Sacramento, CA

Sacramento, CA is California’s state capitol and a lovely place to visit! It is famous for its racial diversity, confluence of two rivers, museums, and delicious food scene. This is a must stop when visiting California! Pro tip- when you visit- make sure to come between Wednesday and Sunday! Many restaurants and other local museums and businesses are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

2940 Freeport Blvd
Sacramento, CA

Sacramento has been deemed an “underrated coffee city”. There are so many amazing local coffee shops here! Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters is one of Sacramento’s top coffee shops. In fact, in 2023 they were one of ROAST Magazine’s Roaster of the Year finalists. They have 3 retail shops in the area and pride themselves in small batch roasting and direct relationships with their farmers.

2940 Freeport Blvd
Sacramento, CA

They offer coffee (including seasonal drinks), tea, baked goods, and speciality toasts. I tried the honeycomb latte with oat milk and the avocado toast on sourdough bread. Both items were absolutely delicious! The location I visited was airy with lots of natural light. The staff were friendly and welcoming.

216 O St
Sacramento, CA

Sacramento is home to 32 museums! Since I love art, I had to stop by the Crocker Art Museum. This museum is the oldest public art museum in the Western USA. The museum is open 10a-5p Wednesday to Sunday except Thursdays they open till 9pm. Admission is $15 for adults; $10 for military, seniors, and college students; and $8 for ages 6-17.

216 O St
Sacramento, CA

In 2010, the Crocker Art Museum underwent a major renovation, expanding it to three times the size. The museum buildings consist of the original Crocker Mansion and an additional contemporary building. There is art in both buildings and you can visit all of it.

216 O St
Sacramento, CA

I loved the contrast of the two buildings. The mansion felt majestic and ornate and the contemporary building felt airy with lots of natural light.

216 O St
Sacramento, CA

Make sure to stop by the museum store before you leave. There was this fun vending machine that I had to check out! It is an old cigarette dispenser that they converted to distribute art. You purchase a token at the desk, $5 each, and insert the token and choose which small artist you’d like to receive a piece from. Then you pull out the lever and the art pops out!

Sacramento, CA

The Tower Bridge is a famous landmark in Sacramento. It is a vertical lift bridge that spans across the Sacramento River, linking West Sacramento to the Capital. The bridge allows cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. You can walk along the side of the bridge, where I’m walking, and enjoy the river views. This trail is called the Sacramento River Bike Trail. I saw lots of bicyclists and other walkers enjoying the trail as well.

Old Sacramento

Sacramento, California, United States

This is the Old Sacramento Historic District. It is registered as a US National Historic Landmark District and is the heart of Sacramento. Nearly all of the buildings date back from the 19th century- make sure to walk around and enjoy the architecture. This area not only houses restaurants and shops, but also the California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento History Museum, California State Military Museum, and the Wells Fargo History Museum.

1020 Front St
Sacramento, CA

Although some of the souvenir shops in this area could be seen as touristy, Atrium 916 is a store you won’t want to miss! This hidden gem sells all local and upcycled art. They are a nonprofit organization and also have an art cafe where you can do a project and enjoy drinks. I love how this place supports the earth and their local community. They are open Wednesday to Sunday, 10a-6p.

1032 Florin Rd
Sacramento, CA

Dumpling Yo! just opened in 2023 and it’s a hidden gem. It’s located in an unassuming strip mall and is famous for their soup dumplings. I tried the pork soup dumplings and the deep fried string beans. Everything was so yummy! Prices are affordable, staff are kind, and the inside is unpretentious. They are open everyday but Tuesday from 11a-3p and 4:30p-8p.