2022
A VIBRANT CAPITAL CITY Recreation Neighborhoods Restaurants Arts & Culture Shopping Nearby Destinations
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your four diamond destination A world-class casino filled with endless excitement matched with an incredible resort create the most desirable Northern California getaway. Experience big-hitting slots, tables loaded for action, thrilling live poker, award-winning dining, and a hotel that exceeds all expectations.
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1200 ATHENS AVENUE, LINCOLN, CA 95648 • 877-468-8777 • I-80 TO HW Y 65, LEFT ON SUNSET TVCR.indd 2
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NOW TAKING NEW PATIENTS! At Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics, our flossophy (get it?) is to provide the absolute best care and have fun while doing it. We believe that no parent should have to stress about the dentist. We make it easy for you with convenient online scheduling, diligent health and safety policies, AND a fabulous staff of experts that will have your kiddo begging to come back! At Kids Care, we don’t just care for smiles—we create them.
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S A C R A M E N TO / R O S E V I L L E / G R E E N B A C K / N ATO M A S / FO L S O M / R A N C H O C O R D OVA / C A LV I N E / E L K G R OV E / VA C AV I L L E
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Features 34
15 Things To Do in Sacramento
54
Shop Till You Drop
Bring your buying power to these enticing local stores.
Get ready to tour, view, ride, dine, cheer and splash.
38
Sacramento’s Neighborhoods Take a tour of the region’s hottest communities.
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56
The Restaurant Scene
Sacramento’s farm-to-fork designation is well-earned—and reflected in area dining.
Road Trips
Tim Engle
Sacramento is known for being “close to everything.” Take any highway to other Northern California destinations.
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Welcome
60 Out and About: Museums, Galleries and More
18
Map
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Good Sports
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Map
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Recreation: A Bit of Adventure
24
Getting Around
68
Last Word: Happy Trails
27
Hotels: Where To Stay
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Resources
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Education: Sacramento Schools
32
For Your Health
photo.ua / Shutterstock
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eleanorapts.com
Living In The Heart of Midtown
Now Leasing! Visit our websites to learn more about our communities.
h16midtown.com
1801l.com
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Editor’s Note
You Are Here: Sacramento
W
elcome to our great region! Whether you’re here for the weekend or forever, we think you’re going to love it. The Sacramento area is home to the state Capitol, center of California’s government, and the bustling downtown around it anchors a several-county metropolis that teems with opportunities for business, dining, arts, recreation, shopping, sports and more. In the middle of the Central Valley, Sacramento’s position on the map has generated a couple of specific designations: Farm-to-Fork Capital of America (thanks to the rich agricultural valley land just beyond our doorsteps) and “close to everything”—because it literally takes only 30 minutes to two hours to drive to almost any other true destination in Northern California. As you’ll see on the following pages, Sacramento has a rich Gold Rush history and a fascinating presentday vibrance that continues to grow and evolve. We’re glad you’re here. Now get out there and explore!—Krista Minard, Editorial Director
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MARKETING AND WEB
PUBLISHER Dennis Rainey EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Krista Minard
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND DIGITAL MEDIA Dan Poggetti
PRODUCTION
ART DIRECTOR Gabriel Teague
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Stephen Rice
PROJECT ART DIRECTOR John Facundo Jr.
GUEST AND RELOCATION GUIDE | 2022 Produced by Sacramento Media LLC, publishers of Sacramento Magazine
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER Barbie Baldwin
EDITORIAL AND ART MANAGING EDITOR Darlena Belushin McKay
SACRAMENTO MEDIA LLC CEO Stefan Wanczyk
DINING EDITOR Marybeth Bizjak
PRESIDENT John Balardo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Debbie Hurst
2022
CONTRIBUTORS Hans Bennewitz, Tim Engle, Marcus Meisler, Jessica Nicosia-Nadler, Kari L. Rose Parsell, William Thompson
A VIBRANT CAPITAL CITY Recreation Neighborhoods Restaurants Arts & Culture Shopping Nearby Destinations
ON THE COVER: Discovery Beach/Tiscornia Park at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers. Photography by Tim Engle
G U E S T A N D R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E
ADVERTISING ADVERTISING MANAGERS Lisa Bonk, Duffy Kelly, Victor Obenauf, Carla Shults
2022 Sacramento Media LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, either in whole or in part, is forbidden without written permission from the publisher. All information mentioned is subject to change without notice.
Sacramento Media LLC 1610 R St., Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95811 (800) 660-6247 | sacmag.com For bulk copies of Explore Sacramento, go to sacmag.com/sacramento-guest-relocation-guide.
SENIOR ADVERTISING DESIGNER John Facundo Jr.
Dine and Dream well while you discover your own adventure in Amador County
In downtown Plymouth Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2008 www.restauranttaste.com 12 B&EHospitality_7X4.875.indd Explore S A C R A M E N T O1
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16 comfortable rooms in Sierra Foothills Wine Country www.hotelrest.net
Pub grub and four modern guest rooms at the Volcano Union Pub + Inn in downtown Volcano www.volcanounion.com 12/7/21 2:36 PM
12/8/21 2:16 PM
YOUR STRESS FREE MOVE TO THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY & FOOTHILLS BEGINS WITH.... HIRING THE BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM WITH OVER 55 YEARS OF SUCCESS IN THE REGION Kevin & Sue Cassidy: “I have bought and sold many homes. Steve Rath is by far the best Real Estate Broker I’ve ever used or known. Steve’s neighborhood and home knowledge are amazing and surpassed only by his negotiating skills.” Kendel Boston: “Steve & Kris are thorough, knowledgeable and honest. I highly recommend them to anyone!!” Randy & Laurie Miller: “We were fortunate to find Steve as we started to look for homes. The way he treated my wife and I, made us feel like he is family. I would refer anyone to him in a minute.” Melissa De La Rosa: “Both Steve & Kris were easy to communicate with, highly knowledgeable & gave us confidence in our success.” Keith Sweetnam: “Steve had an incredible ability to determine the best of the best to match our interests and desires. I have recommended him to many and will continue to do so.” Liang Liu: “Steve’s research, knowledge and negotiation skills made us stand out in arguably the craziest seller’s market ever.” Fernando Rodriguez: “Steve & Kris are the most detailed people I know, with everything of importance. Highly recommend.”
YOU WANT STEVE & KRIS ON YOUR REAL ESTATE TEAM! Call the Rath Real Estate Team Now! (916) 834-9792
STEVE RATH
KRIS RATH
CRS, SENIOR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST, RESORT & SECOND HOME PROPERTY SPECIALIST, CERTIFIED DISTRESSED PROPERTY EXPERT, CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST
FORMER DIRECTOR OF RELOCATION FOR ALL 57 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFICES OF COLDWELL BANKER.
BROKER | DRE #01020976
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CERTIFIED INTERNATIONALPROPERTY SPECIALIST, CERTIFIED RELOCATION PROFESSIONAL
WWW.STEVERATH.COM/STEVERATH STEVE@STEVERATH.COM
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Tim Engle
A beautiful night descends upon the Old Sacramento Waterfront.
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Welcome
Greetings! S
o you’ve moved to our fair region. Or maybe you’re visiting. If you’re in Sacramento only temporarily, don’t be surprised if a deep desire to relocate here starts to stir within you. That’s what happens as the Central Valley’s open skies, gentle Delta breezes and kinetic rivers work their magic on your mind and body. You’re being lured by the same geography and climate the region’s inhabitants enjoyed long before the city of Sacramento was settled as a supply center for gold prospectors who came from around the globe to make their fortunes along the American River (where gold was discovered in Coloma, just east of Sacramento, in 1848). The city sprang up at the intersection of the American and Sacramento rivers—now the Old Sacramento Waterfront—and over the course of the second half of the 19th century, it withstood floods and fire to become a thriving commercial and railroad hub—and California’s capital. Fast-forwarding to modern-day commerce, Sacramento is the capital city of the fifth-largest economy in the world, so it’s an attractive location to start or grow a business. The rebounding economy, robust workforce, ethnic
diversity and seismic stability make it one of the most livable cities in the nation. And the region has surged in prominence since Golden 1 Center, the $558 million arena, debuted in 2016. The “greenest” and most technologically advanced arena in the world is home to the Sacramento Kings, our city’s NBA team, and it also hosts a plethora of high-profile concerts and events. Sacramento has burgeoned into a hip metropolis with a vibrant cultural scene that’s been steadily reopening since COVID-19 shook our region—a scene replete with theater, music and dance. You’ll also find literary readings, comedy shows and lots of community festivals. Artworks painted during the Wide Open Walls mural festival have splashed color throughout the city. Sacramento offers much for families and recreationalists in the way of year-round outdoor activities, too. With several regional parks, golf courses and gathering spots along the American and Sacramento rivers, the area draws people who love the great outdoors. One local gem: the 32-mile American River Bike Trail, which runs from Old Sacramento to Folsom and beckons not just cyclists but runners, walkers and
others who just want to explore along the banks of the river. Cool off at Folsom Lake, where miles of trails wind into the foothills, or Lake Natoma—home of Sacramento State Aquatic Center. The region’s other river, the Sacramento, provides prime boating conditions. As you delve into our region’s offerings, you can feast at some of the many dining spots that use the freshest and most local California ingredients. Many of them have extended their alfresco options. The region’s designation as the Farm-to-Fork Capital of America celebrates its position among some of the greatest agricultural producers in the world. From the verdant fields of the Capay Valley just north of town to the apple orchards of El Dorado County east of it, the region produces an admirable array of fruits, vegetables, livestock and other foodstuffs, and chefs and farmers see each other as partners in what turns up on restaurant plates. Many of the friendly folks you’ll meet during your explorations are longtimers with deep roots in our community and a drive to sustain the region’s vibrancy. Let their hospitality warm your heart as the region embraces you. We’re glad you’re here.
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SUNSET INTERNATIONAL 2021 WINE COMPETITION
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City Water Intake Facility
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S H O P S • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T & SO MUCH MORE
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Welcome to Sacramento! Let me show you your next Dream Home!
Lisa Rothfels
Experience is priceless.
Senior Executive Associate Masters Club Outstanding Life
As a lifelong Sacramento resident, I have all the tools and knowledge to help YOU find the perfect neighborhood and home! My success in real estate comes from listening to my client’s needs and putting that information into a plan to make their real estate dreams come true.
Lyon Real Estate DRE# 01726096 | SAR (916) 996-8877 LRothfels@GoLyon.com LRothfels.GoLyon.com
Having moved from another country and being a Certified Relocation Specialist, I am aware of the complexity of relocation. Call me today so I can offer 20 years of experience in the Sacramento Valley Real Estate market and the very best representation. Experience is priceless. Services in English and in Portuguese.
Tecca Wysk Lic #01308218
(916) 205-8973
Masters Club | Life Member Certified Residential Specialist | CRS
www.TeccaSellsSacramento.com tecca.wysk@ CAmoves.com
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What’s Happening in Sac? Get Local Updates In Your Inbox Every Weekday. SIGN UP ON
sacmag.com/newsletters
Savor. Learn. Explore. Connect. Airport Transportation • Corporate Events Wine Tours • Weddings (916) 905-4665
tripadvisor.com viator yelp
www.NorCalimo.com
Our tours offer cuisine as an opportunity to connect with restaurants & their chefs, shops & their keepers, history & the current day, all while showcasing Sacramento and its wonderful neighborhoods. Tours Daily. Visit our website or call. LocalRootsFoodTours.com | 800.407.8918 TCP31143
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P r i v a t e T o u r s
. GiftCertificates
12/8/21 2:42 PM
Getting Around
AIRPORTS
Volaris Terminal B, (855) 865-2747, volaris.com
Executive Airport (SAC)
TRAINS
6151 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 875-9035, sacramento.aero/sac
Sacramento Valley Station 401 I St., Sacra-
Mather Airport (MHR) 10425 Norden Ave., Mather, (916) 875-7077, sacramento.aero/mhr
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) 6900 Airport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 929-5411, sacramento. aero/smf
Sacramento McClellan Airport (MCC) 3028 Peacekeeper Way, McClellan Park, (916) 570-5317, airport.mcclellanpark.com
AIRLINES AT SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Aeroméxico Terminal B, (800) 237-6639, aeromexico.com
mento (877) 974-3322, amtrak.com/stations/sac Open daily 5 a.m.–11:59 p.m. Capitol Corridor (capitolcorridor.org) is an intercity passenger train system that runs daily service among 18 stations, from Auburn to San Jose, connecting the Sacramento region to the Bay Area. The 170-mile rail corridor services eight Northern California counties. A dedicated motorcoach network provides bus connections to Napa, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marysville, South Lake Tahoe and beyond. San Joaquins (amtrak.com/san-joaquinstrain) runs daily passenger service between Sacramento (or the San Francisco Bay Area) and the Central Valley, including bus connections to Yosemite National Park and between Bakersfield and Southern California.
