Travel Guide to Sacramento, California

Once upon a time, Sacramento had a reputation as being little more than a place one drives through on the way to Lake Tahoe or San Francisco. Times have changed, however, and today California's capital city is being recognized as a great vacation destination on its own. The city is a combination of gleaming new buildings and beautifully restored old Victorians. Sacramento offers first-class accommodations, great shopping and myriad restaurants along with dozens of parks and family attractions, museums and a historic waterfront district. It's also home to a minor league baseball team (the River Cats) and the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

Anyone who visits Sacramento has to spend some time in Old Sacramento or "Old Town," as it's known to locals. Located along the waterfront, Old Sacramento will make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. Comprised of 28 acres, it has more buildings of historical significance than any other area of similar size in the West. A portion of Old Town is a State Historic Park and it's listed as a National Historic Landmark. The cobblestone streets, clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages and wooden sidewalks take you back to the early days of the Gold Rush. Of course, a closer look reveals dozens of antique shops, boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants behind the 1800s era storefronts. No one seems to mind the touristy atmosphere, however, and Old Town is even a favorite hang-out for locals who frequent the bars, comedy club and murder mystery theater located there. The lazy riverfront is lined with Mississippi-style riverboats, including the historic Delta Queen, which is permanently moored in Old Sacramento. The Delta Queen is called the "Jewel of Sacramento" and features two staterooms, a popular restaurant, two dinner theater programs and the Delta Lounge. Old Sacramento is also the site of the Annual Jazz Jubilee, a Sacramento tradition for over 30 years, held every Memorial Day weekend. Railroad buffs will enjoy touring the State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, which is regarded as one of the country's finest railroad museums. Rides on trains pulled by authentic steam locomotives are available every weekend April - September. What's really great about Old Sacramento is that you can easily spend a day there enjoying the sights and sounds - and it's free.

Another stop in Sacramento for anyone who enjoys history is Sutter's Fort. The fort, which was Sacramento's first settlement, was founded in 1839. It's located in the "midtown" area (between "K" and "L" Streets) and has been reconstructed to appear as it did in 1846. Sutter's Fort has walls that are 2 1/2 feet thick and 15 to 18 feet high. Self-guided tours are available and special events are held at the Fort throughout the year. The Sutter's Fort Trade Store provides authentic gifts and publications relating to California history, including the Gold Rush. The store is non-profit and operated by the Sacramento Historic Sites Association in cooperation with the California State Parks. A State Indian Museum is also on the grounds.

Other places to visit in Sacramento include the state capital. Hourly tours are available of the Renaissance Revival style Capitol building and grounds. It's open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The beautiful gardens located on the grounds of the state capital are very impressive - especially the Rose Garden. The Crocker Art Museum in downtown Sacramento houses Old Master drawings as well as paintings by contemporary Caliifornia artists. The art museum is located in a Victorian mansion that once belonged to Judge E. B. Crocker, who lived in the home with his family in the late 1800s.

The City of Sacramento also offers more than 160 parks and open spaces that total more than 2,000 acres. These parks include playgrounds, miles of hiking trails and bike paths, sports fields, boat launch ramps and picnic areas. If you're traveling with children, be sure to visit the Sacramento Zoo and Fairy Tale Town, which is a park just for kids that has more than 20 three-dimensional play sets based on nursery rhymes and fairytales. Sacramento also has world-class shopping and dining in every type of restaurant imaginable - Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, Cajun, Caribbean, Indian, Mexican and California-style cuisine. For Chinese food, nothing beats Frank Fats in downtown Sacramento or California Fats in Old Town. If you're looking for a laid-back atmosphere while you eat, try Woody's Grill and Bar, Chevy's or Crawdad's , all located on the Garden Highway which overlooks the Sacramento River. All three restaurants offer outdoor dining in the summertime, overlooking the river. After dinner, if you're too tired to drive, you can catch the River Otter Taxi which is a 24-seat boat that makes round trips from the marinas, restaurants and shops along the river to Old Sacramento.

For those on a budget, nothing beats a visit to Sacramento. The city has lots to see and do - much of it is free of charge - and dozens upon dozens of affordable hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns. There are many widely recognized hotel chains located in downtown Sacramento, many within walking distance of the Capitol and Old Sacramento. Public transportation is also available throughout the city. Sacramento is everyone's city - a town with a unique blend of cosmopolitan amenities but a "hometown" atmosphere, rich in historical attractions, cultural activities and outdoor recreational opportunities.