Introduction
With so much to do in Sacramento, it’s easy to spend a whole month exploring the city and surrounding areas. Here are 14 of our favorite things to do.
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a must-see for railroad aficionados and history buffs. The museum, which is located in Old Sacramento and open year-round, showcases California’s rich railroad history through its collection of more than 100 locomotives, cars, and equipment. You can also take a guided tour or ride on an authentic steam train.
The museum offers several events throughout the year, including Halloween events with haunted house rides as well as holiday concerts featuring live music from local musicians. The museum also hosts weddings in its beautiful garden area, which features lush greenery on display 365 days per year.
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park is a reconstructed fort located in the city of Sacramento, California. It was originally built by John Sutter and his associates from 1839-1846. The park was opened to the public in 1960 and offers many activities for families including guided tours, self-guided tours, hiking trails, concerts, and events.
The park also features a museum with exhibits on Native American life in California during the period of European settlement (before statehood). A gift shop can be found inside the museum as well as outside near the main entrance where you will also find restrooms.
Old Sacramento Waterfront
Old Sacramento is the historic district of Sacramento, California. It was founded in 1849 and is the oldest neighborhood in Sacramento. The area contains many historical sites and buildings, such as the Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park and the Wells Fargo History Museum.
Old Sacramento is also a popular tourist attraction with many restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues located within walking distance from one. You can enjoy an original steam train ride through Old Town or take a stroll along the riverfront boardwalk while shopping for unique souvenirs at local shops like Yo Mama’s Mustard Shop or San Francisco-style Johnny Rockets diner.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a must-see attraction in Sacramento, California. It was the very first bridge of its kind in the U.S., and it was built to resemble London’s Tower Bridge. The bridge has a lift span that lifts to allow watercraft passage below, as well as a pedestrian walkway on one side of the roadway where you can take pictures with your family or friends. Tower Bridge is also a National Civil Engineering Landmark!
American River Parkway
The American River Parkway is a great place to walk, run, or bike. There are many picnic areas and playgrounds as well as wildlife preserves along the parkway.
Crocker Art Museum
- The Crocker Art Museum is the only museum in California devoted to the fine arts.
- It has a permanent collection of over 40,000 works of art that includes paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings by artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Monet.
- It was founded in 1885 by Charles and Emma Crocker.
- The museum is located in Old Sacramento at 2625 K St., Sacramento 95816; (916) 734-7001; crcrockerartmuseum.org
Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
Discovery Museum Science & Space Center is a fun place for kids to learn about science. You can explore a variety of exhibits, including an earthquake simulator, a life-size model of the human body, and more.
The museum provides programming for all ages, with special events happening throughout the year. These include:
- Summer Camps: July 17–August 11 (ages 4–14)
- Adult Classes: September 3–November 21 (adult-friendly classes)
Fairytale Town
Fairytale Town is a theme park that recreates fairy tales, myths, and legends. Located in Sacramento, California, it’s open year-round and offers over 30 rides and attractions including a castle you can tour. The park is also home to one of the most haunted houses in California—it’s open on Halloween!
Raging Waters
If you’re looking to cool off from a day exploring the outdoors, Raging Waters is the place for you. Located in Sacramento, CA, this water park boasts an impressive 23 rides and attractions that are sure to thrill all ages.
With its natural theme and impressive size (it’s the largest water park in Northern California), Raging Waters is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. As far as water parks go, it has something for everyone: there’s plenty of shade so you can relax while enjoying your favorite activities like rafting down rapids or taking on one of their many slides!
If you’re looking to take things up a notch with more thrill rides then try out their Racer slide which consists of two racing tubes that allow riders to race each other side-by-side down the same track!
California Automobile Museum
The California Automobile Museum is an automotive museum located in Sacramento, California. The museum showcases over 100 cars and motorcycles of all make and models from the 1890s to today. It also has a large collection of other transportation-related items such as bicycles, airplanes, trains, trucks, and military vehicles.
The museum’s collection includes vehicles owned by celebrities including Elvis Presley’s Cadillac limousine (the first car he purchased when he moved to California) and Muhammad Ali’s red Corvette Sting Ray convertible (which was given to him as a gift).
California Automobile Museum is also home to one of the most extensive collections of automobiles designed by Ralph Gilles who is currently serving as President & Chief Executive Officer at Dodge Brand – FCA North America LLC.
- His designs include several limited edition Dodge vehicles such as Challenger SRT8 392 Daytona Edition numbered 1-500 produced in 2008;
- Charger R/T Daytona with matte black exterior paint with chrome accents numbered 1 through 500 produced in 2013;
- Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shaker Daytona numbered 1-500 produced in 2014; Challenger 392 Scat Pack Shaker Limited Edition numbered 1 through 500 produced in 2016; Viper ACR Carbon Series by BOSS 302 (limited production run based on concept car);
- Chrysler 300C Platinum Series Special Edition featuring high gloss finish and 20″ wheels with custom interior trim options
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
If you’re looking for a spot to worship, consider the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Located at 10th and P streets in Sacramento, this cathedral is the seat of Archbishop John C. Wester. The cathedral was built in 1876 and consecrated in 1877.
It has been the site of several important events including Pope John Paul II’s 1987 visit to California, which led to him declaring St. Joseph’s Day an official holiday for Catholics worldwide. Today, visitors can tour the church and see its beautiful stained glass windows as well as other relics from past visits by popes
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
The Sacramento Memorial Auditorium is a historic building that was built in 1928. This venue has been the home to many events, from concerts to sports and graduations. The auditorium was designed by William H. Kolb, who also designed other famous buildings such as the Hoover Dam and the San Francisco Mint. It’s also one of the oldest remaining public buildings in Sacramento (it was opened on July 29th, 1929).
The auditorium seats up to 8,500 people which makes it a great place for big events like concerts or sporting events like basketball games! If you want to see some really big acts coming through town then this would be where they’d perform because of how large it is inside compared with other venues like Arco Arena where they only hold about half as many people per show.”
Capitol Park
Capitol Park is a great place to go for a stroll, with many attractions and historical sites. Located at the heart of downtown Sacramento, this park attracts crowds from all over the area. You can take your time as you explore this beautiful space and discover what it has to offer you.
The park is also home to an outdoor theatre, which often holds performances during the summer months. If you want to catch some live entertainment while enjoying your day in Sacramento’s capitol park then make sure that you check out their website before heading out so that you know what events are going on during the week or weekend!
Capitol Park offers visitors many things to do: there are plenty of shops nearby where they can purchase souvenirs; there are also plenty of food options available if someone gets hungry while walking around campus grounds (there’s even an ice cream shop located within walking distance).
You’ll never run out of things to do in Sacramento
There’s no shortage of things to do in Sacramento. Visit Old Sacramento, explore the museums and parks, or take advantage of all that nature has to offer. You’ll never run out of things to do in Sacramento.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this list of the best things to do in Sacramento. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out our guides to San Francisco or Los Angeles!