Air Canada Terminal A, (888) 247-2262, aircanada.com
PUBLIC TRANSIT/ BUS SERVICE
Alaska Airlines
Sacramento Regional Transit (916) 321-2877,
Terminal B, (800) 2527522, alaskaair.com
American Airlines Terminal A, (800) 4337300, aa.com
Boutique Air Terminal B, (855) 268-8478, boutiqueair.com
Delta Air Lines Terminal A, (800) 221-1212, delta. com
Frontier Airlines Terminal B, (801) 4019000, flyfrontier.com
Hawaiian Airlines Terminal B, (800) 3675320, hawaiianairlines. com
Horizon Air Terminal B, (800) 252-7522, alaskaair. com
JetBlue Terminal B, (800) 538-2583, jetblue.com
Southwest Airlines Terminal B, (800) 4359792, southwest.com
Spirit Airlines Terminal B, (855) 728-3555, spirit. com
United Airlines Terminal A, (800) 864-8331, united. com
sacrt.com SacRT operates over 80 bus routes, 43 miles of light rail serving 52 light rail stations, an on-demand rideshare shuttle and ADA paratransit services covering a 400-square-mile service area. Access mobile-optimized m.sacrt.com to plan trips and check bus and train locations in real time, including the next scheduled stop at each location. Download SacRT’s mobile fare app, ZipPass, to purchase bus, light rail and SmaRT ride tickets from your smartphone, or purchase them at kiosks. Airport service: Route 142 offers express service in zero-emission buses from downtown Sacramento to Sacramento International Airport every 30 minutes daily from 4:45 a.m. to 11:29 p.m. See schedule at sacrt.com.
SacRT GO Paratransit Services (916) 3212877, sacrt.com/apps/ sacrt-go-paratransitservices Door-to-door, shared-ride transportation for individuals unable to use SacRT’s bus and light rail systems due to a disabling condition. Schedule
rides up to two days prior and before 5 p.m. the day before by phone or using SacRT GO mobile app. All previous policies for ADA paratransit service and non-ADA service remain in effect, provided now by SacRT GO.
Yolobus (916) 371-2877, yolobus.com Intercity bus service serving West Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Winters and other Yolo County towns as well as downtown Sacramento and Sacramento International Airport. Connects with other local transportation systems including Sacramento Regional Transit.
Causeway Connection (916) 321-2877, causewayconnection.com Zero-emission buses run hourly express service weekdays among UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and three stops on the UC Davis campus in Davis.
International Airport Greyhound Bus Station, 420 Richards Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 4446858, greyhound.com/ en-us/bus-station-893189
West Sacramento OnDemand (916) 318-5101,
Limo Service Sacramento (916) 221-0462,
cityofwestsacramento. org/via
limoservicesacramento. com
On-demand service uses Via rideshare app to take riders throughout West Sacramento.
Neumann Enterprises (916) 525-7657, neumannlimo.com
Wingz wingz.me
NorCal Limousine Services (916) 905-4665,
TAXIS
norcalimo.com
Gig gigcarshare.com
Platinum Limousine
Turo turo.com
(916) 827-1007, platinumlimosac.com
Zipcar zipcar.com
Access Taxi Cab & Town Car (916) 444-8888, accesstaxicabsacramento. com
Americab (916) 4415555, americab.net Best Deal Taxi Cab (916) 444-0404, best-deal-taxi-cab. business.site
California Co-op Cab (916) 444-7777, californiacoopcab.com
Sacramento City Cab (916) 604-1111, sacramentocitycab.com
Sacramento Taxi Yellow Cab Co.
Regal Carriage Sacramento (916) 956-8507, regalcarriagesacramento. com
Biker Bar Bicycle Shop & Cafe bikerbarcafe.com
Universal Limousine and Transportation
10136 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, (916) 241-9038
(855) 361-5466, universallimo.com
BlueZone Sports – Roseville
BUS AND MOTORCOACH CHARTERS All West Coach Lines
(916) 444-7880, amadorstagelines.com
6342, us.megabus.com
yellowcabsacramento. com
Champion Charter Bus
Budget bus service between Sacramento and San Francisco; picks up at Pony Express Statue, 999 Second St., Old Sacramento
EXECUTIVE CAR SERVICE/ LIMOUSINES/ MOTORCOACHES
flixbus.com Budget bus service between Sacramento and numerous West Coast cities; picks up at 29th and K streets, midtown and Second and J streets, Old Sacramento
APP-BASED RIDESHARE SERVICES SmaRT Ride Microtransit Service (916) 556-0100, sacrt.com/ apps/smart-ride-faqs SacRT’s on-demand rideshare shuttle takes riders curb to curb (in some areas) or corner to corner in zones throughout the city and suburbs; pick up and drop off within same boundaries.
Lyft lyft.com Uber uber.com
About Time Limousines (916) 331-2211, abouttimelimos.com
API Limousine (916) 852-5466, apilimos.com
Baja Limo (916) 638-
Amador Stage Lines
Sacramento (916) 209-8414, championcharterbus.com
Delta Charter Bus (209) 465-1053; (888) 241-8543, deltacharterbus.com
GoGo Charters (916)
2500; (800) 410-4444, execucar.com
Galaxy Limousine & Sedan Services (916)
greenbicycledepot.com 965 Olive Drive, Davis, (530) 759-0828
Practical Cycle practicalcycle.com 905 Leidesdorff St., Folsom, (916) 706-0077
Trek Bicycle – Sacramento Midtown
Bird bird.co
306-1305, luxbusamerica. com
Helbiz helbiz.com
Prompt Charters (877)
Spin spin.app
277-6678, promptcharters. com
Metropolitan Shuttle (866) 419-8506, metropolitanshuttle.com
US Coachways
721-5466, limo-galaxy.com
(855) 473-5969, uscoachways.com/ sacramento-bus-rental
Limo Club Sacramento
CAR RENTAL
(916) 444-5466, limoclub. com
Green Bicycle Depot
E-SCOOTER AND E-BIKE SHARE
Lux Bus America (916)
ExecuCar (916) 648-
folsombike.com 7610 Folsom Auburn Road #100, Folsom, (916) 844-1000
MGM Transportation
Camelot Limousine Service (916) 847-0413,
444-3344, limousinesacramento.com
Folsom Bike
trekbikes.com 2419 K St., Sacramento, (916) 447-2453
(916) 804-5466, limomgm. com
Empire Limousine (916)
bluezonesports.com 392 Roseville Square, Roseville, (916) 516-1095
604-4880, gogocharters. com/sacramentocharter-bus
1400, bajalimo.net
camelot-limousineservice.business.site
ASUCD Bike Barn
905-3995, sterlingride. com
Yellow Cab Co. of Sacramento (916) 444-2222,
FlixBus (855) 626-8585,
BIKE RENTAL
Sterling Ride Co. (916)
(916) 423-4000, coachusa.com
Megabus (877) 462-
CAR SHARE
bikebarn.ucdavis.edu 1 Shields Ave Tb 24 The Barn, UC Davis, Davis, (530) 752-2575
(916) 888-2222, sacramentoyellowcabco. com
Service from Sacramento to more than 2,400 destinations throughout the United States
Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty and Zipcar. See carrentals.com, expedia.com, kayak.com, priceline.com, orbitz.com or rentalcars.com for available cars at these companies.
Rental car companies at Sacramento International Airport include Alamo, Avis,
Lime li.me Bird, Helbiz, Lime and Spin electric scooters and Lime electric bikes help locals cruise the city’s streets, mostly in downtown, midtown and adjacent neighborhoods, as well as at Sacramento State and in West Sacramento. To use, download the company’s app to your smartphone to create an account, locate (or reserve) your ride, pay for it, unlock it, and go! Helmets recommended.
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World Class Tasting Rooms Ultra Premium Olive Oils and Balsamics • Free Tastings Grab and Go Food • Gifts For All Events
Open Daily 10 AM to 6 PM 131 J St. Old Sacramento, CA 95814 916.706.3105
www.ChefsOliveMix.com
Photos by Carol Peterson
Start Your Home Buying or Selling Journey FAIR OAKS CA
LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND AND ENJOY THE FRESH AIR ON OUR EXPANSIVE PATIO pop-up markets
dogs welcome event venue
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follow us @ SHANGRILAFAIROAKS 7960 WINDING WAY 916-241-9473
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A real estate professional for the past 14 years, Kareen Newman’s proven track record is testimony to her solid understanding of the Sacramento region and all that it has to offer. A Masters Club member, Kareen also has a five star rating with RealSatisfied and Realtor. com. Kareen is also a transplant from New York City which gives her a personal understanding of the excitement, fear and challenges that come with relocating to a new city. With her kind disposition and careful attention to detail, Kareen is known for being a trusted professional who reliably represents buyers and sellers alike.
Kareen Newman DRE# 01806429 | PCAR Lyon Real Estate Services (916) 677-9932 knewman@golyon.com
12/7/21 3:20 PM
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Explore downtown from our centrally located hotel world-class restaurants, theaters, museums and events all within walking distance • Enjoy downtown living from our centrally located hotel • 235 newly renovated suites with fully-equipped kitchens • Living rooms with plenty of space for relaxing & entertaining • Onsite guest laundry • Weekly housekeeping • Large fitness room with updated machines and free weights • On-site laundry facilities • Complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning • Internet, utilities, smart TV’s with streaming services and multiple channels included Residence Inn Sacramento Downtown 1121 15th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-443-0500 | Fax: 916-443-0600
12/7/21 3:20 PM
Hotels
Fort Sutter Hotel in midtown
Where To Stay Whether you’re new in town, waiting for your perfect home to be ready, or visiting for the weekend, the Sacramento region is ready for you. With some 16,000-plus hotel rooms in the area, we’ve got the welcome mat out. Big-name luxury, moderate-level comfort, chic downtown hot spot, historic B&B or a bargain pillow right off the freeway—you’ll find it. Here’s a select list of inns and hotels in and around downtown, near the central city action. Amber House Bed & Breakfast
Embassy Suites Sacramento Hotel
Hyatt Centric
1315 22nd St., (916) 444-8085, amberhouse.com, 10 rooms
100 Capitol Mall, (916) 326-5000, sacramento.embassysuites.com, 242 rooms
1122 Seventh St., (916) 371-7000, hyatt.com, 172 rooms
Fort Sutter Hotel
1209 L St., (916) 443-1234, sacramentohyatt.com, 503 rooms
Best Western Plus Sutter House 1100 H St., (916) 441-1314, thesutterhouse.com, 95 rooms
The Citizen Hotel 926 J St., (916) 447-2700, citizenhotel.com, 198 rooms
Courtyard by Marriott— Sacramento Midtown
1308 28th St., (916) 603-2301, fortsutterhotel.com, 105 rooms
Governor’s Inn Hotel 210 Richards Blvd., (916) 448-7224, governorsinnhotel.com, 133 rooms
Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza
4422 Y St., (916) 455-6800, marriott.com/saccy, 139 rooms
300 J St., (916) 446-0100, holidayinnsacramento.com, 359 rooms
Delta King Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Sacramento Convention Center
1000 Front St., (916) 444-5464, deltaking.com, 44 rooms
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
Inn at Parkside Bed & Breakfast 2116 Sixth St., (916) 658-1818, innatparkside.com, 11 rooms
Inn Off Capitol Park 1530 N St., (916) 447-8100, innoffcapitolpark.com, 37 rooms
Kimpton Sawyer Hotel 500 J St., (916) 545-7100, kimptonhotels.com, 250 rooms
Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park 1121 15th St., (916) 443-0500, marriott.com/sacdt, 235 rooms
Sheraton Grand Sacramento 1230 J St., (916) 447-1700, sheraton.com/sacramento, 503 rooms
Sterling Hotel 1300 H St., (916) 448-1300, sterlinghotelsacramento.com, 16 rooms
The Westin Sacramento 4800 Riverside Blvd., (916) 443-8400, westinsacramento.com, 101 rooms
728 16th St., (916) 444-4436, hiexpress.com/sacramentoca, 132 rooms
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Resources
Downtown Sacramento
Emergency: Call 9-1-1 (to report a fire, save a life, or report a crime in progress or just occurred)
Non-Emergency: Sacramento Police Department (916) 8085471, cityofsacramento. org/police
Sacramento Fire Department (916) 808-
CITY SERVICES AND UTILITIES Sacramento City Hall 915 I St., Sacramento, (916) 264-5011, cityofsacramento.org/ city-hall The oldest incorporated city in California, Sacramento was founded in 1849 and is run by an elected city council, consisting of a mayor and eight council members.
