Dedicated to Your Health

From the top of your head to the soles of your feet, your healthy body is the priority of our region’s medical professionals. Sacramento is home to many independent practitioners as well as the four major medical groups highlighted here.

Dignity Health’s mission is rooted in the compassion of the Sisters of Mercy, a group founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. Several of the Sisters arrived in San Francisco in 1854 to care for the city’s residents. The organization grew and in 2012 changed its name to Dignity Health. Dignity blankets our region with six hospitals: Mercy General Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Folsom, Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and Woodland Memorial Hospital. dignityhealth.org Kaiser Permanente provides high-quality, affordable health-care services to uplift whole communities by promoting health rather than solely treating illnesses. The organization focuses on access to care and coverage; community and family safety; economic security; and mental health and wellness. Kaiser’s 24/7 advice line streamlines service for members seeking to schedule appointments, receive treatment advice or locate the nearest urgent care. thrive. kaiserpermanente.org Sutter Health is a not-for-profit network whose hospitals serve more of the Medi-Cal patient population in Northern California than any other health system. This integrated network has created a model of care that strives to be accessible to all, including the region’s diverse communities. Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento is centrally located in midtown and houses facilities that include the Ose Adams Medical Pavilion and Anderson Lucchetti Women’s & Children’s Center. sutterhealth.org UC Davis Health has the expertise, discoveries and technology of a world-class university behind it. The UC Davis Medical Center, located in Sacramento, is a leading referral center for medically complex cases and the most seriously ill or injured patients. It’s the only Level 1 trauma center for adult and pediatric emergencies in inland Northern California. UC Davis is also renowned for its MIND Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center and Institute for Regenerative Cures. health.ucdavis.edu

The sun goes down over the Old Sacramento Waterfront

Things To Do in Sacramento

It’s time for some sunshine, shows, sports and socializing.

1Visit the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The historic district is known for its boarded sidewalks, museums, shopping and dining, and also its newer attractions, such as the Waterfront Wheel (a 65-foot Ferris wheel) and the Front Street Carousel. There’s also a water experience for everyone— slow and easy via City Cruises (formerly Hornblower), at a thrilling clip on Sacramento Jetboats, or by pedal power on a Sac Brew Boat.

2Enjoy o erings fresh from a farmers market. The Sacramento region contains about 1.5 million acres of farmland and 8,000 acres of boutique farms, earning its status as America’s Farm-toFork Capital. In the summertime, the farms kick into high gear, delivering a huge variety of produce at its biggest and best. Take advantage of this freshness boon—and support local growers. The Sacramento region has more than 40 farmers markets. Some are open year-round. Others open in mid-spring and close in mid-fall. But during the summer, they’re all open for business, and it’s boom, boom, booming. Of course, you’ll fi nd much more than just fruits and vegetables. You’ll likely also come across goodies like artisanal cheeses and honeys, baked goods, herbs, fl owers, locally ranched meats and locally caught fi sh. Some, like the Oak Park Farmers Market, feature live music or kids’ activities like storytelling, face painting or art making. california-grown.com.

3See a fi lm at the Crest Theatre. The beautifully lavish art-deco Crest has the same story as many K Street traditions: It was great, then it wasn’t, there were renovations and re-imaginings, and now it’s cooler than it’s ever been. Having undergone an extensive modernization project a few years ago, the Crest has been fully restored as the heirloom crown jewel of the downtown district. Catch a screening of an old-time favorite like “Singin’ in the Rain” (shown seasonally). crestsacramento.com

4Cheer for a sports team. Fans of the Sacramento Kings basketball team have been through a lot together (see: the early ’90s, 2013 and the Maloofs), and perhaps nothing signifi es the pride of that NBA journey quite like ringing an engraved cowbell at Golden 1 Center. Catch a game between October and mid-April. nba.com/kings At a Sacramento River Cats baseball game, you’ll fi nd a fully loaded kids’ zone and an unbeatable view of the sunset. You’ll have plenty of reasons to raise your glass and cheer with your fellow Sutter Health Park revelers for the Giants Triple-A a liate baseball team. Games take place April through September. rivercats.com If you think professional soccer is just for Europeans, you’ve never been to a football match in the States. And if you think Americans only get excited for American football (as opposed to the football we know as soccer), you’ve never witnessed the Tower Bridge Battalion at a Sacramento Republic FC match at Heart Health Park. This group of crazed fans is on their feet, chanting in unison and waving custom fl ags and banners at each and every match. The season runs March through October. tbbattalion.com

5Meet the animals of the California State Fair & Food Festival, and eat some fried food, too. People used to call Sacramento a cow town, and while the expanding downtown skyline laughs at the city’s former reputation, for 17 days you can still fi nd cows in the center of town. The California State Fair & Food Festival hosts an animal education center as well as a petting zoo, so when you chase a corn dog with a funnel cake and call it dinner, you can chalk up your appetite to all that manual labor on the makeshift farm. castatefair.org

6Walk, run or bike the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. Also known as the American River Trail, it runs 32 miles along the American River, connecting a string of public spaces including Sutter’s Landing Park, Paradise Beach, William B. Pond

Recreation Area, River Bend Park and Beals Point at Folsom Lake. Each spot has its own highlights, from the salmon ladders at Nimbus Fish Hatchery to the archery range at Discovery Park and the creature comforts of Old Sacramento. The Jedediah Smith is one of the longest paved trails in the country. If you’re on a bike, you can ride just long enough to justify a destination reward. But the trail has plenty of room for everyone. Families and couples abound on both wheels and sneakers. regionalparks. saccounty.net

7Take a tour in the city. You might not know that the late Bishop Alphonse Gallegos was a lowrider fan or that 30 movie theaters were built on J, K and L streets between 1922 and 1932. These fun facts are some of the many nuggets of knowledge you’ll gain on a Local Roots Food Tour. The walking tours, in midtown, R Street, downtown and the Sutter District, are led by savvy guides and blend bits of Sacramento history and popular culture with samples of food from area restaurants and stops at locally owned shops. localrootsfoodtours.com By taking an Old Sacramento Underground Tour you’ll learn how Sacramento was literally raised out of fl ood danger. A colorful cast of guides take you underground, through hollowed-out sidewalks and sloped alleyways. sachistorymuseum.org Hop on your bike or rent a Lime bike for California Gold Rush: The Sacramento Grid by Bicycle, a two-hour audio tour led by storyteller Marc Christensen. Departing and ending on the west side (10th Street) of the State Capitol, the tour stops at various sites that describe the state’s founding and Gold Rush. voicemap.me (search “Sacramento grid by bicycle”)

8Visit the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether for religious reverence (it’s the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) or architectural reverence (construction started in 1887, and the building is one of the largest cathedrals west of the Mississippi River), the cathedral holds a special place in the hearts of many Sacramentans. Mass is held seven days a week, guided tours are o ered on Sundays, and video-assisted self-guided tours are available. cathedralsacramento.org

