12 Fun Things You Can Do Next Time You’re In Sacramento

Many people know that Sacramento is the capital of California. However, fewer people realize that Sacramento is a vibrant city with many things to see and do. It has museums, outdoor activities, family activities, the state government, as well as many, many historic buildings.

Sacramento, California is a great city to visit. It is located in Northern California, in the Central Valley. The state capital is right where the American and Sacramento Rivers meet and then join together to flow into the San Francisco Bay. Sacramento even has a deep-water port!

It is the gateway to Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada foothills, where the 1849 Gold Rush happened. Sacramento definitely has a lot of history behind it, which you can see in all of the old buildings that are there.

Here is my list of 12 fun places to visit in Sacramento (Even though there are way more things to do and see than that!). Some of the places on this list I have been to recently, some I visited when I was a kid, and some are places I want to see next time I’m in town. They are in no particular order, because they are all good in their own way. Enjoy!

1. See The Center of California’s Government At The State Capitol

Every Californian should visit the California State Capitol Building at least once in their lives. And, if you’re not from California, you should go see it, too. The Capitol Building was built between 1860 and 1874, and is absolutely gorgeous. There is a free tour you can take, where they tell you all about the capitol and take you to see the Assembly and Senate chambers.

Be sure to see the county displays in the hallways, the Capitol Museum, and the big brass bear in front of the Governor’s office. Oh, and don’t miss the rotunda. It’s amazing, especially if you look up at the ceiling.

Pro Tip–
You have to pass through a metal detector to get into the Capitol Building. Make sure you don’t have any weapons or other dangerous objects with you or in your bags when you enter the building. The Capitol Police will confiscate them.

Outside the Capitol Building, there are 40 acres of gardens and grassy areas to enjoy. There are plants from all over world, and there are also memorials for the Spanish American War, the Vietnam War, California’s firefighters, and many others. You can enjoy the Capitol Park by strolling the grounds, relaxing on a bench, or having a picnic in a shady spot on the grass. Don’t miss the World Peace Rose Garden. It’s a very tranquil spot with some stunning roses.

2. Go Back in Time at Old Sacramento State Historic Park

If you want to see what California was like in the early days of statehood, Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a great place to visit. Many of the buildings were built during the Gold Rush era, and the historic buildings were either refurbished or reconstructed in the 1960s.

Old Sacramento’s buildings are now shops and restaurants, and some have museums. The wood sidewalks give Old Sacramento more of an authentic feel, and are kind of fun to walk on.

Visitors to Old Sacramento can go shopping, enjoy a meal, go to a museum, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, take a river cruise, or go on a train ride along the banks of the Sacramento River. There are also festivals and living history days that happen throughout the year.

You can visit several museums here, including the California Railroad Museum, the California History Museum, and the Wells Fargo History Museum. They are all great places to learn about different parts of Sacramento and California history.

Another interesting activity is the Underground Tour, that takes visitors underneath Old Sacramento. The Underground was formed in the 1860s and 1870s when the town was raised to keep it from getting flooded from the river. This tour explains why and how they did it.

3. See the Masterpieces at Crocker Art Museum

The Crocker Art Museum opened in 1885 in the home of Edwin B. Crocker. He was a wealthy judge and lawyer in the early days of Sacramento. His widow, Margaret, started the museum to share their huge art collection with the public. It is the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi River.

There are paintings from all over the world at the Crocker Art Museum, including pieces from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The museum has a large collection of Californian art, with pieces dating from the 1850s to the modern era. They even have “Tot Land” which is a kids’ area where they can explore and create at their level.

4. Get Your Animal Fix At The Sacramento Zoo

Many cities around the world have their own zoo. Sacramento is no exception. The Sacramento Zoo is located on 14 acres of property in William Land Park south of Downtown Sacramento.

There are a lot of animals that zoo visitors can see and learn about, including giraffes, big cats like lions and snow leopards, ostriches, orangutans, chimpanzees, and a super cute red panda. The Sacramento Zoo also has shows, a giraffe encounter program, and they partner with UC Davis to help train the next generation of vets and zoo keepers.

There are also several attractions at the zoo, including a carousel, a train ride, and a rock climbing wall. The Sacramento Zoo is definitely one of the must-see zoos in California.

5. Take the Kids to Play at Fairytale Town

Fairytale Town is a really cute children’s play area in William Land Park. That is the same park where the Sacramento Zoo is located. It has nursery rhyme and children’s story themed play areas such as Hickory Dickory Clock, The Three Little Pigs, and Anansi’s Web. Many of the play areas have Storybook Boxes. Visitors can purchase a Magic Key that will unlock the box so that it plays songs and stories related to the play area.

Some of the areas, like Mary’s Little Lambs, Farmer Brown’s Barn, and Peter Rabbit and his Sisters have animals that visitors can look at. Sometimes, some of the animals are available for “up-close animal introductions.”

Fairytale Town is a great place to take the little ones for a chance to run off some energy in a fun and unique setting.

6. Learn About Early California at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park

Photo by Kristin Parker, California Majesty

Sutter’s Fort was built in 1841 by John Sutter. He immigrated to the United States after he left his family in Switzerland to run from his debt. Then he came to California, got a Mexican land grant for the land that is now Sacramento, and used Native American slaves to build a fort. That fort is now known as Sutter’s Fort, and is located in Midtown Sacramento on L Street.