1300, cityofsacramento. org/fire
Sacramento Public Library 828 I St.,
Sacramento County Sheriff (916) 874-5115,
Sacramento, 24-Hour Information Line: (916) 264-2700; Customer Service: (916) 264-2920, saclibrary.org
sacsheriff.com (events in Sacramento County only)
City of Sacramento Services Call 311 or (916)
County of Sacramento Services Call 311 or (916)
808-5011 – available 24/7; 311.cityofsacramento. org/311
875-4311 – available 24/7; saccounty.net/services; 311.saccounty.net (for mobile app)
Report non-emergency issues or request information about animal control, code enforcement, parking, streets, urban forestry, water, utilities and more.
County of Sacramento Social Services Call 211 or (916) 498-1000 – available 24/7; 211sacramento. org/211 Request information about essential social and health services—food, shelter, counseling, disaster relief and more.
Report non-emergency issues or request information about abandoned vehicles, animal control, curb repair, drains, illegal dumping, street lights and more.
Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) Customer Service Center 6301 S St., Sacramento, (888) 742-7683, smud.org As the country’s sixth-largest, publicly owned electric utility
provider, SMUD has been lighting up Sacramento for 75 years. It serves 1.5 million customers in 900 square miles, boasts rates among the lowest in the state and is an industry leader in renewable power technologies. Start, stop or transfer electricity services at myaccount. smud.org.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) 24-Hour Customer Service: (800) 743-5000; 24-Hour Power Outage Information: (800) 743-5002; pge.com PG&E provides natural gas services to Sacramento, although the 116-year-old company provides both natural gas and electricity
to most of northern and central California. To report a suspected gas leak, leave the area and call 911, then call (800) 743-5000. Start, stop or transfer service and manage account at m.pge. com/#login.
City of Sacramento Department of Utilities 1395 35th Ave., Sacramento, Service Requests: (916) 264-5011, Accounts/ Billing: (916) 808-5454, cityofsacramento.org/ utilities The city provides water, sewer and storm drainage services and manages billing for trash, recycling and yard waste services. Services
Tim Engle
SAFETY
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Resources
appear on the same bill. Manage your account at secure8.i-doxs.net/CityofSacramento.
County of Sacramento Utilities 9700 Goethe Road, Suite C, Sacramento, General/Service: (916) 875-5555, Accounts/ Billing: (855) 587-5779, myutilities.saccounty.net The county provides water, sewer, garbage/recycling and stormwater drainage services. Billing is managed by Consolidated Utilities Billing and Service at sacutilities.org.
INTERNET, PHONE AND CABLE PROVIDERS AT&T (833) 657-2693, att.com
Consolidated Communications (916) 789-3037, consolidated.com
EarthLink (800) 217-6231, earthlink.net/ california/sacramento
Frontier (866) 352-8161, go.frontier.com
HughesNet (844) 4061664, hughesnet.com
Verizon (800) 225-5499, verizon.com Viasat (877) 697-2926, viasat.com Wave (866) 928-3123, residential. wavebroadband.com
AREA BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS & CHAMBER INFORMATION Downtown Sacramento Partnership 980 Ninth St., Suite 200, Sacramento, (916) 442-8575, downtownsac.org
Galt District Chamber of Commerce 604 N.
Visit Sacramento (Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau) 1608 I St., Sacramento, (916) 808-7777, visitsacramento.com
Sacramento365 1608 I St., Suite 200, Sacramento, (916) 808-8642, sacramento365.com
Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce 7625
Sacramento, northsacchamber.org
Sunrise Blvd., Suite 207, Citrus Heights, (916) 7224545, chchamber.com
Power Inn Alliance 7801
Davis Chamber of Commerce PO Box
Davis Downtown Business Association 826
Capitol Mall, Suite 2520, Sacramento, (916) 4412144, greatersacramento. com
Handle District (916) 765-5052, thehandledistrict.com Midtown Association 1401 21st St., Unit A, Sacramento, (916) 442-1500, exploremidtown.org
Midtown Neighborhood Association PO Box 162555, Sacramento, (916) 629-4449, midtownsac.org
Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 1017 L St., Suite 557, Sacramento, (916) 552-6800, metrochamber.org
Suite 322, Sacramento, (916) 446-7883, sacasiancc.org
Old Sacramento, (916) 808-7644, sachistorymuseum.org/ sacramento-visitorscenter
North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce PO Box 15468,
Greater Sacramento Economic Council 400
VISITOR INFORMATION
Sacramento Visitors Center 1000 Second St.,
Oaks Blvd., Suite K, Carmichael, (916) 481-1002, carmichaelchamber.com
74094, Davis, (530) 9027699, davischamber.com
Xfinity (800) 934-6489, xfinity.com
St., Old Sacramento, (916) 442-8575, oldsacramento. com
ramento, (916) 877-5436, natomaschamber.org
Lincoln Way, Galt, (209) 745-2529, galtchamber. com
Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce 1610 R St.,
Old Sacramento Waterfront 1124 Second
Carmichael Chamber of Commerce 6241 Fair
Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce 5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 44, Sacramento, (916) 231-0416, sacblackchamber.org
Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 1491 River Park Drive, Suite 101, Sacramento, (916) 486-7700, sachcc.org
Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce PO Box 160126, Sacramento, (916) 2669630, rainbowchamber. com
Auburn Chamber of Commerce 1103 High St., Suite 100, Auburn, (530) 885-5616, auburnchamber.net
Second St., Davis, (530) 756-8763, davisdowntown.com
East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce 3104 O St., Suite 367, Sacramento, (916) 794-1165, eastsacchamber.org
El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce 2085 Vine St., Suite 105, El Dorado Hills, (916) 933-1335, eldoradohillschamber.org
Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce 8820 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, (916) 691-3760, elkgroveca.com
Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce PO Box 352, Fair Oaks, (916) 967-2903, fairoakschamber.com
Folsom Chamber of Commerce 200 Wool St., Folsom, (916) 985-2698, folsomchamber.com
Greater Broadway District PO Box 188182, Sacramento, (916) 956-8434, greaterbroadwaydistrict. com
Greater Arden Chamber of Commerce 3308 El Camino Ave., Suite 300-261, Arden-Arcade/ Sacramento, (916) 2492991, greaterarden.com
Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce 540 F St., Lincoln, (916) 645-2035, lincolnchamber.com
Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce 6090 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis, (916) 652-7252, loomischamber.com
Natomas Chamber of Commerce 3511 Del Paso Road, Suite 160, Sac-
Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 453-8888, powerinn. org
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 117, Rancho Cordova, (916) 273-5700, ranchocordova. org
Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce 3700 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, (916) 624-2548, rocklinchamber.com
Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce 650
monthlies, Inside Publications, (916) 443-5087, insidesacramento.com
KBEB 92.5 Soft Adult Contemporary (“The Breeze”)
Magazines Comstock’s Magazine—business monthly
KFBK 93.1 News/Weather/Traffic (“NewsRadio KFBK”)
for the capital region, print and online, (916) 364-1000, comstocksmag.com
KYRV 93.7 Classic Rock
Outword Magazine— biweekly magazine serving the region’s LGBTQ+ community, print and online, (916) 329-9280, outwordmagazine.com
Sacramento Magazine—the city and region’s premier monthly lifestyle magazine, print and online, sacmag.com, (866) 660-6247
Sacramento Visitors’ Guide—Visit Sacramento’s guide to the region, (916) 808-7777, visitsacramento.com
Douglas Blvd., Roseville, (916) 783-8136, rosevillechamber.com
Radio Stations
West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce 1401 Halyard Drive, West Sacramento, (916) 371-7042, westsacramentochamber. com
MEDIA Newspapers The Sacramento Bee—daily, print and online, (916) 321-1000, sacbee.com
(“The River”)
KKDO 94.7 Alternative Rock (“Alt 94.7”)
KYMX 96.1 Adult Contemporary (“Mix96”)
KSEG 96.9 Classic Rock (“96.9 Eagle”)
KRXQ 98.5 Rock (“98 Rock”)
KLVB 99.5 Christian Contemporary (“K-Love”)
KZZO 100.5 Contemporary Hits (“Now 100.5”)
KHYL 101.1 Urban Adult Contemporary (“V101.1 – Sacramento’s #1 for Throwbacks”)
KCCL 101.5 Oldies (“101.5
AM Stations
K-Hits”)
KSTE 650 AM Talk
KHHM 101.9 Global Latin
KFIA 710 Christian (“The
Urban/Hot Hits (“Radio Fuego”)
Word”)
KLIB 1110 International KHTK 1140 Sports
KSFM 102.5 Rhythmic Contemporary Hits Radio
(“Home of the Kings”)
KKCY 103.1 Country
KCVV 1240 Spanish
KKFS 103.9 Contemporary Christian (“The Fish”)
Religious/Catholic
KIFM 1320 Sports (“ESPN 1320”)
KNCI 105.1 Country
KTKZ 1380 Conservative Talk (“The Answer”)
(“New Country 105.1 KNCI”)
KJAY 1430 Hmong/
KSAC 105.5 Business Talk (“Money 105.5”)
Gospel
KUDL 106.5 Contempo-
Sacramento Business Journal—business news
KIID 1470 Punjabi
rary Hits (“106.5 The End”)
weekly, print and online, (916) 447-7661, bizjournals. com/sacramento
KFBK 1530 News/
K296GB 107.1 New
Weather/Traffic (“NewsRadio KFBK”)
Sacramento News & Review—alternative
KSMH 1620 Catholic
Country (“The Bull”)
TV Stations KCRA 3 NBC “KCRA
KFSG 1690 Spanish
Channel 3”
news and entertainment online weekly, (916) 4981234, newsreview.com/ sacramento
Religious
KVIE 6 PBS “KVIE
The Sacramento Observer—African
KCPC 88.3 Religious
American-owned weekly, print and online, (916) 4524781, sacobserver.com
Public Radio/Classical, Jazz, Blues, Opera
Capitol Weekly—covering California government and politics, (916) 4754840, capitolweekly.net
Inside Sacramento (Inside East Sac, Inside Pocket, Inside Land Park/Grid, Inside Arden)—hyperlocal
FM Stations
Channel 6”
KEBR 88.1 Religious
KXTV 10 “ABC10”
(“Family Radio”)
KOVR 13 “CBS13” KMUM-CD 15 “Telemun-
KXPR 88.9 Capital
do Sacramento”
KUVS 19 “Univision 19”
KQEI 89.3 Public Radio (KQED, San Francisco) KVMR 89.5 Community
KMAX 31 “CW31” KTXL 40 “FOX40” KQCA 58 “My58”
Radio/Variety, Nevada County
KDVS 90.3 Non-commercial/Eclectic/College, UC Davis
KXJZ 90.9 Capital Public Radio/NPR/News
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SACRAMENTO REGION WALDORF SCHOOLS Camellia Waldorf • Davis Waldorf Live Oak Waldorf • Sacramento Waldorf www.sacwaldorf.org/sacramentowaldorf The Sacramento region is home to five Waldorf schools affiliated with the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Our shared goal is to provide Waldorf education to as many children as possible, building confidence and imagination through the educational philosophy developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919. Waldorf education focuses on a child’s developmental stage, prioritizing wonder, creativity, and imagination as essential childhood values. Rigorous academics in the upper grades provide strong math and sciences interwoven with fine and practical arts. Music, dance, theater, writing, literature and imaginative play are building blocks for deep thinking and character-building. Teachers focus on students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual capacities. Waldorf education is an early childhood through 12th grade journey. We invite you to visit our campuses for tours and experience what a Waldorf education can do for your child! Learn more at www.sacwaldorf.org/sacramentowaldorf
SACRAMENTO COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Sacramento Country Day School is a PK-12, independent, non-profit, college preparatory school in Sacramento that inspires intellectual discovery and engages a diverse community to think critically, live creatively, and act compassionately. Founded in 1964, Sacramento Country Day School is the only independent school of its kind in the region and is consistently recognized for its top academics, quality teachers and student achievements. We have a beautiful, expansive campus specifically developed for each of our three divisions - Lower, Middle and High – providing students with personalized learning, immersive course offerings, and pathways to develop their passions. Students at Country Day discover their true selves in an environment where they are known, seen and heard.
Visit our website today to learn more! SACRAMENTO COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL • 2636 LATHAM DRIVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95864 • SACCDS.ORG • 916.481.8811
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Education
Sacramento Schools Whether you are relocating to the region or moving to a new neighborhood across town, “How are the schools?” is a worthy question to ask—definitely if you’re a parent of schoolage children, but even if kids aren’t currently in your orbit. After all, the health of schools (including colleges and universities) impacts the quality of life for everyone in a community. So how are Sacramento-area schools? The good news is that there are great educational options throughout the Sacramento region—from nurturing neighborhood elementary schools to high schools whose academic programs consistently send students to the best colleges and universities. Sacramento also is home to an array of options when it comes to PreK–12 education: myriad charter, magnet and religious-affiliated schools, schools with dual-language immersion and International Baccalaureate programs, and public and private schools offering Montessori and Waldorf educations. You’ll find Sacramento-area educational options well-represented on Niche.com, which reviews and ranks schools—PreK–12 to university and beyond—using an informative range of metrics.
