Vacation In Sacramento
Sacramento is a city that has pretty much everything and all the amenities of a larger city. It is one of the top-rated tourist destinations in California. Here are some great Vacation In Sacramento tips:
If you’re looking for a vacation spot where you can find excitements that will delight everyone, book your trip to Sacramento. Find great restaurant and explore historic sites. Sacramento is a city that has it all and visitors are always sure to return for more.
Sacramento is a city in northern California on the western bank of the Sacramento River, which flows into San Francisco Bay. With an estimated population of 508,757, it has been the capital of California since 1854. The city was one of the fastest growing in the Western United States, until it was surpassed by Phoenix, Arizona in 1990. It remains the fastest growing state capital in the United States (9.4% between 2000 and 2008).
You can do a great many things while on vacation. You can relax at the beach, play a little golf, get to know some of the locals and eat some good food. All these activities require getting out of your normal routine, so they’re often transformative in both small and large ways.
Sacramento, the state capital of California, is a storied city with a long history and several visitor attractions. It’s about 93 miles northeast of San Francisco within the Central Valley of California. Notably, the city sits at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. This region boasts sunny days throughout the year with hot and dry temperatures throughout the summer.
The city’s history is readily on display at places like Old Sacramento, near the waterfront. This historic district dates back to the mid-1800s and the California Gold Rush. Several buildings still stand from this era, offering an immersive world to walk through. Today, modern establishments occupy these old storefronts, including some of Sacramento’s best museums.
Vacation In Sacramento
Much of Sacramento’s appeal extends beyond its historical attractions. This modern seat of state government touches upon several aspects of fun things to do. From fashionable neighborhoods to airy city parks and miles-long bike trails, the city offers several ways to enjoy its nice weather.
The best time to visit is generally between spring and fall. This is a great time of year weather-wise and is also when the city hosts some of its most prominent festivals and events.
Find the best things to see and do in this city with our list of the top tourist attractions in Sacramento.
See also: Where to Stay in Sacramento
Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.
1. California State Railroad Museum
With more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, the California State Railroad Museum is among the world’s largest railway museums. Located in Old Sacramento, this museum is one of the premier attractions in the city.
It houses restored steam locomotives and railway coaches dating from 1862 to 1944. Almost all the wagons can be viewed inside. Some cars are furnished, complete with dining place settings, which show the level of comfort once offered on the trains. You can walk through a sleeper car as well.
Exhibits focus on railroad history and other related topics. A few prominent displays touch upon the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the role early immigrants had in laying the first tracks. More broadly, the museum showcases the ways the railroad industry influenced California history.
Families with children will appreciate the Kids’ Corner educational programs and All Aboard for Story Time book readings. Other educational programs include a Junior Engineer program for children ages 7-12.
During the summer months, the California State Railroad Museum operates trains along the Sacramento River. Riding aboard a historic steam locomotive or a vintage diesel train is sure to be one of the highlights of your visit.
Address: Second Street and I Street, Sacramento, California
Official site: http://www.csrmf.org/
Read More: Best Museums in Sacramento
2. State Capitol
One of the top places to visit in Sacramento is the State Capitol building. This structure is an excellent example of Neoclassical architecture and was built in the 1860s. It underwent significant restoration in the 1970s, updating the Capitol to modern building code and preserving some of the most historic rooms.
Today, the California State Capitol is the center of state government and also operates as the California State Capitol Museum. The public is welcome to tour the historic halls throughout the week. A few of the preserved rooms in the museum include the governor’s main office and the 1906 treasurer’s office. Other historic attractions include portraits and various other artworks, as well as antiques.
The Capitol building itself is an eye-catching attraction. But the adjacent colorful gardens extending several blocks, comprising Capitol Park, make it the most beautiful among Capitol complexes in the United States. Tall palms and numerous other species of trees and plants line the pathways, and several monuments stand out against the foliage.
Since December 1988 a bronze group sculpture, the Vietnam War Memorial, has stood in the northeast part of Capitol Park (L and 15th Street); its construction was entirely funded by donations, and it commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in the longest war involving the USA.
