HELP from anyone with left coast knoledge
 

My wife is driving / riding to bakersfield, ca.. How bad is that area ??? and should she be looking for a place to stay in a certain area... The friend will be staying for 6 months and the wife may come home and then go back to work there also and stay with her friend.... I know alot of you guys on here have alot of travel knoledge as well as a couple of you guys that live on that coast ....
Thanks for the help !!!!