These public high schools get top marks for academics, Advanced Placement courses and scores, high graduation and college admission rates, and (for some) outstanding programs in sports or the arts:
C.K. McClatchy High School / Humanities and International Studies Program, Visual and Performing Arts Program 3066 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 395-5050, ckm. scusd.edu
Davis Senior High School 315 W. 14th St., Davis, (530) 757-5400, dshs.djusd.net
Folsom High School 1655 Iron Point Road, Folsom, (916) 294-2400, fcusd.org/fhs
Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way, Granite Bay, (916) 7868676, rjuhsd.us/granitebay
Major School Districts Within Sacramento County Elk Grove Unified School District (PreK– 12) 9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road, Elk Grove, (916) 686-5085, egusd.net
Folsom Cordova Unified School District (TK–12) 1965 Birkmont
Twin Rivers Unified School District (TK–12) 5115 Dudley Blvd., McClellan Park, (916) 566-1600, twinriversusd.org
Major School Districts Adjacent to Sacramento County Buckeye Union School District (TK–8) 5049
Eureka Union School District (TK–8) 5455 Eureka Road, Granite Bay, (916) 791-4939, eurekausd.org
Rocklin Unified School District (TK–12) 2615 Sierra Meadows Drive, Rocklin, (916) 6624-2428, rocklinusd.org
Drive, Rancho Cordova, (916) 294-9000, fcusd.org
Robert J. Matthews Parkway, El Dorado Hills, (530) 677-2261, buckeyeusd.org
Natomas Unified School District (TK–12)
Davis Joint Unified School District (TK–12)
Main St., Roseville, (916) 771-1600, rcsdk8.org
526 B St., Davis, (530) 757-5300, djusd.net
Roseville Joint Union High School District (9–12) 1750 Cirby Way,
1901 Arena Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 567-5400, natomasunified.org
San Juan Unified School District (TK–12) 3738 Walnut Ave., Carmichael, (916) 971-7700, sanjuan.edu
Sacramento City Unified School District (TK–12) 5735 47th Ave., Sacramento, (916) 6437400, scusd.edu
Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District (TK–8) 8849 Cook Riolo Road, Roseville, (916) 770-8800, drycreek.k12.ca.us
El Dorado Union High School District (9–12) 561 Canal St., Placerville, (530) 622-5081, eduhsd. k12.ca.us
Roseville City School District (TK-8) 1050
Roseville, (916) 786-2051, rjuhsd.org
Washington Unified School District (TK–12) 930 Westacre Road, West Sacramento, (916) 3757600, wusd.k12.ca.us
Mira Loma High School / International Baccalaureate Program 4000 Edison Ave., Sacramento (530) 971-7465, sanjuan.edu/ Page/2014
Natomas Charter School Performing and Fine Arts Academy (6-12) 4600 Blackrock Drive, Sacramento, (916) 928-5353, pfaa. natomascharter.org
West Campus High School 5022 58th St. Sacramento, (916) 277-6400, westcampus. scusd.edu
Vista del Lago High School 1970 Broadstone Parkway, Folsom, (916) 294-2410, fcusd.org/ Domain/32
These top-rated private schools draw high school students from throughout the region: Al-Arqam Islamic School & College Preparatory (PreK–12, College Prep, Islamic, Coed) 6990 65th
St., Sacramento, (916) 391-3333, alarqamislamicschool.org
Christian Brothers High School (College Prep, Catholic, Coed)
Los Rios Community College District 1919
Spanos Court, Sacramento, (916) 568-3021, losrios.edu Four campuses—American River College, Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento City College—plus six outreach centers serve 70,000 students, offering degree, transfer and certificate programs.
William Jessup University 2121 University Ave., Rocklin, (916) 557-2200, jessup.edu
4315 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 733-3600, cbhssacramento.org
Private Christian university serves about 1,840 undergraduate and graduate students on 130 suburban acres.
Cristo Rey Sacramento High School (College Prep + Work Study, Catholic, Coed)
Sacramento State (California State University, Sacramento)
8475 Jackson Road, Sacramento, (916) 733-2660, crhss.org
Jesuit High School (College Prep, Catholic, Boys) 4660 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 4826060, jesuithighschool.org
St. Francis Catholic High School (College Prep, Catholic, Girls) 5900 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, (916) 452-3461, stfrancishs.org
Sacramento Country Day School (PreK–12, College Prep, Independent, Coed) 2636 Latham Dr., Sacramento, (916) 481-8811, saccds.org
Sacramento Waldorf School (PreK–12, College Prep, Waldorf, Coed) 3750 Bannister Road, Fair Oaks, (916) 9613900, sacwaldorf.org
The Sacramento region is home to four community colleges, a California State University, a University of California, a topranked medical school, a prestigious law school, and more.
6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-1000, csus.edu One of the most diverse campuses in the West, “Sac State” serves 31,500 undergraduate and graduate students.
University of California, Davis One Shields Ave., UC Davis Campus, Davis, ucdavis.edu Ranked fifth among public U.S. universities in 2021 by Wall Street Journal, this tier-one research university is third largest of the nine-campus UC system, serving over 39,000 undergraduate, graduate and health science students. It has professional schools in education, law, management, nursing, veterinary medicine (#1 in U.S.) and medicine.
Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing 2570 48th St., Sacramento, (916) 734-2154, health. ucdavis.edu/nursing
UC Davis School of Medicine 4610 X St., Sacramento, (916) 7344800, health.ucdavis.edu/ medschool
University of the Pacific, Sacramento Campus 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, pacific.edu/ sacramento-campus Stockton-based UOP offers graduate and professional degrees in Sacramento at McGeorge School of Law, School of Health Sciences and Benerd College.
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Health Care
For Your Health
Whether at in-person appointments or through the newer trend of telehealth, chances are you’ll easily find the health care services you need because the Sacramento region is home to some of the finest medical care in the country. Here’s some information on the major groups.
Kaiser Permanente provides high-quality, affordable health care services to uplift whole communities by promoting health rather than solely treating illnesses. In the greater
Sacramento area, the organization has identified four critical health needs to focus upon: 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, Sac-
ramento is centrally located in midtown and houses facilities that include the Ose Adams Medical Pavilion, Anderson Lucchetti Women’s & Children’s Center and the Sutter Center for Psychiatry. 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 the Institute for Regenerative Cures. health.ucdavis.edu
fizkes / Shutterstock
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
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15
Things To Do in Sacramento Get ready to tour, view, ride, dine, cheer and splash. By Darlena Belushin McKay
California State Fair
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Visit the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The historic district is known for its boarded sidewalks, museums, shopping and dining, and also its newer attractions, such as its Waterfront Wheel (a 65-foot Ferris wheel) and the Front Street Carousel. Operated by Brass Ring Amusement, these new amenities started entertaining families during the pandemic. They are located in the new Waterfront Park, in front of Rio City Café, and within view of the iconic Tower Bridge.
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Enjoy offerings 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-to-Fork 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 find much more than just fruits and vegetables. You’ll likely also come across goodies like artisanal cheeses and honeys, baked goods, herbs, flowers, locally ranched meats and locally caught fish. Some, like the Oak Park Farmers Market, feature live music or kids’ activities like storytelling, face painting or art making. california-grown.com.
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See a film 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 once-beleaguered downtown district. Catch a screening of an old-time favorite like “Singin’ in the Rain” (shown seasonally). crestsacramento.com
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Cheer 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 signifies 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 find 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 affiliate 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 flags and banners at each and every match. The season runs March through October. tbbattalion.com
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Meet the animals of the California State Fair, 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 find cows in the center of
town. The California State Fair 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
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Walk, 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
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Take 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 flood danger. A colorful cast of guides take
you underground, through hollowed-out sidewalks and sloped alleyways. shopsachistorymuseum.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”)
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Visit 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 offered on Sundays, and video-assisted self-guided tours are available. cathedralsacramento.org
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Say 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 first 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 giraffes eye-to-eye. And the big-cat exhibits are always a crowdpleaser. saczoo.org
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Kit Leong / Shutterstock
Crest Theatre
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Peruse 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 influence over the Union Pacific Railroad and the Pullman strike of 1894) and current events (high-speed rail), the museum offers 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
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See 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
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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 flock to the American River for the three- to four-hour floats starting at 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 fish flows, 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 fight among rafts. raftrentals.com
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View art at Crocker Art Museum. The musem permanently houses a collection of more than 15,000 works of art. World renowned for its collection of California art and European master drawings, the museum also offers a diverse spectrum of exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections, including films, concerts, studio classes, lectures, children’s activities and more. In 2017, the museum received national recognition for excellence by the American Alliance of Museums, joining only 3 percent of the nation’s 33,000 museums. crockerart.org
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Shop at a pop-up or makers market. “Sankofa” is a Ghanian symbol depicted as a bird with its head directed backward to signify the importance of looking back to inform the present and future. Sankofa pop-up market in Oak Park is held at Greentech Farm in Oak Park on the second Sunday of each month. The market features locally grown produce such as baby kale
and cabbage, information on composting, starter plants for home gardens, herbs, bath and body soaps and oils, shea butter, spices and incense. Pop-up goers may also find lobster mac and cheese, tri-tip and greens, and grilled chicken or burgers. sankofamarketsac.com Three staffers at Space 07, a hair salon, have created The Big Little Market, a pop-up held every third Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to showcase local artists and businesses. You will find ceramics, apparel, flowers and plants, candles, skin care, jewelry and home décor by Northern California artists and artisans at 1421 R St. IG: @thebiglittlemarketplace The DOCO Makers Market is held on the fourth Saturday in July, August and September, with local vendors, crafters and artisans, and live music all converging downtown on DOCO’s outdoor plaza. godowntownsac.com
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Experience Wide Open Walls. Each September, artists 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. Some of the newest works were painted by local artists Joshua Lawyer, Lin Fei Fei, John Connolly, Lord Pawn, Jolene Russell and Miles Toland. In 2021, Wide Open Walls partnered with the Museum of Science and Curiosity, adding paintings to various locations within the museum. wideopenwalls.com
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The Sacramento region has a neighborhood for everyone, no matter their style, from urban hipster to committed suburban dweller. Take our tour to discover the perfect neighborhood for you. 38 Explore S A C R A M E N T O
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MIDTOWN
DOWNTOWN Until recently, 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, Billie Eilish and Justin Bieber, along with productions such as Disney on Ice. 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 Jeff 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.
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 thousands of 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 fine dining, with
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LAND PARK restaurants such as The Waterboy, Zócalo and 58 Degrees & Holding Co. 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 lofts. 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 flock here during heavy rains to escape the floodwaters.)
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: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, 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 fields 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.)
Dog Parks in City of Sacramento Barandas Dog Park 2805 Grasslands Drive Blackbird Park Dog Parks 3765 Hovnanian Drive
Glenbrook Park
8500 La Riviera Drive
Granite Regional Park 8200 Ramona Ave.
Jacinto Creek Park
8600 West Stockton Blvd.
Lynn Robie Dog Park 7895 Freeport Blvd.
North Natomas Regional Park 2501 New Market Drive
Partner Park
5699 South Land Park Drive
Regency Community Park 5500 Honor Parkway
Sutter’s Landing Park 20 28th St.
Tanzanite Community Park 2220 Tanzanite Way
Truitt Bark Park 1818 Q St.
University Avenue Dog Park 1900 University Ave.
Valley Oak Dog Park 2780 Mabry Drive
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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.
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 affordable housing stock. The area has seen significant 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 coffeehouse 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 affordable place to live, compared to other California cities, and it has a strong base of large employers offering 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. In 2020, Roseville added an estimated 1,013 new single-family housing units, the seventh-highest total in the state. You’ll
find excellent shopping at Westfield Galleria (home to Nordstrom, Tiffany, RH, Crate & Barrel and more), Fountains (where you’ll find 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 offer: 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 first railroad, which connected the gold fields 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 offer plenty of housing options, including affordable new construction, multimillion-dollar homes in the hills and active-senior housing.