9Say hello to exotic animals at Sacramento Zoo. Some animal lovers have mixed feeling about zoos. But seeing animals from faraway places is fun. It stirs the imagination. It promotes conversation. Kids love it. And the very best time to go to Sacramento Zoo (3930 W. Land Park Drive) is fi rst thing in the morning when the critters are waking up. So get up early and go hang with the coolest vertebrates when they’re active. Check out the viewing deck where you can meet gira es eye-

Tim Engle

is fun. It stirs the imagination. It promotes conversation. Kids love it. And the very best time to go to Sacramento Zoo (3930 W. Land Park Drive) is fi rst thing in the morning when the critters are waking up. So get up early and go hang with the coolest vertebrates when they’re active. Check out the viewing deck where you can meet gira es eye-

to-eye. And the big-cat exhibits are always a crowd-pleaser. saczoo.org 10Peruse the artifacts at a local museum. The world-class California State Railroad Museum is the largest of its kind in North America, boasting 19 steam locomotives and telling the story of the Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed only yards from the museum’s entrance. With more than 225,000 square feet of space for exhibits with trains that kids (and adults) can climb aboard and peek inside of, storyboards detailing railroad history (such as Abraham Lincoln’s infl uence over the Union Pacifi c Railroad and the Pullman strike of 1894) and current events (high-speed rail), the museum o ers a full day of entertainment and education. californiarailroad.museum Also well worth a visit are the California Museum, Sacramento History Museum, Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum and others. sacmuseums.org 11See a show at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. The newly renovated performing arts center boasts a new L Street entryway, activity plaza north of the theater, enhanced accessibility, new AV and lighting systems and larger concessions areas, among other enhancements. It’s home to Broadway Sacramento’s Broadway on Tour series, Sacramento Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” and the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, among other local arts groups. While there, take a minute to see the diverse art installations—including “Lunar Specimen 12038,7,” a clear, acrylic resin sculpture modeled after a moon rock brought back from the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, and “Cathedral,” a 25-foot homage to California’s forested landscape. safecreditunionconventioncenter.com 12 Get out on the river. Sometimes it’s fun to be on the water looking back at the shore instead of the other way around. American River Raft Rentals has been a Sacramento staple for water cannon-toting rafting enthusiasts since 1974. Rafters fl ock to the American River for the three- to four-hour fl oats starting at the Sunrise Bridge and down to River Bend Park, a mostly easy, family-friendly ride with a little thrill through the San Juan Rapids. Happily, because of the need to keep saltwater out of the Delta to protect fi sh fl ows, enough water is released from the upstream dams to accommodate recreational use, even in times of drought. Expect myriad wildlife sightings and maybe even an all-out water cannon fi ght among rafts. raftrentals.com 13 View art at Crocker Art Museum. The museum permanently houses more than 15,000 works of art. World renowned for its collection of California art and European master drawings, the museum also o ers a diverse spectrum of exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections, including fi lms, concerts, studio classes, lectures, children’s activities and more. While you’re there, check out “Portrait of My Father,” a large-scale acrylic-on-canvas painting, which artist Stephen Kaltenbach completed over seven years. crockerart.org

Railroad, which was completed only yards from the museum’s entrance. With square feet of space for 14Listen to music in the park. Free, live music extravaganzas transform Cesar Chavez Park into Friday-night dance parties. Concerts in the Park, presented by the Downtown Partnership, fi lls the vast block at 9th and J streets from 5 to 9 p.m. from May through July with the amplifi ed sounds of local artists—think Nate Curry, Arden Park Roots and Camilla Covington—and national bands, as well as DJs. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the longest-running outdoor music festival in the city. godowntownsac.com/CIP 15Experience Wide Open Walls. Once a year, artists come from all over the world to join local artists in creating murals throughout Sacramento. This Sacramento festival was founded in 2016 to activate buildings and alleyways throughout the city. Among the many interesting o erings: At 1730 12th St. downtown, Jeks Mural memorialized notable Sacramentans Levar Burton, Joan Didion, Russ Solomon and Wayne Thiebaud. wideopenwalls.com

water looking back at the shore instead of the other way around. American River Raft Rentals has been a Sacramento staple for water cannon-toting

Tim Engle Gabriel Teague

Artist Kristin Farr painting her mural for Wide Open Walls in the alley of J and Sixth streets, DOCO

The Sacramento region spans several counties and includes a vibrant downtown core, suburban communities and several smaller cities on the outskirts. Let’s take a tour of some of the area’s most-desired neighborhoods.

DOWNTOWN

Until not too long ago, downtown Sacramento was largely known for being the center of state government. (The State Capitol is located there, along with a number of state agency buildings.) But Golden 1 Center changed all that. The $558 million sports and entertainment arena, which opened to great acclaim in late 2016, has provided downtown with a massive boost of energy and excitement. The Sacramento Kings basketball team plays all its home games there, and the arena attracts top-caliber entertainers such as Andrea Bocelli, Chris Rock and The Who, along with productions such as Disney on Ice and Cirque du Soleil. But you don’t need a ticket to enjoy the arena’s elegant architecture, marked by undulating exterior panels that evoke the foothills, or to visit the striking Je Koons sculpture on the plaza. (In case you’re wondering, the colorful sculpture depicts Winnie-the-Pooh’s Piglet.) A multitude of new restaurants and bars have popped up around the arena and on nearby K Street Mall, making this a great place to grab a drink or a bite to eat. Downtown is home to Crocker Art Museum (the oldest art museum in the West) and California Museum, where you can visit the California Hall of Fame. Nearby, the State Capitol offers fascinating guided tours that allow you to watch legislators at work when they’re in session. Stroll the grounds of Capitol Park, which feature the International World Peace Rose Garden and the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

MIDTOWN

This live wire of a neighborhood in the heart of the city is a magnet for fun lovers. There are dozens of hip restaurants and bars, and the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk draws many merrymakers. On Saturday mornings, the Midtown Farmers Market on 20th Street between J and L is a great place to shop for seasonal produce from local farmers, along with artisanal food products and handmade goods. Midtown is also home to a large number of independently owned boutiques and art galleries. The neighborhood is both walkable and bicycle friendly. It’s made up of several smaller sub-neighborhoods, each with its own distinct personality. The Handle District is the epicenter for fi ne dining, with restaurants such as The Waterboy (Mediterreanean), Zócalo (Mexican), Mulvaney’s B&L (American) and Sibling by Pushkin’s (gluten free). R Street Corridor is Sacramento’s old warehouse district. Many of those atmospheric old buildings have been redeveloped and are now home to exciting bars, restaurants and shops, including Bottle & Barlow, Beast & Bounty, Anthropologie, West Elm and Salt & Straw. Lavender Heights is the hub of Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ community. Shaded by trees and built on a gentle rise, Poverty Ridge is largely a residential neighborhood, known for its classic Victorians and Craftsman bungalows. (It got its colorful name from the gold rush days, when the city’s poor would fl ock here during heavy rains to escape the fl oodwaters.)

