.

CALM is dedicated to California animals so here is a chance to experience native wildlife. The setting is tranquil and beautiful. It was not crowded on a Sunday so I could enjoy everything. The layout is simple and one can see everything in an hour or take a leisurely stroll and really absorb the exhibits. The small gift shop is fun.
There is no restaurant but there is a drink vending machine and snacks in the gift shop.

It's a great place for a solo visitor or family. The small petting zoo with goats and donkeys is another fun part of CALM.

We packed a lunch and went to visit the animals at Calm. The grandchildren love the big birds especially the Eagle. We took pictures and they shared them with their friends. I have a annual pass and we go as much as we can.

This is a small Zoo catering to the animals that live in the habitat around us. Enjoyed taking our 3 yr old grandson, but wasn't sure if it was he or I that had the best time! Go when the weather is cooler and the animals will be more active.

Great expierence to walk around and see animals especially for kids. The general area is huge with a reptile house, train, playground, and more. I arrived on an early Saturday and there wasn't too many people so it was fun exploring and generally seeing the animals and such. :)

I absolutely LOVE CALM. Their light display is always worth seeing. The staff is caring and well informed. Their knowledge of the zoo inhabitants is second to none. Friendly,a great cause and a value at any price.

Enjoyed the evening holiday lights, merry go round and train ride. Very fun and good way to start the holiday season.

This is a zoo, however, the places they keep the animals is more of a natural setting. I would like to see the plants and trees marked. Would be good to have a map pointing everything out. This place has a feel of a rescue center.

My family (including daughter and 4 grandchildren ages 7-12) visited on a very hot day in the Bakersfield area. Nevertheless, there were plenty of animals to see in this beautiful place. We recommend a visit to CALM!

CALM is a great opportunity to learn about the local wildlife in their habitat - it can be very warm in the summer but late fall, winter and early spring are very comfortable. The Christmas "Lights at CALM" is a fund raiser that runs throughout December- awesome light displays set to music on the grounds.

Fun little day trip for kids. We really enjoy it at Christmas when they have the evening lights. Its a wonderful seasonal display

We love CALM...they always have lots of good stuff for the kids and I personally LOVE the Train Ride!!!!

My family and I have been visiting calm for over 20 years now. As a little girl I loved going on field trips and with my family. My kids have always loved it since they were very young and still do at 18 and 14 years old. We love watching the bears and all of the little creatures too. They are all very well taken care of by the volunteer staff. The reptile room is a favorite of ours, sometimes staff will have a snake out ready for you to touch and look at.

I love being a member of CALM. It's a great day trip for families. Has a playground and picnic benches. The animals are well cared for and lots of attractions. The Holiday Lights are always on our lists. Plus, they have featured animals here. I don't even think I have fully partaken in all the benefits of this treasure. The only thing wrong is it is too far away from house to go every day!

We took our 2 year old grandson. His first time seeing and interacting with animals. He had a fun time.

I love coming here with my family. There's playground, feeding zoo, and train ride on weekends! It may be small, but this place has lots to offer! On slow days, the zookeepers will be out on the sidewalk with owl or small hawk or some birds that's friendly for close encounters, but you can't touch them. It's kind of cool to get close to animals tho! I think, if you were to come here with your one big family, this place has something for everyone and no one would be bored, I'm sure of it.

We went here very very late in the day. The place was only open for 25 minutes more when we arrived and I asked for a discount but none was given. I even asked if we could pay the kids price but still no dice. I had made the trek out to the place and figured I would pay the price anyway.
The zoo was more like a private collection looking place. We made it through half of it in 20 minutes or so however, we could have spent much more time. We were so close to the animals and knowing that they are all animals you could potentially see here in California made it so much more interesting. We saw a couple of animals that we had never even heard of and lots of them that we had never seen in person. I feel like this place is a must see for kids who live in this area and anyone who wants to know whats living in the mountains behind their house.

The train ride was cool, the animals were not. It was hot so all the animals were hiding from the heat.

I love CALM. It is an excellent place for kids to learn more about the state of California and many of its inhabitants. The entry fee is cheap and there are many animals and plants to look at. The museum also takes on a whole different environment during the Christmas holiday. My son loves all the lights and especially the train ride! We go every year!

Great place to take kids. They can get close to the wildlife native to this area. I love seeing roadrunner's

Happened on this place late on a chilly damp Sunday afternoon. An hour was just barely enough to see everything (allow more time with kids). It’s an unusual “zoo” because it only has injured native animals and birds. So cool to see condors and owls and a porcupine.

We go here at least once a month. It is great to let the little ones run around and learn and see what the animals look like in real life. They love to ride on the train. Go early before the heat hits.

This a truly amazing spectacular event, a must during the Holiday season the lights the atmosphere, the train. A must see

Several animals native to the area can be viewed in this smal zoo. They also provide a beautiful display of Chrisstmas lights in season.

This is a nice family outing for families with younger children, or teens and adults that love animals. It's not quite the excitement of a full size zoo but a fun partial day adventure. We especially love going to see the lights at Christmas time. The Christmas lights at CALM are perfect for families or date night. The short train ride is fun and gives you a good view of the rolling hills that surround the park. Take plenty of water if you're going on a hot day. There are tables for picnics as well. The small gifts shop has fun trinkets and unique items.

If you are looking for a place to make you feel like you are in a Winter Wonderland this is it! It is a beautiful show of lights that can be romantic or family fun. I love to go with friends and family every year. It can be cold so be sure to bundle up and be sure to wear comfortable shoes!!

It's been a year since attending the holiday lights here, but the third time did not disappoint. Any locals who have not bothered, are cheating themselves. In culinary equivalency, it would be like living in B-town (I hate Richard Beene's Bako) for twenty years and never having eaten in a Basque restaurant. Really spectacular - even on a foggy night. The gift shop is also kinda neat. Don't wait for an out of town guest to make the trip down the hill on Hwy 178. Other reviewers have provided accurate pictures of the year round activity here, but the signature late Nov to late Dec holiday lights event is awe inspiring.

Clean and well run. Nice kids place. A decent place and well cared for.

The Christmas lights are so enchanting, you will for sure leave with the magic of Christmas in your heart!

As an animal lover, it gives me that " feel good" feeling, to know that orphaned and injured animals have such a great place to live for the rest of their lives. Please go visit an support this wonderful facility!

I had never been to CALM as many times as I have visited Bakersfield but let me say I was impressed. Yes it is a small location and it is not a full Zoo but it gives off a since of "CALM" to the visitors. They take very good care of their animals and there was even an area where my kids could feed their animals. We enjoyed the birds and the reptiles as well as their fabulous story about their bears (have to go to find out the story). I will visit again

Not a lot to to see - 2 bears were the highlight. I'm sure the folks that thought up the acronym CALM were well-intentioned in the way that only those who find zoos offensive can be. Sorry, kids, it's still a zoo. Yup, animals in cages and enclosures is a zoo no matter what la-dee-da "aren't we so enlightened" name you want to slap on it. This just isn't a very good one. Go to the Feline Rescue Center in Rosamond and you'll have a better experience

Great to see local animals being "rescued", good for what it is, but unfortunately like most zoos, the enclosures are on the small side for several of the animals.

Took my 2 young kids (5&8). They enjoyed this adventure. Lots to see and the employees were friendly. Highly recommend for young kids. A great way to allow your kids explore with you. We had a lot of fun.

Great place to show kids the animals of California. And let them know how to ID them in the wild and learn that not all animals are not pets

This a very good place to go and take children and friends for an outing and learning experience.. It has a nice setting between Ming Lake and Hart Park. and is wheel chair friendly.

What a wonderful place to visit. If you are an animal person please come and visit CALM. It's a great educational place to visit to learn about our native animals. A wonderful place.

Went with my wife and our daughter with her family last night and was blown away by the lights extravaganza.No wonder the LA Times named it as one of the top 10 light shows in the western US. Although we live in the area, that was our 1st visit. Aside from the lights spectacle, kids get free carousel ride as well as see the animals. Enjoy the lights show and help feed the animals at CALM.

