Best of Bakersfield

So, perhaps many people don’t vacation in Bakersfield. However, it’s between LA and Fresno as well as the closest big city to the Kern River cities and Sequoia National Park. All of which have lots to offer tourists and Southern Californians looking for weekend getaways. In fact, I was very surprised on a recent trip to go tubing at the Kern River, that Bakersfield had some hidden gems! Check it out!

My greatest delight was stumbling upon The Padre Hotel. First built in 1928, after falling into disrepair in the 70’s, a fabulous boutique hotel group gave it a facelift in 2010. And what a facelift! Just walking in you know that THIS is the place to be. Boasting 2 restaurants, 2 bars and a nightclub, this hop hotel is like a slice of vegas. It’s chic, it’s stylish and it’s super fun! The rooms are way cool with awesome tempurpedic beds, killer bathrooms and yummy room service. Both eateries serve local food and have no problem accommodating vegans and gluten free guests. It is such a cool and fun hotel and affordable too!

For some reason I crave Italian food when I’m traveling and Frugatti’s hit the spot. Food made by “real” Italians from Italy, the food is fresh and delicious. Plenty of options for a plant based diner, make sure you make room for the bruschetta, pasta primavera and some wine. It’s tasty and the vibe inside is super cute!

To load up on healthy snacks before taking a trip up the river, hit up Nature’s Food Market. They’ve got a great little fresh juice bar and deli and keep some fun vegan and special diet eats in stock. Perfect for a river trip picnic!

Lastly, you can’t go wrong with Indian food and Zaika Indian Cuisine does not disappoint. They have a giant vegetarian menu so it’s really tough to choose, which is a great problem to have! I started with the vegetarian sampler and then shared some chana masala, veggie biryani and my all time fave, a masala dosa. OMG, so good!

Well, I’m always up for surprises and Bakersfield really tickled my pickle, travel speaking ; )

The post Best of Bakersfield appeared first on The Healthy Voyager.