LAND PARK

Life in this elegant, tree-shaded neighborhood centers around William Land Park, a 166-acre oasis of green in the middle of the city. In addition to a jogging path, picnic areas and picturesque ponds, the park offers attractions such as the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town (a children’s play park with 25 sets based on fairy tales and nursery rhymes), Funderland (a small amusement park) and a nine-hole golf course. William A. Carroll Amphitheatre in the park hosts concerts, plays, an annual Shakespeare festival and other productions. Sacramento Historic City Cemetery on Broadway is an outdoor museum that pays homage to the city’s history from the gold rush onward. It’s the final resting place for many of the city’s first citizens, from early mayors and governors to more colorful denizens such as bootleggers and saloon owners. The cemetery’s Historic Rose Garden features old and antique roses in a profusion of shapes and colors. Guided tours of the cemetery and rose garden are available. Land Park is home to the classic Tower Theatre, a grand old movie house on Broadway that shows mostly foreign, indie and art films. Nearby, you’ll find numerous restaurants serving global cuisine: Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Ethiopian, you name it. Venture out into the residential parts of the neighborhood to see exquisite examples of European Revival architecture from the 1920s and ’30s.

EAST SACRAMENTO

This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood east of midtown is like a little village plunked in the middle of the city. It’s easy to walk or bike to the area’s many independent restaurants, cafes and retailers. The jewel of the neighborhood is 32-acre McKinley Park, home to a library, duck pond, rose garden, garden and arts center, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fi elds and a popular 1.1-mile running path. (Back in the ’90s, then-President Bill Clinton famously jogged on the track during a trip to Sacramento.)

The neighborhood has a mix of bungalows and Tudor, Craftsman and Mediterranean Revival-style houses built in the 1920s and ’30s. It’s also home to an upscale sub-neighborhood called the Fabulous Forties, with grand old houses and sweeping green lawns. As governor, Ronald Reagan lived on 45th Street with his wife, Nancy, and their two children. At Christmastime, the neighborhood is host to the long-running Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour, which allows visitors to get a peek inside these historic homes, all decked out for the holidays by local interior designers.

OAK PARK

This quaint, working-class city neighborhood is undergoing a big transition. Members of the city’s creative class and young homeowners are moving in, attracted to Oak Park’s proximity to downtown and a ordable housing stock. The area has seen signifi cant development. A slew of restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops, juice bars, boutiques and design businesses have opened in the vicinity of Broadway Triangle, a stylish development with stores, loft apartments and townhouses. The area is also home to a co eehouse called Old Soul @ 40 Acres, a farmers market, an urban nursery, art studios and gallery spaces.

ROSEVILLE

This family-friend suburb, located at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, has recently come into its own as a city. In 2020, Money magazine named Roseville one of the top places in the United States to live and to retire. The largest city in Placer County, it has about 150,000 residents and a median household income of more than $90,000. It is an a ordable place to live, compared to other California cities, and it has a strong base of large employers o ering high-paying jobs, including Kaiser, Hewlett Packard and Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Excellent public schools and outdoor amenities, including parks, biking and walking trails and recreation programs, make Roseville a popular destination for families with children. There’s a wide variety of housing available, from high-end new construction to active senior communities. You’ll fi nd excellent shopping at Westfi eld Galleria (home to Nordstrom, Ti any, RH, Crate & Barrel and more), Fountains (where you’ll fi nd Anthropologie, West Elm and Whole Foods, among other upscale retailers) and a myriad of smaller shopping centers.

FOLSOM

This beautiful foothills town is a place of stunning beauty, with rolling green hills, spectacular views and two lakes (Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma). Located 25 miles east of Sacramento, Folsom has a lot to o er: a strong economic base, good schools, lots of shopping options, and nearly 60 miles of biking and hiking trails. Folsom’s rich history starts with the fact that it was home to the West’s fi rst railroad, which connected the gold fi elds to Sacramento’s ports. In 1880, the famed Folsom Prison was built out of solid granite blocks by inmates. The prison still stands and is known throughout the world, thanks to Johnny Cash and his song, “Folsom Prison Blues.” Today, there’s a small museum on the prison grounds. Folsom’s 34 square miles o er plenty of housing options, including a ordable new construction, multimillion-dollar homes in the hills and active-senior housing.

WEST SACRAMENTO

Directly across the Sacramento River from downtown Sacramento lies West Sacramento, a diverse city with more than 53,000 residents and a median household income of about $70,000. At one time, this port city was a center for manufacturing and distribution, but in recent years it has attracted families and businesses with its a ordability and accessibility. Housing options include sleek new lofts, townhouses and apartments in the city’s redeveloped Bridge District, along with family-friendly housing developments in the Southport area. There are numerous outlets for people interested in outdoor recreation, including walking and bike trails. The Vic Fazio Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area o ers hiking and both bird and bat watching. And the river provides numerous opportunities to get out on the water, via River City Rowing Club and West Sacramento’s Sailing Club and Rowing Club. For sports fans, there’s Sutter Health Park, home to the River Cats Triple-A baseball team. The crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd are familiar and much-loved sounds every summer in this small but growing city.

DAVIS

This picturesque college town, just 11 miles west of Sacramento, is an extremely bike-friendly city with lots of cultural and educational amenities. It is, of course, home to UC Davis, a world-class state university with more than 30,000 students. The campus o ers numerous draws that attract the community at large, including UC Davis Arboretum, Mondavi Center (which hosts concerts, plays, lectures and more) and Manetti-Shrem Museum of Art. Another important touchstone is the Davis Farmers Market, held year-round on Saturdays (8 a.m.–1 p.m.) and Wednesdays (3–6 p.m.) in Central Park. The market, one of the best in the region, o ers locally grown produce, along with live entertainment, ready-to-eat foods and arts and is a popular gathering spot for residents. While it is a desirable place to live, Davis does not have the robust residential development that characterizes other Sacramento suburbs. Thus, housing prices are generally higher than much of the rest of the region. Still, the city’s quality of life, excellent schools and relationship with the university make this a desirable place to live.

Lake Tahoe

Gabriel Teague Capitola-By-The-Sea

Sacramento sits two hours from the mountains, two hours from the coast—and close to many of Northern California’s other highly desirable destinations.

Tim Engle

First of all, the Sacramento region is delightful on its own, even before you consider its location in the center of California’s Central Valley. But its proxmity to other Northern California hot spots does afford some additional advantages to residents and visitors with itchy feet. Roads lead in all directions. We take a highwayby-highway look at some of the experiences available within a few hours’ drive—or less.

