Would I be able to loose my way in a city designed as a perfect grid? With streets named with the alphabet letters in perfect order and crisscrossed by numbered streets strictly following the natural numbers order, my goal seemed to be a difficult –…Read More

Would I be able to loose my way in a city designed as a perfect grid? With streets named with the alphabet letters in perfect order and crisscrossed by numbered streets strictly following the natural numbers order, my goal seemed to be a difficult – if not impossible task. At the moment I realized that, the city lost its magic. The eternal appeal of new places was not functioning here; serendipity seemed to be a foreign concept in Sacramento. There was no chance to enjoy this short visit to a still unknown city.

After a few minutes of such useless thoughts, I found myself still staring at the dull P and 10 junction signs. Back into reality, I began searching for adventures in a perfect grid. Maybe it would produce perfectly Cartesian adventures; I only knew for sure that radial adventures where not an option here. It was a Pythagorean kind of town.

Shocked by all the perfect squares and right angles surrounding me, it took me a few minutes to notice another striking feature. It was the early afternoon of a perfectly cloudless, pleasantly warm day, but I was walking alone. Had the imperfectly straight line drawn by my path scared away the inhabitants of the perfect grid? I never found out the answer to that, but the non-event helped me to explore the town under perfect conditions.

Wide, spotless sidewalks delimited perfectly asphalted roads. Perfectly trimmed trees showed the exact hue of green needed to create a pleasant contrast with the surrounding buildings. Soon, the spell was broken. I had stumbled upon a bookstore and came out of it with a new and shiny guide of Sacramento. I studied it at the nearest Starbucks and prepared a quick plan for the next hours. After all, my unplanned stop was turning out to be a meaningful one. Old Sacramento was the first logical stop and I began walking the few blocks separating us, lamenting only not to have emptied my camera’s memory cards before this trip. Serendipity and the weather were on my side.

After a short walk toward Old Sacramento, the initial Pythagorean shock began to evaporate; Sacramento was obviously nice, neat, and well organized. However, a few more trees providing organic shade would have improved the walking conditions. Old Sacramento can be entered at I and 3rd Streets or at Capitol Mall and Front Streets.

The historic district keeps alive the California’s Gold Rush era and had been designated thus as a State Historic Park. The settlement was founded by John Sutter in 1839; nine years later, gold was found nearby in Coloma and Sacramento began a fast period of growth. Saloons, hotels, a firehouse, a theater, a schoolhouse, bathhouses and many shops were built during its period as a gold trade center in the 1860s, and those had been reconstructed or restored for the joy of modern visitors. An unimaginable spot is the Pony Express Terminus (!) at the B.F. Hastings Building, built in 1853. If that wasn’t strange enough, the building housed for a while the California Supreme Court. Old Sacramento houses also the California State Railroad Museum, displaying original locomotives and cars from the 19th century; nearby are the Military Museum, the Schoolhouse Museum, the Wells Fargo History Museum and the Discovery Museum History Center.

However, I do prefer my first impression of a place being a result of seeing its surroundings, the place where people live and walk. The Sacramento River is the most clear and attractive feature delimiting Old Sacramento; the Tower Bridge at the end of the Capitol Mall marks another edge. Front Street is the first street next to the river and it offers several attractions. The Waterfront Park separates between Front Street and the railways and next to it is the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse, thus several attractions can be covered at once. Beyond the railways is the pier which hosts the much recommended Rio City Café. Nearby is the booth selling tickets to the Tour Boat. The Discovery Museum, the Eagle Theatre, and the Railroad Museum can be reached by walking along the piers until J Street, an easy stroll along the nineteenth century. A point of special interest is at the corner of I and 2nd Streets, where the raising of the streets can be observed. Early Sacramento was usually flooded and in 1862 the streets were raised with dirt dredged elsewhere.

