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

A day spent at CALM with my boys is a day well spent. They love to run around looking at all of the animals and ending the day on the playground. We had never been for the Spring Fling and we checked it out this year, we will come back for it again! They had so many fantastic volunteers that were really great with the kids. They had different talks scheduled at each animal exhibit, we got to see the bears interacting with treat puzzles, that was super cool! We missed the mountain lions painting but heard it was really neat. The snakes also painted and they had their artwork for sale. The train was also up and running, we rode it several times! The coast room was also open and the kids got to feel the different sea animals they have. read more

CALM Zoo - Black Bear playing with treats - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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We had such a magical time at the CALM Holiday Lights this year! My sister was gifted tickets and invited me! The entire place was beautifully decorated, with sparkling displays everywhere you looked. We got to meet Santa, which was such a fun moment, and the train ride through the lights was a definite highlight.... it felt like traveling through a little winter wonderland. The light show in the trees was absolutely stunning and added so much charm to the whole experience. On top of all the beautiful lights, there were plenty of delicious treats available. You can grab hot cocoa or coffee to keep warm, fresh-made kettle corn, and even burgers and fries if you're hungry all of the proceeds benefit Teen Challenge. CALM really knows how to create a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get into the holiday spirit! read more

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Came here on Monday May 4th for battle of the books for my 5th grader. It was such a cool, nice day. The kids had a great time competing. I'm so glad they moved it out here instead of holding it at the kern county museum. CALM is juts a better location to accommodate so many people. We will be back to compete again next year! Thanks CALM and KCSOS. read more

Cheap fun place to bring my daughter. She loves seeing all the animals and is obsessed with the jelly fish.

On March 8, we had a family day with the kids and grandkids. Admission for all of us was just $71, which was a great deal. Unfortunately, there weren't many animals to see, as many were hiding this time of year, and some enclosures were empty. Next time, I'd check ahead to see if the animals are more active for the season. Still, it was wonderful spending time together, especially watching our granddaughter run around. For an extra $2, you can take the train ride, so we got one ticket for whoever wanted to take her (she was free due to her age). She absolutely loved it! 3/20/25 read more

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This was an amazing experience! Ensure you are bundled up to enjoy this activity for sure! Me and my Best-Friend went on a beautiful walk through the twinkling lights. Perfect for couples or just best-friends looking for a cute photo-op. The music and atmosphere was like no other...we couldn't help, but smile. This is a wonderful memory I've held since visiting previously as a child; experiencing this once again was the perfect start to my Christmas season! DO NOT MISS...the train ride! This was the highlight of our night! Lastly, I recommend hand warmers and plenty of hot cocoa! read more

CALM Zoo - Train ride through the lights - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Great park for observing regional animals. Especially enjoyed seeing the bobcat , condors and reptiles. Not too big for walking around. Liked the drive to the zoo, nestled in a mountainous area. read more

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CALM (California Living Museum) its a zoo! Nice place to bring your kids here. They have a mini train $2 per person (unlimited ride). You have to experience it to enjoy it! It's my first time here, they got a mini merch store, huge aviary, it was fun in the outdoor vibe! The place is under renovation, the animals are in their hibernating period so we never see the animals mostly the bear or possum alike. But i enjoy the ride of the train station with conductor in their suit! It's cute! read more

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This place is so beautiful and fun for kids, I have 2 toddlers and they had the most fun coming here to spend time with nature. There's lots of trees for shade and places to sit, there's even a playground where kids can release all their energy! They have a railroad train ride thats also really fun. It's a perfect place to spend time with the family, we cant wait to come back soon. read more

Animals are not being taken care off. Many people have reported animals in bad condition and nothing is done about it. This donkey looked so sick and no food or water in sight. Also some animals are kept in such confined areas and so dirty. read more

CALM Zoo - Sick animal - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We stopped by on our road trip from Sacramento to Vegas. Being a weekday in January we had the place pretty much to ourselves which was nice. The bears were hibernating and the big cats weren't out either. But, we still got to see most of the other birds/animals. Overall we thought it was a great way to spend a few hours. Definitely recommended if you're in the area. read more

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Small small but also super fun! A welcome break on the drive down from the SF Bay Area to SoCal. read more

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We love taking my daughter here! The Christmas light show is great! My daughter loves the little fish area! Affordable prices and friendly staff! read more

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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. read more

CALM is a great little zoo to go to any time of year. But during the fall they go way above and beyond! The staff are always friendly and your so close to the animals they save and rehabilitate. We have been annual pass holders for years and absolutely love the Xmas light extravaganza that they do. I was pleasantly surprised to see all decorations here today. After a nice stroll through the park and noticing all the lights they had set up we've decided that this is now going to be trip one for today and we have to come back after dark! Great for educating your kids on wildlife and they do wonderful work caring for injured animals. They really count on the public's support through attending fund raiser events, sponsorship & donations. You can't go wrong supporting this place in any way possible. Plus your kids will have a wonderful time any chance you have to take them. read more

