Other than being the capitol of California, the city of Sacramento is surrounded by an ever-changing landscape. Think: pumpkins and apples in the fall, sunflowers in the summer. It is also filled with colorful public art, history, and great restaurants. So today’s article features a weekend in Sacramento, CA guide. After having visited Sac 3 times, I determined that I had to share some tips from my experience!
Weekend in Sacramento, CA Guide
DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO
Capitol of Sacramento
The state capitol is a must when visiting Sac. While the exterior reminds me of the White House, the interior is equally impressive. You can check out the museum located inside, as well as take a walk through where the California government is run. Fun fact: Sacramento wasn’t California’s original capitol, and the building wasn’t officially open until 1874.
- Location: 10th and L Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Hours: Daily 9 AM – 5 PM
- Admission: Free
- Tours: Available every hour
Capitol Park
Around the capitol is a ginormous park that makes for a lovely walk or picnic. A couple of spots to checkout within the park include the World Peace Rose Garden, the California veterans’ memorial. There is also a tiny cactus garden next to the rose garden.
- Location: 10th and L Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814
Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament
While downtown, poke your head into the Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament. Whether or not you’re religious, the architecture is absolutely amazing.
- Location: 1017 11th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Tours: Wed at 12:40 PM, Sunday at 10 AM & 12 PM
Leland Stanford Mansion
I just loved the Leland Stanford Mansion. I felt like all the photos I took didn’t do the spot justice. Everything from the checkered floor, to the rose garden, to the architecture was breathtaking. It is a great example of California Victorian architecture. It was originally built in 1856. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to visit the inside (only accessible with tours). I’ll have to add it to my to do list for next time!
- Location: 800 N St, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily
- Admission: free, tour required
River Walk Park
River Walk Park is perfect when you want nature in the city. There is quite a bit of wildlife, you can spot lots of locals running and walking their dogs.
- Location: 651 2nd St, West Sacramento, CA 95605
- Pro Tip: It is walking distance to the Tower Bridge & Old Town.
Tower Bridge
Locals joke that the Tower Bridge is the real golden gate bridge due to the color. It is a vertical lift bridge that opened in 1935. You can read more about the history of the bridge here.
- Location: 100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
Old Sacramento
Old Sacramento dates back to the California Gold Rush era. It is registered as a National and California Historic Landmark. You’ll feel like you took a step into history with the cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and historical buildings. The area features quite a few museums, shops, and restaurants.
- What to do in Old Town:
- Munchies for salt water taffy
- California Railroad Museum
- Sacramento Historical Museum
- Schoolhouse Museum
- Carriage rides
Crocker Art Museum
On my last trip, everyone I talked to said that the Crocker Art Museum was an absolute must-visit in Sacramento. They were so right! The museum features a mix of California and European art. You can read more about the exhibits and the history here. My favorite part was that the historic building connects to the modern museum to form one big site. I loved the contrast of history mixing with modernity.
- Location: 216 O Street Sacramento, CA 95814
- Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM, Thursday 10 AM – 9 PM
- Admission: Varies, but adults are $12. Check out the prices here.
- Pro Tip: In the summer when it can get to the 100s, this is a great spot to spend the afternoon.
MIDTOWN
The Midtown neighborhood is my all-time favorite part about visiting Sacramento. Think: amazing public art, bright murals, and trendy coffee shops. It’s Portland meets Southern California (if that combo makes sense). This neighborhood is especially ideal if you’re a fan of Instagrammable spots. Check out this guide for Sacramento murals, some of which we visited!
- Recommended stops:
- Fuller Poles – 16th St & Q St, Sacramento, CA 95811
- Flamingo House – 2315 K St, Sacramento, CA 95816
- R Street Corridor
- Wal Public Market
- Pro Tip: Other than visiting R Street (mentioned below), I would walk around I Street through K Street – that area features quite a few adorable shops and restaurants.
R Street
R Street, also known as the R Street Corridor is a pretty long street filled with shops, restaurants, and public art. If you like vintage clothing, there are some cool stores too. If you’re looking to explore for part of the day, start at the Wal Public Market, and make your way down the street. You’ll run into a lot to look at!
- Recommended Stops:
- Wal Public Market & mural (mentioned below)
- “We’re all in this together” mural – located across from West Elm on 1610 R St #160, Sacramento, CA 95811
Wal Public Market
Wal Public Market feels like the Brooklyn of Sacramento. It features a coffee shop, restaurant, vintage shops, and more. I particularly like the Old Gold Vintage shop and Camellia Coffee.
- Location: 1104 R St, Sacramento, CA 95811
- Hours: Mon – Sat 8 AM – 9 PM, Sun 11 AM – 6 PM
FOOD & DRINK
Coffee
I wrote an entire blog post about the most Instagrammable Coffee Shops in Sacramento , and all my favorites are listed there! A couple of quick mentions –
- Temple Coffee (all over the city)
- The Mill (Midtown)
- Camellia Coffee Roasters (Midtown)
A couple of other spots I loved and would highly recommend:
- Hot Italian Pizza (Midtown)
- Revolution Wine & Kitchen (Midtown)
- Hook & Ladder (Midtown)
A few spots I haven’t been but locals recommended:
- Mother (Downtown)
- Capitol Garage (Downtown)
- Canon (East Sacramento)
Thank you for reading my Weekend in Sacramento, CA Guide. Looking for more Sacramento tips? Visit the Sacramento Tourism Board site!
