The capital city of California, Sacramento is a renowned tourist destination. It has a lot to offer tourists by way of attractions, hotels, dining, shopping and much more. Sacramento was once one of the largest cities in California. In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill on the nearby American River, which sparked the 1849 Gold Rush. During the Gold Rush, Sacramento became the main distribution hub for gold and commodities. Sacramento is situated at the conflux of the American and Sacramento Rivers, which has always been beneficial for trade. The two major attractions of Sacramento are; Old Sacramento and the California State Capitol.
Old Sacramento in the day.
Old Sacramento, a preserved portion of the original city from the Gold Rush era, is the riverfront historic district, located west of downtown on the Sacramento River. The town is known for its Gold Rush-era buildings, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages. Old Sacramento is home to numerous museums, which includes the Sacramento History Museum, the Auto Museum and the state Railroad Museum, which offers excursion train rides. The town is features more than six blocks of Souvenir shops, which sell T-shirts, movie memorabilia, and antiques. Also, Old Sacramento is famous for its high-end restaurants and bars. River City Saloon, is one of the best restaurants located in the historic Old Sacramento district. It was one of the original houses of ill repute owned by Johanna Heigle, and is still famous for its award winning sandwiches. It is one of the must visit places in Old Sacramento.
Besides, the Sacramento Southern Excursion Train is an amazing tourist attraction in old Sacramento as it entertains visitors with a 6-mile, 40-minute-long train ride along the Sacramento River levee in vintage train cars. Then there are most captivating museums in the town, which includes history museums, a railroad museum, and an auto museum. The best part of the town is people enjoy walking on the wooden sidewalks, slurping on some local cuisine, shopping in the unique stores and taking horse-drawn carriage rides around the town. All in all this old historic district has it all to take you down the memory lane.
Places to visit in Old Sacramento
Here is a list of places you can visit while traveling to Old Sac…..
- The California State Railroad Museum:
It is the largest train museum in the country that contains railroad cars, engine and memorabilia of the history of the railroads in the USA. It is one of the major tourist attractions in the district. All you need to do is get in the cars and engines and see how in the past people used to commute.
- The Sacramento Zoo:
With over 600 animals from over 140 species, the Sacramento Zoo is spread in 14.5 acres. It is a wonderful place to visit in Sacramento, especially for children, it’s a true delight. So, don’t forget to visit the Sacramento Zoo, when you are in town.
- The Crocker Art Museum:
The first museum in the west, the Crocker Art Museum was opened in the year 1870. The museum is filled with hundreds of paintings and artwork. It offers one an unforgettable experience for the lifetime to cherish. With a beautiful cafe on the site, you will have enough to see, eat, and chat!
- The California Automobile Museum
The museum has more than 120 automobiles dating from 1885 to 2009. If you are fond of automobile and want to know more about the cars then this museum is a must visit. The cars displayed in the museum are stunning. You will have a great opportunity to see and learn about automobile history. And yeah, don’t miss to have and ice cream from the Vic’s Ice Cream Parlor, it will take you back to the soda fountain days. You will have a great experience that is guaranteed!
- Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
It was originally built by John Augustus Sutter in 1839. The walls of the Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park were 2 1/2 feet thick and up to 18 feet tall, but during the Gold Rush it was nearly destroyed. However, still the place makes for a perfect day out and learn more about the old west. Also, there is an excellent gift shop if by chance you want to have a keepsake of your visit, then you can buy books and artifacts here.
AND FINALLY…….
Besides these five places mentioned above you can visit Leland Stanford Mansion built by Sheldon Fogus in 1856 during the gold rush. It is a part of the State Park Historical Society. The mansion is filled with furniture and artifacts from the historic Gold Rush era. If you want to know more about California history, then this is the place.
Then you have wonderful carriage rides to take. The best will be to walk to the town and get the “feel” of this remarkable city. You will feel as if you have just stepped out of an old western movie. You will love the experience all in all.
Also, traveling to Sacramento is no problem as it can be conveniently accessed from anywhere in the state. For quicker access, the Sacramento International Airport is just 15-minutes north of downtown. Spring or fall is the best season to visit Sacramento. Sacramento is relatively a safe place for tourists. So, don’t wait much to plan your travel to Sacramento.
The place is a bucket-list-worthy! A great opportunity to learn more about Gold Rush history!!