Fountains at Roseville

Tim Engle

FUN IN THE FOOTHILLS

INTERSTATE 80 EAST

Less than half an hour out of Sacramento, you’ll come upon the exits for Roseville, a suburban city that’s home to approximately 146,000 people, the region’s largest and most upscale shopping mall, and plenty of retail and restaurant options. Roseville’s Historic Old Town includes the Carnegie Museum, run by the Roseville Historical Society, as well as some shops and restaurants. Old Town skirts the railroad tracks near Denio’s Farmers Market and Swap Meet (always worth a wander). The trendier—and spendier—part of town, off East Roseville Parkway and Galleria Boulevard, has Westfield Galleria at Roseville mall, with anchors Macy’s, Nordstrom, JC Penney, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, and a Promenade teeming with restaurants including Il Fornaio and Ruth’s Chris steakhouse. Across the street in Fountains, you’ll find DSW, Anthropologie, Sur La Table, West Elm and other retailers, along with Whole Foods, Yard House and local standout Mexican restau-

Foresthill Bridge

rant Zócalo. If you’re looking for some gaming fun, head out to Thunder Valley, o Highway 65 in Lincoln, or Hard Rock, in Wheatland. A bit farther east on Interstate 80, the small foothills communities of Loomis, Newcastle and Penryn invite people to drive the backroads and discover farms, breweries and wineries. Check out the Placer County Wine & Ale Trail to know where to nd the region’s wineries and breweries, many with gorgeous views of the rolling countryside. Taylor Road in Loomis includes a couple of spots to stop, including High-Hand Nursery and Cafe (brunch in the greenery- lled conservatory), Blue Goose Fruit Shed (for local fruits and nuts) and The Feathered Nest (home décor). In Newcastle, the produce sheds are home to a gallery, restaurants and the delightful Newcastle Produce, with a deli counter loaded with house-made treats and a store full of local products and creations. Cross over the freeway to discover North Fork Chai Co., which makes a nice breakfast or lunch stop. Next stop: Auburn. The Placer county seat, this city of almost 68,000 people includes a historic downtown complete with a red-and-white striped rehouse shaped like a witch’s hat and a gorgeous courthouse on a hill. Enjoy a co ee on the patio at The Pour Choice, sip a craft brew at Auburn Alehouse or shop the boutiques on Sacramento Street. Also in the area: some of the best trails around at Auburn State Recreation Area, where the Middle and North forks of the American River meet. Park at The Con uence under the Foresthill Bridge and hike to Lake Clementine, where water falls over the dam in a cascade of beauty, or take the trails on two wheels. It’s a mountain biker’s dream out here.

Lake Clementine

High-Hand Nursery and Cafe

Gabriel Teague

LAKE TAHOE

Accessible from Interstate 80 (North Shore) or Highway 50 (South Shore), Lake Tahoe is a two-hour drive from Sacramento either way. A hub for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing in the winter and hiking, boating, mountain biking and swimming in the summer, the Tahoe Basin includes the clear-blue freshwater lake, which straddles the state line between California and Nevada, the 165-mile Tahoe Rim trail, and numerous historic destinations. Along the 80 corridor, the town of Truckee and Donner Lake—named for the tragic Donner Party that tried to cross the Sierra in winter 1846-47—make great stops for lunch or a little time by the smaller lake before dropping into Tahoe’s North Shore, which includes Incline Village and the gorgeous clear-water Sand Harbor. On the Highway 50 side, the ride includes a sobering view of wildfire-ravaged forests, then spectacular views of Lake Tahoe as you descend from Echo Summit into South Lake Tahoe and Stateline. There, you’ll find sandy beaches, casinos, Tallac Historic Site and lots of trails. From there, it’s a short drive west to Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm Castle or east to Zephyr Cove. For the best views, take the Heavenly Gondola up the mountainside. While Tahoe can be done in a day trip, we recommend spending a night or two or three—even a week.

TOWARD THE COAST

INTERSTATE 80 WEST

The most direct route to the San Francisco Bay Area, Interstate 80 rolls westward through parts of ag-rich Yolo County, including Davis, where the world-renowned University of California, Davis campus boasts the Mondavi Center concert hall and the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. In the city of Davis, stop by the Saturday farmers market in Central Park—one of the best in the region, with many organic goodies straight from nearby Capay Valley, including fruits, veggies, owers, olive oil, nuts, meat and eggs.

Vacaville makes a nice stop along the way as well, with a lively downtown area backdropped by hillsides. Shops and restaurants surround a town square; grab a co ee at Journey, located in an old movie house, and wander past historic buildings (such as the original Town Hall) and beautiful old homes nearby. Tra c can be a bear between Sacramento and Fair eld, clogging up at the causeway between West Sac and Davis, slowing down again in Dixon, and sometimes a few more times before you get to the Bay Area. Word to the wise: Travel early on weekends—try to be on the road by about 8 a.m.—and a little later on weekdays, to miss the commute. To ferry into San Francisco, pick up the boat in Vallejo, Richmond or Oakland. San Francisco Bay Ferry runs daily; check times online before you travel. In the Bay Area, Berkeley has several fun districts to visit, including Fourth Street (packed with shops and restaurants) and the Shattuck Street area around University of California, Berkeley, with bookstores and thrift shops and a very eclectic grocery store, Berkeley Bowl. The university itself makes for a beautiful walk among historic buildings and the iconic Campanile, as does the Berkeley Marina, with a path alongside the choppy bay. Just south of Berkeley lies Oakland’s Rockridge area—food halls, co eehouses, sidewalk dining, galleries, urban artwork. The East Bay is a vibrant spot, rushing with scooterers and cyclists and Bay Area Rapid Transit trains. Across the Bay Bridge, drop into San Francisco and head for the Embarcadero and the Ferry Building, a waterfront collection of retail and restaurants, where the ferry lets o and a Saturday farmers market draws crowds. Hit the San Francisco hot spots, including Fisherman’s Wharf for clam chowder

Golden Gate Bridge

and cracked crab. Take a Red & White or Blue & Gold eet voyage, or ferry to Angel Island for a day of hiking or to Alcatraz to learn all about the famous island prison. The beach at Crissy Field has free parking and promises a wind- lled day in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge; dogs run loose out here. Hike the trails in the Presidio or out at Land’s End, one of the most scenic spots in the state. For big-city shopping: Union Square. For chocolate: Ghirardelli Square. Of course, take a cable car—so much fun to careen down the hills of San Francisco as you’re seeing the sights—and walk the block famous for being the crookedest in the world, Lombard Street. Across the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands provide some of the best hiking in the Bay Area, with windswept blu s overlooking the water. Afterward, grab a bite to eat in Sausalito or Tiburon, two little waterfront towns.