Fantastic place to visit. Buy a season pass very reasonable. The animals are active and close to visit. Mountain Lions and Bob Cats often next to glass make for fantastic pictures with grandchildren. The Christmas Light displays are very are large and impressive as well as a train ride that entire family can enjoy. The a number of other zoo's that your annual pass will get you a discount or even in for free. Atascadero zoo was free for me and my grandchild this month. We even got discounts at Greenville zoo in SC. They also added a rock climb wall for children and teens very nice 4 walls for one low price at CALM. New Condors Exhibit is nice as well.

On the outskirts of town lies this little gem of a facility. It is as much educational as it is fun. Great family place to visit.

I grew up going to CALM. It was a pretty cool place then and it still is. It was pretty cool to take my girls there. I really would love to take them to the Christmas lights..it was the highlight of my xmas's as a kid.

A great place to spend a few hours. All the animals are native to Kern County and have been rescued for various reasons. Some of the animals featured are black bears, bob cats and bald eagles. There are so many more, however! Inside you will find very nice displays and hands-on activities aimed at children. It's not just about animals and insects however. Great info on earthquakes and the prehisotoric landscape of Kern County. Beautiful spot set aside for picnics, including a playground so the kids can burn off some steam as well. Please note that during the summer, temps may reach 100F here. I have toured CALM on a 100F day. You can do it, but it's pretty draining. During Christmastime they have a brilliant light display. Well worth the time and money to visit at any time of year!

Privately-funded and attempting to provide education to school tour groups and general public, all commendable. However, the herpetology (reptiles) facility stank, very small cases, and the spaces outdoors for the hawks and eagles were way too small.

Took in the sites at CALM; California Animal Living Museum. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with family or friends, and so very affordable. A well kept haven for animals native to this area. Can even bring a picnic lunch. Not too long of a tour ( you take on your own), and a beautifully landscaped area with an amazing assortment of animals. CALM will even nurse back to health any animal brought to the facility due to abandonment or injury. So much fun, and the children wont even know that they are learning as they venture through. A minimal fee, unlike the large big city attractions!

CALM Museum in Bakersfield is the perfect place to take your family during their Festival of Lights celebration in December. My family goes every year, and even my adult children find the spirit of Christmas when we ride the train around the park.

We are LA Zoo members, and many other zoos (including CALM) offer reciprocal 50% discounts to members of other zoos. So when looking for a nice pit stop to give the kids a break on the drive between Fresno and home in Orange County, we decided to check this place out.

We arrived at midday on our Spring Break weekday to find a packed parking lot and several school buses. Evidently it was NOT Spring Break in the nearby school district and there were several school groups in attendance. But as we pulled into the parking lot, two of those school buses drove away, and the zoo wasn't crowded at all. The other school group we saw inside was all seated at the picnic tables eating lunch. So if you're looking to avoid the crowds on a weekday, perhaps consider avoiding the morning in case there are other school field trips present. Good thing we slept in that morning.

The zoo was surprisingly large, much bigger than the Orange County and Santa Ana Zoos (if you've ever been), and took us two hours to tour at a leisurely pace. There was a nice variety of animals, apparently all native to the region. There were several mountain lions lounging about, a couple of bears, deer, etc. There were ground squirrels EVERYWHERE, including a colony of what looks like a hundred in the bear enclosure. I actually had a little more fun tracking the wild squirrels than the actual zoo animals.

All in all, great stop if you're ever passing through Bakersfield and you or your kids would enjoy a nice little zoo, especially if you can get a reciprocal zoo membership discount. Our family of four only cost $15! And parking is free. Just keep in mind it is about 20 minutes away from the 99 freeway, so budget your time accordingly.

I thought there would be more animals and more activity but there was barely any one there and it was very quiet. The highlight of the trip was letting my baby touch the animals in the petting zoo.

A must see! Tens of thousands of lights make for a glittering wonderland where the nocturnal animals come out for all to see! A carousel, train that runs through the zoo, food and hot beverages add to the fun. Very family friendly and an ideal evening out for all.

First time to Calm and I’m glad we went early.... if you have little ones, head to the train first then walk through all the millions of beautiful lights... they have hot chocolate and kettle corn... dress warm.. we will be back next year

My two grandsons from Las Vegas came to visited the wife and I here in cali..it was a quiet afternoon and I decided to get everyone out the house and I thought about CALM.I had heard nice thing about it and decided this would be our get out for the afternoon.Upon arrival it was kind of hot outside and we grabbed water to begin they have vending machines and a gift shop for souvenirs. I have to say that it is a nice large spread with a lot of path ways to see different dessert habitats and animals there is also a museum with snakes behind glass enclosures and mural s of old settlers of the area.We really enjoyed our little excursion. There is also a train that runs the full area of the grounds but we went on a day when the train wasn't running.I would happily recommend this sightseeing trip to anyone who love nature.Enjoy

We love to visit CALM. Very nice facilities, nice exhibits, and nice people. It feels like you are out of town.

We have had a Annual Family pass for 2 years. This is a great opportunity to spend a fun time with our younger grandkids. I think 10 and under age group greatly likes this outing. Adults and older kids will enjoy the animals and especially the Christmas decoration/lights. The Christmas decor is wonderful and should not be missed!!

Enjoying life! Travellurs

I took my niece to CALM on the most perfect day. During the fair. There wasn't a crowd of people, and all the animals were out where we could see them.
She had a wonderful time, and learned alot about the animals of California.
I really enjoyed the ocean exhibit.

We went to CALM last week to see the animals. It is a great zoo for the area. It has so many local animals. There was a cute badger laying on his back sleeping. We love the eagles too. We used to live in Bakersfield until 5 years ago. We went every weekend and had a year membership.

Not sure what to expect and found a great natural habitat zoo... can't wait to go back next time we're in Bakersfield!

CALM is a great place to take kids. There is a fun playground and on the weekends there are also train rides.
There are docents walking around with birds of prey for you to see up close. They have a wide variety of animals - bears, mountain lion, bobcats, big horn sheep, and even a petting zoo. We have an annual pass and go at least once a month.

I take my son here at least 3 times a year. Go in the morning when it is cool, as this is the best time to see the animals actively moving about. If you are lucky, you can see one of the docents giving a demonstration or showing one of the animals outside of their exhibits. They are full of information and will let the kids pet and interact with the animals if it is possible. Bring a picnic lunch and finish your day eating and playing on the playground. Little ones will enjoy the quick little train ride around the museum. A great morning for kids!

From the Friday after Thanksgiving to December 31st of each year, they transform this amazing zoo into a Holiday Light spectacular. Over three million lights cover this park and the displays are fantastic. This is family entertainment value you must experience.

We visited CALM Christmas Lights in Dec. A little gem. Kids loved the lights and rides. Bring lots of warm jacket, as it can get cold. Hopefully, it will return next year. Getting there can be a problem if unfamiliar with the area since some navigation will route you a few miles off course...ie in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.

I was recently at CALM for a Wedding and I must say it was a really cool experience. I had the pleasure of seeing the staff interact with everyone from vendors to guest of the wedding and guest of the Museum. The staff handled it with grace and professionalism.
As for the grounds, they were extremely nice and kind of cool with all the animals just steps away the atmosphere was exciting. There was a playground for the kids to keep them self’s busy and not board by the event. Plenty of parking. I would recommend this location for a wedding most anytime.

Wonderful work with animals hurt or not capable of being returned to the wild. See clean exhibits and healthy animals. December celebration of lights great for whole family

This is a nice zoo located north of Bakersfield, seems to cater mostly to young children. Most animal exhibits display animals from the region. We thought it was a little expensive for the size of the zoo but it was very well done and we will bring our grandchild as soon as she learns to walk.

A great way to spend the day, especially for a picnic. The Holiday Lights are a must, but be sure to dress warmly and take 'the train'. Plan on walking around, and later shopping inside after looking at the displays inside. A great local "zoo".

First time visitor. Not sure why I waited 20+ years to come here. Friendly and helpful employees. Oooh the Christmas lights are amazing. It gets really cold out there, so dress accordingly. They sell hot chocolate to warm you up.

With 3 small children we go often. It makes for a nice day trip and has enough animals to keep their interest. Inexpensive and easy for strollers . Staff are always informative and nice .

Kids had a great time enjoying the lights,trainride and various animals. Was very enjoyable for the adults too.

Calm has a variety of animals and while is small it is great for kids. If you go during the morning or during hours that are not busy there are handlers who will bring out animals for you and give lots of interesting information. I definitely would recommend becoming a member.

