Visit Sacramento, California

WELCOME TO MY HOME TOWN BEEEETCHES! Ready for a whole blog on what to eat, see and visit in Sacramento?

I have no idea why I didn’t make this post sooner. I guess I don’t view Sacramento as a ~travel destination~ because it’s more of a ~visit Grandma destination~ for me. But nonetheless, SacTown is up and coming and for whatever reason, people are visiting. Or they are just politicians traveling to the capital to pass laws ‘n stuff.

I have compiled a list below of all my fav things to do, eat and see when you visit Sacramento! Enjoy!

What to Do in Sacramento:

Ah. The question I asked myself everyday when I lived there. Except I was under 21. And still in high school. If nothing on this list peaks your interest, I have included a list of day trips from Sac.

• Sacramento Zoo – Great with or without kids.
• Attend a Kings Game – GO KINGS!
• River Cruise on the American River – We’ve used Hornblower Cruises and had a blast drinking and cruising up and down the river.
• Walk around Midtown – Midtown is FULL of cute boutiques, restaurants, cafes, bars and nightlife
• Sutter’s Fort – For the history nut. Go see where gold was discovered!
• Underground Tour – Take a tour UNDER Sacramento
• Visit the Capitol Building – Most people think the state capital is in San Francisco or Los Angles but surprise! It’s in Sac. Take a tour or just stare at it from the outside.
• Railroad Museum – Another great place to take kids. Or if you are like Sheldon Cooper and just love trains.
• Sunsplash Waterpark– I grew up going here every summer. They also have mini golf, laser tag and an arcade.
• Beer Bike Tour– Grab your friends and bike around town while sippin’ on some brew.
• Walk around Old Sac – This is one of my favorite things to do. Explore the shops, eat taffy at the candy shops and wander the streets.
• Crocker Art Museum – recommended for those who are cultured or like to appear cultured.
• Tower Bridge – For that perfect Sacramento insta
• Attend a River Cats game – If they are playing, GO!
• State Fair – Another fun thing to do in summer.

Day Trips from Sacramento:

My favorite thing about Sacramento is how fricken close it is to everything. when you visit Sacramento you can easily take short day trips. In two hours you can be at the beach or the snow. I grew up constantly going to San Francisco, Tahoe or anywhere close just for the day.

• South Lake Tahoe – (2-2.5 hours) My favorite place on EARTH. I will make a post solely on all the things to do in Tahoe. If you want a scenic drive, take East HWY 50 all the way there. Walk around the shops, play in the snow, ice skate in Heavenly, go on hikes, tan on the beach, boat around the lake. No matter what season you go, the lake will be cold AF. But it will be a gorgeous blue. #keeptahoeblue

• Truckee– (1-2 hours) A little town at the top of Tahoe. Stop at Donner Lake for a small hike before you hit the town. You can also visit North Star, Squaw Valley and Tahoe City.
• San Francisco- (2-2.5 hours) You can do SF in a day if you wish, but it’s such a fun city that I would try and spend more than one day.
• Apple Hill– (30 mins – 1 hour) I love, love, love Apple Hill. If you are visiting in the fall, you HAVE to go. My favorite spots are High Hill Ranch and Boa Vista. Make sure you try the caramel apples, apple donuts, apple cider and apple pie. There is TONS to do and it’s breathtakingly gorgeous.

• Santa Cruz– (2-2.5 hours) – If you are in the mood for the beach! Santa Cruz is the perfect mix of beach and mountains. The water is usually pretty cold year round but it doesn’t stop the surfers. Check out the Boardwalk too!
• Other Beach Towns– Monterey, Carmel by the Sea, Half Moon Bay, Bodega Bay, Dillion’s Beach, Capitola, Pacifica, Point Reyes. My friends and I would leave early in the morning, pack snacks and spend the day driving up and down HWY 1.