DELTA WINE COUNTRY

The closest wine country to Sacramento, Clarksburg lies in the Sacramento River Delta just south of downtown and West Sacramento. Take River Road along the river into a rural region rife with grapevines and wineries. A collection of tasting rooms at Old Sugar Mill (14 in all) make it a one-stop, or expand the day with visits to others in the area, including Bogle, Miner’s Leap, Heringer, Julietta and River Grove. On the Sacramento side of the river, pop into Scribner Bend, another award-winning winery in the area.

Old Sugar Mill Alcatraz

NAPA VALLEY WINE COUNTRY

World famous for vineyards, wineries, restaurants and inns, the Napa Valley is an easy day trip from Sacramento, not much more than an hour away via Highway 12 o Interstate 80. You can drive, or you can take a take a tour shuttle—the sheer number of tasting rooms (at least 90) in the valley can be daunting. Choose a few to focus on; reservations required. The valley, tucked between the Mayacamas Mountains on one side and the Vaca Range on the other, includes a couple of scenic highways—Highway 29 and Silverado Trail—that deliver you to many of the wineries. Downtown Napa includes a number of tasting rooms in a walkable grid, as well as the Oxbow Market food hall (wine, cheese, olive oil, books, gifts, oysters, cupcakes and more), a pretty promenade fronting the Napa River and the Napa Valley Wine Train station. Up the valley, the towns of Yountville (the famous French Laundry is here), St. Helena (so walkable!) and Calistoga (natural springs and spas) treat visitors to more wine, shopping and dining. Don’t miss the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone outside St. Helena, a gorgeous stone building that used to house Christian Brothers winery. It’s one of numerous spectacular buildings in the Napa Valley, where you’ll find the most opulent tasting rooms, breathtaking wine caves, and restaurants where the wine country cuisine is unforgettable.

GOLD RUSH HISTORY

HIGHWAY 49

Known as the Golden Chain, Highway 49 runs in the foothills, linking one Gold Rush town after another. Between Placerville (see “Highway 50”) and Auburn, Coloma— on the banks of the American River—is where the Gold Rush began in 1848 with the discovery of gold at (John) Sutter’s Sawmill. The (James) Marshall Gold Discovery Site and sawmill are part of the interpretive state park, which includes remaining buildings, a still-working blacksmith shop, a restaurant and signage throughout. Also in this area, you’ll find some of the best whitewater rafting in the world.

South of Placerville, a collection of Gold Rush towns dot the hills, including Jackson and Sutter Creek (see more about this area under “Highway 16”) and the Amador Wine Country (see box).

North of Auburn, Grass Valley has a bustling downtown district that’s home to an impressive dining and drinking stretch (along Mill Street and Main Street), with lots of shops and galleries, too. The 28-room Holbrooke Hotel, recently renovated, provides a great spot to spend the night—or just an evening for dinner and drinks. Grab a pasty at one of the pasty shops in town; these stuffed pies are a Grass Valley staple. Just outside of town, Empire Mine State Park has beautiful grounds and one of the oldest and deepest gold mines in the state.

Adjacent to Grass Valley, Nevada City is a picturesque foothills town that has preserved its historic downtown. It’s got wooden sidewalks and lots of original old brick; the downtown commercial district is on the Register of Historic Places. It’s busy with visitors and residents, with most of the activity on Broad Street and its side streets, and packed with arts, culture, shopping and dining opportunities. It’s got all the small-town staples: inns in old mansions, at least one bookstore, thirdwave coffee, galleries that show local artists’ works, an old Miners Foundry and someplace to get a fancy piece of chocolate.

Beyond Nevada City, along the Yuba River, there are lots of camping and picnicking spots, as well as rafting opportunities, and hiking and mountain biking trails. About an hour outside of Nevada City, the pretty mountain town of Downieville hosts summer’s Downieville Classic mountain bike race and festival.

MORE MOTHERLODE

HIGHWAY 16 TO HIGHWAY 49 SOUTH

Just outside of Sacramento, Highway 16 shoots o from Folsom Boulevard and leads out to the straw-colored meadows toward Rancho Murieta (horses!) and Sloughhouse (home of perhaps the juiciest locally grown corn!) and out toward Jackson, where it connects with Highway 49. Favorite stops in this area include Amador City, great for antiques shopping (clothing and furniture). Nearby Sutter Creek has a sweet little historic stretch laden with shops, restaurants and wine-tasting rooms within walking distance of one another. The Antique Gardener is one of the most charming home and garden shops in the area. Jackson, the largest city in Amador County, has all the conveniences of home—supermarkets, chain co ee, good cell coverage—as well as a downtown Main Street that’s very walkable. Hein & Company houses more than 650,000 volumes of used and antique books, and you’ll nd a terri c kitchen store, candy shop and Serbian bakery in town. Keep going to teeny Volcano, with its historic St. George Hotel and the fabulous Kneading Dough Bakery, and on into Calaveras County for wine tasting in Murphys, a cute downtown in Angels Camp and the Columbia State Historic Park, a working town where shopkeepers and the blacksmith dress like it’s the 1850s and you can sip a sarsaparilla and pan for gold. Outside these towns, several caves lure the adventurous. Tour Black Chasm Cavern, Moaning Caverns or Mercer Caverns.

Gabriel Teague

Amador Flower Farm

Amador Wine Country

Some 30 wineries, many of them award-winning, populate the Shenandoah Valley, bucolic with rolling vineyard views. Amador Vinters’ website gives a detailed map. Some of our must-stops: Andis, Helwig, Rombauer, Je Runquist, Story, Wilderotter and Young’s. It’s important to make tasting reservations. Zin is the signature varietal, but many other reds, whites, pinks and sparklings grace the inventories and tasting options. While you’re in the Shenandoah Valley, enjoy your picnic lunch on the grounds of Amador Flower Farm, where the acres of gardens showcase some 1,200 varieties of daylilies, which bloom each spring and summer.

Sutter Creek

Gabriel Teague

THIS WAY TO THE SIERRA

HIGHWAY 50 EAST

Take Highway 50 East out of Sacramento and within about 20 minutes, you’ll be in Folsom, a suburban city with a historic downtown (Sutter Street), Palladio outdoor shopping center, and two lakes connected by the American River Parkway bike trail. At Lake Natoma, a dammed-up portion of the American River at the edge of Rancho Cordova and Folsom, the Sac State Aquatic Center rents paddleboards and kayaks. Folsom Lake, the region’s largest reservoir, is a prime spot for fishing, boating, waterskiing, sunbathing, mountain biking and hiking. Because historic Folsom is just off the American River bike trail, it’s a cycling hot spot. Three bridges cross the river here.

Next stop off Highway 50 East is El Dorado Hills, a bedroom community with a lovely town center, where you’ll find restaurants and shops and lots of activities including movie nights and outdoor concerts.

Another 20 minutes’ drive brings you to Placerville, one of the larger small towns in the foothills and a common rest stop for travelers between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Its downtown district—rife with storefronts, restaurants and museums—is anchored by the Bell Tower, a monument to the city’s volunteer fire department and a gathering spot for events today. Walk this Main Street and you’ll be treated to some of the finest 1850s architecture in the foothills.