A small, but surprisingly decent zoo. Some great large animals you don't see very often even at big zoos. You also get allot closer than in some big zoos.

We were on our way from LA to northern California. We had packed a lunch and stopped here to get out of the car, eat our lunch and walk a bit. They have a lovely picnic area under trees. There were lots of birds to keep us entertained. The walk around the zoo was enjoyable. The animals seemed well taken care of and their enclosures were clean and large. We spent about two hours here. It was very hot (high 90s). We would have stayed longer if it weren’t for the heat. They only have snacks in the gift shop and drink machines outside. We were glad that we bought bottles of ice water with us.

The Christmas Lights At Calm are a Fabulous sight to see! Would be a Great Family Night Activity for all Ages!

My husband love animals, and he goes every chance he gets. We don't live too far from it. He would go every day if it wasn't soo hot here.

This is a small "zoo" which features indigenous animals of central California. Many of the animals are young ones who were brought to CALM by rescuers. You can see a variety of native birds and mammals. You can also see indigenous reptiles and some insects. The animals are mostly in large enclosures, moats, or cages, but they seem happy enough in their own natural environment. The "zoo" includes a portion of the Kern River watershed next to the river, which is running pretty dry as of February 2015.

CALM has special events during the year, such as the annual Christmas Lights.

Be prepared to walk a LOT on inclined paths (I'm not sure about wheelchair access). Elevator or stairs are not needed... nothing is very steep, or two-stories-high.

Local wildlife for Kids to look at and become aquanted with. Very fun for a family picnic.

Wow! Our family loved the CALM ZOO Christmas lights. Everyone was so nice and the layout was great. Especially well set up for our son who is in wheelchair. They were so kind to get us on the train with a ramp. All the volunteers wished us a Merry Christmas! We are from out of town and far away from our family for the first time on Christmas. This event made our Christmas. Wonderful for families. Thank you Bakersfield!

A lot of fun. So much to see and be amazed by. Our family really enjoys the relaxed nature of the event and take our time being outside enjoying the presentation.

We go every year and all the money earn stays with the musuem!!!! Great place for kids! Go at winter time and you can see all the lights!!

The choice of animals at this zoo is very dull and boring. Nothing truly special or exotic. I really feel like the cost of entry is more than this zoo merits. You can tour the entire zoo in less than an hour and you won't find an employee anywhere.

Although it is a little bit of a drive out of town, it was so much it! Welcome staff was friendly. The size of the zoo is just right. Great up close encounters with the animals. Great variety of Californian animals. Not too crowded on the day we went, almost seemed like we had the place to ourselves. Been to many zoos and this one is one of my favorites.

They do a wonderful job with their christmas lights. Many wonderful diplays to see at night.

Nice place to visit in the day time all year round with out of town guests.

A trip to the CALM museum never gets old. Our favorite time of the year to go is during the holidays for their magic of holidays lights experience. The park is clean, a snack bar is available and the tour of beautifully lit up themed exhibits are worth the price of admission. Dress warm though, it does get chilly. The kids loved the exhibit as much as the adults. It is an annual must do during the holidays for our family but it is also a beautiful and educational experience year round as well.

We went to CALM to spend some quality time with the family during the Christmas season. The weather was cold, crisp with no wind thank goodness.

The remarkable display of beautiful lights was breathtaking. At every turn there were clever and beautiful of birds, flowers, Christmas figures and every imaginable delightful display using lights. We were told there were 3 million lights and we could see how that was possible.

One of the best part of the Christmas season is enjoying life with family and friends. Discovering a delightful place to do it in is terrific. And the kids will love the merry-go-round and kettle corn. Be sure not to miss the gift shop filled with affordable toys and games many with a zoo theme since this place is also a zoo.

Merry Christmas and hope you get to go to CALM soon.

Great place to go for Christmas.. I will be ack next year. The kids will not stop talking about it. . On the other hand the holiday light really make this place great. Any normal day its just that.. Normal.

CALM is like nothing else. They are literally a "Living Museum". They exhibit injured or unwanted animals in native habitat exhibits. At Christmas they have an incredible Christmas Lights Extravaganza, well worth the time. This is a great place in the Fall and Spring, when things are a little cooler in Bako. Very nice for strollers and wheelchairs.

It’s a small zoo but it has enough animals to go out and see. Kids have fun it their playground too. Nice staff, recommend for families with little ones.

My family loves this place. It never gets old taking the children to CALM. We especially loved Halloween time and the Holidays at CALM. Never missed CALM at Christmas time for many years it became a family tradition to go. Great staff. Great volunteers. Just a great program overall.

What a great place to visit with the family. A nice selection of animals and friendly staff to answer your questions.

CALM is a well-intentioned effort to provide a zoo for a city that really cannot afford one. The facility and staff are nice enough, but the zoo is very small. Although it's as scenically located as anything in Bakersfield, the location is not convenient. Kids (or adults) who have not seen animals such as those housed at CALM should go, but once will probably be enough.

It is a great place to take your family.Children get to see up close animals native to California. There is a place to seat and eat lunch and a play area too.

The holiday lights at CALM rival Disneyland minus the rides for the holidays. From Dec to January the California Living Museum puts on a display of holiday lights that is amazing. Everything is covered in lights, there are themed areas like dinosaurs, animals, and winter wonderland, and even a musical show where all the trees change colors to the music. Add to this a train ride, Santa, and hot cocoa it was my kids favorite holiday event.

Don’t miss a visit to C.A.L.M., Bakersfield’s pristine collection of native plants and animals indigenous to our area. Knowledgeable staff and dedicated volunteers help people of all ages get the most out of this outdoor experience. Hope you get to watch a docent feed the snakes or see one of the docents walk around with an owl on her arm. It’s a family experience and at Christmas they turn on millions of lights to make everything sparkle. Don’t miss it!

Just a few miles from the lake Ming is bakersfield's best kept secret! This is a nice small rehab facility for injured animals. Admission was $9 a person and well worth it! We have tickets for CALM Christmas light but decided to go to the zoo part early! Loved it! Now I learned I get recently ticks when I turn my Christmas light tickets in! Super excited to return, close up with beavers, deer, bears, goats, chickens, rabbits and many more animals. I was happy to see bakersfield with a hidden treasure! This place is only a few miles for the sequoia national Forrest!

my grand kids enjoy the hands on experience with the animals, the volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the whole family goes to see the Christmas lights

We LOVE the holiday lights at CALM & love the animals and all the cool things they always have going on😍

I gave Calm a 3 because they advertised veterans and military got a $2 discount but when we got there was told oh that was over last week. ( NOT GOOD ) We had a nice time walking around calm looking at all the Christmas lights. They do such a wonderful job with their display. A lot of people but not too crowded. We bundled up good so we didn’t get cold. Fun time with family and friends.

We have been to CALM many times with our 3 grand-daughters and family.
I recommend the reptile house, sometimes they have awesome displays of the reptiles and insects. I've been to two, one was a turtle and the other was a tarantula.
They often have employees or docents walking around the park with live animals for all to see.
If you are a family of four or more you should purchase the yearly pass.

We have been for the holiday lights, as well as for the zoo portion during the day. The lights are rather neat, but some areas are not stroller friendly what so ever. The lines for hot chocolate are always long. The merry go round line was even worse. We didn't even attempt the train. As for the zoo portion, nearly all the animals here are nocturnal, which means you have the pleasure of viewing their habitat more than observing the animal within. It's a nice place to picnic, but if that's all you would like to do, I would suggest stopping at Hart Park (which you drive through to get to CALM) and having lunch with the peacocks (they are located near the back of the park, instead of turning right at the fork to go to CALM, go left, they are near the ranger station building) FUN FACT: the peacocks were originally part of CALM birds, but had excaped and made have Hart Park their home since.

This place rocks- especially when the weather is cool. We got the family pass for the year and it's great!

CALM is a great place to visit anytime, the wildlife on display in natural settings is always a treat. The Christmas light show is nothing less than enchanting! We love to visit during the holidays and take grandchildren along for the experience!

