Sacramento for the Traditional or Trendy Traveler

Sacramento, California is best known for being the state capital, and, if you're a real estate agent or potential transplant, for being perfectly situated between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Wine Country. Not exactly setting the travel world on fire as a vacation destination-at least on the surface. But there's a lot more to Sacramento than politics and pit stops. What follows, is a guide for the traditional and the less typical tourist.

First Stop, Capitol Park
A tour of Sacramento surely begins at the Capitol. There is almost always a rally or event of some kind on the steps, the interior is grand, and the grounds are beautiful. Everyone should take a moment to reflect at the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A traditionalist should then stroll through the rose gardens and appreciate the numerous carefully labeled trees on the grounds. Sacramento is known for its large number of trees. An atypical tourist should try to catch a glimpse of Governor Schwarzenegger's tent, pitched in an interior courtyard so he could smoke cigars while holding more casual meetings in the smoke-free Capitol building. The lux tent, decorated with rattan chairs, orchids, a humidor, a mirror, floor fan and books written by the "Governator," has come under fire at a number of anti-smoking rallies, as has the governor, spotted in more one airport purchasing Cuban cigars he might be smoking there.

Following Tradition
One of the city's most popular tourist areas is Old Sacramento, with its cobblestone streets and wooden sidewalks, and location along the Sacramento River. Traditionalists will find a plethora of things to do within a few short blocks, while their atypical counterparts head up to Midtown to schmooze with the locals.

Train lovers may know that the transcontinental and Sacramento Valley railroads began in Old Sacramento. The 100,000-square-foot California State Railroad Museum is an impressive exhibit for even those with no particular interest in trains, with twenty-one restored locomotives and cars, 1,000 nifty toy trains and other related exhibits, and a great gift shop. Six-mile round-trip steam train rides operate weekends April through September from the Central Pacific Freight Depot next to the museum (www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org). Some of the things you can see for free, are the Old Eagle Theatre, a reconstruction of California's first public theater, originally opened in October 1849, with docent-led programs on Sacramento history and the occasional melodrama. Also, the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse, built in the style of one-room schools in the 1800s. A monument to the Pony Express, whose couriers used to make an amazing 1900 mile run on horseback in ten days or less, but were put out of business by Western Union in 1861, stands tall on 2nd Street as you pull into Old Sac.

Other attractions to check out in the downtown area: Crocker Art Museum, Leland Stanford Mansion, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and Towe Auto Museum. For high-energy little ones, Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town, and mini-amusement park, Funderland are all within walking distance of each other in Land Park.

If you're looking for an old world fine dining experience, look no further than The Firehouse, a few blocks down from the Pony Express monument on 2nd Street. The indoor atmosphere is elegant, and the patio, where lunch is served in cool and inviting. The building once housed an actual firehouse, and was one of the first renovated when a new Historic District was created in the late 1950s. The restaurant first opened in 1960. As governor, Ronald Reagan held both of his inaugural dinners at The Firehouse (firehouseoldsac.com). For fun family dining, Joe's Crab Shack is located on the waterfront next to the Old Schoolhouse, along with a number of other places for beers, burgers, ice cream, and sandwiches.

Walking the Grid
What Sacramentans call Midtown---AKA "the grid"--is roughly the blocks from 15h Street to 30th, and between H and P Streets, beginning just 14 city blocks from Old Sacramneto. One of the most popular events in the area is Second Saturday, when galleries, restaurants, and other businesses stay open late in support of local artists, many of whom stage openings of their work. The streets are swarming with people, especially during warm summer months when restaurants and coffee houses open their patios and live music drifts from the parks (midtowngrid.com).

If you miss Second Saturday, but want to want to make art part of your vacation experience, drop in at The Art Foundry at 10th and R Streets. The Art Foundry is unique in that it features performance art, paintings, music and meetings amidst its 2300 square feet of exhibit space. Classes are taught, and the working foundry is right next door, where they might pour anything from a monumental public piece to a decorative miniature in bronze or aluminum while you watch (artfoundrygallery.com). The Center For Contemporary Art on 19th Street, between O and P Streets has a great mix of new and experimental art from regional, national, and international artists.

If you have plenty of time to browse, stop in at Tasha's on 22nd, just off of J Street. You will be amazed at the amount of stuff she can get into that space. Tasha's has tons of jewelry at all price points, imported art from Mexico and Peru, rugs, salvage art, crafts, clothes...and on and on. Even if you don't buy, it's fun to look. Much of the good shopping and eating is in little places along J Street. Krazy Mary's on J is a prime destination for fashionistas, and Choices has everything from bumper stickers to small home décor, including a representation of feminist and LGBT items.

With all that walking, you'll wind up famished. One of Sacramento's finest restaurants, Waterboy is located in Midtown, on Capitol Avenue at 20th Street. The menu is slightly eclectic, featuring locally grown, organic produce and freshly baked breads. Waterboy has also hosted Enviro-Happy Hour, a chance for patrons to come together over organic fresh food and drinks and find out more about going green. (waterboyrestaurant.com). Bistro 33 at 16th and K has been described as "hip, sexy and chic," offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night dining. For something more casual, Zelda's Original Gourmet Pizza on 21st Street, is a funky favorite, legendary with locals. For after hours music, try Old Ironsides, The Torch Club, or Empire, poetry at Luna's, or the hookah bar at Casbah Lounge on J Street.

If your taste in souvenirs runs more toward something more permanent than a postcard, visit Forever Tattoo at 16th and Broadway or Royal Peacock at 21st and P Streets. Both parlors welcome walk-ins.

Before You Go
Quite a few major hotel chains have come to Sacramento in the past few years, including Hyatt, Sheraton and Embassy Suites in the Downtown/Midtown area. There are also some really nice Bed & Breakfast Inns, including Amber House (amberhouse.com) and The Inn and Spa at Parkside (innatparkside.com). Raley Field is a great venue for Triple-A baseball, and the American and Sacramento Rivers provide a beautiful backdrop for just about anything. As a vacation destination, Sacramento is a goldmine for more than the Gold Rush!