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At the southern end of the Sierra Foothills 53
miles outside Bakersfield, California is
Kernville, California. This event driven
community loves its rural setting and is
happy to be somewhat removed from the
hustle and bustle of L.A. some 160 miles
away. The temperature in August when the
Ducky Derby is held averages around 97
degrees Fahrenheit. It's mostly dry and
toasty...just ideal for some dipping and
dunking in a cold tank of water. That's
why the Kernville Duck Derby departs
from the ocean-style events over near
the coast, to include getting wet in the
dunk tank fundraiser event that adults
volunteer for.
Kernville's Rubber Ducky Race has been
around for quite some time. Now over 20
years strong, it's longevity and
popularity are testaments to the
involvement of the community.
Since
only a phone number has been listed for
the annual Ducky Derby in Kernville,
your best bet for updates appears to be
the official site for the Kern Valley
Chamber of Commerce. The Exchange Club
sponsors Kernville Rubber Ducky Race,
but they had no apparent web site as of
this posting, and only a PO Box to send
things to. kernvillechamber.org
The
race itself is held in Riverside Park,
Kernville, Ca
Getting There: Located on a northern
fork of Isabella Lake, Kernville in the
Kern River Valley can be reached from
the west by taking Highway 178 East from
Bakersfield. Germans and Europeans love
the culture out in this dry region and
enjoy camping at the RV parks along
Isabella Lake. We beach people like to
head east for mountain biking and
rodeos, plus all the other rugged fun
activities that make you feel a world
away from the beaches and cities that
pack in up to 12 million people.
Things to do: Kern Valley Museum /
Kern Valley Museum Photo Exhibit Hall;
Kern River Hatchery Fishing Museum;
Natural History Museum and Paiute Nuui
Cunni Cultural Center are but a few of
the attractions in this place known well
by European travelers.
Where to stay: Your closest, best
priced and most versatile bet for hotel
rooms is Bakersfield, 50 miles west.
There are over 30 hotels in Bakersfield
with nearly every chain imaginable.
What's missing, however, are the
higher-priced boutique hotel offerings.
You'll find Comfort Suites,
Holiday Inn, Clarion, Wyndham and Hilton
Garden Inn, to name a few. We checked
room rates for the August date this
event transpires on, and discovered an
Econo Lodge hotel room for as low as
$44/night. Hilton Garden Inn was around
$100. ..More
info
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