Sacramento Travel Guide
STORY BY: Veronica Hill
Summary: Tour the state capitol, explore its museums, and bed down in a 1920s riverboat.
Location: Sacramento is 88 miles northeast of San Francisco — roughly 2 hours away.
If you have a weekend to spare, don't miss a tour through California's state capitol. This historic city — once home to famous residents like Cesar Chavez and John Sutter — has a little something for everyone.
Start at the California State Capitol Museum (916-324-0333), which was restored to its 1900s splendor in 1982, then peek inside Governor's Mansion State Historic Park (916-323-3047), an 1877 Victorian mansion that served as the governor's home until 1967. More Victorian homes are found on the tree-lined streets between 7th and 16th (from E to I). The Stanford Home at 800 N Street and the Heilbron Home at 740 O Street are especially lovely.
If you have the kids along, the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center (916-575-3941) is a fun place to take the kids, as is the 15-acre Sacramento Zoo (916-808-5885) and Fairytale Town (916-808-5233) theme park.
Other highlights include the California Automobile Museum (916-442-6802), California Military Museum (916-442-2883), and Crocker Art Museum, (916-808-7000) the West's oldest public art museum. At 2nd and J streets, you'll find the Pony Express Monument, commemorating the 1,966-mile horse run to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Guided Sacramento Walking Tours (916-442-8575) are offered throughout the week, covering the city's history of art, architecture, development and religion. Tours start at $10 per person and run 1-2 hours. New for 2011 are the Old Sacramento Underground Tours (916-808-7059) exploring the legends that lurk beneath the city sidewalks.
California State Railroad Museum
Old Sacramento is home to the California State Railroad Museum, which pays homage to the iron horse. This 225,000-square-foot museum boasts 21 restored locomotives and train cars, along with a smorgasbord of railroad memorabilia. The museum, which opened in 1976, is one of Sacramento's biggest tourist attractions — drawing a half-million guests annually. Steam, compressed-air, internal combustion and electric locomotives are on display, along with a variety of historical exhibits.
Time your visit on the weekend, when you can board the steam-powered Sacramento Southern Railroad train for a 40-minute ride along the Sacramento River. For a special treat, ask for a seat in the First Class El Dorado Car. The tour lasts roughly 40 minutes, and is offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April -September. Buy tickets. During the winter, you can board the Polar Express, for an hour-long tour to the "North Pole." Hot cocoa and cookies are included — and you just might spy Kris Kringle!
Sutter's Fort
Built in 1840 by Captain Johann Augustus Sutter, Sutter's Fort is the oldest restored fort in the West. During the self-guided audio tour, you can explore the fort's restored bedrooms, guard rooms and pioneer kitchens. In the museum, you'll find a wide assortment of artifacts belonging to Sutter, the Donner Party and James Marshall, who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848. The on-site Sutter's Fort Trade Store (916-442-4966), open daily from 10-5, sells a variety of historic books, movies and pioneer toys.
The fort hosts several events throughout the year, including living history days on Saturdays-Wednesdays (July 2-Aug. 15), pioneer dinners, and candlelight tours. On Halloween weekend, don't miss the annual "Haunted Fort" tours, which depart every 10 minutes. Every September, Sacramento's top toques head to the fort for a "Taste of History," creating modern takes on historic recipes from pioneer days.
Sacramento Delta King
For a unique overnight, bed down in Old Sacramento's historic riverboat, The Delta King (916-444-5464) which also offers romantic dining along the waterfront. This historic 1920s river boat — which sailed between San Francisco and Sacramento until the 1940s — has found a permanent home docked on the Sacramento River. Each room is decorated in a classic nautical theme, with plenty of blues, reds and creams. Amenities include free WiFi, flat screen TVs, complimentary full breakfasts and sweet views of the Sacramento River.
While you're here, enjoy a meal at their Pilothouse restaurant or Delta Bar and Grill. Start with a wine sampler flight featuring California State Fair Gold Medal Wines, along with an appetizer of fried calamari, Catalan flatbread, or stuffed piquillo peppers. The restaurant, which has a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, serves prix-fixe or a la carte entrees. Standouts include their signature seafood cioppino and Dr. Pepper Braised Short Ribs.
Trendsetter
For good eats in a trendy setting, check out Pearl on the River (1379 Garden Hwy, 916-567-3275), one of the darlings of Sacramento's restaurant scene. The restaurant serves up a locally sourced menu of steak, chicken and seafood.
IF YOU GO
Events: California State Fair in July, Gold Rush Days in September, and Sacramento Jazz Festival in May.
Delta King: 1000 Front St., Sacramento. (916) 444-5464. Meals $10 and up. Rooms $135 and up.
California State Railroad Museum: (916) 445-7387 and http://www.csrmf.org/. $9 adults; $4 (ages 6-17); kids 5 and under free
Web: http://www.discovergold.org/
Call: (800) 292-2334
