California’s sizzling spots have historically been Los Angeles, San Francisco (my dwelling city) and San Diego. But Sacramento, regardless of being California’s capital, doesn’t characteristic as extremely on the vacationer path. I solely reside a two-hour drive from town, but till lately even I hadn’t visited.  

Extra idiot me, as a result of, as I found, Sacramento has lots to supply for a weekend of enjoyable and frivolity.

Sacramento is situated on the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, California’s largest river, which flows to San Francisco Bay. This made it a pivotal location for the 1849 Gold Rush, thus cementing Sacramento as a serious industrial and political centre.

The town’s structure is often American with a basic grid system shaped by interlocking blocks. As flat as a pancake, it’s a good spot to discover on foot or by bicycle, with nice tree-lined streets, attention-grabbing structure and delightful road artwork.

Midtown road artwork(c) Lucy Woods

Midtown road artwork (c) Andrew Moss

Midtown road artwork (c) Lucy Woods

Sacramento can also be dwelling to the lofty Capitol constructing, the state’s working seat of presidency, which additionally serves as a museum. Get there at nightfall and see this Neoclassical constructing, trying spectacular framed towards the mushy pink glow of the sky.

Previous Sacramento

The district of Previous Sacramento preserves this wealthy historical past, full with restored buildings, wood pavements and quaint outlets promoting salt water taffy, handmade souvenirs and high-end clothes. 

California State Railroad Museum (c) Lucy Woods

You too can take a experience on the heritage railway aboard an old school steam prepare alongside the Sacramento Southern Railroad. There’s additionally a neighbouring museum exhibiting locomotives and railcars that inform the story of the Golden State’s  railway heritage. 

Weekend farmer’s market

Sacramento’s Midtown is dwelling to a weekly farmer’s market that stretches over 5 blocks with greater than 200 distributors promoting artisanal items and native fare.

Heat crusty bread, candy caramel corn, spicey chutneys and different delectable goodies adorn numerous stalls. A reside band stood on the centre, matching the summer time vibes with mushy guitar, keyboard and drums.

Together with the various scrumptious meals choices, you should buy hand-made merchandise from native craftspeople – something from jewelry and clothes to woodwork and plushies.

Music on the farmer’s market (c) Lucy Woods

The market takes place each Saturday all year long from 8am to 1pm.

Sacramento River

Sacramento River flows previous picturesque Previous Sacramento, the place the hanging gold-painted Tower Bridge stands tall and proud. Drive alongside or pay money for a motorcycle, and cycle the Jedediah Smith Memorial Path, which snakes alongside the Sacramento and American rivers for 32 miles to Beal’s Level in Folsom. Or catch a ship tour, notably beautiful for Sacramento’s (common) sunny days.

Sac Brew boat tour (c) Lucy Woods

We booked a spot on the Sac Brew tour and joined 16 different passengers aboard a tiki-themed pedal-powered boat on a one-and-a-half-hour cruise alongside the Sacramento and American rivers. We took snacks and drinks, others introduced alcohol and a few even introduced their very own music to play through Bluetooth on the boat’s audio system.

The boat tour was an absolute blast! It was very properly organised, the solar was out in full pressure and our tour guides, Deborah and Aaron (often known as “Captain AA”), have been charming and pleasant.

We handed a bunch of sea lions basking within the sunshine after which sailed beneath I Avenue Bridge, a historic metallic truss swing bridge that’s the oldest of its form in California. After a fast stopover on the riverfront bar, The Virgin Sturgeon, we then floated into the California River.

Sea lions on the Sacramento River (c) Lucy Woods

It was fascinating to see the distinction in color between the 2 rivers: the Sacramento River is basically fed by snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains, and is a lighter shade, while the California River carries sediment from streams and tributaries that give it a a lot darker hue.

The Sac Brew boat tour runs a number of instances a day from Wednesday to Sunday. I might extremely advocate to incorporate this tour throughout your go to to Sacramento.

Crocker Artwork Museum

To get your cultural repair, The Crocker Artwork Museum can also be situated near Tower Bridge in downtown Sacramento and comprises greater than 25,000 artistic endeavors spanning a number of centuries. Championing artwork from a number of communities and cultures, the museum is a pleasure to discover, stuffed with nooks and crannies containing the excellent, the bizarre and the downright weird.

Bombed Mosque by Al Farrow (c) Andrew Moss

A number of the artwork that stood out to me included a sculpture of a bombed mosque comprised of gun components, shell instances and bullets by Al Farrow, and a few stunning gravity-defying stone sculptures by Woods Davy.  

There’s additionally an attention-grabbing non permanent exhibition, AI Am I? ARTificial Intelligence as Generated by Alexander Reben, who developed AI artworks from as early as 2012, earlier than the rise of language fashions resembling Chat GPT.

The Crocker Artwork Museum, Sacramento (c) Lucy Woods

The Crocker Artwork Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, and is free to enter each third Sunday of the month.

The place to eat in Sacramento

Sacramento has been dubbed the birthplace of America’s farm-to-fork motion, championing native produce, which is plentiful due to its sunny local weather and the fertile soil of the encircling farmland.

For an upscale expertise, Camden Spit & Larder affords a high-end British-inspired menu, that includes spit-roasted meats and recent farm fare.

Camden Spit & Larder, Sacramento (c) Lucy Woods

Alternatively, stroll alongside the R Avenue Hall in downtown Sacramento, filled with eating places and bars, adorned with vibrant road artwork. We had lunch at Bawk! by City Roots, a hip pal rooster joint with an amazing bar.

For breakfast, Sacramento has a wonderful espresso store chain, Temple Espresso Roasters, which serves a collection of candy pastries. Alternatively, Estelle’s Bakery & Pâtisserie serves freshly baked items and French favourites, together with the deliciously gooey Croque Monsieur.   

The place to drink in Sacramento

The Jungle Fowl Tiki Bar – situated in Sacramento’s Midtown, the theme and décor is absolutely enjoyable and the cocktails are wonderful. I like to recommend the eponymous Jungle Fowl cocktail for each its model and substance.

Pork stomach bites at The seventh Avenue Normal (c) Lucy Woods

The seventh St Normal – in strolling distance from Previous Sacramento and situated inside Hyatt Centric Lodge- is an aesthetic institution serving cocktails and bar snacks with mushy jazz taking part in within the background. Head over there between 2pm and 5pm for Completely happy Hour, because the bar snacks are divine and simply $7 a dish.  

Der Biergarten – nice for when the solar is out, this German-themed hangout within the metropolis’s Midtown is sweet worth and serves an amazing collection of beer in addition to basic German eats. Simply don’t have too many steins!

The place to remain in Sacramento

Fort Sutter Lodge in Sacramento’s Midtown neighbourhood (see full lodging assessment) is snug and stylish. It’s situated close to many eating places and bars and inside strolling distance of the Saturday farmer’s market and Capitol Constructing.

Get there: The closest airport is Sacramento Worldwide Airport.