There are many states in the US where its capital it’s not its largest
or most populated city, and California is arguably the best example of
it. Away from Los Angeles’ glamour, San Diego’s relaxing beach vibes
or San Francisco’s gorgeous landscapes, Sacramento is barely the sixth
largest city in California, but you can be sure it doesn’t lack in
awesomeness.
Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in
Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento is the
northernmost great city in the state, a place key in some of the most
important historic events like the Gold Rush and the build of the
Transcontinental train.
We want to help you narrow down your bucket list for your upcoming
trip to Sacramento, so we worked this city guide for you, to get the
best out of your stay in the city with the star in California.
Sacramento International connects the city with over 40 domestic and
international destinations in North America. Offering a wider variety
of destinations, San Francisco International airport is 100 miles
southeast of the city, less than 2 hours away.
If you’re planning a long trip through Northern California, you can
get there using one of the other main airports in the area: Oakland
and San Jose, each one with specific features that can make your trip
easier. Regardless of your chosen airport in the area, Elife provides
the most
reliable airport ground transportation
for you, to travel to anywhere in the region and between airports in a
comfortable, affordable and private way.
Sacramento is one of California’s most accessible cities by car.
Whether you are coming to Sacramento from the Bay Area, the coast, the
Central Valley or the Sierras, the Sacramento region is easy to
access.
While drivers should be mindful of usual rush hour times, Sacramento
traffic is far less of an obstacle than many other large California
cities. Also, Downtown Sacramento features a great deal of affordable
parking for visitors.
Old Sacramento Waterfront is a unique 28-acre National Historic
Landmark District and State Historic Park that lives in homage to
California's beginning with the Gold Rush of 1849. The district is
located along the beautiful Sacramento River. Bustling with activity,
it is alive with shopping, dining, entertainment, historical
attractions and world-renowned museums set within the time of the
California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad.
d Sacramento Waterfront features dozens of recreated or restored
buildings from the Gold Rush era. Wooden sidewalks, horse-drawn
carriages, and living history characters provide a glimpse into
19h-century life.
The largest railroad museum west of the Mississippi is in Sacramento
and houses numerous locomotives, rail cars – including dining and mail
cars – a model train exhibit and tells the story of the building of
the transcontinental railroad as well as the role the railroad played
in the history of California and the western states.
A top Sacramento sight, the
California State Railroad Museum
is also your connection to train rides like the Polar Express train
during the holidays and other rail excursions that depart from the Old
Sacramento Waterfront.
The
Crocker Art Museum
was created to house the arts picked up by the Crocker family on a
long trip through Europe in the 1870s with the goal to becoming the
cultural hub of Sacramento.
Today's Crocker Art Museum is housed in a building that has two
distinct wings: the Victorian house built in 1873, and the new Teal
Pavilion, which opened in 2010. Known for its collection of California
Impressionist art, German drawings and everything ranging from
contemporary to antiquity, it is a must-see on a trip to Sacramento.
Sacramento's more than 250 days of sunshine every year mean it's the
perfect place to explore and have fun in the outdoors. The city sits
at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, and just a
short drive from the Sierra Nevada.
From whitewater rafting to hiking and bicycling, Sacramento has you
covered when you're looking for outdoor activities. In search of
something more exhilarating? Skydiving and other extreme sports are
also available.
Farm to fork isn’t a passing fad or a marketing slogan in the
Sacramento region – it’s the way they live. The region has been an
agricultural powerhouse for more than a century, boasting a year-round
growing season, ideal climate and a mouth-watering bounty of crops.
Chances are, if you’re enjoying a meal in the Sacramento region, it
came from a local farm.
Today, Sacramento sits among 1.5 million acres of farms and ranches
that grow more than 160 crops for markets here and abroad. The region
is also home to more than 40 regional farmers markets—including the
largest California Certified Farmers’ Market in the state.
Yosemite is a World Heritage site three hours from Sacramento. Gaze at Half Dome, hike to Yosemite or Vernal falls, spot wildlife on the valley floor, learn about the glaciers that created the valley and find out how people are working to preserve the natural beauty for generations to come.
The largest Alpine lake in North America is a two-hour drive from Sacramento and offers fun year-round. Whether its skiing and snowboarding, bicycling, hiking, rafting, lounging by the lakeshore, shopping or trying your luck at one of the casinos on the Nevada side of the border, Lake Tahoe is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike.
Napa and Sonoma valleys are a mere hour from Sacramento, and it's easy
to reach from the city, as Sacramento International Airport is the
closest airport to wine country. But the wine country to the west
isn't all that's around Sacramento. If you're looking for
up-and-coming wine regions where tastings of award-winning wines are
often free, check out the Lodi, Clarksburg and Sierra Nevada foothill
wineries.
Explore the wonders of the most famous wine region in the US with
Elife’s event transportation services, allowing you to quote and book any ride you need to and from
Napa/Sonoma for groups up to 55 people in one single ride, provided by
the best chauffeurs in the region.
The Gold Rush of 1849 was the largest migration in human history, and it all started 45 minutes by car from Sacramento when John Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill. Today you can visit the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park for museums, gold panning, a recreation of the original mill and many other activities. You can also visit Gold Bug Mine to tour an actual gold mine in nearby Placerville.
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