We had a wonderful time at CALM on Monday evening. The volunteers were extremely helpful during parking and helping to point out different activities. The rates were just right for the activity to view the lights. The crowds were not bad for the first part of the holiday season. The train and charasel were fun and enjoyable for the family. The children at least on the night we went did not have to wait to long in the lines for those activities. They did get to see a few of the animals, but were a little disappointed there were not more out. Visiting CALM has been one of our favorite activities to do with the family in Bakersfield. Thanks again for a wonder evening.

I love to have some fun time with the Grandkids. See the fascination in their eyes when we go throught all the different exhibits. They love the petting zoo. Just to get out doors and enjoy family time.

Calm is an amazing place. Home to many local wildlife that have been nurtured back to health. At Christmas time Calm turns into a huge park with Christmas lights and intertainment. Walk along the trails, each one a different theme, shown with Christmas lights! Ride on a huge carrousel, sit on Santa’s lap and take a train ride around the parameter of the park!

If you haven't been out to see the lights at CALM you are really missing out and you should add it to your 'must do' list next year during the holidays, it's amazing and very special to be out with animals at night. The train is very cute and it's a lovely way o get in the spirit of the season.

This place is already interesting but during the holiday season, it turns magical. Very fair admission price, riding the train and carousel is included.
Everywhere you look and walk it is so beautiful. This is not a cheesy cheap set up. It rivals Disneyland... Except for the lights on It's a Small World.
Adults and children are truly having a great time.

Calm is an outstanding place to go to anytime of year, but especially Christmas for the lights and decorations. A very rare family old time fun is felt there, whether with a significant other, or the kids and grandparents. Small town feel just outside a 400,000 population city. Go once and you'll be hooked forever in a new tradition. 5 Stars and a half.

Visiting CALM during their Christmas lights extravaganza was worth the time and money. The decorations were set up with different themes and many of the zoo animals were active during this event. The staff were very friendly and the abundance of lights and animation all over the park was quite beautiful. This is a great fund raising theme for the Zoo. I will be returning for next years event.

This is a lovely attraction but needs more shade. We visited on a searing hot day and the majority of animals could not be seen as they were hiding from the Sun. If the enclosures and walkways had more shade I think a visit would be more enjoyable. All the staff and volunteers were extremely friendly and brought smaller animals to us as we sat in the shade. The park area is great for smaller children.

This is a nice zoo. Not really large, but still has a very good selection of animals. Very reasonable ticket prices. Discount for seniors. Military and veterans (with ID) are free. I don't think there is a discount for students, but there is a discount for children up to 12 years old. Under 3 are free. There might be group discounts.

Its a bit away from the city. They have live region animals. Family friendly but the best time to visit is after thanksgiving thru January for they have Calm lights. Its a neautiful display of Christmas lights. Very popular around that time. Highly recommend you are going to love it❤️

I have been attending the Christmas Lights at CALM over several years. I also take anyone who visits us during the holidays to see them. They are glorious and unlike anything I've ever seen.

It's great for little one's.It's no Cincinnati or San Diego Zoo but the kids love it..

With millions of lights, themes & donations that provide this event every year - it’s a must see event!

Went with my daughter , son in law and 3 grandchildren . it was really magical for the kids ! lines were a bit long , very popular event ! and the rides were free the night we went , so probably why lines were so long . but the kiddos just loved it !

Enjoyed our visit here. It a nice sized. Everything is keep clean. Staff is friendly and helpful. Good for all ages.

I loved being able to see all of the animals in their natural habitats instead of in cages. I was impressed with how clean the place was, and how well laid out it was. It's perfect for families or if you just want to go alone and commune within a more natural setting with animals. I liked the gift shop and the staff and docents were obviously dedicated to what they are doing for the animals.

Went there with an 8 month old and a 10 month old, we are all new to the area and never thought it was going to be so hot! There were a couple of places to sit on the shade but it was so hot that even that didn't help. It's not too big so it can be walked in an hour or two, we couldn't see some of the animals so it didn't take us long to walk the whole park. We are planning on returning on the fall or winter and enjoying a nice day out there.

I was a volunteer at CALM, so I was able to experience for than the average visitor. I was able to help out with the animals habitats and their diets. This museum is amazing for families to take a day to get away from home, the staff is helpful and nice all the time and the animals are majestic to see. The place is pretty big, so wear some comfortable shoes and maybe take an umbrella since some parts do not have shade. Gatorade and soda machines are available, so are water fountains. The small train ride is a pleasant experience as well. They have benches that are good for family picnics. They have rock climbing, however it's kinda pricey for 1 person. I believe it was $10 or $15 for just 1 person. But in the end, it's a wonderful place that's friendly and pretty cool to visit with the family.

I've been here before, especially for kids fieldtrips, but my favorite is a walking tour for the Christmas lights at Christmas time.

CALM is a small zoo, but the exhibits are close up so you get a good view of the animals. They take excellent care of their animals. The road runner is something particularly special.

Our kids loved this place and is a must see if you're in Bakersfield!

In general, we are not huge fans of zoos. What we love about this place is that all the animals here have been rescued and rehabilitated, but are housed because they're unable to return to nature due to a disability or dependency. These are all local animals, so if you are travelling from abroad you can learn about the local fauna. Especially if you didn't see these creatures in the wild (our kids were disappointed they didn't see snakes in Death Valley and Red Rock so seeing the reptiles here made for some happy faces).
There are live demonstrations and opportunities to interact with the animals under the supervision of park staff - we met a possum and a king snake.

The price is reasonable and makes you feel good that you're giving to a good cause. if you're travelling with younger kids, be sure to get tickets to the mini-train they have near the entrance: the views are great and the kids loved it! There's also a nice playground and picnic area that we had to struggle to get the kids to leave!

There are bathroom facilities but, by the end of the day, they weren't clean however still stocked with toilet paper and paper towels. Unfortunately, there was no baby change tables.

In all, a very accessible and worthy stop if you are interested in nature or have kids.

The California Area Living Museum is located in a secluded valley near Bakersfield. The Zoo melts right into the surrounding environment. In a little less than two hours, one can see many representative animals and birds from the golden state. The exhibits are well kept and you are so close to the animals. The most amazing exhibit is the home of the zoo's two beavers who frolic just beyond your reach. A warm, fun place for all ages.

I just love animals, where there is animals I'm there. It's cool just to get away for awhile, and walk around. I will post photos as soon as I download them. It's so pretty during the holidays, they decorate the place with lots and lots of xmas lights. So cool.

We had not been to see the Christmas lights at Calm for 15 years. I was reading in the Los Angeles Times about places in the United States for lighting displays and it was one of them! The lights were fantastic. There was also a train ride and hot drinks and food.

Holiday Lights are fantastic thousands of lights. Animal lights are very creative.
For a peaceful and low stress day you can visit the animals at calm. The baby bob cats are very cute. Lions and bears, reptiles and even a petting zoo. They have animals that are native to California. They even have a free train ride for families. Their entire staff are very nice and helpful. Often the staff will bring a Turtle or Owl to the walk ways for kids to get a close up visit. This is a great place. You can take your family and see everything in only a couple hours, or bring your lunch and take your time to enjoy the peacefulness and let the kids play in play area around the picnic tables. Year memberships are very reasonable. Family membership includes up to 6 children.

Take my family there every year at Christmas. The most lights any where. The kids love it!! Family Friendly and such a great time for Everyone.

The Christmas light displays were wonderful. The music added to the experience. What a great place to take a 'winter wonderland' walk. We loved how the 'snow' was triggered to fall when we walked one of the pathways. Get there early, it gets crowded.....still worth it.

CALM specializes in animals that live in California, so you won't find the usual sampling of exotic animals from Africa or Asia. The California animal selection are all vertebrates and mostly mammals and reptiles. Also has a great "zoo lights" display during the Christmas-New Years holidays.

Nice small zoo with a good variety of animals, very educational and beautiful.
Even a petting zoo where you can feed the farm animals that was really fun. Had a good time. Staff was nice, and price entrance was good for what we saw.
Drive a little further out and there's a beautiful park with lakes we had our lunch there, very pleasant and nice view we enjoyed feeding the ducks. We will be back. ...

There isn't much to do around town but this place rocks during this time of year. Lots of lights and activities for winter time. Definitely a good break from the mundane Bakersfield life.

When I was visiting family in Bakersfield, we visited this place one afternoon. It was wonderful to see the wildcats, reptiles, ringtails, birds of prey, and other animals who wouldn't have survived on their own in the wild. Just down the road is Hart Park, which is a gorgeous sprawling park with a huge lake featuring all sorts of water birds.