ELK GROVE The leafy suburb of Elk Grove, located 15 miles south of the state Capitol, is popular with families and young professionals. It’s got a lot going for it, including a highly rated public school system, more than 90 parks, two major highways (Interstate 5 and Highway 80) and a diverse housing stock that ranges from starter homes to estate ranches. In recent years, Bay Area buyers have been drawn to Elk Grove by its affordability and booming home construction, making this one of the fastest-growing economies in the Sacramento region. Large employers include Intel, UC Davis, Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield. Restaurants, movie theaters and shopping abound, and outdoor amenities include
Laguna Creek Parkway, a 13-mile waterway with walking and riding trails; Stone Lakes Refuge, a 3,000-acre floodplain along the Pacific Flyway; and Cosumnes River Perserve, a riparian habitat. Elk Grove also offers opportunities for the community to gather at events like the Elk Grove Western Festival in May, the Giant Pumpkin Festival in October and historic Old Town’s Dickens Faire in December.
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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 affordability 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 offers 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 offers 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, offers 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.
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BY KRISTA MINARD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GABRIEL TEAGUE
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As the rest of this publication points out, the Sacramento region is wonderful on its own, even before you consider its location in the center of California’s Central Valley. But its location does afford some additional advantages to residents and visitors with itchy feet. It’s a prime jumping-off point, with roads leading in all directions. We take a highway-by-highway look at some of the experiences available with a few hours’ drive—or less.
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THIS WAY TO THE OCEAN Interstate 80 West The most direct route to the San Francisco Bay Area, Interstate 80 rolls westward through parts of ag-rich Yolo County (you’ll see the Ruhställer hops fields just outside of Dixon), 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, drop 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, flowers, 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 coffee at Journey, located in an old movie house, and wander past historic buildings (such as the original Town Hall) and beautiful old homes nearby. Traffic can be a bear between Sacramento and Fairfield, bottlenecking 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 morning 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.
View of East Bay and San Francisco from the Oakland hills
Davis Farmers Market in Central Park
San Francisco
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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 clock tower known as the Campanile, as does the Berkeley Marina, with a path alongside the choppy bay. Just south of Berkeley lies Oakland’s Rockridge area, with food halls, coffeehouses, sidewalk dining, galleries and 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 shops and restaurants, where the ferry lets off and a Saturday farmers market draws crowds. Hit the San Francisco hot spots, including Fisherman’s Wharf for clam chowder and cracked crab. Take a Red and White or Blue & Gold fleet 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-filled 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 bluffs overlooking the water. Afterward, grab a bite to eat in Sausalito or Tiburon, two scenic little waterfront towns.
NAPA VALLEY WINE COUNTRY UC Berkeley
Cable car in San Francisco, Alcatraz in the distance
Crissy Field in San Francisco
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 off Interstate 80. You can drive, or you can take a tour shuttle. The sheer number of tasting rooms (at least 90) in the valley can be daunting, so choose a few to focus on; reservations are 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 offers 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 that station for the Napa Valley Wine Train. Up the valley, the towns of Yountville (the famous French Laundry is here), St. Helena (so charming!) 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 opulent tasting rooms, breathtaking wine caves and restaurants serving unforgettable wine-country cuisine.
Golden Gate Bridge
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FOOTHILLS FUN Interstate 80 East
Fountains in Roseville
PaZa Winery in Placer County
Biking in Auburn State Recreation Area
Lake Clementine dam
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 & 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, JCPenney, 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 restaurant Zócalo. If you’re looking for some gaming fun, head out to Thunder Valley, off Highway 65 in Lincoln, or Hard Rock, in Wheatland. A bit farther east on Interstate 80, the small foothill communities of Loomis, Newcastle and Penryn invite people to drive the back roads and discover farms, breweries and wineries. Check out the Placer County Wine & Ale Trail to know where to find the region’s wineries and breweries, many with gorgeous views of the rolling countryside. Taylor Road in Loomis includes a couple of outstanding places to stop, including High-Hand Nursery and Cafe (brunch in the greenery-filled conservatory is a delight), 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 delightful Newcastle Produce, with a deli counter loaded with housemade 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 firehouse shaped like a witch’s hat and a gorgeous courthouse on a hill. Enjoy a coffee on the patio at The Pour Choice or a craft brew at Auburn Alehouse, and 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 Confluence 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.
Auburn
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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 the winter of 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 Tram up the mountainside. While Tahoe can be done in a day trip, we recommend spending a night or two or three—even a week.
Heavenly Tram in Lake Tahoe
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HISTORY LESSONS Highway 49
Nevada City
Sutter’s Sawmill in Coloma
Mill Street in Grass Valley
South Yuba River
Known as the Golden Chain, Highway 49 runs in the foothills, linking one Gold Rush town after another. Between Placerville (see “Highway 50” on page 52) 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: 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” on page 51) and the Amador Wine Country (see box on page 51). North of Auburn, Grass Valley is home to a bustling downtown district that has 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 savory Cornish hand pie 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 National 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, third-wave 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.
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Downtown Sutter Creek
MORE MOTHERLODE Highway 16 to Highway 49 South Just outside of Sacramento, Highway 16 shoots off from Folsom Boulevard and leads out through straw-colored meadows toward Rancho Murieta (horses!), Sloughhouse (home of perhaps the juiciest locally grown corn!) and Jackson, where it connects with Highway 49. Favorite stops in this area include Amador City, great for antiques shopping (clothing and furniture). In nearby Sutter Creek, a sweet little historic stretch of downtown is 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 coffee, good cell coverage—as well as a walker-friendly downtown Main Street. Hein & Company houses more than 650,000 volumes of used and antique books, and you’ll find a terrific 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. In the vicinity, several caves lure the adventurous. Tour Black Chasm Cavern, Moaning Caverns or Mercer Caverns.
AMADOR WINE COUNTRY Some 30 wineries, many of them award-winning, populate the Shenandoah Valley, bucolic with rolling hills and vineyard views. Amador Vinters’ website gives a detailed map. Some of our must-stops: Andis, Helwig, Rombauer, Jeff 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 a picnic lunch on the grounds of Amador Flower Farm, where the acres of gardens showcase some 1,200 varieties of day lilies that bloom each spring and summer.
Young’s Vineyard in Shenandoah Valley
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Apple Hill
HEAD FOR THE HILLS 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, water skiing, sunbathing, mountain biking and hiking. Because historic Folsom is just off the American River bike trail, it’s a cycling hotbed. 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, 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
Hiking at Folsom Lake
Main Street Placerville
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 back roads, vineyards and tasting rooms invite visitors in. Boeger and Lava Cap are favorites, with beautiful 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.
Rainbow Orchards’ apple cider doughnuts
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TAKING FIVE 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, an area 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, strollable 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 features local history displays and local artworks. In Oak Grove Regional Park, trails, a catfish-stocked lake and a nature center will keep visitors entertained. In the spring, Stockton is home to the famous San Joaquin Asparagus Festival. 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 farm-to-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.
Old Sugar Mill
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.
Capay Valley
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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) 4268037; shopthepurpose.com
Shop Till You Drop By Marybeth Bizjak
M
idtown, 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, openair 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 All Good If you’re going to hike Half Dome or stroll the shores of Lake Tahoe, you may as well
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look good doing it. That’s where All Good comes in. Part apparel retailer, part camp store, the shop is outfitted with all the trappings of a fashionforward adventure, from color-block parkas to camo-print jogging pants. 1715 R St.; (916) 706-2057; allgxxd.com 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 Jam Baby This 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. 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,
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-akind 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 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 Sacramento Republic FC Team Store While an MLS expansion team for Sacramento is a maybe, Sac Republic FC-branded memorabilia is still hotter than hot. At the Sacramento Republic FC Team Store in midtown, stock up on apparel, hats, scarves and souvenirs for the soccer fan in your life. 1050 20th St., Suite 200; (916) 307-6138; sacrepublicfc.com 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, an off-color coffee mug or a pair of Ruth Bader Ginsburg socks? 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; strappingsacramento.com
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FOODSTUFFS Allspicery Cooks will discover sugar, spice and everything nice at this fully stocked spice shop across the street from the state Capitol. Owner Heather Wong, a self-described “food nerd,” was inspired by her love of travel and food to open this quaint store filled with unusual and hard-to-find ingredients, including zhug, barberries, porcini mushroom powder, scorpion pepper salt and habanero sugar. 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 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 Change is good. That’s the unofficial motto for Display California, a revolving pop-up shop that reinvents itself every few weeks by rolling out a new crop of artisan products made in California, with a heavy emphasis on Sacramento makers and designers. The fun is in discovering something unexpected every time you shop, whether it’s glass bead necklaces from Cabine, colorful greeting cards from Cara Emilia or linen tea towels from Loft Studios. The 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 handpicked 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) 737-3333; undergroundbooks.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 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 FolsomAuburn Road, Folsom; (916) 817-1151; 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, earlystyle 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) 7377537; 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
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The Sanford Pizza, Federalist Public House & Beer Garden
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Jessica Nicosia-Nadler,
The Restaurant Scene By Marybeth Bizjak
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P
eople 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 Farmto-Fork Capital of America, 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.
A Full Spread of Fried Goodness, Nash & Proper
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 eight-course 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,
Marcus Meisler
Chicken and Waffles, Fixins Soul Kitchen
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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 the recently remodeled Localis, talented chef Chris Barnum-Dann oversees a tasting menu, with options for seven or 12 courses. His is refined, high-concept “tweezer food” composed of high-end ingredients such as truffles and artful garnishes. Also in midtown, Mulvaney’s B&L offers a more casual variation on fine dining. Located in a historic firehouse 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 offers its fair share of fine-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 five-course tasting menu. But it’s not all truffles and caviar in town. 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 woodfired, 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 joint
House Smoked Salmon, Mulvaney’s B&L
Great outdoor dining downtown, Zócalo
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 South, whose mouthwatering chicken comes from the owner’s secret family recipe; 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 recently opened in the Fort Sutter Hotel on the edge of midtown, the final offering from legendary restaurateur Randy
Steak Salad, The Firehouse
Paragary before he passed away this past summer. 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 the pandemic 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 traffic, 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.
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“Chicago the Musical” Harris Center
Folsom Historical Society: Folsom History Museum, Pioneer Village 823 Sutter St., Folsom, (916) 9852707, folsomhistoricalsociety.org The museum focuses on local native peoples, gold discovery and mining, and special exhibits; the village is an interpretive center with a miner’s cabin, blacksmith shop and gold panning.
Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park 1526 H St., Sacramento, parks.ca.gov Built in 1877, this Second Empire Italianate Victorian mansion was home to 13 California governors, then served as a museum. Gov. Jerry Brown and wife Anne Gust Brown refurbished it and lived there from 2015 to 2018. In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom opted to move his family to the Sacramento suburb of Fair Oaks. The mansion is closed to tours until further notice.
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art 254 Old Davis Road, Davis, (530) 752-8500, manettishremmuseum. ucdavis.edu
Out and About What to see while you’re here: museums, galleries, performing arts groups, venues and more. MUSEUMS Aerospace Museum of California 3200 Freedom Park Drive, McClellan, (916) 643-3192, aerospaceca.org
California State Capitol Museum State Capitol Building, 1315 10th St., Sacramento, (916) 324-0333, capitolmuseum.ca.gov
A collection of military and civilian aircraft and engines housed at a former Air Force base.
Explore exhibits and take a tour of the seat of state government, a “living museum” since 1869.
California Agriculture Museum 1958 Hays Lane, Woodland, (530) 666-9700, californiaagmuseum.org
California State Library 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, (916) 323-9843, library.ca.gov
See the world’s largest assemblage of antique tractors, plus antique farm equipment and trucks.
Tour the renovated library in the circa-1928 Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building.
California Automobile Museum 2200 Front St., Sacramento, (916) 442-6802, calautomuseum.org
California State Railroad Museum 125 I St., Old Sacramento, (916) 3239280, californiarailroad.museum
A collection of automobiles from every era, tracing their evolution and impact on California culture.
Explore railroad history in the West through beautifully restored cars and locomotives and interactive exhibits in one of North America’s finest railroad museums. Ticketed excursion train rides (from nearby Central Pacific Passenger Station, 930 Front St., Old Sacramento) behind a vintage diesel or steam locomotive available weekends April–September, Tuesdays in March, April and October, and for special events and holidays.
California Museum 1020 O St., Sacramento, (916) 653-7524, californiamuseum.org Permanent and special exhibits spotlight California history and the state’s contributions to the world through arts and culture, ideas and innovation. Home of the California Hall of Fame.
Crocker Art Museum 216 O St., Sacramento, (916) 8087000, crockerart.org The oldest public art museum in the West (est. 1885) and one of the state’s best, the Crocker boasts top collections of California art, Old Masters drawings and international ceramics plus hosts special exhibitions year-round along with a full calendar of cultural and family events.
Don & June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum 4030 Lennane Drive, Sacramento, (714) 376-0424, donjunesalvatoricapharmacymuseum.org
Thousands of pharmacy artifacts and books from the past two centuries, organized in three time periods.
