Downtown Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of California and has a lot to offer tourists by way of attractions, hotels, dining, shopping and more. Sacramento has a rich history in the creation of California and was once one of its largest cities, second only to San Francisco. During the 1800s, Sacramento was a primary destination for pioneers looking for a new life in the West. The population really exploded in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill on the nearby American River. Sacramento became the main distribution hub for gold and commodities during the Gold Rush and the western terminus of the transcontinental railroad. It's situated at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, which has been beneficial for trade but also flooded the city on occasion. The two most prominent attractions are Old Sacramento and the California State Capitol.
Old Sacramento is a California State Park located west of downtown on the Sacramento River. Old Sac is a preserved portion of the original city from the Gold Rush era. It rivals any gold mining town along Highway 49 with its historic buildings, train station and attractions. Old Sac features more than six blocks of shops, restaurants, museums and more. A restored riverboat offers the only option for overnight stay in the park and also features a restaurant, bar & grill and 2 theatres. The Sacramento Southern Excursion Train entertains visitors with a 6-mile, 40-minute-long train ride along the Sacramento River levee in vintage train cars. Hop aboard a Hornblower ship for a Sacramento River cruise that includes passing under a drawbridge. Museums in Old Sac include history museums, a railroad museum and auto museum. Visitors enjoy walking the wooden sidewalks, shopping in the unique stores and taking horse-drawn carriage rides around the town.
The California State Capitol is a neoclassical structure similar to the U.S. Capitol. It's located within Capitol Park in the center of downtown. Capitol Park includes memorial statues, fountains, gardens and open lawn space. Free daily tours of the Capitol are available and visitors are also able to tour the building on their own. For obvious reasons, passing through an airport-like security checkpoint is required to enter the capitol. Once inside, you'll pass through impressive halls of marble that rise to the top of columns. Expect to see an extensive collection of art, statues, antique furnishings and artifacts. Large wooden doors that line the halls are the offices of residing Senators and Legislators. Visitors are welcome to take a seat in the viewing balconies of the Senate and Legislature and watch the passing of bills and other goings on of government. We recommend joining a tour to get familiar with the layout of the building and then venture out on your own. Food and drink are available at two cafeteria-style restaurants within the Capitol.
There are many other attractions in Sacramento worth checking out. The Governor's Mansion is an 1877 Victorian mansion that served as a home to California Governors from 1903 to the Reagan era. The Leland Stanford Mansion is an exquisite 1856 Victorian mansion that was owned by railroad magnate, Leland Stanford. The home today serves as an official state reception center for leaders and dignitaries from around the world. The Crocker Art Museum features a modern art museum and an 1870s Victorian mansion that was the original Crocker home. The Crockers were a wealthy family involved in railroad and banking during the Gold Rush. The museum is one of California's premier art galleries. Sutter's Fort was originally established in 1839 by a Swiss immigrant. It served as a settlement and supply depot for early pioneers migrating west. In 1848, gold was discovered at nearby Sutter's Mill, which sparked the 1849 Gold Rush. The plight of early settlers can be realized at the Old City Cemetery where exits the graves of cholera victims, Spanish-American War soldiers, gold miners and more. The latest fashions are available at Downtown Plaza, which includes hundreds of department stores, boutique shops and restaurants in an outdoor venue along 5th Street.
Sacramento is located approximately 1.5-hours east of San Francisco, 2-hours west of South Lake Tahoe and 6-hours north of Los Angeles. Situated at the junction of the 5, 50, 80 and 99 freeways, Sacramento can be conveniently accessed from anywhere in the state. For quicker access, the Sacramento International Airport is only 15-minutes north of downtown. On several occasions we've used the Sacramento Airport as our starting point for trips to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. One of our best ski trips started with a stay in Sacramento before heading up to the slopes of Tahoe. The best time to visit Sacramento is in the spring or fall. Winter can produce heavy rains and summer can be downright hot with temps creeping into the 100s. For a major city, Sacramento is a relatively safe place for tourists around the Capitol and Old Sacramento regions. Two days is a fair amount of time to see most of Sacramento's attractions and we recommend it as a bucket-list-worthy place of Gold Rush history, government and museums.
