Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, there are plenty of things to do in Sacramento to keep you happy, from the beautiful 19th-century architecture and top-class museums to the many superb restaurants and sun-kissed climate.
Take a walk through Californian history
First, head to the Old Sacramento Historic Park, the city’s former business district. Explore the historic streets lined with striking Gold Rush-era buildings. It’s the perfect place for a leisurely stroll, especially on balmy Californian evenings.
There are no fewer than 28 museums in Sacramento. One of the best is the California State Railroad Museum, which brings the history of the transcontinental railroad to life in vivid detail. You can walk through vintage train cars and engines, even taking a ride on the Sacramento Southern Railroad during the summer months.
A short walk south of Old Sacramento is the Crocker Art Museum, home to the world’s greatest display of California art, as well as an impressive collection of European, Asian, African and Oceanic art, ceramics and photography. The beautiful Victorian building is complemented by the gleaming white curves of the modernist Teel Family Pavilion, which was added in 2010.
For a fascinating insight into life before the Gold Rush, visit Sutter’s Fort. Built in 1839 as an agricultural and trade colony in what was then Mexican Alta California, the fort was abandoned after gold was discovered in the hills to the east – and life in California changed forever.
On the eastern edge of Downtown is the California State Capitol. This working government office and museum is definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re here with your kids. The building’s interior is beautiful, but the real excitement comes from peeking into the historic rooms and seeing where the state’s leaders worked 150 years ago.
Watch a game at one of the county’s best sports venues
Sacramento is home to the Sacramento Kings, the city’s NBA team. You don’t have to be a great basketball fan to appreciate a visit to their gleaming futuristic new home, the Golden 1 Center. It’s one of the most impressive sports arenas in the country. Book tickets and feel the buzz of live American sports.
Sample some of California’s finest food
Sacramento is America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. What this means for visitors is that you’re virtually guaranteed to have a fantastic meal every time you eat out, whether it’s elegant fine dining or a quick slice of pizza.
A great place to sample the region’s famously delicious produce is at the Sacramento Farmers’ Market, which pops up underneath the I-80 freeway by Southside Park every Sunday.
One of Sacramento’s best-loved restaurants is Biba, found in Midtown opposite Sutter’s Fort. This established Italian restaurant serves the best lasagne this side of Bologna. For superb sushi and Japanese food, try Kru near the I-80 freeway in East Sacramento. Don’t leave town without sampling the frozen fruit delights on offer at Gunther’s Ice Cream, a local institution.
Car rental in Sacramento will allow you to enjoy all this and more. Continue your adventures into the heart of California, from San Francisco to the star-studded land of Los Angeles. With pick-up and drop-off locations across the state, you can plan an all-American road trip.