Explorit Science Center 3141 Fifth St., Davis, (530) 756-0191, explorit.org Science museum for school-age children with hands-on exhibits and special programs.
Opened in November 2016, UC Davis’ newest museum showcases expansive architecture and works by renowned first-generation UC Davis art faculty among other must-see attractions.
Maidu Museum & Historic Site 1970 Johnson Ranch Drive, Roseville, (916) 774-5934, roseville.ca.us An indoor-outdoor interpretive center about native Maidu at a site where Nisenan Maidu families lived for 3,000 years. An outdoor trail takes visitors by mortar holes and petroglyphs.
Museum of Medical History 5380 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, (916) 452-2671, ssvms.org/museum.aspx An array of artifacts and books illustrating developments in medicine, 1850s through today.
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum 1200 Front St., Old Sacramento, (916) 483-8818, oldsacschoolhouse.org Replica of 1800s-era schoolhouse fiilled with desks and artifacts re-creating the experience.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park Between Capitol Mall and I Street, Sacramento River/Front Street and Interstate 5, Old Sacramento, (916) 445-7387, parks.ca.gov This cluster of city blocks along the Sacramento River is where the city got its start, featuring 50-plus restored Gold Rush-era commercial buildings now housing museums, shops and eateries.
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Roseville Utility Exploration Center 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, (916) 746-1550, roseville.ca.us/ explore Explore tools for sustainable living at school, work and home, with “green” exhibits and events.
Sacramento Children’s Museum 2701 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, (916) 730-5079, sackids.org For kids 8 and younger: interactive zones for art making, water play, building and creating.
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery 1000 Broadway, Sacramento, (916) 448-0811, historicoldcitycemetery.org The parklike cemetery (est. 1849) is the resting place of notable Sacramentans and Californians.
Sacramento History Museum 101 I St., Old Sacramento, (916) 8087059, sachistorymuseum.org Learn the story of the city: founders, rivers, Gold Rush, agriculture, industry, culture and more.
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity 3615 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 674-5000, powerhousesc.org Exhibits, weekend programs and planetarium shows bring STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) experiences to life.
Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum 2251 Florin Road, Sacramento, (916) 320-9573, sojoartsmuseum.org African American history, culture and art is celebrated here with exhibits, events and outreach.
State Indian Museum 2618 K St., Sacramento, (916) 3240971, parks.ca.gov Discover the cultures of native Californians through artifacts, photographs and exhibits.
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park 2701 L St., Sacramento, (916) 4454422, suttersfort.org Established by city founding father John Sutter in 1839, the fort supplied goods and shelter for pioneers. Today, living history programs reveal what their lives were like during the Gold Rush.
PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS
Broadway Sacramento— Broadway at Music Circus 1419 H St., Sacramento, (916) 5571999, broadwaysacramento.com
Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra 4025A Bridge St., Fair Oaks, (916) 536-9065, sacramentochoral.com
A series of professional, theater-in-theround Broadway musicals staged every summer since 1951.
An audition-based, 140-voice community chorus and 55-member professional orchestra.
Broadway Sacramento— Broadway on Tour 1301 L St., Sacramento, (916) 5571999, broadwaysacramento.com
Sacramento Jazz Cooperative (800) 564-5228, sacramentojazzcoop.org
Broadway Sacramento brings national touring Broadway shows to town, performing at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Complex.
B Street Theatre The Sofia, 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, (916) 443-5300, bstreettheatre.org One of Northern California’s top professional theaters, B Street stages Mainstage and Family Series plays along with a Music Series and other entertainment at The Sofia, which opened in 2018.
Camellia Symphony Orchestra 1731 Howe Ave., Suite 499, Sacramento, (800) 838-3006, camelliasymphony.org Maestro Christian Baldini leads the community orchestra, first established in the 1960s.
Capital Stage 2215 J St., Sacramento, (916) 9955464, capstage.org Professional actors perform bold, thought-provoking contemporary works in an intimate setting.
Celebration Art 2727 B St., Sacramento, (916) 4552787, celebrationarts.net The region’s only theater dedicated to performing works by and about African Americans.
El Dorado Musical Theatre 5011 Golden Foothill Parkway, Suite 4, El Dorado Hills, (916) 941-7464, edmt.info One of the premier youth musical theaters in the West, EDMT stages topquality, full-scale musicals and revues at Harris Center in Folsom.
Dedicated to the preservation of classical jazz, SJC hosts concerts featuring jazz artists.
Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera 1110 Second St., Old Sacramento (916) 476-5975 The philharmonic and opera joined forces to put on classical and pop series plus operas.
Sutter Street Theatre 717 Sutter St., Folsom, (916) 353-1001, sutterstreettheatre.com Off-Broadway and Family Series productions performed in an intimate setting.
Woodland Opera House Theatre 340 Second St., Woodland, (530) 666-9617, woodlandoperahouse.org Mainstage and family theater productions and concerts performed in a historic opera house.
ART GALLERIES Second Saturday Art Walk Galleries in downtown, midtown, East Sacramento and outer areas hold open receptions on the second Saturday of every month, mostly 6 to 9 p.m., sacramento.downtowngrid.com/2ndsaturday.
Sacramento State School of Music Capistrano Hall, 6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-5155, csus. edu/music
2nd Friday ArtAbout
The School of Music hosts 150 concerts annually, including piano and world-music series, the Festival of New American Music every fall and the New Millennium Series every winter/spring.
Arthouse 1021 R St., Sacramento, arthouseonr.com
Sacramento Theatre Company 1419 H St., Sacramento, (916) 4436722, sactheatre.org Productions include classics, contemporary works, musicals, youth shows and cabarets.
Sacramento Youth Symphony 3443 Ramona Ave., Suite 22, Sacramento, (916) 731-5777, sacramentoyouthsymphony.org The region’s top orchestral youth organization cultivates youth talent at many levels and in several performing ensembles.
Davis galleries and businesses hold open receptions on the second Friday of every month, mostly 5 to 9 p.m., davisdowntown.com/artabout
ACAI Gallery & Studios 7425 Winding Way, Fair Oaks, (916) 966-2453, acaistudios.com Axis Gallery 625 S St., Sacramento, axisgallery.org Brickhouse Gallery & Art Complex 2837 36th St., Sacramento, (916) 4751240, thebrickhouseartgallery.com B. Sakata Garo 923 20th St., Sacramento, (916) 4474276, bsakatagaro.com Elliott Fouts Gallery 1831 P St., Sacramento, (916) 7361429, efgallery.com
Sacramento Ballet
Sacramento Ballet CLARA (E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts), 2420 N St., Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 552-5800, sacballet.org Founded in 1954, the professional dance company performs classics, world premieres and innovative works by emerging choreographers. Home of The School of the Sacramento Ballet.
Big Idea Theatre 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 960-3036, bigideatheatre.org
Sacramento Children’s Chorus 25 Cadillac Drive, Suite 220, Sacramento, (916) 646-1141, sacramentochildrenschorus.org
Small collaborative community theater company stages dramatic, artful, edgy works.
Area students, ages 7 to 20, train and perform a range of choral works in four choirs.
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Crocker Art Museum
Golden 1 Center 500 David J. Stern Walk, Sacramento, (888) 915-4647, golden1center.com Home to NBA’s Sacramento Kings since its October 2016 debut, the state-ofthe-art downtown arena seats 19,000, boasts farm-to-fork concessions and attracts top performing artists to town.
Harris Center at Folsom Lake College, 10 College Parkway, Folsom, (916) 608-6888, harriscenter.net The performing arts center holds hundreds of public performances a year, including national touring artists and regional groups, in 850-seat, 200-seat and 100-seat theaters.
Mondavi Center UC Davis campus, Davis, (530) 7542787, mondaviarts.org. Davis’ premier performing arts venue welcomes world-renowned artists, lecturers and entertainers to its 1,801seat Jackson Hall and Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, which seats up to 250.
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium 1515 J St., Sacramento, (916) 808-5291, sacramentomemorialauditorium. com The National Historic Register-listed brick structure is part of the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center Complex.
JayJay 5524 B Elvas Ave., Sacramento, (916) 453-2999, jayjayart.com Kennedy Gallery 1931 L St., Sacramento, (916) 400-4272, kennedygallerysac.com John Natsoulas Gallery 521 First St., Davis, (530) 756-3938, natsoulas.com Pence Gallery 212 D St., Davis, (530) 758-3370, pencegallery.org The Gallery at 48 Natoma 48 Natoma St., Folsom, (916) 461-6601, facebook.com/ Galleryat48Natoma Tim Collom Gallery 3809 J St., Sacramento, (916) 8827003, timcollomgallery.com Verge Center for the Arts 625 S St., Sacramento, (916) 4482985, vergeart.com Viewpoint Photographic Art Center 2015 J St., Sacramento, (916) 441-2341, viewpointgallery.org
PERFORMANCE & EVENT VENUES Ace of Spades 1417 R St., Sacramento, (916) 9300220, aceofspadessac.com An entertainment anchor of the hipsterheavy R Street Corridor, this popular 1,000-person live music venue brings in national touring recording artists.
Drake’s The Barn 985 Riverfront St., West Sacramento, (510) 423-0971, drinkdrakes.com Crowned by a sinuous wave of barn wood, this indoor-outdoor event space in West Sac’s Bridge District is a community gathering spot anchored by Drake’s Brewing Co. for food, beverages and entertainment.
CLARA: E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts, 2420 N St., Sacramento, (916) 7942787, claramidtown.org Several local arts organizations including Sacramento Ballet, McKeever School of Irish Dance and Sacramento Preparatory Music Academy are tenants of the renovated, century-old Fremont School, which includes intimate performance spaces.
Cal Expo 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 263-3000, calexpo.com
Home to the California State Fair held in July, this 350-acre complex holds festivals, trade shows and concerts. Also on site: the 12,000-seat sports and entertainment venue Heart Health Park, home to Sacramento Republic FC soccer team, plus Raging Waters water park and a harness racing track.
Crest Theatre 1013 K St., Sacramento, (916) 4763356, crestsacramento.com The historic art deco-style theater hosts nationally known musical acts and comedians, local performing ensembles and film festivals, and screenings of classic and cult films.
Downtown Commons (DOCO) K Street between Third and Seventh streets, (916) 273-8124, docosacramento.com At the doorstep of Golden 1 Center and Kimpton Sawyer hotel, DOCO is downtown’s new epicenter of cool—an expansive outdoor, walk-friendly space with dozens of dining and drinking spots, retail (local boutiques to Macy’s) and an upscale cinema. Art, pop-up events and street performers add to the mix. It really comes alive during Kings games and concerts.
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center 1400 J St., Sacramento, (916) 808-5291, safecreditunionconventioncenter. com The city’s newly renamed convention center recently underwent a multimilliondollar renovation and expansion.
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center 1301 L St., Sacramento, (916) 808-5291, safecreditunionconventioncenter. com The city’s largest theater space recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation.
Sutter Health Park 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento, (916) 376-4676, sutterhealthpark.com Sacramento River Cats’ ballpark hosts concerts, charity runs, festivals and community events.
Toyota Amphitheatre 2677 Forty Mile Road, Wheatland, (530) 743-5200, livenation.com With 18,500 seats (8,000 reserved, the rest on the lawn) in this open-air amphitheater in farm country 35 minutes north of downtown, owner Live Nation can bring in its big summer tours.
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University of California, Davis Aggies: Big Sky Conference UC Davis Health Stadium, La Rue Road, Davis, (530) 752-2471, ucdavisaggies.com
RUNNING/TRIATHLON Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (June) wser.org
William Thompson
With its inception in 1974, the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race includes a climb of 18,000 feet and a descent of 23,000 feet as it follows the Western States Trail from Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe through Sierra high country and historic Gold County, finishing in Auburn.
Great American Triathlon Sacramento Republic FC
(July)
greatamericantriathlon.com
Good Sports
Whether you’re a fan of NBA basketball, minor league baseball, pro soccer, college sports or long-distance running, Sacramento’s got game. BASKETBALL (October–April)
Sacramento Kings: National Basketball Association
SOCCER (March–October)
Sacramento Republic FC: United Soccer League
Sacramento State Hornets: Big Sky Conference (men’s and women’s)
University Credit Union Center, UC Davis campus, Davis, (530) 752-2471, ucdavisaggies.com
runsra.org/california-internationalmarathon The CIM annually attracts thousands of runners from around the world thanks to its fast, net-downhill course that starts near Folsom Dam, gently winds through scenic suburbs and ends at the Capitol. Certified and sanctioned by USA Track & Field, CIM is a Boston Marathon and U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier.
