There are plenty of things in do in Sacramento, California’s Capitol. Here are the top 50 things one must do in Sacramento, California.
1. Chill out at one of Sacramento’s frozen-treat institutions: Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream, serving specialty ice creams including Swiss Orange Chip and Green Tea; Vic’s Ice Cream, with favorites like Cappuccino Chip; Burr’s Fountain, where you can order a milkshake made with any ice cream flavor on the menu; and The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze, which uses Merlino’s famous recipe to make its tasty treats in flavors such as mango, mint chocolate chip and coconut cream.
2. Experience the city’s cultural diversity at the annual Festival de la Familia at Cal Expo, a celebration of nearly two dozen Latin cultures filled with children’s activities such as piñata making, Tex-Mex music, Latin jazz, folklorico dance, food and more (this year on April 29). At the annual Pacific Rim Street Fest in Old Sacramento (held this year on May 20), enjoy traditional dance performances, music, cultural presentations, crafts and foods representing more than 15 Asian and Pacific Island cultures.
3. Check out public artworks. Sacramento is home to more than 600 pieces of art in front of city and county buildings, the Sacramento International Airport and outdoors: Next time you’re at the Sacramento Convention Center, be sure to stroll through the Convention Center Sculpture Garden at 13th and K streets. And in front of the Safeway at 19th and R streets, check out the giant silver horse that dominates the store’s entrance. Shining with chrome, the work elicits strong reactions from viewers: Some love it, some hate it.
For more information about public art, including guided tours, call the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission at (916) 566-3992 or log on to sacculture.com.
4. Tap your toes at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Held every Memorial Day weekend, the Jubilee marks its 34th year this May. Whether you’re into the music or the people-watching, the three-day event—held in Old Sacramento, Raley Field and several downtown/midtown locales—is the quintessential way to kick off a Sacramento summer. This year’s headliner, the Rebirth Brass Band, offers brass with a heavy dose of funk. (916) 372-5277; sacjazz.com
5. Cheer for the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena. You don’t have to be a basketball fan to feel the energy emitted from these royals of the court. The tougher the competition, the louder the fans stomp their feet.
One game to catch: Kings versus Utah Jazz, April 6 at Arco Arena. Watch as our hometown heroes take on one of the top teams in the NBA. (916) 928-0000; kings.com
6. Step out for a Sacramento tradition, Run To Feed The Hungry, a 5K walk/run and 10K run through East Sacramento and midtown on Thanksgiving morning.
Attracting upwards of 20,000 runners and walkers, Run To Feed The Hungry is the Sacramento Valley’s largest fun run and raises more than $400,000 annually for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.
capitalroadrace.com
7. Visit the “old towns” of Folsom, Fair Oaks, Rose-ville and Elk Grove to glean a little bit of history and knowledge of what life once was like in the region. In Fair Oaks, step back in time in the Oaks Hardware store, where purchases are rung up on an old-fashioned cash register—a far cry from the impersonal “self-checkout” at big box home improvement centers. In Folsom, smell the aged wood as you wander through the creaky antiques shops on Sutter Street, where you can pick up old 45s for a nickel apiece.
8. Tour the Capitol. It’s free, it’s architecturally stunning and it’s historically rich: You can get the complete history of California’s governors as you wander among their portraits in the squeaky-clean hallways. (Check out former Gov. Jerry Brown’s portrait on the third floor—painted in an unconventional abstract style compared to the other, more realistic gubernatorial portraits. No surprise.) And, who knows, you might run into the newly re-elected Governator himself.