Needless to add, such a place attracts myriads of merchants and businesses, which can be visited with the help of Horse Drawn Carriages. Other mobile attractions are the Weekend Excursion Steam Train and the River Otter Water Taxi. The names alone justify a visit. Close

SACRAMENTO is located at California, USA. It’s capital of the California state in USA. I love this place because there is something for adventure. There are delicious foods, hiking, camping, fishing and cheap hotels at that city. It’s a capitals city so everything is there…Read More

SACRAMENTO is located at California, USA. It’s capital of the California state in USA. I love this place because there is something for adventure. There are delicious foods, hiking, camping, fishing and cheap hotels at that city. It’s a capitals city so everything is there with peaceful locations. I would like to this place and I learn more time. There is international airport so if you come at few minute at downtown of Sacramento. You can hike, fishing, biking, and camping at Folsom Lake. Folsom Lake area are much more rush at summer time because all activities are held it’s bank and also a some great and peaceful area. If you travel anyplace and any time then must reserved our hotels rooms then visited that place because some time no rooms available that place then you create trouble at there. If you talk about Sacramento hotels then I know about all hotels some little more. But I suggest you always reserved by online and you get more offer with discount. All hotels of this city are so luxury but some are so cheap. His services are so equal and similar to each other but little more difference in his service but I am referring always-cheap hotels and discount hotels. What ever, I stayed luxury hotels at lowest rates. Hotel gave breakfast free but you take lunch and dinner then you pay it. Some time I ate street food and some time take dinner at our hotels restaurant. But always ate and taste number of food in outdoor. Second day in my trip, MY friend and me went to Folsom lake for fishing. Hire a fishing boat near this bank. In this lake have located salmon fish. But other big fish located there. Every summer season most of people or visitor come this lake for fishing. Both of us hire camping bus for few dollars for three days. Some are called RV. In this RV have adjustment all amenities so if you catch fish then you will make a delicious dish with fish. Both of us went to deep water in the lake and drop our fishing rode. Number of fish look at water because water was so clear. Not more wait us. At few hours we catch four fish at lake. After fishing, we watch near the lake area by the boat. Boat guys were so kind and tell everything to lake and his near locations. After one hour, we came our camp RV. Both of us make two type of dish with fish. He belongs to India so make a chilly fish curry. He is my best friend last two years. Both of us are working at same office at similar field. He is a good guy and I love his hand make food. Second dish his to fried at fry pan with some oil and chilly powder. I was taste so its so crunch and yummy. After made dish we went to eat with little more wine. Fried fish was yummy with wine. It was really so delicious lunch in my life. First time both of us come to there.
We decided to go for hiking near the park and return at evening. We did it. In our hiking we enjoyed all time in ways and locations. I love hunting. But I was two fish for dinner so did not hunting. But that day was so adventure to us. Three days enjoyed at near the lake and nearest locations. After three days came back to our hotel rooms. Next three days we went to watched his zoo, Art Crocker Museum, California State Capitol. Cesar Chavez Park, Sutter's Fort, State Indian Museum. Also watched The American River Cycling Trail at that city so full of entertainment city for all visitors. Second last days were second Saturdays so I went to art galley. It was so wondering to us. Taste the food at Dos Coyotes Border Café, Luigi's Pizza Parlor, Crepeville, Pieces Pizza by the Slice, all the restaurant are in our budget but his meal was too great. At Saturday’s night we would go to The Depot for drinking and entertainment. Last day we went to his shopping market and purchase some great things to the market. And next day we came to our home.
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While the Pony Express and stagecoaches were effective at cutting the journey time to the east, the dream of 19th Century California was a railroad link across the continent. This was not going to be easy. The Sierra Nevada posed a big enough obstacle to…Read More

While the Pony Express and stagecoaches were effective at cutting the journey time to the east, the dream of 19th Century California was a railroad link across the continent. This was not going to be easy. The Sierra Nevada posed a big enough obstacle to pioneer wagon trains; how could a railway possibly be cut through such terrain? One man had an unshakeable belief that it could be done: an engineer from New York called Theodore Judah. From an office in the Hastings Building in Sacramento (which also housed the Wells Fargo bank and still stands today) he set about raising backing for his enterprise.

Even in those days, California was a land of venture capitalists. Judah got his backing from a group of four wealthy businessmen: Leland Stanford (later state governor and university founder), Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins and Collis Huntingdon. They formed the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and on January 8th 1863 work was begun.

The railroad was built mainly on the backs, and over the dead bodies, of Irish and Chinese labourers. The Irish, being white and relatively politically savvy, were occasionally able to insist on decent working conditions, but the Chinese were worked mercilessly and therefore should be given most of the credit for the achievement. Cutting through the Sierras was a phenomenal task, and on some days progress was measured in inches rather than miles. Nevertheless, the project was completed. On May 10th 1869 the Central Pacific met up with the Union Pacific at Promontory Summit in Utah for the formal driving in of the Golden Spike that would anchor the last rail in place.

