What to do near Sacramento?

Answer 1

I'm glad you asked! As a 20-year resident, I can suggest quite a few things to do.

1. In Old Sacramento, many of the Gold-Rush era buildings have been preserved and restored. It's something of a tourist destination, but quite pleasant. Sacramento used to flood pretty regularly; they raised the street level by about 12 feet in the late 1800's, and the current "street level" shops were actually the 2nd floor! There are organized tours of the original 1st floor shops.

2. At the north end of Old Sacramento is the Sacramento Railroad Museum, which is the best train museum east of Chicago. VERY MUCH worthwhile. In the summer, they have an excursion train that goes south for a few miles along the Sacramento River. This is where we always take out-of-town tourists.

3. The State Capitol. You've seen it in many movies; visit in person! Nice museum with guided tours; visit the Museum Offices downstairs.

4. Sutter's Fort. This is the actual "fort" built when Johann Sutter set up the place in the early 1840's. Period crafts, and a museum.

5. 40 miles east of Sacramento is Sutter's Mill, the location where James Marshall discovered gold in the American River in 1848.

6. William Land Park, just south of downtown. Nice just as a park, but ...

7. Sacramento Zoo in William Land Park. Not a big zoo, but quite pleasant.

8. Fairy Tale Town, in William Land Park. Across the street from the Zoo. Re-creations in concrete of many traditional Fairy Tales. Especially good for the 3-10 year old set. Older kids may be bored. Adults not allowed unless accompanied by a child!

9. Discovery Park, at the confluence of the American River and the Sacramento River.

10. Raley Field, home to the Sacramento River Cats AAA baseball team. May be the nicest minor-league ball park in the country. And no, I'm not at ALL prejudiced!

Going a little further afield;

The American River. There are raft rental places all along the river from Nimbus Dam on; on hot days, you can rent some rafts and take a few dozen friends to float down the river.

The American River Bike Trail. Running, bike and equestrian trail down the river.

Folsom Lake and a half-dozen parks around it. There's a big dam on the American River; Folsom Lake is the reservoir behind it.

About 40 miles east of Sacramento on Highway 50, just past Placerville; Apple Hill, a cluster of apple farms and growers. Best in the fall, August and September, when the apples are harvested. Fresh apples, apple pie, apple cider, you name it!

About 60 miles west of Sacramento is the Napa Valley, the best-known wine-grape growing area. Tours of HUNDREDS of wineries from the very big to the very small. To be honest, there are wineries all over California; Napa Valley is just the best known. For those of us fortunate enough to live in Sacramento, we use the term "imported wine" a little differently; and "imported wine" comes from outside your COUNTY, not outside the COUNTRY.

In Vallejo, the Marine World-Africa USA theme park. Whale and dolphin shows, lions and tigers and bears (Oh My!) and roller coasters. LOTS of Roller Coasters.

90 miles east, and you're into the Sierra Nevada mountains. Lake Tahoe is just over the ridge. So is Reno. In Squaw Valley, there's a gondola ride to the summit of the mountains that runs even much of the summer. We're not snow people, but it's fun even for us.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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