Just east of Placerville in Camino is Apple Hill, a region chock-full of farms and wineries. In the summer, farms open for berry picking, and every fall, Sacramentans drive up with the kids for apple picking and, in October, pumpkin patches with corn mazes, craft fairs, barbecue, apple cider doughnuts and other baked goods. Then it’s Christmas tree-cutting season. Along the backroads, vineyards and tasting rooms invite visitors in. Boeger and Lava Cap are area favorites, with beautiful views of rolling hills covered in grapevines and mountain vistas.

As Highway 50 climbs into the Sierra, heading for South Lake Tahoe, stop in at Sly Park for a picnic or hike to a waterfall. In the Eldorado National Forest, lots of trailheads lead hikers and mountain bikers into the woods.

Apple Hill

NORTH OR SOUTH, TAKE 5

INTERSTATE 5

Two highways leading south from Sacramento, Interstate 5 and Highway 99 parallel each other, running through the town of Elk Grove, a farming and bedroom community with a small downtown and one of the region’s largest auto malls. Further south is Lodi, a region rich with wineries. Spend a day wine tasting in Lodi and you’ll see the gnarled old zinfandel vines, many of which still produce grapes for today’s reds. It’s not just zin out here, although it’s what the region is known for. Start at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, attached to the Wine & Roses Inn, to pick up a map of the 85-plus wineries in the area. Some of our favorites include Harney Lane, Jessie’s Grove, Klinker Brick, d’Art, Michael David and m2. In downtown Lodi, tasting rooms are interspersed with shops and restaurants, making it an easy and walkable stop. Also in Lodi, Micke Grove Regional Park has a zoo and Japanese garden.

About an hour from Sacramento, the city of Stockton lies on the San Joaquin River. Here, you’ll find a waterfront area with a marina offering kayak and paddleboard rentals. Haggin Museum includes local history displays and local artworks. In Oak Grove Regional Park, trails, a catfish-stocked lake and a nature center will keep visitors entertained. Stockton is home to the famous San Joaquin Asparagus Festival each May.

Highway 5 takes travelers north out of Sacramento as well, delivering them to the airport as well as Woodland and out to the agriculture-rich Capay Valley via Highway 16. This area provides the basis for Sacramento’s farmto-fork designation, with almond, walnut and olive orchards; farms growing tomatoes, squash, corn, greens and much more; and ranches producing meat and poultry. A few miles away, off Highway 128 toward Vacaville, the little town of Winters has a sweet downtown area with a thriving food scene.

Midtown, East Sacramento and Oak Park’s Triangle District are home to some of the most interesting shops and boutiques in the region. Those neighborhoods are all very walkable, as well. Want to find it all in one place? Then Arden Fair mall, right off the Capital City Freeway, is a good bet. Also in Sacramento, Pavilions, on Fair Oaks Boulevard, is an upscale, open-air shoppers’ playground. Heading north on Interstate 80, you’ll find that the city of Roseville offers much shopping, including Westfield Galleria at Roseville, the region’s largest shopping mall, and Fountains, which often serves as a venue for concerts and other activities right among its stores and restaurants. In Folsom, you’ll find Folsom Premium Outlets and Palladio, and just up the hill, there’s El Dorado Hills Town Center. Want to see and be seen? Then head over to DOCO, adjacent to Golden 1 Center. Here’s a look at some of the best shops in the region, where you’ll find the latest and greatest.

FASHION

Jam Baby is an absolutely delightful boutique, selling thoughtfully selected baby and children’s clothes made from organic fibers such as linen and cotton, along with beautiful wood toys. The most striking thing about this store is the wares’ color palette; the clothes all come in muted pastels and earth tones; no primary colors and no pink! 3328 Broadway; (916) 706-2472; shopjambaby.com Old Gold At this little gem of a shop in WAL Public Market, fans of vintage apparel and local goods strike it rich. The jewelry cases brim with minimalist and statement pieces, many of them by local jewelry makers. Vintage fiends flock here for funky dresses, blouses, handbags and a boot selection that will have you kicking up your heels. The home decor, most of it crafted by local artisans, is fresh and fun. 1104 R St.; (916) 329-8569; shopoldgold.com #Panache #Panache is an eclectic shop that demands frequent visits because the selection is always evolving. Owners Ralph Barnett and Hector Lopez scoop up unique items from their favorite flea markets and travels abroad, which means all the merchandise here (aside from the soaps and candles) is secondhand.

from organic fibers such as linen and cotton, along with beautiful wood this store is the wares’ color palette; Strapping Looking for a gag gift or fun stocking stuffer? Check out Strapping, which carries a mindboggling selection of fun, funny, silly and naughty items. Do you really need a wiener dog wine stopper, a Dunder Mifflin coffee mug or a pair of socks that read “Nice Jewish Girl”? No, but you’ll definitely want them once you see them. The store, with locations in Oak Park and midtown, also carries a nicely curated selection of kitchen and housewares, including pillows, cutting boards, cocktail glasses and more. 3405 Broadway; (916) 476-3376; 1731 L St.; (916) 400-3922; 1715 R St.; (916) 476-3376; strappingstore.com

Retail Therapy

In the Sacramento region, you can buy anything your heart desires.

Lopez describes the store as a celebration of “affordable luxury” that encompasses everything from 1970s designer sunglasses to Kelly-green suede Louboutin ballet flats to a French caned bedside table. 5379 H St.; (916) 813-5758 Purpose Situated on a side street just off J in midtown, Purpose is a hip little women’s boutique that carries ethically produced apparel, accessories and jewelry. You’ll find pieces by small manufacturers featuring unique fabrics from artisans in Bali and elsewhere. You’ll never have to worry about running into someone wearing the same outfit as you. 920 24th St.; (916) 426-8037; shopthepurpose.com R. Douglas When it comes to fashion, there’s one thing that never goes out of style: clothes that fit well. Custom clothier R. Douglas specializes in hand-tailored suits, shirts, tuxedoes, overcoats and custom denim for men who appreciate one-of-a-kind garments that fit to a T. Just be sure to plan ahead: It can take four to six weeks for a tailor to turn out custom items. R. Douglas also carries a line of handmade silk ties from Italy as well as cuff links, pocket squares, shoes and custom-made belts to help pull off your signature style. 1020 12th St.; (916) 438-9455; rdouglas.net Sacramento Kings Team Store If you’re a basketball fan, don’t leave Sacramento without stopping in to the Sacramento Kings Team Store. Located next to Golden 1 Center in the Downtown Commons, this shop is your one-stop shop for official team merch and memorabilia. 500 David J. Stern Walk; (916) 701-5450; kingsteamstore.com FOODSTUFFS

