Top 5 City Parks in Sacramento

When you want to break away from the buzz of the downtown area with the family, head out to one of the city parks in Sacramento. Some of the city parks are home to beautiful gardens, dog play areas, art displays and picnicking grounds. You can bring along some travel board games, balls and other toys to enjoy some quality time together in the great outdoors.

Whether you have a few hours to spare or want to spend an entire day relaxing in the sunshine, here's where you'll find the top five city parks in Sacramento, California:

1. Southside Park
From the giant sand box to the colorful merry-go-round, Southside Park is a great destination for kids in the mood to play all day. Several areas of the park have artistic displays and colorful climbing toys. Kids can spend a few hours digging in the sand, playing on the swings and just relaxing in this scenic setting with the family.

Southside Park
2115 6^th Street
Sacramento, CA 95818

2. Bertha Henschel Park
If you want to cool off from the hot summer sun, head to this small, family-friendly park with its wading pool and shady picnic areas. This park is a popular venue for local families to gather on the weekends, so plan to head here during the middle of the week to avoid the crowds.

Bertha Henschel Park
160 45^th Street
East Sacramento, CA 95819

3. William Land Park (a.k.a. Land Park)
This park is not only a peaceful respite for lounging and sunbathing, but is also home to the Sacramento Zoo and the Funderland amusement park. You can spend a few hours strolling the gardens, splashing in the wading pools or take the kids to Fairytale Town to play on some old-fashioned playground toys.

William Land Park
3800 South Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95821

4. William McKinley Park
The large playground at William McKinley Park is the major draw at this scenic venue, but it's also home to a beautiful rose garden. Spend some time enjoying a self-guided tour of the rose garden with hundreds of varieties of plants and flowers. This is another popular destination for water activities, so make sure everyone brings their swimsuit to enjoy the wading pool and public swimming areas.

William McKinley Park
601 Alhambra Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95816

5. Del Paso Regional Park
This popular picnic spot is also a great place for young athletes to play. The park is home to a sand volleyball court, golf courses and a softball/baseball area. It also has jogging trail, so head here for a speed walking session or a run with the kids for a mid-afternoon exercise session.

Del Paso Regional Park
3565 Auburn Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95815