Day 22/Indie Travel Art Project: 24 hours in your hometown
Sacramento, California: 24 hours
The River City. The Capital City. Sactown Sack-o-tomatos. Good ol’ Sacramento, California. The city where I grew up. So, take it from a native: this place can be fun!
Sacramento is 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and about 100 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe. It has an international airport, a network of freeways, 3 rivers, a Delta, a network of train tracks including Amtrak and a light rail system. When I tell people I grew up in Sacramento, they usually say, “I drove through there once. Straight through.” Next time, I suggest you stop. Here’s what to see and where to go:
If you love the water and the outdoors:
- Raft the American River. There are several places along the river to rent rafts , all near strategic put-in spots. Shuttles pick you up at the take-out points. In summer, locals put in rafts and tubes at Sunrise Blvd and float down to Goethe Park.About 3 hours if you go slow. If you need to rent equipment, get it at American River Raft Rentals.
- Learn to sail. The Delta is a goof place to try tacking and jibing! Check out the Delta Sailing School.
- Dine with a view. Pearl on the River is lovely, and the Virgin Sturgeon is a classic!
- Bike the river. There are miles of awesome bike trails in Sactown. Choose your path and go crazy!
- Stay at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. This hotel sits under a tree canapy across from the State Capitol Building and has a great swimming pool for lounging and swimming.
If you are an historian:
- Wander the streets of Old Sacramento. Don’t be afraid to step into all the tiny museums - you will see what life used to be like when Old Sac was the city center, especially when the river rose to the 2nd floor!
- Cruise the Fabulous Forties. By foot or by car, this is a swanky neighborhood to spy on. If you love all things vintage, retro, deco and beautiful, this is the hood for you! It’s especially decked-out during Christmas. Pack a picnic and stop at nearby McKinley Park for people watching and a nosh.
- Tour the California State Capitol Museum. Stunning. Important. Locals sometimes bury their pets in the rose garden at night. But don’t be creeped out by that.
- Explore Sutter’s Fort. My orthodontist’s office was across the street from this place. Whenever I biked there to get my hideous face hardware tightened, I would marvel that this area used to be the wild lands. Now it’s a charming and quaint part of Downtown Sac, and has been since the 1940’s.
- Pilgrimage to the Tower Theatre before it gets torn down. There is drama going on with this Sactown icon so I am linking to their Facebook page. It was the name of this cinema that gave birth to the Tower Records/Books/etc chain that dominated global cities in the 1960s through 1990s, the original store sharing a building. In the mid-2000’s there was a threat of the theatre closing it’s doors. Tower Cafe is a delicious spot for alfresco dining and soaking up the history and film buff vibes.
If you are a hipster or an artist:
- See “Tower Theatre” in section above
- Tune into 98 Rock. 98.5 FM. Used to be called KZAP. Still the best radio station on the planet.
- Mainline coffee at the Weatherstone. Cool staff, free wifi, brick courtyard.
- Splurge at Cheap Thrills. Excellent vintage shopping.
- Crawl the boutiques, bars and galleries in Midtown. I particularly enjoy the nightlife in this part of town. The neighborhood website is helpful.
If you are a politician:
- Attend a rally at the Capitol building
- Schedule a power lunch at Frank Fat’s
- Dream about your next election at the Governor’s Mansion
- Stay at the Embassy Suites Riverfront Promenade
- Get some local culture at the Crocker Art Museum
Visit the Sacramento Vacation Information website to supplement info above, as well as the Sacramento News & Review site for concert listings and goings-on. Enjoy!!