The Allspicery Cooks will discover sugar, spice and everything nice at this fully stocked

spice shop across the street from the state Capitol. The shop is filled with unusual and hard-to-find ingredients, including zhug, barberries, porcini mushroom powder, scorpion pepper salt and habanero sugar. You’ll also find great Sac-themed food products, including dipping oils, hot cocoa mixes and tea sachets. Come here to stock your own pantry or find a useful gift for the foodie in your life who has everything. 1125 11th St.; (916) 389-7828; allspicery.com The Chefs’ Olive Mix Sure, you could buy olive oil and vinegar from the supermarket, but what’s the fun in that? Owner Lisa Lubeley contends her shops are about the experience, not just the sale. “They are cool stores because you can taste everything before you buy,” she says. “We have tasting cups so that you know exactly what you are getting.” Each Olive Mix boasts more than 60 tanks of oils and vinegars, including extra-virgin olive oils from around the world—Portugal, Tunisia, Chile, Australia and more—as well as a selection of specialty vinegars in every imaginable flavor, like black cherry balsamic and serrano honey vinegar. 131 J St.; (916) 706-3105; chefsolivemix.com Good Bottle This downtown liquor store is stocked with an impressive selection of unexpected and hard-to-find wines and spirits, all aimed at taking your home bar to a new level. Here, you’ll get great service and expert advice about stocking your bar, regardless of your alcohol IQ. In addition to spirits and wines, the shop sells quirky barware and practical tools for building out your home setup. 1123 11th St.; (916) 3094868; goodbottleshop.com HOME, GARDEN & GIFTS

Crocker Art Museum Store Museum gift shops are often a great place to find interesting and unusual gifts, and the Crocker Art Museum Store is no different. Located on the downtown museum’s ground floor, it carries books, prints, jewelry, apparel, puzzles, toys, cards and many more artistic and art-related items. 216 O St.; (916) 808-5531; crockerart.org/ shop Bungalow Vintage Living There are few shops in the Sacramento region as pleasing to the eye as Bungalow. Every corner has something interesting to capture the imagination: time-worn furnishings; industrial light fixtures; weathered architectural pieces; on-trend jewelry, apparel and accessories. Owner Kim Panighetti has a gift for bringing it all together with flair. 10139 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks; (916) 967-7000 DISPLAY: California This shop is a must-stop for any first-time visitor to California. The inventory focuses on products made in, or inspired by, California. You’ll find beautifully designed products, including California puzzles and books for little ones, jewelry, candles, cards and much, much more. This corner store has led an exciting retail revival in Oak Park that continues to flourish as creative entrepreneurs hang out their shingle in the historic neighborhood. 3433 Broadway; (916) 822-4925; displaycalifornia.com Kechmara Designs Moroccan rugs bring instant interest to any room, thanks to their shaggy texture and irregular geometric lines. But you needn’t settle for a West Elm look-alike when buying one. Rug gallery owner Ali Setayesh sells an impressive selection of new and vintage Moroccan rugs that he unearths during regular trips to the North African country. And unlike the chain-store copycats, every carpet sold here is handmade and unique. 1104 R St.; (916) 342-0257; kechmaradesigns.com The Kitchen Table Run out of a darling pink bungalow cottage in East Sacramento, The Kitchen Table overflows with a beautifully curated selection of kitchen wares, entertaining pieces, bar accessories and more. You’ll find the perfect gift for your cookingobsessed friends, and you’ll probably leave with at least one item you didn’t know you needed. 1462 33rd St.; (916) 588-9866; kitchentablesac.com The Plant Foundry This colorful urban nursery in the heart of Oak Park caters to all types of gardeners, from veteran green thumbs who know their way around a composting bin to newbies just getting started with a terrarium for their apartment. Owner Angela Pratt stocks a variety of native and drought-tolerant plants in addition to house plants, succulents, fruit trees, vegetable seeds, fertilizers— even chicken coops! Not looking to get your hands dirty? The Plant Foundry also carries patio furniture by Fermob, as well as garden-related gifts and cards. 3500 Broadway; (916) 917-5787; plantfoundry.com Propagate This hip midtown retailer carries houseplants sourced from local nurseries and independent growers, along with pots, accessories and gifts. It also offers free “plant doctor” services as well as design services for homes and businesses and plant workshops. 1700 I St.; (916) 3994804; propagatesac.com BOOKS

East Village Bookshop This charming shop in the East Sac neighborhood hearkens back to a simpler time, before Amazon, when people actually went to stores to buy their books. The shop is light-filled and welcoming, with a sofa where you can curl up and read The New York Times, a table set for an impromptu game of chess and a children’s reading section. The inventory ranges from beach reads and New York Times bestsellers to Booker Prize winners. The store also carries high-brow magazines, greeting cards, canvas totes and more. 3604 McKinley Blvd.; (279) 202-9018; bookshop.org/shop/eastvillage Ruby’s Books Folsom’s only independent bookstore, this shop in Folsom’s historic district carries 12,000 hand-picked books. It offers children’s story time, authors’ signing events (including local authors), book group bulk orders and partnerships with nearby schools for book fairs and educator discounts. 724 Sutter St., Folsom; (916) 790-8760; rubysfolsom.com Underground Books This friendly shop, which serves as Oak Park’s literary hub, is one of only a handful of Black bookstores in the United States. The store carries predominantly works by Black authors and hosts book signings, children’s story time, a book club, panel discussions and art talks. It shares space with 40 Acres Market, which sells Oak Park swag, Harriet Tubman “The Original Ride or Die” T-shirts and items made by local Black-owned businesses. 2814 35th St.; (916) 7373333; underground-books.com SPORTS & FITNESS

Gold Country Run + Sport Everyone knows that runners are fanatical about their footwear, and this pair of stores caters to that fanaticism. At Gold Country Run + Sport, well-trained staffers help shoppers find just the right fit by conducting a right fit by conducting a free video gait analysis on a fit station scanning machine. In addition to carrying a wide selection of shoes and technical apparel, Gold Country also hosts educational workshops and training programs. And during demo runs, customers can take a pair of kicks out for a trial run before committing. 4370 Town Center Blvd., El Dorado Hills; (916) 303-4786; 7610 Folsom-Auburn Road, Folsom; (916) 817-1151; 6835 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin; (916) 7014786; goldcountryrunandsport.com Sutterville Bicycle Company Tucked away in an industrial section of Hollywood Park is this canine- and people-friendly, full-service bike shop. They service and sell all kinds of bikes: vintage cruisers, early-style mountain bikes, BMX bikes, fixies and more. The Sutterville team also does custom builds and can repair just about any bike you bring in. 2635 Sutterville Bypass; (916) 737-7537; suttervillebicycle.com FLEA AND ANTIQUES MARKETS

Folsom Boulevard Flea Market This long-running outdoor marketplace features more than 450 sellers and food booths. 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 8521 Folsom Blvd.; (916) 383-0880; folsomflea.com Sacramento Antique Faire More than 300 vendors from around the state gather to sell antique and vintage furniture and decor, jewelry, garden accessories and more. 6:30 a.m.–2 p.m. second Sunday of the month. 1 Sports Pkwy., Sleep Train Arena; (916) 600-9770; sacantiquefaire.com Galt Market On Tuesdays, more than 400 vendors spread out over 10 acres to offer clothing, tools, pottery, rugs, blankets and more. On Wednesdays, the market spotlights new retail merchandise, garage sale vendors and produce sales. 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus special holiday hours. 610 Chibolla Ave., Galt; (209) 366-7161 Denio’s This farmers market and swap meet is open, rain or shine, yearround. 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Saturdays, 7a.m.–5 p.m. Sundays. 1551 Vineyard Road, Roseville; (916) 782-2704; deniosmarket.com

The Restaurant Scene

Where to eat, drink and make merry.