Eventually, the fort became the center of the new town of Sacramento. Once the Gold Rush began, Sutter’s workers left for the gold fields, and abandoned the fort. By the end of the Gold Rush, John Sutter had lost most of his land to the miners.

Today, Sutter’s Fort has been rebuilt and is a California State Historic Park. It is open for self guided tours every day, and has festivals and living history events throughout the year. The California Indian Museum is right next door, so you can learn about California’s Native American people as well (it also appears on this list).

My family visited Sutter’s Fort, and we thought it was well worth the time we spent. The kids learned a lot about early California history, and we got to talk to some really cool reenactors. Even though John Sutter wasn’t the nicest guy in the world, his fort is an interesting place that is worth visiting at least once

7. See Some Amazing Cars at the California Automobile Museum

Holy cow! This is a really cool place. The California Automobile Museum has a ton of amazing cars. They have over 130 cars and other vehicles that represent over 120 years of history.

Here you’ll see everything from an 1880s Columbia “Penny Farthing” bicycle to a 1909 Model T to a 1955 Thunderbird convertible to a 1987 Lamborghini Countach. They have cars from every decade from the 1880s through the 2010s.

Before the Pandemic, they held classes to teach people how to drive a Model T. Hopefully that will return as the Pandemic and its restrictions fade away. If you love cars, or even just like them, you’ll probably love this museum.

8. Bike Along the American River On The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail

This trail, also known as the American River Parkway, runs along the American River for 32 miles to the city of Folsom. It starts at Discovery Park near Old Sacramento and ends at Beal’s Point Recreation Area at Folsom Lake. Unless you are in Folsom, in which case it starts at Beal’s Point and ends at Discovery Park.

It is named after the Nineteenth Century American fur trapper and explorer Jedediah Smith, who was the first American to arrive in California by crossing the Mojave Desert. He later became the first to arrive in California by crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains, and was the first to travel from California into Oregon.

At the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, you can walk, ride a bike, skate, have a picnic, or go fishing. Many sections of the trail are wilderness areas, and are home to animals such as deer, woodpeckers, and coyotes.

9. See Sacramento from The Water On A River Cruise

The Sacramento and American Rivers are an important part of Sacramento’s land and culture. Many tourists, and Sacramento residents, enjoy taking one of the river cruises that leave from the waterfront area.

There is a cruise for just about everyone, from a narrated historic cruise to a dinner cruise to a “brews cruise” where they serve beer or wine. You can also rent a boat for your own private cruise, or charter a boat for a private party or a wedding.

10. Discover Indigenous Culture At The California State Indian Museum

The California State Indian Museum is a unique museum in Midtown Sacramento. It showcases the many Indigenous cultures that are found all over California. Its goal is to teach people about California’s original people, and how they lived and cared for the land both before the Spanish came to California and in modern times.

The museum has a large collection of artifacts including baskets, weapons and hunting tools, and ceremonial regalia. They have items from tribes throughout California, which shows how each group has its own unique culture.

We visited the State Indian Museum on our last trip to Sacramento. The smaller kids got bored after a bit, but my oldest spent a couple of hours there soaking it all in, while the rest of us moved on to Sutter’s Fort, which is right next door.

I highly recommend everyone visit this museum at least once. Learning about California’s Indigenous people and cultures is a wonderful step in beginning to right the wrongs of the past, and making sure that they are recognized for all of their contributions to California over the past 14,000 years, and remain a part of California culture.

11. Experience Nineteenth Century Luxury at Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park

This amazing mansion was the home of Leland Stanford, who was a robber baron and the 8th governor of California. He also founded Stanford University, which he dedicated to his son.

Stanford bought the Stanford Mansion for $8,000 in 1861, right before he became governor. While he was governor, the mansion served as both his home and his office. The next two California governors also had their official offices at the Stanford Mansion. Eventually, it was remodeled to both raise the building and add floors. In 1900, Stanford’s widow donated the mansion to the Catholic Church, specifically for them to use as an orphanage.

The State of California bought the building in 1978, then began to renovate it in 1991. It finally opened to the public in 2005 as Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, and has been restored to what it looked like in 1872. The mansion is open for tours, and is one of the California Governor’s official workplaces. It is also the official reception center for the California government.

12. Find Out Who Is In The California Hall Of Fame At The California Museum

The California Museum is a celebration of all things California. It opened in 1998 as the Golden State Museum, and showcases California’s rich history and her people. Additionally, visitors can see the Sesquicentennial Quilt that was made to celebrate the150th anniversary of California statehood.

The museum is also the home of the California Hall of Fame, which honors Californians who “embody the spirit of California and the California Dream while also making a lasting, significant contribution to the state, nation and the world; and have inspired others to further their own dreams.”

Hall of Fame inductees include Buzz Aldrin, The Beach Boys, Tony Hawk, and George Takei, as well as Ansel Adams, John Muir, Ru Paul, and Jackie Robinson. Over 130 amazing Californians in the Hall of Fame since 2006.

Links

I hope you enjoyed reading my list of some of the great places to visit in Sacramento. Here are links to the websites for the places I talked about in this blog post. That way you don’t have to scroll up if you don’t want to.

12 Fun Things To Do In Sacramento California