This was a short and enjoyable visit with Calfiornia birds and mammals that cannot be returned to the wild. It was easily accessbile for my husband's power chair, and laid out well. They have installed new playground equipment, and the petting zoo area is great for the little ones. The whole enviornment can be well enjoyed in just a few hours.

What this place does on such a limited budget is awesome. Basically an animal rescue facility disguised as a small zoo. The variety of local plants and animals is usually very good. The Christmas light display is a must-see if you have children.

We are somewhat new to the Bakersfield area and found this a few years ago. Every year we make a point to get friends and relatives to come visit over the holidays and the highlight of the visits are our trips to CALM. The effort and dedication that goes into the display is overwhelming and the volunteer staff are all friendly and helpful. We would not consider missing the Holiday Lights and we continue to add newcomers every year who also love every facet of the visit. A great job!

The lights are very beautiful. The enterance has wheelchairs lined up for free use. Do not see that very often. Most of the pathway through the light scenes is paved. The path to the fantastic trains however, is not paved. It has large rocks on dirt. Once you get to the train station it is paved. There is a nice W/C ramp for a W/C to enter/exit the trains. Very nicely done. If the rest of the path was paved or compacted, I would give this an A for ADA.

I really like this place. Not sure what to call it; not a museum or zoo, but rather an experience. The ability to get close to the animals and the landscaping really draws a person in to the exhibit. The Holiday Lights are not be missed. I drop 50 years standing in line to ride the train. . . .what fun!

So glad we found this place while out driving. A little out of the way but well worth the drive! Clean and well kept. They truly care for their critters! They actually took some off display because of the heat. We will be back.

My family and I visited CALM after relocating to Bakersfield, and we have enjoyed it. It's pretty, a laid-back atmosphere, and the exhibits are interesting. It's not fancy but is for a good cause; they have rescued animals there which cannot be released. It's a nice easy stroll and has not been crowded, and has been enjoyable for us. When we have company from out of town, we have taken some out there, and it's a good way to spend some time. It's worth a trip and you might see something new.

I like this outdoor museum. I went there as a kid and I go back every year for the light show and it's beautiful. It has all the indigenous animals of the region or at least from California. It is on the outskirts of town but it's in a really beautiful part. Definitely worth the trip!

The California Living Museum is a great place to see and learn about local flora and fauna. When I taught the lower grades, I always took my class there to see the animals native to California. It has great picnic areas and is very interesting. It also has a snack bar.

CALM is a great place for an afternoon trip with the kids. Family memberships are affordable and make for easy spur of the moment trips to the park. We always have a great time.

The admission fee is quite high but it does go to the upkeep of the place and its animals. The zoo is great place for the kids to know what kind of animals are in the surrounding area of Kern County.

The Christmas light show is a terrific experience, but this is a wonderful place for a family visit anytime of the year.

This museum is underfunded, understaffed, and dull. The city it's in obviously doesn't have much buy-in to the place, or there'd be more interest and effectiveness in drawing people. If I had to go back for another one of their "Christmas Light Shows," I think I'd rather stab my eyes out with a fork! Really, it's that bad.

CALM is an interesting place to visit. It's basically a zoo of the animals of the west. Its not a very big place, and sometimes it's hard to see the animals, but its fun for kids and friends visiting the area. During the Christmas holiday season they have a nice lite show.

I loved the lights that night and even went back a second time with another date.. WHAT???????????????????
Jokes. But really it was a fun time Great place to go during the season

the best place for grandchildren to spend the day prices are a steal, and you see animals, like the condor, and so much more to see and talk about for days, always hearing eachother how we all see differently we all see what maybe you missed like lama be sure to include in travel plans

We really like this zoo , we have been here a few times . This lady time we 2 of the younger girls working up front be snippy and rude . Other then that we always have s good time . Perfect for smaller kids .

My family recently visited CALM. By the looks of the place I initially wasn’t expecting much, but as we started to look at the animals and exhibits I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. I’m used to going to the big zoos and parks, but we all enjoyed our time there. The train ride is a nice way to rest your feet. We’ll be back when we have a lazy day.

This is a great place to take youngsters for an outdoor experience. The grounds are well kept, the fee is minimal, and there is a generous variety of local animal species to see and learn about; reptiles, birds, and mammals such as bobcats, bears & foxes. The environment is relaxed and uncrowded.

I brought my granddaughter here. It’s a nice place, wish it was bigger but still nice. I have the annual pass

This zoo is filled with rescue animals that cannot be released back into the wild. The animals are well cared for and clean. Special events are held throughout the year that are very well done. Christmas is especially spectacular, when Calm lights up the night.

We often find the docents with certain animals out and about in the zoo educating kids and grown ups about them. They all have stores of survival

You won't be disappointed!

Perfect place to spend 2-3 hours with your little kids.
We had a great family experience! Our kids loved it!!

What a great evening to spend with family great time ! Some food and hot chocolate and sweets! Great music watch the little kids dance was so cute.

All the animals are indigenous to the area. The enclosures are clean as are the grounds. It's small and kid friendly. Though it's out of the way it's worth the drive and the price od admission.

We have a membership to CALM, and my children and I love seeing the animals and riding the trains. They are constantly getting new exhibits/animals and really make it a community affair. I also LOVE the Holiday lights during the winter season.

I grew up visiting CALM so I love it. It's not a huge place, but big enough for kids to have fun. They have a good variety of animals and nice information displays. A great place for your family to visit together!

I absolutely LOVE CALM! The reason for this unique environment is humanity, as well as, love of our indigenous animals. The animals cannot live in the wild on their own for a variety of different reasons - injured, orphaned, disabled- so they are kept until they pass on their own. They are loved and all their needs are cared for 24/7. It's a win-win for everyone who visits and a self-sustaining idea! PLEASE take your children, a picnic lunch, and expect a truly unique chance to see our California animals up close in their natural habitat. ♡

CALM is not trying to pretend to be a conventional zoo. They are not large. You will not see zebras or elephants. They are a non-profit organization that houses native animals which for various reasons cannot be returned to the wild.

From their website:
"The California Living Museum exists to display and interpret native California animals, plants, fossils and artifacts to teach a respect for all living things through education, recreation, conservation and research. Located on 14 park-like acres, CALM’s zoo features over 80 species of unreleasable animals. Only animals injured or who cannot survive in their native environment are housed at CALM."

They provide excellent educational programs to local schools, scouts, and on special days to the general public.

If you are interested in learning about species native to Bakersfield they are worth a visit any time of the year.

They also do an annual Christmas light display that is a phenomenal show of over 2 million lights. It's an amazing way to get into the holiday spirit and an annual tradition for many. If you are in the area during the Christmas season this is not to be missed!

great place to visit and educate yourself on our own local wildlife, so many new upgrades and things to see, our favorite time is during the holiday's we love to come out and look at the lights displayed thru out the zoo, absolutely beautiful!

A dedicated, friendly staff take great care of their animals and the grounds at CALM. Easy walk-around to all of the animals, and a petting area and playground for the kids. Also there are picnic areas available.

CALM is a animal rescue zoo and it's full of desert, mountain and valley critters! You can see bald eagles, bobcats, kitfoxes, reptiles, and even a black bear! It's fun for kids and school field trips; educates the kids about nature and animals in captivity that can't be returned to the wild. I believe you could sign up to volunteer and there are tours and you can even have spcial events on the grounds. Warms you hear tot see people helping animals in distress. Good job CALM!

Great place to experience the festive lights and spend time with friends and family. Walking around on paths decorated to the fullest with light shows every where. Stop and get a hot chocolate while you walk around in the cold air and get in the holiday spirit. We have made it a family tradition to go out every year with a large group. We love the train ride, the carousel & Santa for the kids. Fun, fun, Fun for everyone!

I went with my daughter in April 2014 and was surprised at just how much they really had there. We saw dozens of birds, lots of mammals that I had never seen in person (including a porcupine) and a reptile house (I was creeped out the entire time we were inside of the reptile house.) We only went through half the park and didn't even make it into the petting zoo area. They also have a pretty nice playground near the offices. All in all, it was a nice place to visit.

