A brief guide to some of the more popular tourist attractions in Sacramento.
When visiting Sacramento, a trip to the Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a great way to explore the city. Old Sacramento offers you nearly 30 acres highlighting some of Sacramento s oldest businesses and museums. The older part of the city houses some of the best dining and entertainment offered in Sacramento and is a favorite destination for local and visitors alike. Here are a few of the interesting destinations within Old Sacramento:
The California State Railroad Museum-Discover the history of trains and railroad travel in the United States at one of the largest and oldest museums of its kind, offering visitors the opportunity to view rare and sometimes one of a kind trains. In addition to the museum itself, visitors will enjoy a ride on a working steam locomotive that takes you from one end of the old city to the next.
The Discovery Museum-Enjoy a hands-on experience at a natural history and science museum that encourages both children and adult to explore science in an interactive environment. The museum s Nature Discovery Room offers visitors a chance to view and learn about the wide variety of wildlife living at the nature center.
The Crocker Art Museum-The museum was established in the 19th century by Sacramento s prestigious Crocker family and remains one of the cities premiere art museums. The museum houses collections from all over the world and includes paintings and art by some of California s most prolific artists. The museum offers a vast array of permanent exhibits including a remarkable ceramics exhibit that is houses nearly 2000 pieces of pottery from all over the world.
When visiting Sacramento, vacationers should make a stop at the California State Capitol Museum. This is an actual working museum as it still serves as the workplace for many of California s officials. Open year-found, the Capitol offers galleries that focus on California history and culture in this historic building. The gardens surrounding the Capitol encompass over 40 acres of land and offer a look at some of Sacramento s native flora and numerous memorials. The garden is particularly famous for its rose garden. This elegant garden is home to nearly 700 rose bushes and draws thousands of visitors each year.
The oldest settlement in the Sacramento area was Sutter s Fort and was the destination of the ill-fated Donner party. The fort, founded in the early 1800 s by Swiss immigrant John Sutter, flourished throughout its early years. With the advent of the California gold rush, many of the forts workers left in search of gold. Falling into disrepair, the fort was eventually abandoned completely. The main building has been renovated and remains today for visitors to explore this unique piece of Sacramento history.
Sacramento s temperate climate allows visitors the opportunity to enjoy this historically rich city year-round. A visit to the State Capitol offers vacationers a unique look into California s diverse history and a chance to enjoy the local attractions.