Good to know: The public can view the legislature, which reconvenes Jan. 8, in session from the viewing balcony on the third floor. Sessions typically start Mondays around noon and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Check the daily file at the state Assembly or Senate websites to see what’s on the agenda. (916) 324-0333; parks.ca.gov
9. Root for the Sacramento Monarchs at Arco Arena. Don’t miss an opportunity to see these local champs—winners of the 2005 WNBA title—to see some real, bona fide grrrl power! Fun facts: (1) Most of the Monarchs play in Europe and Korea during the off-season; (2) The Monarchs’ new head coach, Jenny Boucek, 33, is the youngest person to hold her position in the WNBA. (916) 928-3650; sacramentomonarchs.com
10. See a show at the Crest Theatre. Opened in 1949 with celebrities and dignitaries in attendance, the Crest closed its doors for many years. It reopened in 1986. Today, the theater is host to concerts, comedians, speakers, films and more. (916) 442-7378; thecrest.com
Enjoy an indie film in the main theater, with its original 1949 interior featuring a guilded art-deco ceiling and waterfall main drape. Or attend one of its many film festivals taking place this year:
11. Volunteer your time. Want to try a few charities on for size before committing to one? Community Services Planning Council’s Hands On Sacramento program arranges opportunities for you to volunteer however many hours you desire at a variety of organizations. Choices include working with children, seniors, the homeless, animals, in nature and for the arts. One of Hands On’s more intriguing listings comes from the Sacramento Police Department: The department is seeking forensic assistants to take photos and collect DNA samples and fingerprints. (916) 447-7063, ext. 314; handsonsacto.org
12. Ride the rails along the river. Both the Sacramento RiverTrain (800-866-1690; sacramentorivertrain.com) and the California State Railroad Museum (916-445-6645; californiastaterailroad
museum.org) offer rides. RiverTrain’s 28-mile ride begins in Woodland, passes through Fremont Trestle and stops in Luvdahl to prepare for the return trip. RiverTrain also stages special events such as a Murder Mystery Dinner train and a Great Train Robberies train. The railroad museum offers themed 40-minute train rides at Halloween and Christmas.
13. Run, cycle and kayak your way through Eppie’s Great Race. “The World’s Oldest Triathlon” takes place July 21. Celebrating its 34th year in 2007, this triathlon is unique because it features kayaking instead of swimming. The catalyst? Founder Eppie Johnson’s affinity for the sport. The Great Race raises money for Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services and is the largest one-day kayaking event in the United States. thegreatrace.org
14. Head to a Sacramento River Cats game at Raley Field in West Sacramento. Grab a hot dog and a beer and enjoy a little bit of Americana while overlooking West Sac’s River Walk and Sacramento’s skyline in the distance.
On Kids’ Days, expect face painting, balloon artists and other attractions for little ones. After the ballgame, the kids can go out on the playing field and run around the bases. (916) 376-4700; raleyfield.com
15. Take in some outdoor theater. Sit among the famous free-roaming chickens and roosters at the summertime Fair Oaks Theatre Festival (916-966-3683; fairoakstheatrefestival.com), where plays are performed under the stars in an amphitheater in Fair Oaks Village. Past performances have included Godspell, Gypsy and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. For another outdoor theater experience, cuddle beneath the big trees at the William A. Carroll Amphitheatre in William Land Park during the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival. Expect great things: Last summer brought Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. (916) 558-2173; sacramentoshakespeare.net
16. Dine at a neighborhood joint. You know the type: may not be much to look at or located in the chichi part of town, but the food’s so good, it sends you straight to the moon. Squeeze Inn, Zelda’s and Pancake Circus all fit the bill. Need more suggestions? Check out Nick’s Neighborhood Joints Saturday mornings on “Good Day Sacramento.” Each week, “Good Day” anchor/reporter Nick Toma scours the city in search of some choice chow.
One place to chow down: Broadway Bakery Cafe. Located near the UC Davis Medical Center campus in the Broadway Building, this cafe is known for its sumptuous baked goods, hearty soups, yummy panini and barbecue lunches on Fridays during the summer. Another benefit: owner John Sedger, whose calming presence and warm, welcoming smile greet diners Monday through Friday. 4900 Broadway, Sacramento; (916) 455-9482; Monday–Friday 6:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., closed major holidays.