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Good place to see Califirnia native animals, particularly reptiles, mammals, avian. To California Living Museum's credit, "only animals injured or who cannot survive in their native environment are housed at CALM". The main drive is focused on under 12 year olds which is great to educate them to appreciate our animal friends early on.  However, adults can equally enjoy this often lush park setting where spring, herbal scented breezes flow under azure white cloud studded skies and listen to calming  water sounds sitting near a brook as well as appreciating California native animals we rarely see close up.  The Gila Monster in the Reptile House was dressed in chic black and light salmon orange splotches that could have been designed by haut couturier.   I never imagined a scavenger like the endangered California Condor to be beautiful, but seeing them mere feet away in black feathers accented with white decorated under each wing contrasting to their pink complexion showing off with wide wings outstreched was fantastically regal.  Two red foxes cuddling together were too cute. A red headed woodpecker showed off banging his head against a tree branch just as I approached & followed me as I rounded his cage. A free running squirrel stopped to let me take his picture and stayed on as I talked to him. Deer were fearless coming right up to the fence.  The big cats are housed with large plate windows for great viewing. Big pussy cat Bobcat and regal Mt. Lions walked by strutting their stuff. I can see a lot of their predatory behavior in my generally gentlemanly cat at home.  There are also more animals than I can shake a stick at that I didn't mention.  Thoroughly enjoyed my day at the zoo to appreciate that all of us animals are linked together. Their extinction will eventually mean our own species' demise.  4+ stars     Sent from the all new AOL app for Android read more

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A breath of fresh air away from bustling Bakersfield. I've had multiple opportunities to visit CALM throughout my life, I remember going on field trips when i was very young and coming with family to enjoy the nice weather in the spring, and every time i have throughly enjoyed myself. I visited today and was not let down! A lot of the animals were asleep, but there was still plenty going on! I loved the touch table with the starfish and seeing the jellyfish! Anytime the weather permits and I have free time, i'll be stopping by! read more

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Nice relaxing place for a stroll or to enjoy lunch with the kids. Lots of upgrades taking place trying to make the zoo someplace you wanna come read more

Great little hidden gem in northeast Bako!!! Would definitely recommend this place for a nice family day out. So amazing getting to see california wildlife up close! read more

Came here smack dab in the middle of summer around 1:30 p.m.. Let me first advise you that this is not the best time to come. Lol. To dang hot to be walking around. Part of the Yelp Elite experience, We got two free adult admissions, just had to pay for one. which was 7.50 for an adult. Not bad at all. It is actually a pretty big zoo, much bigger than What I thought it would be. Clean and kept up nicely. Tucked away in the middle of nowhere though. Not too many people were there this time of the day and year, so it was Nice to be able to walk around and enjoy the exhibits without running into a bunch of people or it being crowded... And because it was so hot a lot of the animals were Taken out of the exhibits, so unfortunately we did see a lot of empty cages. And a lot of the animals we did happen to see we're sleeping because a lot of them are either nocturnal or it was just too dang hot. Saw some pretty cool birds, the Bear exhibit was by far the best, mountain lions and other cats were not in their exhibit (we saw people cleaning the cages) that was a bummer, really wanted to see all the cats. We ran into one of ladies who works there, and she ended up taking us on a little tour up to the bears and showed us some of the foxes and the woodpecker named Ruby lol. She explained how all of the animals they have there are either strays or orphans or injured that they have all rescued and that none of them can be released back into the wild because they are dependent on humans for survival, pretty awesome. I'm sure we didn't see all of what they had to offer though, we stayed for about an hour and decided to leave because of how scorching hot it was. They also have a cool little gift shop which be browsed a little, neat stuff. We would like to come back but when it's much cooler, that way we can really get a good look and experience. Thank you Yelp and calm zoo for the invitation. It really was neat seeing all those animals so close up and it will be an experience we will remember for the rest of our lives. read more

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CALM is my favorite kind of zoo because they only house animals that cannot be released into the wild for whatever reason rather than perfectly healthy animals that have just been caged up to be looked at.. The animals that are here are either permanently injured, they are too reliant on humans, or they may even be there temporarily while they recover from some ailment that would put them in jeopardy in the wild. This zoo doesn't have any animals that aren't native to the area, so you aren't going to see anything like a lion or an elephant, but you will get to see plenty of animals that live here that you might never actually see in person! Like foxes, pumas, or bears! There are several activities for the kiddos besides looking at the animals, too! They have a playground with benches and tables, a train ride through a little fake town, a touch pool full of sea critters, and even a petting zoo! The petting zoo isn't as great as it used to be - they did away with the quarter machine full of goat snacks, so the goats aren't as eager to come up to the kids as they were in the past, but its still fun to walk in there! If you live in Bakersfield, its totally worth purchasing the year pass. Along with the purchase, you get free admission and reduced fee admission to different museums around town, and zoos and museums in other cities as well! read more