In the LEED-certified Golden 1 Center, Sacramento’s NBA franchise continues its quest to break through and become a championship-caliber team. The fans are as ready as ever!
University of California, Davis Aggies: Big West Conference (men’s and women’s)
California International Marathon (First Sunday in December)
A relaxing summer night at Sutter Health Park with the Sacramento River Cats
Golden 1 Center, 500 David J. Stern Walk, Sacramento, (888) 915-4647 general, (916) 701-5401 box office, golden1center.com
The Nest gymnasium, Sacramento State campus, 6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-4323, hornetsports.com
After Eppie’s Great Race ran its 45-year course in 2018, local race enthusiasts introduced this no-swim, run-ride-paddle triathlon in 2019, which uses Eppie’s course in and along the American River in Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.
BASEBALL
FOOTBALL
(April–September)
(August–December)
Sacramento River Cats: Pacific Coast League (Triple A)
Sacramento State Hornets: Big Sky Conference
Sutter Health Park, 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento, (916) 3714487, milb.com/sacramento The River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Francisco Giants.
Hornet Field, Sacramento State campus, 6000 J St., Sacramento, (916) 278-4323, hornetsports.com
Heart Health Park, Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 307-6100, sacrepublicfc.com The multinational men’s pro soccer team, which enjoys a large and loyal fanbase, was awarded an MLS expansion franchise in 2019, with plans to build a glam new stadium. But the lead investor backed out, leaving expansion franchise and stadium plans in limbo. So as the players play on and the fans cheer them, the hunt for a new lead investor is on.
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Mountain biking in Hidden Falls Regional Park, Auburn/Lincoln
A Bit of Adventure
Take advantage of the region’s great weather and many recreational opportunities. PARKS The Sacramento region is blessed with many parks—223 parks and parkways in the city alone—generously shaded by elms, oaks, redwoods and more. Whether you want to meet up with friends for a walk, get in a run or get the kids to a playground, check out these favorites.
center and pool, rose garden, duck pond, garden and arts center, tennis courts, community-designed playground and 1-mile perimeter running track. A major underground water vault project wrapped up in fall 2021, restoring the sports fields with new sod and additional trees and replacing aging picnic areas and restrooms with new ones.
Capitol Park 10th, 15th, N and L streets
The site of numerous annual festivals, this 20-acre urban park has an amphitheater, pond with fishing piers, ¾-mile running track, basketball courts, swimming complex, and an expansive and engaging playground, much of which is sensory-rich and accessible, with handrails and ramps.
Surrounding the Capitol, this 40-acre oasis spanning 12 city blocks boasts a World Peace Rose Garden, 150 memorials and monuments, and more than 200 species of trees, some well over a century old. You’ll see Capitol staffers briskly walking the outer 1.1-mile path on weekdays, and tourists and wedding parties snapping photos on the Capitol’s west steps on weekends.
McKinley Park Alhambra and McKinley boulevards, H and 33rd streets With more than 32 acres, this park in stately, residential East Sacramento contains a 1920s-era library, community
Southside Park T, Sixth and Eighth streets
William Land Park Riverside and Freeport boulevards, 11th and 13th avenues, Sutterville Road Surrounded by grand older homes in the lovely Land Park neighborhood, this 166acre park has it all: sports fields, duck ponds, a playground with summer play pool and nine-hole public golf course. The park also claims three top attractions for families: the Sacramento Zoo;
Fairytale Town, a storybook-themed park for young children; and Funderland, an old-school amusement park featuring a carousel, roller coaster, mini train and other rides for families with young children.
Folsom City Lions Park 403 Stafford St., Folsom, (916) 461-6601, folsom.ca.us Although outside Sacramento city limits, this Folsom park’s many features make it well worth a mention: sports fields, library, art gallery, city hall and community center, two playgrounds and trails to the river, not to mention a 12-inch gauge railroad offering 10-minute open-car rides and the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, home to a variety of animals unable to be released back into the wild.
Sacramento also boasts a number of specialty parks, including skate parks, off-leash dog parks, spray parks and nearly two dozen parks with community gardens. For a map of the city’s parks and their many amenities, visit cityofsacramento. org/parksandrec/parks.
Tim Engle
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ith two major rivers—the Sacramento and the American—convening near downtown, two lakes east of town (Natoma and Folsom), and plenty of parks and trails, the great outdoors beckons yearround. Winters are mild, springs burst forth with an incredible biodiversity of plant and animal life, and even the hottest summer days are refreshed by cool evening breezes coming off the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In autumn, we relish not only the harvest in this rich agricultural area but the changing colors of the city’s famously thick canopy of trees. So grab your running shoes, hiking boots, bike, binoculars, swimsuit, paddle board, climbing gear and golf clubs, and discover why we love living here.
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AERIAL ADVENTURE PARKS Quarry Park Adventures 5373 Pacific St., Rocklin, (916) 824-1680, quarrypark.com Built in a 60-foot deep, 160-year-old granite quarry, this 5.5-acre family adventure park is filled with zip lines, ropes courses, free falls, a via ferrata, rock climbing walls, a rappelling station, paddle boats, a waterfall, a “kids kove” for younger children, picnic areas and observation decks.
Tree Top Sac Sac Heritage Oaks Park, 1300 Lake Washington Blvd., West Sacramento, (916) 893-1596, treetopsac.com This adventure park offers high-ropes obstacle courses with hanging bridges, ladders, slacklines and ziplines amid a grove of heritage valley oaks—plus yoga, kids’ camps, and a kiosk serving coffee and kombucha.
AQUATIC CENTERS AND WATERPARKS Staying cool in a pool is almost mandatory here come summer, when temps can climb higher than 100 degrees. Elk Grove Aquatics Center 9701 Big Horn Blvd., Elk Grove, (916) 405-5600, cityofwestsacramento.org Multipool complex includes competitionsize pool, two 30-foot slides and lazy river. Memorial Day–Labor Day. Lap/ fitness swimming available year-round.
Golfland Sunsplash 1893 Taylor Road, Roseville, (916) 784-1273, golfland.com/roseville Waterpark’s 30 attractions include extreme slides, lazy river, 84-foot wave pool, in-pool play area for kids and cabanas. May–September. (Golfland’s two 18-hole miniature golf courses, arcade, bumper cars, race cars and laser tag are open year-round.)
Manor Pool Slide Hill Park, 1525 Tulip Lane, Davis, (530) 758-2000, cityofdavis.org Complex includes a large lap pool, diving pool, water slide, beach-entry pool and sprayground. Memorial Day–Labor Day.
North Natomas Community Center and Aquatic Complex North Natomas Regional Park, 2601 New Market Drive, cityofsacramento.org Coming soon: This eagerly anticipated multipool complex will feature a
50-meter competition-size pool with shaded bleachers, 25-meter rec pool, two slides, zero-entry pool and water playground next to a new indooroutdoor community center.
Raging Waters Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 9243747, rwsac.com Waterpark with 25 attractions and rides featuring tube and extreme body slides, wave pool, lazy river, two younger children’s areas and cabanas. May– September.
Roseville Aquatics Complex 3051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd., Roseville, (916) 774-5262, roseville.ca.us/aquatics Multipool complex includes competition-size pool, shallow rec pool, slide and kids’ interactive water play area. Memorial Day–Labor Day. Lap swimming available year-round.
Steve Miklos Aquatic Center 1200 Riley St., Folsom, (916) 4616640, folsom.ca.us Multipool complex offers recreational swimming, slides, in-pool obstacle course and play area. Memorial Day– Labor Day. Lap/fitness swimming available year-round.
Wackford Aquatic Complex 9014 Bruceville Road, Elk Grove, (916) 405-5600, yourcsd.com Multipool complex features wading pool with splash playground, zero-entry pool with in-water play attractions, and competition-size pool with slide, diving boards and inflatable obstacle course. Memorial Day–Labor Day. Lap/fitness swimming available year-round.
Wake Island Waterpark 7633 Locust Road, Pleasant Grove, (916) 655-3900, wakeislandwaterpark.com Eighty-acre waterpark offers cable (boatless) wakeboarding, floating playground/obstacle course, “freefall” tower, human hamster wheels, paddleboards, canoes and pedal boats, swimming beach, over-water zipline, beach volleyball, picnic area and grill. May–September (April–October for wakeboarding).
West Sacramento Recreation Center Aquatics 2801 Jefferson Blvd., West Sacramento, (916) 617-4770, cityofwestsacramento.org Multipool complex includes a zero-entry pool, slides and in-pool play areas. June–August. Lap/fitness swimming available year-round.
NATURE AREAS WITH WALKING TRAILS Cosumnes River Preserve 13501 Franklin Blvd., Galt, (916) 684-2816, cosumnes.org In the floodplains and riparian habitat along the Cosumnes River south of Sacramento, this 50,000-acre preserve is home to more than 250 bird species, among other flora and fauna. Bring binoculars and hike the 4 miles of trails (including a 1-mile universally accessible trail and half-mile ADA-accessible boardwalk trail) to spy Swainson’s hawks, tundra swans, sandhill cranes, and other native and migratory birds that winter here, a critical stop along the Pacific Flyway.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center Ancil Hoffman County Park, 2850 San Lorenzo Way (off Tarshes Drive), Carmichael, (916) 489-4918, sacnaturecenter.net Walk the handful of trails through this 100-acre riparian nature preserve to experience what this river-blessed region once looked like throughout much of the valley. Visit a replica Nisenan Maidu village, spot jack rabbits, wild turkey and deer, and stop by the small, kid-friendly museum.
The Preserve District56, 8230 Civic Center Drive, Elk Grove, (916) 627-3747, district56elkgrove.com/ thepreserve Explore the network of trails, wetlands overlooks, native grassland meadows and oak woodlands in this aptly named preserve, the newest addition (opened fall 2021) to Elk Grove’s amenity-rich District56 (home to The Center events venue, Avenue of the Arts concourse and Elk Grove Aquatics Center). The expansive oasis features interpretive signs, an outdoor exercise court, inclusive play equipment, picnic areas and kinetic art sculpture.
UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden 448 La Rue Road, UC Davis campus, Davis, (530) 752-4880, arboretum.ucdavis.edu Meander along a paved 3.5-mile loop path through this historic 100-acre living museum, where more than 20 demonstration gardens feature plants native to California and places around the globe with similar dry-summer climates. You also can hit the public trails at nearby Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, a rare stream and grassland ecosystem.
WALKING TOURS Local Roots Food Tours (800) 407-8918, localrootsfoodtours.com
Experience the city from a culinary perspective with walking and dining tours of specific neighborhoods, such as Downtown Historical, R Street, Sutter District and Midtown Arts.
Sacramento History Museum Walking Tours 101 I St., Old Sacramento, (916) 808-7059, sachistorymuseum.org/tours The museum puts on guided historical walking tours with such themes as Old Sacramento Underground, Underground After Hours and Old Sac Paranormal Investigations.
Sacramento Tree Foundation (916) 924-8733, sactree.com Take a walking tour of various tree-rich neighborhoods with local tree experts, or visit the nonprofit’s website to download self-guided tree tours of several area parks and sites.
CYCLING, RUNNING, HIKING American River Bike Trail For outdoor enthusiasts, the crowning jewel of the region is the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, commonly known as the American River Bike Trail—though runners, walkers and hikers utilize it as much as cyclists. This nationally recognized trail starts at Discovery Park (at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers north of downtown) and wends its way through the bucolic American River Parkway, paralleling the American River for 32 miles to Beals Point at Folsom Lake. With trail and river access points and adjacent parks all along the way, it is especially popular on weekends.
Folsom Trails Folsom is not just an endpoint to the American River Bike Trail, but a bike- and hike-friendly city itself, with more than 50 miles of wellmaintained paved trails for recreational use. Three to try: Humbug-Willow Creek Trail, Folsom Parkway Rail Trail and Johnny Cash Trail. For an easy nature hike, visit Hinkle Creek Nature Area in Lew Howard Memorial Park. And for a roundup of cycling routes in Folsom and beyond recommended by local cyclists, check out the database at folsombike. com.
Lake Natoma Trail, Folsom This 11.3-mile paved bike and pedestrian trail loop (with dirt offshoots for runners and walkers) offers views and access points to the lake, densely forested spots, gentle inclines and wildlife.
Miners Ravine Trail, Roseville A haven for wildlife in this bustling suburb, the approximately 8-mile paved bike and pedestrian trail runs along Dry Creek from Old Roseville under Interstate 80 and past residential neighborhoods to Sierra College Boulevard.
