- Published on
14 Top Things To Do In Sacramento, California
- Authors
- Name
- Jonathan Chum
- @jchum
Introduction
Sacramento is the capital of California, and it's also a great city to visit. In addition to being the state's capital, it is home to several tourist attractions that you can enjoy while in town. Whether you're visiting Sacramento for business or pleasure, there are plenty of things to do and see when taking advantage of this beautiful city. Check out our list below for some activities worth checking out when visiting Sacramento:
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
In the early days of Sacramento, John Sutter was a prominent figure. He was responsible for building a fort and trading posts at this location. At its peak, the fort had over 600 residents---mostly Native Americans who lived on one side of the property and immigrants from Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy who lived on the other side. Today you can tour restored buildings such as Sutter's Bakery & Brewery and learn about life during this period. Admission is $7 for adults ages 12 to 59; children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult (under 2 years old do not require admission). To get there take Interstate 80 northbound to Exit 70B toward Downtown/State Capitol Drive/US-50 WEST toward Downtown - 0.5 miles - Turn right onto Front Street - 0.1 mile - Turn left onto N Street - 0.4 miles
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is located in Old Sacramento, a revitalized neighborhood that serves as the heart of this city. The museum offers over 150 locomotives and railroad cars from every decade of railroading history, including three steam engines built in the 1850s. It's also one of the largest railroad museums in the world.
The museum is open year-round, but if you want to get up close with these historic trains or see them at work running along tracks on an outdoor track bed (weather permitting), make sure to visit during summer and spring break weeks when special events are held throughout June through August and weekends between March and May.
Old Sacramento
Old Sacramento is the historic area of the city, and it's a must-see for any visitor to Sacramento. This area was originally founded by John Sutter in 1848. Since then, Old Sacramento has been home to many historical events like the California Gold Rush and was once called "the crossroads of adventure." Today, you can experience these rich historical landmarks including museums and restaurants that pay tribute to this history.
There are many things that you can do in Old Sacramento such as taking a paddle wheeler tour on the riverboats or visiting museums like Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. If you're interested in shopping or exploring other parts of California's history, there are also plenty of shops with souvenirs from all over California! A stop at Old Town Sacramento is an exciting way to see what life was like during its early years as well as get a taste of some delicious food!
Crocker Art Museum
The Crocker Art Museum is a museum of art located in Sacramento, California. The Crocker Art Museum is a major art museum in Sacramento, California. The Crocker Art Museum was founded by Charles Crocker in 1885.
Sacramento Zoo
The Sacramento Zoo is located in William Land Park. The zoo has over 500 animals and it's open from 10 am to 5 pm daily. It costs nothing to go into the zoo, which makes it a great choice for families looking for fun things to do in Sacramento for free or on a budget. There are also several rides at the zoo including a train, carousel, and petting zoo.
The zoo is easy to get to by bus or car, with plenty of parking available in their lot next door.
The Fairytale Town
Fairytale Town is a theme park located in downtown Sacramento, California. The park is family-friendly and has a petting zoo. It's open year-round and daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Fairytale Town is a great place for families with children of all ages as there are attractions for both adults and kids alike. Adults can enjoy the train ride through town while kids get to see their favorite characters from stories like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves or Cinderella walk around the park dressed up in costumes. There are also rides for younger children such as Peter Pan's Flight which takes you up on top of London Bridge into Neverland where you'll meet characters like Tinker Bell or Captain Hook!
American River Bike Trail
The American River Bike Trail is a paved bike trail that runs through the heart of Sacramento. It's an excellent place to exercise and take in the scenery, whether you're biking, jogging, rollerblading, or skating. The bike trail can also be used as a walking path if you prefer using your feet instead of wheels.
Capitol Park
Capitol Park is a park in downtown Sacramento and it is the oldest public park west of the Mississippi River. The park is home to the California State Capitol building and the California State Railroad Museum.
The park has been around since 1850 when it was created by three members of one family who were also California's first generation of women legislators. A statue commemorating these ladies, called "The Three Graces," stands in the center of Capitol Park today.
The Big Four House
The Big Four House is a historic house museum in Sacramento, California. It was built by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1868 and served as the headquarters for the Central Pacific Railroad until 1874. It was originally a two-story building but was expanded to three stories in 1883.
The Big Four House has undergone several renovations since it opened, most recently in 1991 after a seismic retrofit that added steel supports and columns to help stabilize it against earthquakes.
Fairytale Town
Fairytale Town is a theme park located in Sacramento, California. It's positioned on the corner of I and 5th Streets and it's open year-round.
The fairytale theme park has over 50 rides and attractions for families to enjoy together. It also has an Old West Museum, a Wildlife Park, and a 4D Theater! The theme park was opened in 1973 by two brothers who grew up together in their grandparents' home with no electricity or running water!
California State Capitol Museum
The California State Capitol Museum is located in the California State Capitol and is open to the public. It offers guided tours of the building and exhibits on its history, as well as a gift shop.
The California State Capitol is made up of two parts: The original building, which was built in 1869 and restored in 1960; and an annex that was completed in 1968. Both buildings were designed by Charles Z. Klauder with assistance from John Parkinson, Albert Roller, Willis Polk, Myron Hunt (who designed Leland Stanford's estate), Yarnell Henderson (who also worked on San Francisco City Hall), and John Galen Howard (who designed many University of California buildings). The buildings feature Greek Revival architecture with Italianate details such as columns made out of granite quarried locally at Coloma; 25 different types of marble were used throughout both structures including Botticino marble from Italy for floors throughout most rooms except where there are hardwood floors instead; imported materials like French limestone were used on exterior walls while local materials such as redwood lumber were also used extensively throughout both buildings due to their abundance around Sacramento during turn-of-the-century construction period when this type
Crocker Art Museum
The Crocker Art Museum is a fine arts museum in Sacramento, California. The Crocker Art Gallery is a Beaux-Arts-style building that was constructed in 1921 to house the collection of tycoon Charles Crocker and his family. On display are works by Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, and Cezanne as well as pieces by Native American artists and 20th-century American artists such as Robert Motherwell.
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a California state park located in Sacramento, California. It contains Sutter's Mill and the adobe home of John Sutter. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places as Sutter's Fort Historical Monument and has been designated as part of the California Historical Landmarks Program.
In 2012, it was named the official state park of California by the State Legislature in response to a request from Governor Jerry Brown.
John Sutter arrived at Sutters Fort in 1839 with 100 hired men then known as "swiss", however they were mostly German-speaking immigrants from Switzerland who were recruited by Captain John Augustus Ruch to settle an area he called New Helvetia (or Switzerland).
William Land Park Rose Garden
The William Land Park Rose Garden is a public garden in Sacramento, California. It was opened in 1976 and is a popular wedding location. The rose garden has over 4,000 rose bushes that bloom from May through October.
The William Land Park Rose Garden is open year-round from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (closed on Christmas Day).
Conclusion
There are plenty of things to do in Sacramento, California. You can visit the California State Railroad Museum, take a ride on the American River Bike Trail, or check out some of Sacramento's historic landmarks like Old Sacramento and Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. If you're looking for something more adventurous, try kayaking in William Land Park Rose Garden or hiking up Mt. Sutro with your dog!