17. Tune into local music at Pops in the Park, concerts held in East Sacramento and River Park neighborhood parks; Friday Night Concerts in the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown; and Harmony on the River, held along River Walk Park in West Sacramento.
18. Spend time around the Sacramento and American rivers. Whether you choose to dine overlooking, frolic in, fish from, boat up or raft down, these grand waterways offer activities for every level of amphibian. Throw dry leaves off the Fair Oaks Bridge into the American River, float in a raft under the Guy West Bridge at Sacramento State and let your kids play in the fountain at the Sacramento River Water Intake Facility between Old Sacramento and Discovery Park.
Good to know: The Old Sacramento-based River Otter Water Taxi, which cruises the Sacramento River April through October, is available for chartered trips year-round. (916) 446-7704; riverotter.com
19. Board the Delta King. The whitewashed paddle-wheeler is permanently docked in Old Sacramento, and you can enjoy its ambiance by sipping a drink on the deck, dining in the Pilothouse Restaurant, catching a show by Capital Stage in the intimate theater or spending a night in a stateroom. Capital Stage presents Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Feb. 3 through March 11. (916) 444-5464; deltaking.com
20. Pause at PAWS. Periodic events at the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s sanctuary in Galt, including school tours, open houses and holiday celebrations, allow the public a peek inside this refuge for abandoned and abused captive wildlife (elephants, primates, big cats, coyotes and bears) and raise money for their care. PAWS’ 21st annual vegetarian Easter Brunch takes place April 8. (209) 745-2606; pawsweb.org
21. Go the distance or cheer on others at the annual California International Marathon, a 26.2-mile run from Folsom Lake to the state Capitol, held the first Sunday in December.
Participating in the marathon makes you intimately familiar with every nook and cranny of Fair Oaks Boulevard—you cover the entire stretch of road. Feel the rush of running through the (normally) traffic-heavy intersection of Fair Oaks Boulevard and Howe Avenue. And get chills up and down your spine as you cruise down L Street toward the finish line, the pulse of the crowd providing you with momentum. runcim.org
22. While away an afternoon touring the Crocker Art Museum, or attend one of its many cultural programs or special events. The opportunity to view “Portrait of My Father” by Stephen Kaltenbach is worth the price of admission alone. It took Kaltenbach seven years to paint this large-scale, luminous masterpiece. (916) 264-5423; crockerartmuseum.org
23. Linger in Sacramento’s late-night scene. Didn’t think Sacramento had a late-night scene? It does, especially if you’re hungry or thirsty. Check out Bistro 33 Midtown, which closes at 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, or Ink Eats & Drinks in midtown, which closes at 4 a.m. those same nights. Ink serves up unique drinks like the Blueberry Cheesecake Martini and Key Lime Pie Martini, both rimmed with a graham cracker crust. For more traditional partygoers, Ink general manager Nancy Martis notes the Mojito and Cosmopolitan are popular choices. Got a sweet tooth? Go to Marie’s Donuts, which opens daily at 1 a.m. Or go bowling at Country Club Lanes—it’s open 24 hours day, seven days a week.
Good to know: Midtown’s True Love Coffeehouse—known for its eclectic live music and after-midnight waffles—has reopened at 23rd and K after closing the doors of its J Street digs two years ago.
24. Explore the California State Fair. Carnival rides, games, animals, exhibits, concerts and fried food—what more could you want? It’s a summertime must-do. Aug. 17 marks the start of this year’s fair. The fair is a great place to check out rock stars and bands who, while they may no longer make the cover of Rolling Stone, still strike a chord with loyal fans. Past acts have included Rick Springfield, Collective Soul and The Wallflowers. (916) 263-3000; bigfun.org
25. Glimpse life as a miner on the Sutter Gold Mine tour. Take a Boss Buggy into the mine and learn about California’s gold mining history. While you’re there, visit Moaning Caverns, California’s largest vertical chamber, big enough to house the Statue of Liberty. Sutter Gold Mine is between Sutter Creek and Amador City, about an hour and a half away. (866) 762-2837; caverntours.com