This was our first time at Calm to see the holiday light display and it was quite impressive. So much to see. Very colorful. There is a train ride and Carousel and it is included in the price of admission. We went on a weeknight and it cost us 10.00 per person which I thought was very reasonable. There is food for purchase. We got there at 6pm & left around 7:40pm. There is alot to see and many photos opportunities. We saw some animals. The beavers, big cats and amphibians. It even snowed (fake snow) but it was still really cool. I called ahead to see if it was wheelchair accessible or if someone had crutches would they be able to walk the pathways. I was told mostly paved but there were some dirt pathways that might pose a challenge. I have a bad ankle and knees so even though I do not use a wheelchair or crutches I felt if it was accessible I would be fine. I was fine but there is one area on a dirt pathway that I think could be a little steep for someone maybe pushing a wheelchair or someone with crutches. It might take a few people to help or give some support. Even if you don't go on this dirt path there is still alot to see. I recommend seeing the Lights at Calm at least once. I will definitely go back.

CaLM (California Living Museum) is a good place to learn about native California animal species. It is a permitted rehabilitation facility and has a staff trained to care for injured wildlife. The primary goal of rehabilitation is to release the wildlife back into their natural habitat. The entrance fees are modest, and it's a pleasant way to spend an hour or two, especially for anyone who loves animals.

My kids (11 and 6 at the time of our most recent visit) have been to CaLM a number of times, and they have always enjoyed it. It is not a big zoo, true, but it was established to teach about local species and to help rehabilitate injured wildlife. It's a nice thing to have available in Bakersfield. The zoo walk is manageable for anyone in decent health. Our favorite time to go is in the spring, because the weather is mild -- warm, but not unbearably hot.

Some of the sights to see are an open black bear exhibit; a bird of prey enclosure with hawks, owls, and eagles; a mammal roundhouse that contains bobcats and several species of foxes; a waterfowl pond, a deer yard, and a reptile house. Several endangered species are on exhibit. My kids especially loved seeing the raccoons, badger, foxes, bobcats, and mountain lions (pumas). The porcupines and beaver were also fun to see up close.

CaLM offers "meet a zoo resident" interactions several times a day (check the schedule the day you go for which specific animals you can "meet"). There are labeled native plants all around the property, as well. CaLM also provides animal and environmental education to Kern County schools, both on-site and off-site.

There are snacks and drinks available for purchase. You may also bring your own food in; they have a nice picnic area. CaLM also has a small-ish train that circles a part of the park/zoo. You can see the river from the outer part of the track, and it's fun for little kids. For adults, it's a chance to sit down and feel the breeze on your face.

(CaLM is not the L.A. zoo or the San Diego zoo. And it is off the beaten path, away from Bakersfield proper. Keep these things in mind, and you'll have a great time.)

Josh Barnett’s light show is spectacular. The experience is special. Everyone should participate. Dress for the cold and leave plenty of time.

For all of the holidays (including Christmas) - they do a lot of things to make this place into a very happy and safe "entire family" visiting location.

This local "zoo" only houses animals that are native to our area that can no longer live in the wild for a number of different reasons. This is an affordable easy day trip where you can picnic and enjoy some cool animals. There is a little gift shop with a few snacks, but there are also picnic tables perfect for bringing in lunch. My son has grown up visiting CALM. Cool PLace.

And the young at heart.
Now $10 entry for adults and $5 for Children (3-12).
Quite a ways out of the city.
I came here to get a pressed penny and didn't leave empty handed.
2021

Took the kids there for a Saturday away from video gaming. There were many animals to see and could teach the kids about the animals living in our part of the Antelope valley. Good fun at a great price.

CALM is a great little zoo and museum. It is so family friendly. You will love it. It is only closed on Monday. The prices are great, we paid 10$ per adult for the whole day.

Located in Bakersfield, which is fun, it is part of Kern County which has a lot to offer. The zoo is kept super clean and the staff is very friendly. It can get super hot in the summer so keep that in mind. It was fine the day we were there.

CALM has grown from a locals-only attraction to an international destination point. Visitors from around the world are attracted to the zoo to see a variety of endangered species and California’s native species. You will get to see animals and plenty of plant life that you will never see at some zoos.

They also have a rehab center for all manner of animals and your entrance fee helps to support that.

You can also rent the entire place. I know nothing about it. You would need to call them.

You will just have the best time at this little zoo on the hill. Have fun.

Great place to take the family/kids and just walk around looking and learning about the habitat here. This is a non-profit rescue facility for wild life and they do an excellent job. Their Christmas time lights are FANTASTIC! Must see...........

It was well worth the visit! The lights Amazing! The carousel and train ride Fun! We had a great time that, we decided to make this an annual event for the kids and grandkids!

Good for a couple of hours stay, more if you have kids. Disappointed to not see bears. Lots of places to sit and plenty of shade.

Loved the CALM, very beautiful grounds, lots of animals to see... even a big black BEAR. Will be back for the Xmas lights!

We've been twice this year with visiting friends and relatives and have not been disappointed at all with the exhibits and helpful and informative staff.

The visit in May was almost too hot and the cooler September weather was much more conducive to walking farther and looking longer. Well worth the price of admission and hope we can return for the Christmas lights, as I understand they are stupendous!

CALM is amazing at Christmas!! I started taking my children there for Christmas when they were 4 1/2 & 1. It became a Christmas tradition. This past year we got to start the tradition with our Granddaughter! She was 9mths old & was completely fascinated by all the dancing lights, music, lighted animated animals, loved the train & went nuts over the carousel! She had never been on one but you would have never known it! LOL!! I got her up on the horse, strapped on, put her hands up on the pole to help old herself upright. As soon as I got her situated she started giggling & kicking the horse to make it go! Everyone was cracking up at her & taking pictures! Made me a proud gamma with my comedian of a granddaughter! It was Priceless!!!
Outside of Christmas time, CALM is a must see at any time! They have a wonderful assortment of animals indigenous to the San Joaquin Valley. When it's warmer the animals are more active. Make sure to go into the petting zoo!! Even if you have no kids - go anyways & be a kid!! Love this place!!!

Our grand children love to go to CALM. I've been on several field trips with several of my Grandbabies We love this place. In December they have the light show and it is amazing to walk through at night! Truly a gem to Bakersfield!
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Also go any other times of the years and see the animals, great education for the kids. You learn about the different wild animals etc that is in california

If you go here in the spring or fall when the weather is moderate, it is a great day for the whole family. They also can do group functions such as our grandchild's birthday party.
If you go at Christmas time the entire place has the most amazing light display. Great for family or for a fun date night!
The train is very popular for the kids.

Good selection of native animals and birds . Was in awe of the golden eagle. Some animals looked a little lonely but that could be my soft heart. Enjoyable visit.

Perfect for a day out, lovely grounds, fun train - the holiday lights is not to be missed! We became members so we can take the kids and grandkids any time we like. Easy walking, lots to see, enjoy!

There are so many cool native rescue animals in the natural habitat and in the winter at night they have a great light show although the restrooms are real convenient

Tookour 5 & 7 year old grandchildren here to see the animals. The animals seem well tended and content. It only took a couple of hours but we all learned something new about animals from California.
We recommend this place!

Just gorgeous! Quiet and well set out, with great exhibits from flora to fauna of Californian goodness. These are rescue animals and a worthy cause that appear content. Great value for money and lovely volunteers

Stopped there with the grand kids.
Very well put together, I remember as a kid it was in Hart park, they only had a few exibits.
Now they arr outside of the park and have some area to expand.
Lots of exibits and all of the animals can be seen easier.

For those who have not been to calm during the day it is a museum of living animals or basically a zoo. But during the holiday season they add an additional display of completely custom illuminations mostly Of Christmas nature pun not intended. In my opinion you honestly have to go to at least both times of winter and summer to get the full experience.

I really enjoyed the premise of this facility. The native plants were very nicely maintained (high praise, natives can look straggly. California Fauna was well represented. We had many nice encounters with some of the residents. A small owl flew right over to the glass as we entered the display, the great horned owl hooted at us, the bobcat came out and stared at us, the pumas were snuggled in an easily observed perch and the bears looked happy. The facility is pleasant, lots of bathrooms, benches, tables and shade. My husband and I were probably the only people visiting without kids. It was an additional delight to watch the children interacting with the animals. The hooting owl got one toddler laughing so hard I don't think anyone was watching the owl anymore.

