Sacramento is the capital of California and a city that is rich with history, culture and countless things to impress you!
The famous saying from Sacramento is that “California begins here” and after spending a little bit of time here you will understand why. It is a city that has never forgotten its past and one that continues to remember the Gold Rush.
It is one of the easiest cities to fall in love with so let’s take a look at the best things to do in Sacramento.
1.Sacramento River Fox Train: Unique Excursions Year Round
Sacramento River Fox Train is a scenic train. Step aboard the River Fox Train Travel and leave everything else behind. Here, you can reconnect with your sense of adventure and nostalgia. This is your invitation to escape and enjoy an experience you can’t get anywhere else in Sacramento. They specialize in good times, togetherness and offer a wide variety of unique adventures that allow you to live in the moment and build lasting memories. This experience is fun for kids of all ages! Each ticket includes a 1-hour train ride, activities for the kids, a visit with Santa, treats, and time at our private park located along the Sacramento River.
2. Step Back In Time At The California State Railroad Museum
One of the most popular museums in Sacramento is the California State Railroad Museum. Each year over 500,000 people flock to this museum to step back in time and discover the history of the railroad. There are six buildings at the museum that cover an area of 225,000 square feet.
You will find many restored railroad cars and locomotives that were originally used throughout the state. Here you will see how the railroad has shaped California as well as its economy. One of the highlights of the museum is the Railway Post Office that visitors can step aboard to get a real experience of the past.
3. Feel Inspired At Crocker Art Museum
Originally this fine establishment was known as the E.B Crocker Art Gallery, it has since changed its name and is the longest continuously operating art museum in the west of America. There are a lot of works of art in the museum, dating from the Gold Rush to today.
The museum opened its doors in 1871 and houses one of the largest collections of international ceramics in the U.S as well as much work from Asia, Africa, and Europe. There is much to see and experience here and you easily spend an entire day wandering around the beautiful pieces.
4. Meet The Animals At Sacramento Zoo
The history of the Sacramento Zoo is fascinating as it shows how the zoo went from being “the little zoo in the park” to the large, impressive zoo that you will get to experience today. Initially, the zoo was very small and housed about 40 animals that were collected from local parks.
Now the zoo has 400 animals from all corners of the globe and focuses its energy on education, recreation, and conservation. There is so much to see and experience here and the children especially, will thoroughly enjoy meeting all the animals.
5. See The Abandoned Sutter’s Fort
Before the Gold Rush that changed the face of California forever, the community-focused around Sutter’s Fort. Created by John Sutter in 1839 the fort was a hive of activity until James W. Marshall an employee of the fort discovered the gold (about 45 miles east of the fort) that started the Californian Gold Rush, after this, the fort was abandoned and left as it was.
The fort has now been completely restored to its former glory and placed on the register of National Historic Landmarks. The main building of the fort is the two-story adobe structure, it was in that very building that the first gold was found that started the Gold Rush.
6. See The Old With The New At California State Capitol Museum
Sitting right in the heart of Sacramento is the California State Capitol Museum, here you can see the best of California’s history as well as its current active government buildings.
You can get a guided tour around the museum as part of a group or you can walk around unaided, whichever suits you better.
The whole building is stated as a museum but it is the basement and first floor where you will see the most interesting things.