Address: 1315 10th Street, Sacramento, California
Official site: capitolmuseum.ca.gov
Read More: Best Parks in Sacramento
3. Crocker Museum of Art
The Crocker Art Museum holds an impressive collection of California art from the Gold-Rush era until the present, as well as European paintings and drawings and American photography.
The original collection, which still forms the backbone of the museum, was donated by Margaret Crocker. This private collection was assembled by Judge Edwin B. Crocker from 1868 to 1872. The museum’s main building is a grand Italianate Victorian-era mansion, a California Historical Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to the Victorian house, the Crocker Museum of Art displays some of its collection in the contemporary Teel Family Pavilion, which opened in 2010 and tripled the original museum’s size.
The California art collection represents works created from 1860 to the present, while the assortment of European art includes 17th-century Dutch and Flemish artwork, Italian Baroque paintings, and 19th-century Central European pieces. The museum’s photography collection boasts stunning images by Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange, among other American photographers.
For children (age five and under) the museum’s Tot Land area is a delightful space devoted to playful activities and hands-on creative installations. The museum also offers Art Camp classes for children and painting classes for adults.
During summertime, the museum hosts music concerts and a film series; movies are shown in the outdoor courtyard.
Address: 216 O Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Streets), Sacramento, California
Official site: http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/
4. Old Sacramento
Old Sacramento covers eight blocks (28 acres) of historic buildings along the city’s waterfront, designated as a National Historic Landmark. Some of the Gold Rush-era structures are now part of the Old Sacramento State Historic Park, including the Eagle Theater built in 1849, the B. F. Hastings Building (circa 1853), and the Big Four Building dating to 1855.
Old Sacramento includes more than 50 historic buildings, mostly from the 1850s, which represent the city’s original commercial district, an area that once thrived thanks to the commerce propelled by the Pony Express and the transcontinental railroad.
The buildings are still occupied by over 125 locally owned shops, restaurants, hotels, and museums, which makes the area appealing for tourists. Expect crowds of people filling these historic streets, window shopping, and being guided by the senses. It’s a fun area to wander and soak in the history of the area.
Fun things to do in Old Sacramento include taking a jaunt in a horse-drawn carriage, boarding a riverboat excursion, or climbing aboard a vintage locomotive for a railroad ride. And the California State Railroad Museum and Sacramento History Museum are nearly neighbors in Old Town, each offering a first-class museum experience.
Originally, this area was seen as a great commercial center for the new city in the mid 19th century. However, floods proved to be a serious problem, and the city was raised by adding earth to this low-lying area. Eventually, the focus of the city center shifted, and this area had become an impoverished red light district. In the 1960s, the area underwent redevelopment, which led to the creation of what can be seen here today.
Official site: http://oldsacramento.com/
5. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
Sutter’s Fort Museum stands on what was once the site of the first outpost of the white man in California, set up by the German-Swiss immigrant Johann August Sutter in 1839. The adobe house built in the same year has been restored in the original style, and houses relics of the pioneering and gold-rush period.
Today, the replica fort surrounding the adobe house sits near the center of the city in Midtown, approximately 1.5 miles east of the State Capitol. Visitors pay a small fee to enter the state historic park and start touring the display rooms. Rangers set up next to several of these displays, offering additional information about the exhibit.
Of note are items related to the town’s founder, whose estates reached as far as the other side of the American River near Coloma. After gold was discovered, Sutter was literally overrun by gold-seekers, to such an extent that he was forced to flee.
Address: 2701 L Street (Between K and L Streets and 26th and 28th Streets), Sacramento, California
Official site: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485
6. California Automobile Museum
The California Automobile Museum displays a collection of more than 120 vintage automobiles dating from 1885 to current times. The museum has an extensive collection of Ford cars, with models from 1904 to 1969. The extensive assortment of classic and modern vehicles on display shows the development of American automobiles over the past 130 years.
Special exhibits presented throughout the year focus on various themes, such as California car culture, pickup trucks, camping, and road trips. Visitors can also participate in the museum’s lively events, including a summer series of Drive-in Movie Nights. The museum also offers Sunday Drives on the third Sunday of each month.
Address: 2200 Front Street (at the corner of V Street), Sacramento, California