I love being able to support this local institution, and the Lights events are a perfect excuse. We didn't get to any of the resident animals this trip, sadly, but the Autumn Light display was fun. read more

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New to town and this is our first visit. What a great little zoo!! Prices are very reasonable, I think $12 for adults and $2 for unlimited train rides! The zoo is very small but very well kept and looks to be improving even more! The train ride was so fun and decorated very cute with views of the river and mountains!!!! The zoo grounds are very beauty several streams, water falls and little lakes scattered around. We saw the bears, mountain lions, rams, reptile house, deer, fox and many others! A great way to spend an hour or two!! read more

Very nice day with my significant other! We really love CALM The staff were very helpful and friendly read more

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It may be a very small zoo but it's still cute! Apart from seeing a sign for a squirrel on exhibit (not even kidding lol), you can expect to see deer, coyote, big birds like eagles, vultures, and hawks, big horn sheep, a bunch of reptiles, a bobcat, and even a mountain lion! The park-like setting has picnic tables, streams and native plants and trees for some shade, which I appreciated. There is also a cool railroad for kids, but the rock climbing wall was closed and so was the ropes course. There were lots of empty cages throughout the zoo, and with construction materials around, some areas of the zoo need a good bit of TLC to look more presentable to visitors. Definitely a nice, calm weekend activity that supports wildlife rehabilitation. read more

It was a great outing with our elementary. Kids had fun. Train ride is a nice moment to sit and enjoy the scenery. Bathrooms are clean, gift shop was stocked and friendly service. Staff over all was friendly. read more

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Very small but cute zoo to take the kids. My family and I very much enjoyed seeing all the animals and the staff was very friendly and the whole park was very clean. I high recommend if you want a new place to visit read more

Always a great time at Calm. From Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. The animals are always waiting for you to come say hello. Stay awhile and enjoy the day! read more

Very clean and all animals seem to enjoy their environments. Our family visited with granddaughter and had a very enjoyable time seeing everything. We loved it so well that we purchased a membership too. read more

My family and I attended CALM's Autumn Nights last night. We did not want to wait for the shuttle from the soccer park to the zoo entrance. The walk from the parking lot was manageable for all our party (12 years old to 80 years old) and was under a mile one way. The light displays were fantastic and the event was well staffed to help direct the flow of foot traffic. They had a corn maze that was very well done and a haunted train ride that was both spooky and hilarious! Thank you for another wonderful family friendly activity. I hope this becomes an annual event. Well done CALM!! read more

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Nice Local Zoo here in Bakersfield CA. Great for the kids and family not to mention the beautiful view of Hart park kern river on the way there. read more

Wonderful place to enjoy with family The grounds are nice and clean . Also a nice area where the kids can play. read more

CALM Zoo - Park area where the kids can play - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Great place for children. My toddler loves it! The train is her favorite! Wish it ran throughout the week also. I recommend becoming a member! read more

We always enjoy our visit to CALM. We have the season pass, not only to save money on visits but to support the efforts of this amazing rescue zoo. We love the train ride and it's something the entire family can share. I got to watch an eagle east a mouse. I must say it thrilled this city girl ha ha #ajoyoustaxresult read more

CALM Zoo - In the children's play area! Excellent for the preschoolers but the tweens seem eager to give it a try! #ajoyoustaxresult - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

One of those hidden gems. We have been taking our kids here since they were little. It's an amazing quaint place to have a picnic, Learn about animals, and walk around and learn about native species. They always have a special event happening here you can even take a ride on a small scale railroad. read more

Great small town local wildlife zoo. It is a rehab center so the animals may have handicaps. Our 3yr old LOVES it, we have a membership and visit monthly. CALM is great at rotating and adding animals as they come in. Many of the habitats have had upgraded renovations, it's great to see. The weekend has a small train that runs and again, has local Bakersfield touches along the ride. Small play ground for the kids to play. We are grateful for CALM! read more

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I had never been here except for when all the Christmas lights are on. It's actually a nice place to roam and bring the kids. The two lions seemed so relaxed and we enjoyed viewing the bears and the reptile house. The weather was perfect to walk around and enjoy the animals. They have a cute gift shop and all the employees we encountered were very friendly. I recommend this for a nice family outing. read more

CALM Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bakersfield, California

This zoo was so cute and so spacious! So many of the animals were very active for the time of day (1:30-4pm). I feel like I've never seen zoo animals this happy. 10/10 recommend! read more