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Sacramento, or “Sac” for short, is the capital of California (I bet you assumed it was San Francisco or Los Angeles!). It’s full of fun things to do, and has touted nicknames such as the “City of Trees” and the “Farm-to-Fork Capital” for its agricultural influence.
Consider taking a stroll through California State Capitol Park. The Capitol building closes at 5:00 PM, but seeing it up close is still impressive! You can stroll through the World Peace Rose Garden and see various memorials and plants from all around the world.
How to Get to Sacramento, CA
To get to Sacramento, you have a few different options:
Drive // Be prepared for traffic if you’re coming from the Bay Area during commute hours.
Fly in to Sacramento International Airport // This is probably the most convenient option. You can then take Lyft, Uber, or take a taxi straight from the airport.
Amtrak // The trains are nice and boast free wifi, but be aware that it can be pretty spotty.
Getting around Sacramento:
Bike // JUMP is a bike/scooter rental system with stations located all around the city. Just download the mobile app, make an account, and you’re ready to go!
Lyft/Uber/taxis // Great if you don’t want to deal with parking.
Rent a car // The traffic within Sacramento isn’t too bad, even during rush hour, and this is definitely the most convenient way to get around. Most street parking is free after 6PM, and is almost always is easy to find. You can also walk, but be aware that Sacramento is a pretty large city.
Where to Eat in Sacramento for Dinner
Mother // This highly rated restaurant offers seasonal vegetarian dishes.
Tower Cafe // A joint with unique decor and a creative, varied menu.
Burgers & Brew // This is a classic! Go here for some laid-back vibes but AMAZING burgers.
The Kitchen // Be prepared to spend money here, but they have a Michelin Star, people. You can enjoy a fixed price 5-course meal with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Midtown’s Cantina Alley // Like the name suggests, you’ll find this Mexican spot in a semi-hidden alleyway. It’s quite popular so you may have to wait, but it’s worth it, I promise!
Things to Do in Sacramento at Night
Old Town Sacramento // Get a taste of the “wild west” and pop into some fun shops in Sacramento’s historic gold rush district! You can spot the iconic bright yellow Tower Bridge from here, and I’d also recommend grabbing a drink on the boat Delta King that’s permanently docked nearby on the Sacramento River.
Fab 40’s // This neighborhood was actually featured in the movie Ladybird! Each house is unique and designed in various architectural styles, such as Tudor, Colonial Revival, Arts and Crafts, and California Bungalow. If you visit in November/December, there’s a huge Christmas light display in the area. Just head to the intersection of M St & 43rd St, park your car, and go from there!
The Handle District in Midtown // This is a hip area with lots of cool restaurants and bars. Even if you don’t go into any of the establishments, it’s a fun place to walk around and soak up the energy.
Grab a beer // There’s no shortage of good beer in Sacramento! Track 7, Fountainhead, New Glory, and Fieldwork are some popular ones. Golden Road Brewing and Der Biergarten have extensive outdoor seating and are great when the weather’s nice!
Tower Theater // If you want to see an offbeat/indie movie, this beautiful Art Deco theater is the place to go!
Be aware of Sacramento’s weather – it gets extremely hot in the summer, and often goes past the 100’s during the day. Luckily, it’s mostly dry heat, but just be aware that if you visit from May-September you may not want to stay outside for long! In the winter (Dec-Feb), it can be pretty cold/rainy (from a California perspective) and often dips into the low 50’s during the day.
Guide and Photos by Kelsey | Sights Better Seen | Instagram
Also check out:
- San Francisco’s Financial District After 5:00 pm
- Sacramento, CA After 5:00 pm
- San Diego After 5:00 pm
- Bernal Heights, San Francisco After 5:00 pm
- San Diego After Five: Enjoying Warm Nights
- San Jose After Five
A few quick tips I’ll add.
If you go to the Capitol, the landscaping surrounding it is a must see. Everyone feeds the squirrels at the Capitol, so they will come up to you to see if you will feed them a peanut. If you want, you can hand them a peanut and they will stand there eating it while you take extremely up close photos.
If you’re willing to walk, the distance from the Capitol to Old Sac is absolutely walkable, either by walking north to the Holiday Inn, then west under I-5, or by walking west to the Tower Bridge, then north along the waterfront.
The hotels around the Capitol are, unsurprisingly, packed with lobbyists during the week, but they get little business on weekends, so they are perfect for a weekend trip.
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