People who think of Sacramento as a boring government town are operating from a very old playbook. The capital city offers many delights, not the least of which is its booming restaurant scene. The New York Times, Thrillist and Eater have all raved about the food culture here: the freshness of the ingredients, the caliber of the restaurants, the inventiveness of the chefs. The past few years have been particularly exciting ones for Sacramento. In 2016, the city’s then-mayor, Kevin Johnson, proclaimed it the Farm-to-Fork Capital of the United States, in recognition of the region’s remarkable fecundity. And in 2019, the world-famous Michelin Guide acknowledged that Sacramento deserved a place alongside such well-known restaurant cities as San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles by awarding one of its coveted stars to a local restaurant (The Kitchen) and singling out others for recognition.

So, as a newcomer or visitor to Sacramento, what should you know about its food scene? First off, you will find an amazing diversity of dining options, from humble food trucks to fine-dining establishments like the aforementioned The Kitchen, a prix-fixe demonstration-style dinner house that is like a cross between The French Laundry and Benihana. Several nights a week, chef Kelly McCown takes center stage in the open kitchen and keeps up an entertaining patter with diners while creating a stunning eightcourse meal based on the season’s bounty. Popular with people celebrating major occasions such as birthdays and engagements, it is without a doubt one of the hottest tickets in town.

Other fine-dining options include The Waterboy in midtown, where chef/owner Rick Mahan has perfected a style of food and service that is sophisticated but not fussy or stuffy. The menu is Mediterranean,

Gabriel Teague

The Kitchen

OneSpeed

Grange

Ryan Angel with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and classic dishes such as steak tartare, sautéed sweetbreads and pollo al mattone (chicken cooked under a brick). Nearby, at Localis, talented chef Chris Barnum-Dann oversees a tasting menu. His is refi ned, high-concept “tweezer food” composed of high-end ingredients such as tru es and artful garnishes. Also in Midtown, Mulvaney’s B&L o ers a more casual variation on fi ne dining. Located in a historic fi rehouse and a favorite haunt of local lobbyists and politicians, Mulvaney’s has a laid-back, friendly, “Cheers”-like atmosphere, thanks to its garrulous owner, Patrick Mulvaney. An early champion of the region’s farmers, Mulvaney lets the beauty and purity of his seasonal and local ingredients shine. You can’t miss if you order the house-smoked salmon with Irish brown bread, followed by a grilled double-cut pork chop or 21-day-dry-aged Niman Ranch rib-eye. Downtown Sacramento also o ers its fair share of fi ne-dining destinations, including Camden Spit & Larder (a modern London-style bistro), Grange (a chic eatery inside The Citizen Hotel) and The Firehouse (old-school elegance in Old Sac). In East Sacramento, there’s Allora, a contemporary Italian seafood restaurant where you can get caviar service with your three-, four- or fi vecourse tasting menu.

But it’s not all truffles and caviar in Sactown. This city offers a plethora of places to have a hamburger, tuck into a taco or pig out on pizza. Speaking of pizza, The Waterboy’s Mahan serves some of the best wood-fired, thin-crust pies in town at his East Sac eatery, OneSpeed, where you can also get a salad, a bowl of house-made pasta or a burger. For deep-dish pizza, you’d have to look hard to find any better than Zelda’s Original Gourmet Pizza, a no-frills joint in midtown with legions of fans. Not far away is Federalist, an outdoor pizza-and-beer garden operated out of a restaurant cunningly built from shipping containers. You could be forgiven for thinking Sacramentans are obsessed with fried chicken. You can find superb fried fowl at any number of places, including Nash & Proper, which started out as a food truck and now has several brick-and-mortar locations serving Nashville hot chicken; Fixins Soul Kitchen in Oak Park, partly owned by former mayor Kevin Johnson; and Bawk!, an R Street chicken shop that also serves excellent craft cocktails. Even Sibling by Pushkin’s, a popular midtown restaurant serving gluten-free fare, has a crispy fried chicken sandwich on its menu—made without gluten, of course.

The Paragary Restaurant Group is the company behind some of the most successful eateries in town, including Centro Cocina Mexicana, a J Street restaurant serving regional Mexican cuisine; Paragary’s, a beautifully designed Mediterranean boîte on 28th Street; and Cafe Bernardo, a small chain of casual, open-all-day bistros with an eclectic menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner fare. The newest Cafe Bernardo opened in the Fort Sutter Hotel on the edge of midtown, the fi nal o ering from legendary restaurateur Randy Paragary before he passed away in 2021. Finally, a word about outdoor dining: Thanks to its moderate climate and short (nonexistent?) rainy season, Sacramento has always been a great place to eat outdoors. One of the great silver linings to COVID-19 is that it encouraged even more restaurants to invest in outdoor seating. The city of Sacramento helped out by allowing restaurants to encroach on sidewalks and other public rights-of-way and closed several streets to vehicle tra c, enabling restaurants to spill out onto the roadway. The result? Exciting new “streeteries” and a vibrant, enlivened streetscape that many compare to the best of Europe. Aioli

Bodega Española, The Rind, LowBrau

Bierhalle, The Porch and Zócalo are just a few examples of great places to dine outdoors in Sacramento.

Eat Like a Sacramentan

Sacramento’s most beloved dishes

Burger Pangaea Bier Cafe

This award-winning burger comes on brioche with “special sauce”

Pepperoni pizza Pizza Supreme Being

Available by slice or pie and loaded with ’roni cups

Grilled cheese Benedict Bacon & Butter

A gooey gut bomb

Fire-roasted octopus Localis

The preparation may change, but this tentacle never disappoints

Firecracker roll Kru

Sushi doesn’t get any better than this

Steak tartare with garlic popovers Ella Dining Room & Bar

Happy-hour food that will make you happy

Tater tots Canon

House-made tots served with mole, pepitas and pickled onions

Banana cream pie Frank Fat’s

A creamy, indulgent classic for the ages

Ding-Dong Mulvaney’s B&L

An upscale take on a lunchbox favorite