Your Ultimate Guide to Downtown Sacramento Attractions

Let’s Explore the Exotic City of Trees—Downtown Sacramento!

Sacramento holds the title of California's capital for its historical significance. During the gold rush era, it was a prime location for miners due to its proximity to the Sierra Nevada Range and the Pacific Coast. Today, Sacramento's Downtown area has evolved into a vibrant tourist destination blending modernity, history, and culture seamlessly. Known as Downtown Sac, this district showcases an ideal mix of arts and history. Whether you're a history enthusiast seeking a glimpse of the past or a coffee aficionado craving a caffeine fix, Sacramento promises an array of unforgettable experiences. So, let’s explore the best things to do in Downtown Sacramento!

Taking a walk by the side of Old Sacramento Waterfront is a great feast for the senses. Treat your eyes to truly scenic vistas, perfectly capturing the city's essence, or whisk away in the delights of candy shops, souvenir shops, and stores alike such as Stage Nine Entertainment or G. Williker’s Toy Emporium or you can even get yourself gun gag gifts or a Halloween costume at Evangeline’s.

If getting lost in artistic treasures is more of your thing, Crocker Art Museum is at your service to please you with its over 25,000 art pieces. This oldest art museum in the Western United States is the kernel of Sacramento’s history as well as a highly acclaimed art destination. The addition of the Teel Family Pavilion of 125,000 sq. ft. in 2010 to gallery space and the exhibition gave this place a boost.

Explore the facility housing permanent artwork collections from around the world, including pieces from California dating back to the Crocker Family, the museum's founders, and the Gold Rush period. Discover a treasure trove of culture, including American and African ceramics, as well as European, Asian, and Oceanic art.

History fans will surely love Capitol Park which has been serving as a government seat of California State. Explore the museum in this park that features California artistic depictions, state artifacts, governors’ portraits, antiques, and murals. Swap the historical backdrop with a nature setting at the rest of the park and enjoy plentiful trees blooming with flowers.

Head to the bustling heart of Midtown and explore Fremont Park, perfect for picnics and hosting regular events like the Labor Day Weekend, Chalk It Up Festival, and craft markets. Experience the fastest-evolving and trendiest Midtown, filled with highly-rated restaurants, trendy bars, and boutique retail shops. Not to mention this area has an exceptional nightlife scene that’s appeals to the nocturnal and of course, one of the best things to do in Sacramento.

If you have kids in tow, there's no better place to visit than the California State Railroad Museum. Here, everything is ready to excite your interest and bewitch your senses with their 225,000 plus sq. ft. of exhibition space.  Located at the northern brink of Old Sacramento, this museum hosts innumerable restored trains, deeply rooted in ideal histories with nice interiors.

But there's more to it! Exhibits on education, toy trains, and the model railroading world along with their Women role and Chinese workers in constructing a transcontinental railroad make this spot of the best-loved Sacramento places to visit

Fairytale Town in Sacramento invites families and their little adventurers to explore over 25 whimsical places straight from storybooks. Kids can immerse themselves in their favorite fairy tales and meet furry friends like Mary’s Little Lamb, Three Little Pigs, and Peter Rabbit. While it may seem cheesy for grown-ups, it's pure magic for the little ones. Plus, enjoy kid-friendly live music and theater at the Outdoor Mother Goose Stage and Children's Theatre.

Experience an adrenaline-pumping river rafting adventure, timed perfectly each year based on the spring snowmelt from the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains. The American River Parkway spans 4,800 acres and 32 miles, boasting over a dozen access points to the unparalleled American River. With parks, fishing spots, and lively beaches, there's something for everyone. Enjoy paved pathways perfect for joggers, roller skaters, and cyclists, stretching from Folsom Lake’s Beals Point to Discovery Park. For more thrills, explore dirt trail branches off the main parkway.

Consider adding Downtown Commons, affectionately known as DOCO, to your to-do list. It is a lively, blended entertainment and shopping hub located near the Golden 1 Center. The 2010 revitalizations blossomed this area into a premier destination for dining and shopping activities. Catching some excitement of a concert or a game at the Golden 1 Center, known as a proud home of the NBA's Sacramento Kings, is one of the best things to do Downtown Sacramento.

In a nutshell, Downtown Sacramento is a great walkable neighborhood filled to the brim with the liveliest attractions. So, make sure that you explore the above-mentioned places to visit in Sacramento, ensuring you have a great time!