Explored Silver City Ghost Town's creaky saloons and mining cabins--perfectly preserved…read more100-year-old relics felt frozen in Gold Rush days, with cool artifacts everywhere. Affordable entry, haunted vibes added thrill (booked lantern tour next), short drive from Lake Isabella made it an easy adventure. Bodfish hidden gem for history buffs!

We're traveling in an RV & went to Bakersfield because a friend lives out there. Found this cool…read moreplace on Yelp & decided to give it a try. We brought the families & it was a WONDERFUL experience! I even got some cool antiques to put in my RV from the gift shop. I loved the history of the place. I loved that we could bring our dog also.

This place blew me away. I had Rhanda (I think that's the spelling) as a guide and she was SO…read moreterrific. This is a historical landmark and she walked me through every room with great detail on the origin story and the rooms we were in. One of the best tour guides I've had. I have never experienced anything this - you have to really appreciate the amount of work, design and detail by Baldassare Forestiere - truly a feat! Very grateful the family makes this available for tours. Highly recommend if you appreciate gardening, architecture, art, engineering etc. They also did a great job of reminding me of my appointment and following up afterwards. If in Fresno area, this is a don't miss!!

My family along with our cousins and aunt decided to tour the Forestier Underground Gardens. It was…read moresuch a gem to visit. The gardens were built in an unexpected park of Fresno and these is a lot of history behind them. Parking was somewhat difficult but once you enter, the staff were very kind, organized, and positive. Our tour guide Raul was super sweet and provided a lot of history regarding the gardens and the family who built them. Raul had my 3 young boys engaged and interested. He answered all my questions and was so open to conversation. You could tell Raul was proud to be there telling all of us how the Gardens came to be. The Gardens are very interesting. I've never seen anything quite like these. The smell of all the citrus trees combine with the natural cooling underground was amazing and made the tour comfortable. If you have any time i do recommend visiting these secret gardens.

Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

Tomo-Kahni (translated "winter village") was the site of a Kawaiisu Native American Village. The…read moreHistoric Park is located along a ridge in the Tehachapi Mountains. The site can only be accessed by guided tours which are held two Saturdays per month during the spring and fall months. On the 1.5 mile walking tour you'll get to learn about the Kawaiisu people and how they used to live. You'll also learn about some of the native plants, such as the ephedra plant which was used to make a stimulating tea and the burned charcoal was used to make decorative tattoos. You'll get to see various bedrock mortars where the would crush acorns into their staple meal. You'll pass by large boulders covered in vibrant and colorful neon green and orange lichen. The tour ends at the Ceremonial Cave, also known as Creation Cave or the Teddy Bear Cave. It's really more of a rock shelter. Inside there are well preserved pictographs. The cave is said to be guarded by a supernatural grizzly bear that lives within the rock face that guards the cave from unworthy intruders. Overall it was a vary enjoyable visit. The tour starts at 8:30 AM at the Tehachapi Museum. After a 30 min orientation you'll caravan to the site. We got back to our car around 1pm. The fee for the tour is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 6- 16. There is also a $10 registration fee. You can call 661-946-6092 for tour information and reservations.

Taft, California…read more This museum/plantation is one of a kind. I have never been to any type of museum catered to petro. The equipment and the sizes are jaw dropping. They have a gigantic oil drilling rig in the middle of the park... It was surreal to see how this old school mechanism worked w/ the plethora of pullies made from wood and rubber. Access/Roads: A Paved. Parking: B Plenty on dirt. Distance: C Appx 120 miles north of DTLA. Appx 40 miles southwest of bakersfield. Costs: A Free Nearby Attractions: Jack dilly squat. hmm. there's some dirt everywhere. Conclusion: A This is one of my favorite museums between LA and SF. It's a must for anyone who cares about these things. No one cares for Taft or the nearby region, and there is no reason too except to visit this museum or visit the nearby prison. Safe travelings. IG @cigarcpa.

This museum totally, totally rocks. A museum, in an ideal word, guides you to another plane or…read moresphere or alternate universe. It transforms, transfigures, transports. It blows your mind and tells you a story in the process. Thanks to our incredible 93-year-old volunteer docent Pauleen and museum staff Agnes and Esther, our minds were officially blown. WKOM provides incredible docents and volunteers who are locals and know the history of the area intimately . What an experience to hear about growing up in a tent house next to an oil rig, dealing with gushers that spewed oil for miles, the positive impact of the oil industry on the area! We came here expecting to spend about an hour, max, but thanks to the incredible volunteers, spent over three hours touring the museum and visiting the gift shop. Now, before people start to message me because they are totally pissed off because "Oil kills" etc., let me tell you that I agree. I recycle. I try to economize on my trips to save gas. I believe in preserving the environment. But history rocks, too.. And when you are presented with a museum of this caliber, created and maintained totally and 100% by volunteers, it is a reminder that the power of community is also something worth preserving. Thank you, all, for an incredible journey back in time.

