Do you have only
one day to travel but want it to be to be a history packed experience? Then load up the kids and head to downtown
Sacramento. If you're in town on a
weekday you can start were it all began at Sutter's Fort where support gold was
first discovered and started the California gold rush.
Your second stop
should be right down the street to visit the Capitol building of the state of
California. If you're making this trip
on a Saturday or Sunday when Sutter Fort is closed, don't worry make your first
stop the capital building. You can catch
up on state history by visiting the museum in the basement.
Before entering
the Capitol building is sure to leave your knives liquids, etc. in the car
because entering the state capital is just like going through airport security
emptying your pockets and passing through a metal detector.
There is a free
tour every hour on the hour. For the more
adventuresome you are free to wander around by yourself in the capital on your
own. There are plenty of signs with
history, explanations, etc. to make your self guided tour a meaningful learning
experience.
Next up is old town Sacramento
just go about six blocks towards the river there are plenty of signs. There is an abundance of metered parking if
you have the patience to find a spot and want to go back and read the meters
occasionally. I find it much less
stressful to park in the city parking structure (research what side of
town). Be sure to get a parking
validation from a store or restaurant to get five dollars off your final
parking.
There's plenty to see and do in
old town there arelots of restaurants and shops with very eclectic shopping as
well as the typical touristy T-shirt in key chain stores. Dining goes all the way from sandwich shops
to four or five-star eateries.
Walk over to the river and check
out the restored paddle wheeler hotel (what's the name). Oftentimes there will be a tall clipper ship
or other historical vessel tied up alongside the dock. If you'd like some more museum time there is
a railroad museum and the military Museum.
There are plenty of candy stores several of which specialize in salt
water taffy. If you are on a budget and
want to skip the museums, no worries as old town reeks of history and there are
plenty of historical plaques on buildings fill you in on the color and history
plus the Wells Fargo bank has a small but free and informative museum..
Between the Capitol building and
old town there's plenty to keep you busy for most of the day.