Old Sacramento is a California State Park located west of downtown on the Sacramento River. Old Sac is a preserved portion of the original city from the Gold Rush era. It rivals any gold mining town along Highway 49 with its historic buildings, train station and attractions. Old Sac features more than six blocks of shops, restaurants, museums and more. A restored riverboat offers the only option for overnight stay in the park and also features a restaurant, bar & grill and 2 theatres. The Sacramento Southern Excursion Train entertains visitors with a 6-mile, 40-minute-long train ride along the Sacramento River levee in vintage train cars. Hop aboard a Hornblower ship for a Sacramento River cruise that includes passing under a drawbridge. Museums in Old Sac include history museums, a railroad museum and auto museum. Visitors enjoy walking the wooden sidewalks, shopping in the unique stores and taking horse-drawn carriage rides around the town.
The California State Capitol is a neoclassical structure similar to the U.S. Capitol. It's located within Capitol Park in the center of downtown. Capitol Park includes memorial statues, fountains, gardens and open lawn space. Free daily tours of the Capitol are available and visitors are also able to tour the building on their own. For obvious reasons, passing through an airport-like security checkpoint is required to enter the capitol. Once inside, you'll pass through impressive halls of marble that rise to the top of columns. Expect to see an extensive collection of art, statues, antique furnishings and artifacts. Large wooden doors that line the halls are the offices of residing Senators and Legislators. Visitors are welcome to take a seat in the viewing balconies of the Senate and Legislature and watch the passing of bills and other goings on of government. We recommend joining a tour to get familiar with the layout of the building and then venture out on your own. Food and drink are available at two cafeteria-style restaurants within the Capitol.
There are many other attractions in Sacramento worth checking out. The Governor's Mansion is an 1877 Victorian mansion that served as a home to California Governors from 1903 to the Reagan era. The Leland Stanford Mansion is an exquisite 1856 Victorian mansion that was owned by railroad magnate, Leland Stanford. The home today serves as an official state reception center for leaders and dignitaries from around the world. The Crocker Art Museum features a modern art museum and an 1870s Victorian mansion that was the original Crocker home. The Crockers were a wealthy family involved in railroad and banking during the Gold Rush. The museum is one of California's premier art galleries. Sutter's Fort was originally established in 1839 by a Swiss immigrant. It served as a settlement and supply depot for early pioneers migrating west. In 1848, gold was discovered at nearby Sutter's Mill, which sparked the 1849 Gold Rush. The plight of early settlers can be realized at the Old City Cemetery where exits the graves of cholera victims, Spanish-American War soldiers, gold miners and more. The latest fashions are available at Downtown Plaza, which includes hundreds of department stores, boutique shops and restaurants in an outdoor venue along 5th Street.
Sacramento is located approximately 1.5-hours east of San Francisco, 2-hours west of South Lake Tahoe and 6-hours north of Los Angeles. Situated at the junction of the 5, 50, 80 and 99 freeways, Sacramento can be conveniently accessed from anywhere in the state. For quicker access, the Sacramento International Airport is only 15-minutes north of downtown. On several occasions we've used the Sacramento Airport as our starting point for trips to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. One of our best ski trips started with a stay in Sacramento before heading up to the slopes of Tahoe. The best time to visit Sacramento is in the spring or fall. Winter can produce heavy rains and summer can be downright hot with temps creeping into the 100s. For a major city, Sacramento is a relatively safe place for tourists around the Capitol and Old Sacramento regions. Two days is a fair amount of time to see most of Sacramento's attractions and we recommend it as a bucket-list-worthy place of Gold Rush history, government and museums.
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