Golden State Getaway: Travel Tips for a Sacramento Adventure

The state of California has to be one of the USA’s pristine tourist locations. Beautiful nature, endless opportunities for sightseeing, rich history, amazing coastline, and lush beaches… Seriously, what’s not to like?

Well, if there is anything we can take out from this story is the fact that, when visiting the Golden State, most people tend to focus too narrowly on the La La Land, completely missing out on other jewels California has to offer.

We want to right these wrongs and use this article to showcase another diamond located on the USA’s western coast. That, of course, would be Sacramento, the capital of California and one of the rising stars on the stateside tourist constellation.

So, let us take a look at some of the tips that should make your stay in the Mento more joyful, stress-free, and engaging.

Pen down a list of things you want to check

Sacramento is a big city and going in unprepared for all the things it has to offer can make you get distracted and lose countless hours commuting while checking very few things worth seeing. So, make the list of most popular attractions you can’t miss while in the area like:

• Old Sacramento (beautiful XIX-century area stacked with restaurants, cafes, and museums)
• State Capitol
• California State Railroad Museum
• McKinley Park
• Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
• Sand Cove Park and Paradise Beach

Now when you have these must-see hitters make them your hubs and research the attractions located nearby so you can check them in the same run. Exploring the city in this methodical, area-by-area manner will save you a lot of time, money, and frustration.

Use public transport as much as possible

This is your Traveling 101. Public transport makes getting around unfamiliar cities safe, fast, and affordable. You are also producing less environmental impact than by renting a car, so there’s that as well. Fortunately, Sacramento is known for its versatile and reliable public transportation options in the form of a light rail and bus system operated by SacRT. Daily passes sit at a very affordable $7 and even if you decide to extend your stay for an entire month you can get unlimited rides for only 100 bucks. Since Sacramento is considered to be very bike-friendly, renting a bicycle presents another good option for travel.

Find suitable lodging

Once again, your options will be decided by the length of your journey. If you are paying a longer visit or staying in the city as a digital nomad, cheap apartments in Sacramento for rent are your go-to option. Shorter visits can be managed even with an affordable Airbnb located near the attractions you want to check. But, as a rule of thumb, you should aim for areas like Downtown Sacramento (good for first-time travelers), Midtown Sacramento (the cultural hub of the city), Old Sacramento, and Davis (great pick for families), since they are considered tourist-friendly and very secure.

Experience the local culture

And by that, we don’t think exclusively about the museums and popular landmarks. One city is only as interesting as people who call it their home, and in that regard, Sacramento doesn’t fall short. Ranging from Aftershock and GoldenSky music festivals to things like Sacramento Country Fair, Dia de los Muertos, and even Sacramento Banana Festival, all these events are the product of this city’s diverse and friendly population. If you really want to dig deep, save some money, and feel the real pulse of the city check the Folsom Boulevard Flea Market or the alternative Midtown Art District.

Try rich Californian cuisine

Sacramento’s diverse culture isn’t shining solely through its dense event lineup. There are a lot of good things to be said about Californian food, especially street food, as well. So, if you are in the right mood for a healthy dose of Americana mixed with strong Latin flavors, you will be glad to know that Sacramento is stacked with various tapas, fish tacos, burritos, burgers, and avocado-toast restaurants. Of course, if you really want to experience these Californian dishes in all their glory and countless flavors we suggest checking the small street vendors which can be found at practically any corner.

Make your vacation an active one

Sure, you will burn a lot of calories running from one attraction to another. But, it is good to know that when it comes to various sports activities, Sacramento offers so many attractive options it’s a shame to miss them out altogether. And we are talking about a near-limitless supply of activities like zip-lining, hiking, rafting, wakeboarding, rock climbing, and similar. And if all these things are too mainstream for you, you can even try your luck with rail/bikes. Of course, if you enjoy sports more as a spectator, the Sacramento Kings led by Fox and Sabonis can still put on a great home performance.

Conclusion

Well, we hope these couple of suggestions gave you a better idea of why Sacramento should find a way to your future travel checklist and outlined the ways to make your future stay there more fun and affordable. The rich coast of California is far more than a one-trick pony and Sacramento makes a perfect example of this claim. So, be ready to explore and stray away from traditional and a bit worn-out tourist behemoths. You will be surprised by all the wonders you may discover along the way.