This is such a peaceful and welcoming National Monument located in Keene, CA, just east of…read moreBakersfield. This National Monument has a visitors center, museum, gift shop, a beautiful walking trail with flowering plants and trees as well as a path with various cacti. In the warmer months it's easy to spot lizards and rabbits, as well as having year-round birds and squirrels. You can learn about civil rights, agricultural labor history, and how Cesar formed a Union that is still in existence today. The Park is located in Kern County (the southernmost county of the California agricultural belt) just 30 minutes east of Bakersfield, in the mountains below Tehachapi. It was the first location of the Union headquarters he formed, the United Farm Workers (UFW). His office has been preserved within the museum exactly how it was the day he passed away. Cesar, and his wife Helen, lived and are buried within the Monument (his dog is buried with them too!) in a beautiful and serene garden. Their house is on the property and was left the way Helen had it the day she passed away. There isn't access inside their home, but they do allow special events in their courtyard area that you'd need to inquire about. Entrance and parking are both free to the public, but you can make donations if you'd like. I love visiting this Monument a few times a year, as it's so peaceful and calming. We usually bring lunch and sit at one of the many picnic tables provided.

Nice grounds, but kind of awkward to visit after recent events. Also, you couldn't really walk…read morearound the national monument with the private residence housing. The museum was nice though!

Jacob was professional, efficient, friendly. Everything you could ask for as he navigated shuttling…read moreguests at our party. The van was comfy and clean. I highly recommend this company!

By far the best tour company in town! Great day horseback riding and visiting the spectacular wine…read morecountry. If I could give them 6 starts I totally would :)

I live here... it's aight. Kinda far from stores tho. Wild life is amazing! Drive slow at night and…read morewatch out for the owls.

Carrizo Plain National Monument, mainly known for its seasonal wildflower blooms, is also home to a…read moremassive, u-shaped, sandstone rock formation that showcases some of the best Native American rock paintings (pictographs) in the world. The tour takes you into the inside of the rock formation where you can peer into the alcoves and view the Native American rock art up-close. Unfortunately, much of the art was vandalized in the early 1900s so you can only see small sections of what was once a wide panel of art dating back 1,000s of years. Time spent viewing the art was fairly brief. I was told this is done to protect the nesting birds. I would have liked to of heard more about the art itself and maybe even theories as to their meaning. I have read books that describe how the site was chosen because of the birds-eye-view has a close resemblance to a particular female anatomy and how under-the-influence Shamans would use it to gain entry into the supernatural realm. Unless you have an interest in this kinda stuff then you may want to not make the trip since it takes considerable effort to get here and you probably will find the art itself underwhelming. I personally really enjoyed the trip and I enjoyed the serenity of being in the middle of nowhere experiencing the beauty of the land. You have to call in advance to purchase tickets. You'll also have to endure a 30-mile drive through mostly dirt roads so make sure you come with a vehicle that is able to make it. Park your car at the Goodwin Education Center and when it comes time to go you'll caravan to the parking lot located near the site and then embark on a pleasant 1.4 mile round trip hike to the site. This tour runs on Saturdays from mid-March through May. You can also chose to see it without a guide if you purchase a self-guided pass. They ask that you not post any pics of the art itself out of respect to the sacred site.

Have you ever been on a Jeep ride adventure? I have. I will continue seeking more road trips, muddy…read moreand rocky grounds anywhere in the world with experienced drivers in Southwest 4x4 Adventures. I don't own my own Jeep, however, I didn't let that stop me from joining on a ride with like minded people who love the outdoors. Thanks Southwest 4x4 Adventures for my first but not my last rides in the future.

From the owner: Southwest 4x4 Tours is an off-road guide and pack service specializing in trails and tours in the…read moreSouthwestern US. If you need a guide for a day or a week or if you need to get your gear to a hard to reach location, we can get you there. We also have great tours going into exciting historical areas in the southwest such as the the Mojave Desert and Death Valley in California, pioneering trails in Arizona and many other amazing places. We have tours from one day and up to a week. If you don't have your own vehicle, not to worry, we will assistant you. All our guide are licensed and certified. Call us for more information and tell us where we can take you.