• Placerville– (30 mins – 1 hour) Main Street Placerville looks like it was taken straight out of a movie. It’s quaint and cute. I say stop by and walk around on your way to Tahoe or Apple Hill.
• El Dorado National Forest– (1-2 hours) – SO SO SO SO many good hikes. My friends and would spend the weekends hiking and camping around here. I absolutely love it. Bassi Falls and Lover’s Leap are two of my favorites. Check out other trails here.
• Coloma– (30 mins – 1 hour)- Go see where gold was discovered! Growing up my dad would take us mining in the river. When I was older my friends and I would spend the day swimming in the river. My friends would also go white water rafting.
• Six Flags Magic Mountain– (1-2 hours)- I spent a good majority of summers here too. Great rides and lots of fun. It’s no Disneyland, but what is, honestly.
• Napa– (1-2 hours) – Where the boujee people go wine tasting. Napa is one of the most famous wine counties in the world but it can be expensive. Great for couples or big groups. I recommend going on a tour with a driver. Then no one has to DD!
• Amador Wine Country– (1-2 hours)-So if you are less boujee, and like to taste wine for free, I recommend Amador. We go here ALL the time. The wine is just as good and it’s more low key. Bring snacks!

• Reno, Nevada – People consider it a mini Las Vegas. If you don’t want to drive to Tahoe but still want to gamble, Reno is the place for you.

Where to Eat in Sacramento:

Sacramento “The City of Trees” “The Farm to Fork Capital of the World”(hooookay). So they claim. I liked city of trees better but whatever, no one asked me! Sacramento surprisingly has some really good food options. When I visit home all I want to do is eat. I make plans according to restaurants honestly.

Cafe/ Bakery’s in Sacramento:

• Identity Coffee– Cafe
• Temple Coffee – Cafe
• Milk Money– Cafe
• Phillz Coffee– Cafe *Favorite
• Camellia Coffee Roasters – cafe
• Broadway Coffee Co– Cafe
• Boy’s Bakery– Cafe
• BAD Bakers– Bakery

Brunch/Lunch/Dinner in Sacramento:

• Paragary’s – Brunch/lunch/dinner *Favorite
• Pushkin’s– Brunch/lunch/dinner
• Oak Haus – Breakfast/lunch/dinner
• Sellands – Lunch/Dinner *Favorite
• Mendocino Farms– Lunch *Favorite
• Squeeze in– Lunch/ Dinner (Was featured on DDD)
• Fire Wings– Lunch/Dinner
• Firehouse– Fine Dining
• Iron Horse Tavern– Brunch/lunch/dinner
• Station 16 Seafood Restaurant– Seafood
• Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co – Lunch/Dinner
• Federalist Public House– Food/ beer garden
• Mezcal Grill– Mexican
• Ramen Kodaiko– Ramen
• Kru – Sushi/ Japanese

Wine/Beer in Sacramento:

• Bailarin Cellars– Wine bar
• Punch Bowl Social– Bar/ Karaoke
• LowBrau – Beer hall/ small bites *Favorite
• The Bank– Tap room/ small bites
• Camden Spit & Larder – Bar/ small bites
• Alaro Brewery– Brewery
• Mulvaney’s – Irish Pub
• The Barn|Drake’s Brewing– Tap room/ brewery
• Revolution Winery & Kitchen– Wine bar/ Small bites

Dessert in Sacramento:

• Viks– Ice cream parlor and sandwich shop *Favorite
• Gunthers– Ice cream parlor
• Leatherby’s– Ice cream parlor *Favorite
• Rick’s Dessert Diner– Dessert
• Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates– Chocolatier
• Devine Gelateria – Gelato
• Osaka-Ya – Japanese dessert
• 8° Fahrenheit Ice Cream – dessert/ rolled ice-cream

Where to Party in Sacramento:

I wouldn’t say you should visit Sacramento for the poppin’ nightlife, but it has some fun casual spots. When we go out we either hit up Midtown in Sacramento or Sutter Street in Folsom. It’s more hipstery and laid back, which I enjoy. I’ll list my favorites below.

• LowBrau– I mentioned this place above, but it’s my favorite bar in midtown
• Goldfield Trading Post – If you want a good ol’ country bar!
• Faces– Best gay bar in town
• Badlands– 2nd best gay bar in town
• The Depot– Bar with games
• Dive Bar– Literally has mermaids swimming about. REAL mermaids

Honestly, I’m more likely to have a beer and play trivia at a random place then to hit the clerb.

And that concludes my Visit Sacramento hometown throw-down round up. Hope you enjoy SacTown! Or at least try to!

If you enjoyed by blog on what to visit in Sacramento, I highly recommend checking out some of my others on Portland, Austin, New York City or my ULTIMATE California bucket list!

BYEEEEEEEEEEEE.