Has play area , good place for picnic and walk around see animals and has beautiful botanical plants that are native of California of kern county.

CALM has grown so much since I was little. They're constantly improving the experience of their visitors and take such great care and pride in their animals and the native plants of California.

On the weekend, you'll almost always find a worker/volunteer on the grounds with an animal eagerly waiting to talk to people about them.

They've added a park area for the children to play after they look at the animals and there is also the Art Center (which I'm pretty sure they've had for a long time).

My kids are always excited when they find out we're going. Thank goodness for those annual passes!

My wife brought me here, even though living in Bakersfield now for a while, I never actually came to visit this zoo except when they do the Christmas lights show. I was actually surprised, it's decent size with quite a few animals to see, a lot of places for kids to hang out and play. Do recommend it if you have little kids you can bring.

CALM zoo it not a zoo that holds animals hostage and keeps them from there natural homes. This zoo protects the ones who can't survive in the wild. Every time is go I have a blast.

I have loved CALM since I was a child. We take our daughter to the holiday lights every year. Calm is good cheap fun for all and educational to boot!

Very nice and easy zoo to visit. It is easy to get around and is small enough that little kids can easily make it around. You can see everything at a nice leisurely pace in about an hour. I highly recommend visiting.

a must go and enjoy the excitement. I enjoyed all the crative art work done with the lights. I t made me feel like I was a child again.

Very well priced. Lots of animals.
Unsure about the name why it's a 'museum'. It's a lovely sanctuary. We loved the murals that's were painted everywhere (including the snakes enclosures). Highly recommended.

Very hot in summer. Go early in the morning. Animals were obviously very hot, but they had done their best at providing water/mist makers etc

We came with a family of older children and they enjoyed all the exhibits. Some of the analysis are quite close including the beaver, bear and heron. The petting zoo is great for any age.

I had a birthday party there in April. The staff was really nice and accommodating to my needs. The only thing is that people would rudely walk right through our party to get to the playground. CALM is awesome. I encourage everyone of all ages to go.

CALM is located in a beautiful, bit a tad remote area outside of Bakersfield, CA. We had a pleasant visit, for sure, and enjoyed viewing the snakes, pelican, bald eagles, porcupines, bears, etc.

But the content was a little slight - certainly less than one hour in a small, adult-only group - and the signage was a bit hit-and-miss.

With that said, CALM appears to be clearly geared toward children and we agreed that it would be a fine place to bring kids. It is small, not much walking, somewhat shaded, the animals are easy to see in most cases and it is inexpensive.

I am almost positive this would be at least a four-star review if I had a youngster with us and factored in their experience!

Our local Museum is good - you can entertain and most impressionable is during Holiday Lights!

This is a very good place to visit with family and friends, you can walk with a very well designed light images and shapes.

The need to decorate more the area of the train, the ride was good but in some places there is clear spaces.

The popcorn and cocoa station dnd ask if you want you popcorn with sugar, please fix this little minor detail, the chocolate was ok not awesome, I didn’t try the food, sorry about that.

This is a good place to visit enjoy the ride.

This was mine and my kids first time going to CALM and they loved it. It's small, but for being a small place, there were a LOT of animals to see. My kids loved petting the goats and feeding the birds. The train ride was their favorite part though, and was definitely worth the $1 ticket.

I am a retired senior and would love to just go and sit out there sometimes, but the prices are just prohibitive. I think it is very expensive for the number of exhibits and limited species for viewing. Would be nice to have special senior discounts without having to be a "member" of something.

It is an amazing place. A zoo for native animals. Well laid out, with interesting exhibits of California's native animals.

If you haven't been to CALM, you are missing a great opportunity to see animals native to California. There are wonderful open displays if you are a photographer. Also, there are many docents available at exhibits, or with a raptor in their hands, who are able to answer your questions. This is a great place for babies and kids too.

Was looking forward to this trip but was sorely disappointed.
Animals and birds looked bored and indifferent, their cages although clean looked too small. The snake house was interesting.
Birds in the bird area looked dirty and uncared for.
I would have liked to see notices on each exhibit telling us where the animal or bird came from and its story, apparently they are all animals that cannot be released into the wild for one reason or another.
If this collection was in the UK it would be closed down.
Not impressed..

So many lights, fascinating the way dolphins, animals, trees, characters catch your eye. The train ride is fun for adults and children. CALM only lights up for December. A fun experience for all!

You stroll through the nice walkway and see animals and plants that are native to California. Much fun and learning for the whole family.

We took the grandkids to see the holiday light show at CALM and it was fantastic. Whoever puts the lights together does an amazing job. Its like walking through a storybook with all kinds of stories. The train is soooo fun. The littlest grandchild had eyes as big as saucers! We ended it with a visit with Santa where they got to tell him what they wanted. You see a few animals that like it after dark, but just knowling they were there was fun. We will definitely go back in the daylight to see who we missed.

CALM is a cool little local zoo with a good heart. They host native California animals injured or otherwise unable to live in the wild. It is a scenic location and has some cool animals but not a traditional zoo. It is small and fun for kids.

The kids had a fun time looking at different animals but don't expect too much educational material (one employee told us bats don't have eyes). It was a nice place to wander around, have a picnic, and take a little train ride but I wouldn't call this a must-see by any means. I would have loved to see more information about the animals currently at the park, such as how they got there or why they can't be released back into the wild but the signs only had basic information about the species.

I used to be a docent,(educated tour guide) at CALM, and I found it to be a well run zoologocal adventure. The animals and plants located there,are all indigenous to California, from Black Bears (Ursus Americana), and striped skunks, (Mephitis Mephitis) to mountain lions (Felis Concolor) I still love to visit there whenever I can.

We were in bakersfield for a pit stop and decided to drive out here. It was a great surprise. All outdoor and exhibits close to habitat. Big fun for the family to learn about Californias native rescue animals.

Spent 2+ leisurely hours @ the CALM zoo. The animal habitats, landscaping, signage, & facilities all seemed well tended. The animals appeared well cared for particularly since they are all rescues. The staff were super nice.

The 22 min drive from the hotel in Bakersfield wound thru' some astounding terrain - at least to my East Coast eyes - with desolate-appearing ochre ridges, oil fields, scrubby cliffs.

Glad we found this little oasis. I would recommend it as a low key activity for adults & kids who like animals.

We took our grandchildren. We all had a great time. The animal exhibits are very nicely done. Everything is kid friendly. There is a petting zoo as well. We took our lunch and ate at tables in the shade. There is also playground equipment that the kids enjoyed. There is a gift shop.

CALM Zoo has fallen into disrepair lately. Many displays were empty, namely the mountain lion den, which was also leaking water, and the bird pond was drained. The booking system was inefficient in handling the admission.

We spent a very pleasant couple of hours wandering around the CALM facility. We were a bit disappointed that the bears were inside as there was some work being done on their enclosure but on our way the big cats we met up with one of the handlers taking a Kestrel for a walk. The bird put on a show for us spreading and flapping it's wings.
The 3 mountains lions and bobcats kept us amused for quite some time.
We went out of our way about 120 miles to visit and are very glad we did. Highly recommended.

Couldn’t find much to do in Bakersfield and stumbled on this. It was pretty cool.

$10 for an adult. Worth the money. Took about two hours.

Grand kids out of school so we decided to go here just to get them out of the house. We used to go every Christmas and look at the lights but haven't the last 2 years because it was either too rainy or cold for the youngest grand kids. Wasn't crowded that day maybe 150 kids, the kids had fun looking at the animals and feeding the ducks. The even enjoyed playing on the playground there that they have.

Its a recovery place for animals and I thought it was just a zoo. Since I wasn't expecting to see injured animals I freaked out when seeing a one eyed eagle, etc. I went from thinking a nice day at a zoo to OMG this is saddest day ever. They are doing great work there but its sad to see. During Christmas time they do out a million lights and its really pretty to see.

Very nice collection of local animals and plants. The living museum is well laid out and is home to quite a number of local animals, bears, coyotes, mountain lion, etc that can not be in the wild due to an injury. So, it is doubling benefitting that the animals get a safe environment and the public gets to views these beautiful animals. Best seen in the morning or in the evening, the day time can be quite hot, especially during the summer months. The Christmas light show is fantastic!!

What a great place to go especially during the holidays. You not only get to the the animals you see a wonderful light display so beatiful.

I have been a fan of this place since it opened! I am an animal lover and don't like to go to animal places and see the animals in crappy environments- not the case here! After volunteering here( which I highly recommend) I learned these animals are lovingly cared for by highly trained individuals and are healthy and happy. They take care and rehab injured animals of all kinds with love and kindness. The park itself is immaculate and a lovely way to spend a day. I recommend this for everyone!

This is a great little zoo operated by the JERN County Superintendent if Schools. They have many different types if animals from the area. The Holiday lights show is amazing. The zoo is decorated with millions if lights and there are many fun activities such as a ferris wheel, train ride, climbing wall and much more. Great family or business outing.

A down to earth living museum or also a zoo that has as many of the animals in California as they can get. All the animals are depicted in natural settings and are well kept. Every year CALM lights up the sky with about 3 million lights, computer controlled and lit up for the enjoyment of all ages. We don't have to leave the area to enjoy the Christmas Season and can let someone else string the lights

Excellent facility. This isn't a zoo, rather it's a place that donors use to help preserve animals. I wish I had the money to donate. Highly recommended.

How can this place be open? The place looks very run down and neglected. The animal habitats are very bare and the animals look lonely and trapped in sad depressing conditions. They should really reconsider their signage where it’s says the animals natural habitat is in a “pack’ but they are the only one in their pen. So basically they are saying the animal is lonely. It doesn’t look like anything has been done in years to spruce the place up so maybe all their money went to the Christmas light show. This place should be shut down.

If you're looking for a large zoo, like Los Angeles, or San Diego, then this would not be the place to go. The times that I have personally been there, the majority of the animals have been up and about. Maybe a suggestion would be to call CALM to see when they're feeding the animals, and maybe show up prior to, cause we all know what happens when we're fed , and our stomachs are full. I'm sure that no one wants to stand around and watch me sleep. The zoo itself is very small, and the number of animals are limited, but it's a very nice place to take the family if you just want to get outta the house for an hour or so. I do however recommend the Holiday light show at Calm

Well thought out living museum for animals, birds, and reptiles from the Kern area. I took my 2 granddaughters and we spent a wonderful day there. There are large old shade trees with large grass area to spread a quilt for picnicking. You may take in your own food and beverage. No glass. Play area for the kids. Snacks and beverages are available. There is a train ride for only 50 cents. There Christmas light display out shines the much touted one in Palm Desert. I try to go each year. One word of caution...Bakersfield extremely in the summer. Rest of the year is mild temperature. Great place.

Love this place, there are a lot of animals and reptiles of deferent kinds. You can come at any time of the year and it is never over crowed and this is an excellent place to come and visit and bring your children. Always an a relaxing place to come and enjoy with your family.

This is a must stop every year with our family! 🎄Since they were little until their late teenage years. Hot chocolate 🍫, kettle corn & delicious 😋 hot chocolate!! The best around! Thanks for the many volunteers that make this happen.

I am not a lover of zoos, but all the animals and birds here have some sort of disability that prevents them from being released back into the wild. The pair of condors were especially interesting. Talking to the keepers they clearly have a good knowledge and a passion for their work. I loved watching the owl that likes being hosed down. There is a good exhibit about the ocean and a sensory exhibit where anenomies etc could be touched, great for kids

We always enjoy coming out to CALM for the Christmas light show! Wow! What a great spectacle. It is the start to our Christmas season, for sure. It is a wonderful place to bring our children and grandchildren, Always a special time viewing the animals in their habitat.

CALM is always fun anytime of year. It has great animals exhibits and lots of wide open spaces for the kids to be able to run and play. There is always someone from CALM around to be of assistance and to answer any questions that you might have. We have a family pass and no matter how often we go, we always learn something new and always enjoy our visit.

We will return more often. We loved the fact that we actually saw all the animals here in the park. Unlike the large zoos where the animals stay out of sight.

I have always enjoyed visiting the CALM and we became lifetime members back when it first started (when we could afford what a lifetime membership cost). We also purchased sidewalk plaques in family members name and remembrance of departed members. It has been fun to watch it grow over the years. It is a great place to visit year around. It is particularly enjoyable visiting when they have the Holiday Lights each evening in December. We always take our granddaughters out at least twice a year when they stay with us.

CALM is a small and intimate facility a few miles outside of Bakersfield. I hesitate to refer to it as a zoo since it seems like more of a gentle habitat for animals. It's a small facility on several acres that is so much less overwhelming than the Los Angeles Zoo.

Here is a facility that only has California wildlife so don't expect elephants or zebras. That is part of the charm of CALM. Here is a chance to see California at its best. Many of the animals can't be returned to the wild so it is nice to know they have a home.

The facility is clean and pleasant. The indoor building features some sealife. It's easy to stroll around CALM at your own pace. I was there on a miserably hot July day and there were few patrons. Imagine being able to see all the animals at my own pace. Many were resting because of the heat.

The biggest joy for me was seeing an owl up close. I walked through an underground passage and could see a glass display. Nestled in the corner was a sleepy owl who would sometimes perk up. We were just inches apart and the gorgeous fellow sometimes looked like a muppet character to me.

While this may not be a "must see" facility for a person to travel miles and miles, it is well worth the visit if you are in the Bakersfield area. It's especially wonderful if you like a peaceful uncrowded environment

Went to the CALM Holiday lights for the 1st time with the kids one is a teen and we all loved it!! It's so amazing so many lights. We all had such a great time!

Beautiful decorations, great fun things to do (train, displays, photos, animals, gift shop) Snacks available, altho we usually eat before we go. It gets pretty cold out there after dark, so bundle up. Its a fun place to go with kids.

A fabulous evening with your family at CALM during the holidays. Wonderful light displays and a small train ride through a light display. Dress warm, it can get pretty cold!

CALM is wonderful and has been for as long as I can remember. A variety of exhibits that highlight species indigenous to California. And you can't miss the Christmas lights at night!!!!

This museum is more like a zoo. The Coastal section is indoors and has some very knowledgeable docents. They will tell you about the jellyfish, sea horses and all the types of crustaceans and sea life in the shallow enclosure. Outside there is a nice selection of mammals and birds. There are a number of places for the kids to play and some picnic tables for making a day of your visit.

This is a great place for the kids to learn about and see different animals. The kids had a blast... we had a picnic and they had plenty of space to roam free and run for hours! Lovely day at the zoo, my 3 year old asks me to take her back every chance she gets.

As a photographer, I was somewhat disappointed because most animals are difficult to photograph. But this small zoo, dedicated to local animal species, is very well done and looks fairly new. Most paths are handicap friendly, as are the restrooms. A good opportunity to see many of California's native animal up close.

We had a short visit but this place is one of the best "zoos" i have been to in the habitats for the animals. They truly seem to put the animals comfort and well being first. I didn't get to see all of the exhibits because we went late and they closed before we could. I will definitely go again on my next trip to Bakersfield

This is a awesome little zoo here in Bakersfield! The zoo does only have animals native to the state of California, it is still a lot of fun to check out with the family. There are plenty of exhibits, a petting zoo and a train ride too! You can also see some good views of the kern river in parts of the zoo. It is also cheap to get in making it a very good value.

I love how this local gem has thrived over the years. The trees have matured nicely, and the exhibits are wonderful. We have taken visitors here, and all have had a positive response. We prefer visiting in the spring or fall, due to the heat. There have been improvements as far as providing shady areas for guests.

I decided to visit CALM one afternoon when my family was busy doing other stuff. It was so serene in the winter sunlight. I was worried there wouldn’t be many animals out but I was wrong. They must have liked the winter sunshine too!

It was a very nice, quite peaceful little park showing you all the wildlife from the area. I really enjoyed my visit, the enclosures are very natural for the animals and the place is just so peaceful. The staff are also nice if you need help getting around the area. I definitely recommend it.

The CALM holiday light spectacular was just outstanding even fantastic. Was extremely pleased and overwhelmed by the sheer beauty and the work put into it.

Great way to spend a couple hours. Can be a bit cold at night so dress warm. Venue gets better all the time.

Don't miss the opportunity to see wildlife, birds, reptiles, etc. up close. This is an amazing living museum. Take advantage of the great weather and go. Nice to take visitors to.