Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2026

24 2026 Scenic 395 G ROCERIES • L IQUOR B EER C ELLAR P RODUCE • F ULL S ERVICE M EAT C OUNTER H OT & C OLD D ELI • F ISHING • C AMPING H UNTING S UPPLIES • C LOTHING & M ORE ! OPEN 7 DAYS • 5am-7pm Credit Cards • ATM KERNVILLE 376-2424 OPEN 7 DAYS Mon. - Fri. 6am - 6pm 13426 Sierra Way (On the River) • Kernville Kern River to experience a breathtaking and relaxing view of the lake. Farther past the cove you can divert up SierraWay, fromRoute 178, and visit South ForkWildlife Area. Experience its abundant wildlife and views of butterflies, while hiking, fishing, birding, taking pho- tos, or canoeing. Heading further up SierraWay toward Kernville, you will see Stine Cove Recre- ation Site where the Forest Service allows hunting, fishing, shooting and non-mo- torized boating. Go a distance more and you’ll come across Camp 9 Recreation Area Camp- ground, where families enjoy camping, sunning, boating, rafting and swimming. Bring your pooch along to this site. Later youmay enjoy a jaunt through some Kernville gift shops or antique stores. Go for a dip in the Kern River, or try out some fishing or rafting. Take a leisure- ly walk at Riverside Park where, in August, the Kern Valley Hospital Foundation holds Concerts in the Park each Friday of the month during its annual River Rhythms series. The Kern River Conservancy holds its annual Trout Fest each April at Riverside Park. Long-timers and newcomers to fishing could benefit from the fly tying and casting workshops, set among many taste- fully selected vendors, food andmusic. Children usually get to release trout into the Kern River the same day. If you enjoy music more than anything, perhaps you’d like to come up to River- nook Campground for the annual Beer &Music Festival in October, which is a fundraiser for SOS Dog Rescue. Another music festival option is at Frandy Camp- ground each September, where Notorious Entertainment holds the Kern River Rock ‘n’ Blues Fest each year. If you prefer to think about history, come visit the Kern ValleyMuseum and Kern River Valley Historical Society for History Day, which they usually host in May. Activities during the event include demonstrations of blacksmithing and gold panning. Locals will demonstrate Dutch oven cooking, old-fashioned ice cream making and butter churning, then invite you to sample these treats. Come to the Museum’s Tales on the Trails event held each November. The event is a celebration of the local histor- ical people, with dramatizations teach- ing about what it was like in past years. You’ll learn about the local Indian tribes, pioneers, and important figures in local history. These reenactments, which local volunteers portray in a family friendly environment, reveal the town’s origins as “Whiskey Flat” before it was moved due to the damflooding the area. Attain an even wider over view of Kernville’s origins by attendingWhiskey Flat Days during President’s Day weekend annually, which is only one of Kernville’s many festivals at Circle Park. The Kern- ville Chamber of Commerce goes all out to take you back to the 1800s with aWhiskey Flat Days mayor election that is actually a fundraiser for local nonprofits. The event includes a parade, costume contests for you and your pet, dog races, a rodeo at McNally Arena, and a carnival at Riverside Park, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekend. You can also experience a visit to the Whiskey Flat Encampment that provides several days of reenactments to get the full effect of your visit to the past. Reenactors reveal what the original Kernville was like in the 1800s. Take a walk by the river and enjoy a picnic or play day at Riverside Park for safe swimming and inner tubing, basketball, and a playground. The chamber also holds a Fall Festival with a pumpkin patch and a “Christmas in Kernville” holiday lights display during the holidays. Continued from Page 23 Trip See Isabella on Page 39