Sacramento: what to see in California's capital

Sacramento is 90 minutes from San Francisco and is unfairly skipped by most itineraries. It is the state capital, the birthplace of the Gold Rush, and a city of enormous trees and easy pace.

What to see

• Old Sacramento Waterfront: wooden sidewalks, 19th-century facades and paddle steamers on the river.
• California State Railroad Museum: one of the finest railway museums anywhere, with restored locomotives.
• California State Capitol: free guided tours of the statehouse and its park.
• Sutter's Fort: where the 1849 Gold Rush story began.
• Midtown: bars, murals and the region's best farm-to-table dining.

Smart combinations

Sacramento sits on the way to Lake Tahoe and the Gold Country towns (Placerville, Coloma). A two-day route linking capital, gold and mountains gives far more than an isolated day trip.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal. Summer often passes 100°F — plan outdoor mornings and museum afternoons.

How we run it

A morning departure, stops at Old Sacramento and the Capitol, lunch in Midtown and a late-afternoon return, always in an air-conditioned electric SUV with water on board.