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Hidden Falls Regional Park, Auburn/Lincoln
Whitewater Raft the American River’s Upper Forks
Among the 30 miles of multi-use trails in this 1,200-acre park used for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding is a popular 3-mile stretch that takes you alongside creeks, through wooded areas and by interpretive panels to a 30-foot waterfall outfitted with two observation decks. Parking reservations are required for weekends and holidays. placer.ca.gov/6106/Hidden-FallsRegional-Park
In the foothills an hour east of Sacramento, the upper American River’s three forks—South, Middle and North— make up the most popular whitewater rafting destination in California, offering varying levels of difficulty (Class II–IV) and excitement. But don’t go it alone unless you’re an experienced rafter. Visit californiawhitewater.com for a list of outfitters and tours.
RIVERS Sacramento got its start near the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, which have shaped the region in innumerable ways: geographically, agriculturally, economically, culturally. Experience the River City by getting out on a river and having some fun! Cruise the Sacramento River Departing from Old Sacramento Waterfront, City Cruises by Hornblower offers one- to 1 1/2-hour cruises with views of the river and city skyline. Choose from local history- or holiday-themed excursions or one of several cocktail-themed cruises for the 21 and older crowd. cityexperiences. com/sacramento/city-cruises River City Queen runs several themed outings from Old Sacramento Waterfront, including sunset cocktail, lunch, dinner, holiday and dessert cruises. rivercityqueen.com Sac Brew Boat, a pedal-powered party boat, takes up to 16 guests on 1 ½ hour river jaunts from Old Sacramento Waterfront. BYO food and drink. sacbrewboat.com Sacramento Jetboat Excursions revs up your river cruise experience with 30 minutes of speed, spray and spins, plus city sights and a bit of local history. From Old Sacramento Waterfront. sacramentojetboats.com
Raft or Kayak the Lower American River Rent a raft or kayak for a selfguided trip down the river along the American River Parkway. The Class I–II river is popular with DIYers, and young folks out for a good time. Embark near Sunrise Bridge, float to River Bend Park, then return by shuttle. Contact American River Raft Rentals (raftrentals.com) or River Rat Raft & Bike (river-rat.com).
Explore the Delta The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which feeds valley rivers into the San Francisco Bay, encompasses more than 1,000 miles of waterways. Explore the sloughs, islands, marinas and historic Delta towns up close by canoe, kayak, ski boat, wakeboard, paddleboard, houseboat or personal watercraft. For rentals, see deltaboating.com. To learn more about this unique estuarine environment, where fresh water meets salty seawater, stop in at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. ebparks. org/parks/big_break
Windsurf and Kiteboard in the Delta Rio Vista and Sherman Island, about an hour’s drive southwest of Sacramento in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, are an international mecca for windsurfing and kiteboarding, thanks to superb water and wind conditions. Learn more at rvwa-siko.org and deltawindsports. com.
LAKES Folsom Lake About 25 miles northeast of Sacramento, this drought-sensitive reservoir on the American River (created by Folsom Dam in 1955) attracts boaters, sailors, water skiers, personal watercrafters, paddleboarders, fishers, swimmers, beachgoers and picnickers to its waters and 75 miles of shoreline. The surrounding Folsom Lake State Recreation Area includes nearly 100 miles of trails for hiking, trail running, horseback riding and mountain biking. On the lake’s western side is a campground at Beals Point; on the eastern side is Folsom Lake Marina at Browns Ravine.
Lake Natoma Downriver from Folsom Lake is slender Lake Natoma, created by Nimbus Dam and part of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. The 5-mile-long lake flanks the city of Folsom and offers picturesque scenery for kayakers, paddleboarders and college crew teams rowing on its calm surface. (Motorized watercraft have a 5-mph speed limit.) Among several boat launch sites is Sacramento State Aquatic Center, which provides instruction and equipment for rowing, sailing, paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking to the public.
Another attraction is Nimbus Fish Hatchery, which raises Chinook salmon and steelhead for release into the river. While the visitor center and tours are on pandemic pause, the public can watch salmon ascend a new and improved fish ladder through several large outdoor windows during salmon season, November 2021–February 2022.
Sacramento State Aquatic Center 1901 Hazel Ave., Gold River, (916) 278-2842, sacstateaquaticcenter.com Nimbus Fish Hatchery 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River, (916) 358-2884, wildlife.ca.gov/ fishing/hatcheries/nimbus GOLF These public golf courses showcase the valley’s natural terrain, albeit sculpted and wellwatered. Ancil Hoffman Golf Course 6700 Tarshes Drive, Carmichael, (916) 482-3813, golfancilhoffman.com Beautiful 18-hole course along the American River Parkway designed by William Bell in 1965.
This lush “country club quality” course designed by Brad Bell offers 18 holes of links/park land-style golf plus a driving range and pro shop.
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex 3645 Fulton Ave., Sacramento, (916) 808-2531, hagginoaks.com Two 18-hole championship courses (Alister MacKenzie and Arcade Creek) plus a lighted, 100-stall, Toptracerequipped driving range, nine-hole putting course, player performance studio and huge golf shop.
Mather Golf Course 4103 Zinfandel Drive, Mather, (916) 364-4354, playmather.com Championship 18-hole course on a former Air Force base is designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
Teal Bend Golf Club 7200 Garden Highway, Sacramento, (916) 9225209, tealbendgolf. com Brad Bell-designed 18-hole championship course adjacent to the Sacramento River with 250 acres of wetlands and native trees, plus a grass driving range and putting greens.
Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course 8301 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 808-2020, bartleycavanaugh.com
WildHawk Golf Club 7713 Vineyard Road, Sacramento, (916) 688-4653, wildhawkgolf.com
Designed by Perry Dye in 1995, an 18hole championship course close to the Sacramento River.
South Sacramento 18-hole championship course plays well in wet weather.
Bing Maloney Golf Complex 6801 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 808-2283, bingmaloney.com
William Land Golf Course 1701 Sutterville Road, Sacramento, (916) 277-1207, williamlandgc.com
Championship 18-hole and express nine-hole courses plus a covered, nightlighted driving range.
Popular nine-hole course in lush William Land Park is the city’s oldest course, built in 1924.
Cherry Island Golf Course 2360 Elverta Road, Elverta, (916) 991-7293, golfcherryisland.com
INDOOR CLIMBING Time for a change of pace from outdoor pursuits? Go climb the walls!
Championship 18-hole course designed by Robert Muir Graves plus a dawn-todusk driving range.
Cordova Golf Course 9425 Jackson Road, Sacramento, (916) 362-1196, cordovagc.com
The Boulder Field 8425 Belvedere Ave., Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 329-8994, theboulderfield.com
Affordable public course plus a lighted driving range.
Indoor gym offers 10,000 square feet of bouldering space, training and fitness areas, family climbing area and yoga studio in an open layout with workspaces, cafe and shop.
Empire Ranch Golf Club 1620 E. Natoma St., Folsom, (916) 817-8100, empireranchgolfclub.com
Granite Arch Climbing Center 11335-G Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova, (916) 852-7625, granitearch.com
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Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort
More than 20,000 square feet of indoor, realistic wall space plus a members-only outdoor boulder park.
Rocknasium 720 Olive Drive, Suite S, Davis, (530) 757-2902, rocknasium.com Community climbing gym since 1992 with 5,500-plus square feet of vertical terrain plus yoga and fitness classes.
Sacramento Pipeworks 116 N. 16th St., Sacramento, (916) 341-0100, touchstoneclimbing. com/pipeworks Cavernous gym with 14,000 square feet of climbing terrain, 8,000 square feet of bouldering, 40-foot-high lead wall, huge CrossFit area, full gym with cardio and weight equipment, yoga and fitness classes, and pro shop. A training destination for Nor Cal climbers.
MORE INDOOR FUN Sacramento’s got its share of skating rinks, bowling allies and trampoline parks, but be sure to check out these spots for that rare rainy day.
iFly 118 Harding Blvd., Roseville, (916) 836-4359, iflyworld.com/ sacramento
Urban Air Adventure Park 1700 Arden Way, Sacramento, (916) 930-6822, urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The casino has 950 rotating slots, 20 gaming tables and several dining options, and partners with hotels and inns in Jackson and Sutter Creek for overnight guests.
Kids 3 to 103 (with some health and safety restrictions) experience the thrill of indoor skydiving thanks to wind-tunnel technology.
Treat the kids to trampolines, climbing walls, ropes and obstacle courses, a tubes playground, slam dunk zone, tumble track, bumper cars and an aerial sky rider coaster.
Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson, (800) 822-9466, jacksoncasino.com
Punch Bowl Social DOCO, 500 J St., Suite 100, Sacramento, (916) 925-5610, punchbowlsocial.com/location/ sacramento Enjoy fun and games—bowling, billiards, ping pong, foosball, darts, karaoke and more—plus food and drink in a modern 25,000-square-foot space. Kids welcome before 10 p.m.
Smart Axe 1151 Trade Center Blvd., Suite 106, Rancho Cordova, (916) 389-0178; 726 Sutter St., Folsom, (916) 790-8482; thesmartaxe.com It’s like throwing darts, but with axes. For ages 12 and older.
Flatstick Pub DOCO, 630 K St., Suite 120, Sacramento, (916) 872-0772, tipsyputt.com
Topgolf 1700 Freedom Way, Roseville, (916) 200-1002, topgolf.com/us/ roseville
With dozens of local craft beers on tap, duffleboard tabletop golf games and 18 holes of mini golf on two courses, putting has never been this fun. 21 and older.
Imagine your favorite sports bar opening directly onto the driving range of your dreams. For all skill levels. Families welcome.
CASINOS With several Indian gaming casinos in the area, you don’t have to travel far to try your luck. Cache Creek Casino Resort 14455 Highway 16, Brooks, (800) 992-8686, cachecreek.com Cache Creek’s recent expansion and series of upgrades gives the resort a total of 659 rooms and luxury suites plus added conference space, concert space, second pool and new restaurant, complementing its casino, multiple dining options, day spa and 18-hole championship golf course.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain 3317 Forty Mile Road, Wheatland, (833) 337-3473, hardrockhotelsacramento.com This full-service casino resort—with 1,600 slots and game tables, hotel with outdoor pool, multiple dining options and Rock Shop—opened next to Toyota Amphitheatre in 2019.
Harrah’s Northern California 4640 Coal Mine Road, Ione, (866) 915-0777, caesars.com/ harrahs-northern-california
Patrons at this 24-hour casino have access to 1,700 slot and video games, 32 gaming tables, an 86-room hotel, RV park, three restaurants and a concert venue.
Red Hawk Casino 1 Red Hawk Parkway, Placerville, (888) 573-3495, redhawkcasino.com This 24-hour casino has more than 2,500 slots, dozens of table games, six restaurants and has broken ground on a 150-room hotel with pool and fitness center.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort 1200 Athens Ave., Lincoln, (916) 408-7777, thundervalleyresort.com This expansive 24-hour casino resort has 3,400 slots and video machines, 110 table games, dozens of gaming tables, a 25,000-square-foot poker room, 14 restaurants and bars, a 400-room luxury hotel, outdoor pool, day spa and banquet hall. Coming soon: The Venue at Thunder Valley, a state-of-the-art 150,000-square-foot entertainment venue.
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Last Word
Happy Trails Photography by William Thompson
O
nly 25 miles south of the state Capitol lies the Cosumnes River Preserve, 46,000 acres of grasslands, vernal pools, wetlands and valley oak forests. It’s a prime area for hiking, paddling and wildlife viewing. Expect sightings of birds and birders: The preserve is a habitat for sandhill cranes and 250 other species.
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Local Roots. Unparalleled Expertise. Extraordinary Service. For over 25 years Lisa Paragary has been helping buyers find their perfect homes. Whether it’s a Midtown condo, first time home in Roseville or a country club estate in El Dorado Hills, Lisa can help you navigate the buying process with care, experience, integrity and market knowledge like no other.
Lisa Paragary Engelken
REALTOR®
Nick Sadek-SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
Cell: 916-247-1303 lisa@paragarymillerteam.com CalBRE#: 01196924
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Top expertise for a vibrant region Proudly serving our patients as Sacramento’s #1 hospital We take pride in advancing health care and improving lives in new ways, here at home and beyond. As Sacramento’s No. 1 hospital and its only nationally ranked academic medical center, we’re honored to bring together expertise, research, and innovation to understand what makes our patients unique — so you and your family can be stronger and healthier. There are many ways that we provide extraordinary care, including: ■
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150 specialties with nationally ranked care in cancer, heart, maternity and more Convenient everyday care at 18 clinics with telehealth options for urgent needs and same-day video visits Sacramento’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, offering access to early-stage clinical trials and the latest diagnosis and treatment options
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Home to the region’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive children’s hospital with a level I Children’s Surgery Center verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Inland Northern California’s only level I trauma center for both adult and pediatric emergencies Magnet® designation — the nation’s highest recognition for nursing excellence
Learn more about our services and what partnering with UC Davis Health can do for you.
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