a b BAKERSFIELD A " BAKO " RESTAURANT OWNER SHARES HER TOP MUST-SEES AND HIDDEN GEMS AROUND TOWN c HEATHER LAGANELLI OWNER OF LOCALE FARM TO TABLE EATERY a Guthrie's Alley Cat " This bar is an iconic Bakersfield spot. It's located in an alley with a neat old neon sign with a blinking cat on it. It's an old-school bar that's been around since 1940, and it has a juke box and pool table and good drinks. The atmosphere is friendly and upbeat- it's usually pretty loud in there. " d e b Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science Visitors can view rare fossils unearthed from the Kern River Canyon at this natural history museum. One of Bakersfield's other historical gems is a " you-dig " fossil site known as Sharktooth Hill, Laganelli says. " You only have the dig about a foot to get to where the sharks' teeth are buried. " c The Belvedere Room " I love The Belvedere Room at The Padre Hotel. The Belvedere's menu changes quite often, and they source their ingredients locally. I've had pretty much everything they've ever made. They put extra thought and creativity behind their dishes, even their side dishes-they do some creative vegetable concepts. " d Moo Creamery " This was my go-to breakfast spot before I owned my own restaurant. It's still one of my favorite places to eat in Bakersfield. Jessica Pounds is a trained chef who puts artisanal elements into everything she does. She prepares everything from scratch. She even makes her own ice cream. For breakfast, I always order her chilaquiles and her 'ultimate gravy fries' with eggs and bacon. It sounds random, but it's delicious. " e Murray Family Farms " It's a working farm on 40-plus acres, so you can see their animals. They have 'u-pick' days on weekends in June and July. There's a kitchen that makes pies and fudge, and they sell all different jams and jellies they make from the fruit they grow on their farm. " VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 123http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM