As long as you are at the RR station in Sacto, you really should visit the second best RR museum in the nation which is a 5-minute walk from the station. A wonderful experience even if you are not a train enthusiast. I am disappointed that this article makes no mention of this very unique opportunity. Much more to my liking than hamburgers or tacos.
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Any foodie visiting Sacramento must visit Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates in Midtown Sacramento at 1801 L Street. Ginger is from the Sacramento area, she has classic culinary training and is undoubtedly one of the top chocolate chefs in the USA. Her creations are simply magical with locally sourced ingredients. Visit one of the best things in the food scene in Sacramento.
https://gingerelizabeth.com/
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You are so right! The macarons are NOT to be missed. The ice cream is out of this world. You can get the best of both worlds with the macaron ice cream sandwiches. Heaven!
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Some say Sacramento is the Portland of California—well, hopefully the Portland of 20 years ago.
There has been a long established, vibrant arts and music scene in “Sac-a-tomatoes” which has attracted a lot of artists and musicians who have been gentrified out of San Francisco and the East Bay.
One brand new music venue is The Side Door on Franklin Blvd which shows promise as a hub for local talent.
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It was exciting to see sacramento make the New York Times. I love this beautiful city it’s so close to everything San Francisco,Lake Tahoe ,Reno it’s pretty much the middle mark. There is so much to see and do here. We are surrounded by beautiful lakes and rivers. Sacramento and surrounding city’s are great places to raise a family! I was also thrilled to see chandos get a moment of fame. That is hands down my favorite taco place there’s also another location in Roseville which is really good too.. if you ever come back you will have to do a story about Auburn,loomis,Rocklin and Lincoln our gold country!!or even a popular destination in the Fall months is a very pretty drive up to placerville and enjoy touring Apple hill.
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While you're walking through the Capitol Park, see if you can find the statue of Thomas Starr King, which for decades stood in the US Capitol's Statuary Hall until replaced by a statue of Ronald Reagan (ugh!) Starr King rallied the state of California to the Union cause in the Civil War and arguably saved the nation from a Confederate victory...
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Burgers and Brew in Sacramento and in Davis is a great place to eat!! Don’t forget to stop by for ice cream and Gunther’s!
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Since late 2017 West Sacramento is a permanent home to a most amazing public sculpture by Czech-Argentinian artist Federico Díaz. It is called Subtile and it will definitely blow your mind away. “It is the most significant public art project we’ve done as a city,” said West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon. Check out for yourself by the Bridge District River Walk in West Sacramento.
http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article191661309.html
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For car buffs, I recommend the California Automobile Museum. And the Davis Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is a joy and not to be missed!
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As a Sacramento native I was pleased to see this guide! My family jokes about it being the Midwest of California and a great place to leave (with Tahoe & SF so close by), but it’s got a lot going for it and it has really matured in the last 10 years. The Crocker addition is great and Manetti Shrem in Davis is worth a visit.
Many of the spots mentioned in the article didn’t exist when I was growing up. But for me, one of the best parts of Sac is the vibe - it’s very easy-going, authentic, and comfortable.
If you want to see ‘real’ Sacramento I’d suggest you check out the farmer’s market under the freeway underpass on Sunday morning. The city’s diversity, abundance of local food, and relaxed pace are on full display.
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Um, farmer's market under the freeway? One of the worst possible venues for a farmers market. Skip that one and head to the Davis Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning. It has long been considered one of the best in the state and for good reason.
For more: Old Town along the river front and the Railroad Museum are great. Have a meal or overnight on the Delta King, a dockside riverboat. The Historic Cemetery on Broadway at Riverside is very interesting. If you have young kids, FariyTale Town and the Zoo in Land Park are fun.
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11) Regarding Bacon and Butter.... @baconbarguy ‘s cocktails are a must have.
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Sacramento native (grew up in the "LadyBird" neighborhood, went to the same HS), now living on the other side of the river (in YOLO! County), I own horse property within view of the State Capitol's golden dome and biking distance to the brew pubs in this town. How sweet is that?
After decades of hearing "you can't get your hair done here" (Nancy Reagan), and "you have to go to The City (SF) to get a good meal" (everyone), I am delighted to see the changes here, even as the lazy rivertown charm remains.
Word to the wise: 36 hours in not enough. I know that, because 60 years is not enough -- I still find more to do!
If you want to stay, the childhood home of Joan Didion is on the market ...
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An article about Sacto without mentioning Pancake Circus???
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Dr. A - I'll bet you a million bucks the NYT 36 Hours advance team checked out Pancake Circus and decided NOT to mention it.
Despite the classic mid-century modern Googie coffee shop architecture, and great neon signage, inside is a coulrophobic's nightmare with clown dolls in every nook and cranny watching every bite you take out of that short stack and scrambled egg combo plate. If the clowns don't get to you, the yellow and orange color palette will burn an after-image into your eyes for the rest of the day.
Other than that, I LOVE Pancake Circus and go there every time I'm in town.
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I went to Sacramento for the first time a few weeks ago. I love trains and my boyfriend planned the trip. I fell in love with Sacramento when I sat down to eat at a restaurant and received a glass of water without begging for one. Bonus . . . refilled without asking. Unlike the Bay Area where you have to be dying of thirst to get a glass of water. I told my boyfriend, "this is my kind of town".
Going to take Amtrak there in a few months and follow this agenda.
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I love living and working in Sacramento. The train museum is worth a morning as is a walk through old Sac. The State Capitol is a museum into itself and houses the legislative offices as well as the executive office. There are some great parks, paths and people to see here. Amazon, you missed your chance, it would have been a great corporate headquarters.
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Don’t go in the summer....the Central Valley becomes oppressively hot.
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Sometimes there is an inversion and a high pressure cell sits atop all of California for a few days. When that happens, it can be oppressively hot all over northern California, from the coast to Lake Tahoe and even in San Francisco. More commonly in the summer though, we have cool mornings, dry hot afternoons in the 90s, and the Delta Breeze brings lovely cool evenings and nights to our region. Our garden growing season is 12 months of the year, and we have lovely views of both the Sierra Nevada crest and Coast Range mountains. It is a climate that encourages a healthy, outdoor lifestyle.
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Actually, it averages about the same as El Paso, where you are from. Yes, it can occasionally spike into the 100s, so if that bothers you, don't come from mid-July to mid-August.
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That's what we thought . . . until we discovered the Delta Breeze, which makes Sacramento pleasant, and even sometimes downright chilly, on summer nights. Very much unlike most of the country (certainly all of Texas) where the heat and/or humidity are unrelenting.
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I moved to Sacramento 4 years ago, from the Bay Area. The turn of the century architecture, lush parks, and close proximity to lakes and rivers, have made it home!
Visit the Leland Stanford Mansion and admire the gorgeous 19th century mansion and it's contrast against modern architecture of downtown Sacramento. Take an underground tour of Old Sacramento, where you'll see the original city lines and get to venture underneath the first Wells Fargo. Pack a lunch and enjoy the gorgeous Capital Park, Freedom Rose Garden, and memorials. Jump on a Jump bike, and take a ride around the Fab 40s in East Sacramento. Enjoy a cocktail over looking DOCO and the Golden 1 Center, at Revival lounge, or grab a Grasshopper at the Ten Ten Room!
Events such as Second Saturday, Concert in the Park (Friday's), ect will also provide additional entertainment ❤
There's so much to do and see, and that's without leaving the Grid!
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Don't forget all of the wonderful free and donation based yoga classes in Sacramento! They are all conveniently listed on the Free Yoga Sacramento website! www.freeyogasacramento.com
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Sacramento, it's a nice place to be from.
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Yeah, that's what people say about Canarsie.
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An institution for food hounds is Corti Brothers, founded in 1947.
A fantastic grocery/food emporium with far reaching special selections and excellent quality.
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Yes, found Corti Brothers by accident and it’s like much of Sac, friendly and tasty. Shhh, don’t tell anymore people.
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Best cheese & wine departments of any grocer in town! And they know their products.
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Lived in Rancho Murieta for 5 years. My happiest day was the one I discovered Corti Bros.
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Thank you for the writeup of our fair city. I hope this encourages curious visitors. While I like to joke that Sacramento is a bad place to visit but a great place to live, that’s not really true. We are blessed to live in a fine river metropolis. I only wish it weren’t so sprawling and car-centric.
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Summer days can be hot but bring a sweater for the evening. It usually cools off to the low 60s every night. Visit Old Sacramento. Interesting places like the Railroad museum, Fanny Ann's Saloon is family friendly (daytime) with great food and cheap drinks and the Delta King River Boat hotel and restaurant moored on the river. Near Old Sacramento is one of the best Mexican Restaurant called Tres Hermanas (K Street near 24th Street). It is always busy for a reason. They create some really good food there.
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I second Tres Hermanas; it reminds me of the places that used to be on 24th in San Francisco’s Mission district before the street was assimilated by the Borg (gentrified by Tech).
By the way, Tres Hermanas is in mid-town and nowhere near Old Sac.
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I appreciate the coffee shop but what about all us folks who don't eat beef burgers and drink more wine than beer. Any vegetarian restaurants or light menus? The Capitol is beautiful also. Walks in the parks. I have heard the music places are good there also. Jazz?
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Hey, it's California, of course there are vegetarian restaurants and veggie dishes in every regular restaurant. Many also have separate "small plate" sections and some specialize in it.
There are great vegan and vegetarian options! Pushkins Restaurant/Bakery (There are 2 separate locations) are fabulous and gluten free and so delish. Also, The Federalist is a pizza place built in repurposed storage containers and is such a hidden gem. They have incredible pizza and they have vegan options too. Also they do bingo nights which are awesome.
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Sacramento has some great vegetarian and vegan spots! I love Mother on K street near the Crest theater. The Crest is awesome and hosts tons of events including an annual upcoming French Film Festival. Lots of good wine in Sac, too, although not many wine-specific places. The exception is 58 degrees and Holding Co in Midtown; good food and an awesome selection.
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I am a huge fan of Sacramento. Lived there three years and think about moving back. I agree with those who note the article, while hitting many high points, overlooks great Sacto attractions like Old Sacramento and the Railroad Museum, and skims over things like the American River Parkway, which has an abundance of wildlife. One more reason to love Sac is its location. A 45-minute drive east and you are in a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevadas while 45 minutes more puts you at Lake Tahoe. Go one hour west and you are in Napa and one more hour past that you are in San Francisco. Sacramento is definitely one of America's most underrated cities.
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My friends always joke that the best part of Sacramento is that it is close to everywhere else. LOL.
I love that it could get up to a 100 during the day, but cool down to the 60s when the sun goes down.
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If it goes above 100 in the day, it is unlikely to get much lower than 70 at night, if even that low. I've lived here for 30 years, both with & without AC. Right now, however, we're enjoying a cooler than usual transition from spring to summer. Enjoy the mild weather while you can, for August will cook your brain.
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The most fun place to stay in San Francisco is the Delta King, a restored steamboat and onetime sister to the Delta Queen. It is adjacent to the railroad museum in old town Sacramento (also missing from your review) and next to the tourist boat that cruises up the Sacramento River.
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Great article, but wish the author had included more about the diversity of Sacramento (frequently listed as one of the most diverse city's in America). In lieu of going to Davis, for example, the author could have gone to some of the city's many ethnic enclaves where amazing, ethnic cuisine exists in abundance.
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I absolutely agree! We just came back from Thai Chili in Elk Grove — seriously the best Thai food I’ve had outside of Thailand. I realize it’s not in Sacramento proper, but it’s right off the 99. In Sacramento, you can find the best Pho on Stockton Blvd., ceviche tostadas that are to die for on Florin Road (Mexican place across from Florin Mall), an Ethiopian place on Broadway that has the most amazing honey wine, and soooo much more!
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You are so right! I'm surprised they didn't mention Koreana Plaza (aka KP), or Little Saigon...
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My wife and I spent a day and a night in Sacramento once visiting a friend of my wife from grad school. We were in the San Francisco area, so we decided to stop by. I really don't remember much about it. It was nice enough wandering around by the river. And I remember visiting the cabin where Mark Twain did not live. But I don't think we'd ever go back, except on the way to somewhere else.
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Doesn't sound like you were in Sacramento . . . .
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The Mark Twain cabin is in Sonora, 90 miles from Sacramento.
I would add our Wide Open Walls Art! Grab a delightful cup of coffee at the Mill or The Weatherstone in MidTown and search out the public art which adorns our town!
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Coffee/tea + waffles at The Mill should beat out Bacon and Butter, for sure.
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No mention of the California State Railroad museum?
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Or Guenther's!
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Or Vic's!
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Nice article. I'm glad you found Chando's. When I moved away from the Downtown area, I found I missed the variety of small restaurants all along Broadway where you could find a couple of ramen, Thai, fast food, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and brew pubs on one strip.
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As a Sacramentan I feel like there are a number of oversights here but most significantly is the failure to list Ginger Elizabeth -- which has the most amazing hot chocolate and macarons, and macaron ice cream sandwiches as well as fabulous truffles -- if you come in winter you must try the hot chocolate and if you come in summer the ice cream sandwiches are perfection.
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The first thing I think of in regards to Sacramento is the Railroad Museum, but you didn't even mention it. Or are you only interested in hipster stuff? :)
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The railroad museum is awesome. But that has been around for a while, and I think has appeared in previous Sacramento writeups. I appreciated this one highlighting some of the newer spots in town.
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Worth a look in the capital of the world’s fifth-largest economy is the State Capitol building itself. The dome is modeled on that of the U.S. Capitol and is more than 200 feet high (you can tour up into it). There is much to see inside, notably the restored old offices from 1906-1910 of the governor, secretary of state, and state treasurer, spaces of much gleaming, truly quaint dignity. And if you want to get your beer and burgers along some streets with a great Gold Rush era look, don’t miss Old Sacramento off of 9th and L. Make your way along the raised wooden sidewalks to the California State Railroad Museum (at 111 I Street), a wonderful tribute to the Iron Horse, filled with steam locomotives dating back to the 1860’s and classic mid-twentieth-century streamlined diesels like the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe. Go into classic sleeping, dining and mail cars, and in a couple of cases, sit at the controls of the engines themselves. A number of large murals and dioramas illustrate the history of how the West was really won. Among some of the admittedly honky-tonk storefronts in Old Sacramento is one standout, a treasure trove for vinyl record buffs – Brooks Novelty Antiques & Records at 1107 Firehouse Alley. Thousands of records in every music genre, but especially strong in classic rock, jazz, and film music. If you really need to hear the record before you buy it, someone at the front desk will play a bit of it for you. All of this is indeed out of another time
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My wife and I (midwest natives) moved to Sacramento six months ago after dabbling in the more vibrant, cosmopolitan - yet more expensive - cities on the coast.
In many ways, Sacto is the Midwest of California. When we tell people we live here, we often get derided for moving west and not being on the coast. This article is a smart tribute that might make it easier to explain, since, for many, Sac is a question mark on the map.
Honorable mention goes to Sacramento's airport. Easily accessible, strong WiFi, never long queues, modern + new terminals, great food. A relief after years spent fighting ORD/MDW, LAX, SFO, SEA.
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So true Nick, Sac definitely is the midwest of CA. I say that having grown up in suburban Kansas City. My husband and I now live, quite intentionally, in Placerville CA and if not for Sac airport would not have moved here (from the SF Bay Area).
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Nope. Sacramento is terrible. Please stay away.
My rent is high enough already.
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