The Golden Spike ceremony is the most famous event in American railway history. Many photographs exist of the event, showing Stanford and his friends shaking hands with their colleagues from Union Pacific. Only one photograph, by Andrew Russell, shows the hard working Chinese Labourers. The fine painting by Thomas Hill (more famous for his Yosemite landscapes) that hangs in the State Railroad Museum even manages to include one man who was not there, for all that he deserved to be.

Theodore Judah fell out with his backers shortly after construction began. He decided to return home by sea to New York to seek additional funds so that he could buy out his more wealthy colleagues. However, during the crossing of Panama he contracted yellow fever and died.

One of the most famous features of Old West is the Pony Express. This courier service ran from St. Joseph, Missouri to California; a distance of almost 2000 miles that included crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains. The riders would cover the route in 10 days.…Read More

One of the most famous features of Old West is the Pony Express. This courier service ran from St. Joseph, Missouri to California; a distance of almost 2000 miles that included crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains. The riders would cover the route in 10 days. The service began in June 1860 when the western terminus was at Folsom. From there the mail was transferred by train to Sacramento and thence it travelled by riverboat to San Francisco. In June 1861 the service was extended all the way to Jack London Square in Oakland, just across the bay from San Francisco. For all its fame, however, the service was not a financial success and it lasted only another 6 months before closing down.

Pony Express riders were held to high moral standards to ensure their effectiveness in delivering the mail quickly and efficiently. Their oath of office includes promises not to swear, drink alcohol or fight with other employees. Some versions of the oath I have seen also include prohibitions on gambling and cruelty to animals, though whether these are genuine or simply California's penchant for political correctness reinterpreting history I cannot say.

At Folsom the Pony Express terminus was the Wells Fargo Assay Office. This building, together with buildings on the site of the old stables, has now been converted into a museum. Exhibits cover the Gold Rush, Native Americans and Chinese immigration as well as the Pony Express service itself. You can find the museum web site here.

Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California. The people are generally warm and friendly. You can get in by Plane, train, car and bus. You can get around by foot, light rail and car rail. Some of the places to see are Crocker Art…Read More

Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California. The people are generally warm and friendly. You can get in by Plane, train, car and bus. You can get around by foot, light rail and car rail. Some of the places to see are Crocker Art Museum, California State Capitol, Cesar Chavez Park, Sacramento Zoo, Sutter's Fort, State Indian Museum, Folsom Lake. The Jazz Jubilee, The American River Cycling Trail, Second Saturdays Art Walk, Sacramento Kings, Iceland Skating Rink are the some things to do in sacramento. I found this place very interesting so I decided to go there. I am going there with my small family and for staying in hotel I searched the net for cheap hotels. I found a site which gave me all the information about the cheap sacramento hotels. I will stay in this hotel and enjoy a lot his services. They will pamper us by there facilities and services. Close

You must try white water rafting on the American River. There are several rental places at Sunrise Blvd. on the river. The prices are reasonable and all equipment is included. Go in August once the river starts to calm down from the…Read More

You must try white water rafting on the American River. There are several rental places at Sunrise Blvd. on the river. The prices are reasonable and all equipment is included. Go in August once the river starts to calm down from the runoff from the Sierra's and for goodness sake, always wear a lifevest. My daughter's girl scout troop went 2 years in a row. These were 11 and 12 year olds. They thoroughly enjoyed it.Close

Okay, you basketball fans! If you're ever traveling to Sacramento area when the Kings are playing at Arco Arena, you MUST attend the game! I don't care what you have to pay for the ticket! The Sacramento fans are the best in the…Read More

Okay, you basketball fans! If you're ever traveling to Sacramento area when the Kings are playing at Arco Arena, you MUST attend the game! I don't care what you have to pay for the ticket! The Sacramento fans are the best in the nation! The games are so exciting and the atmosphere is electric! Every game sells out..no joke! The players get along and have fun unique personalities. Chris Webber has a million dollar smile and is the backbone of the team. Mike Bibby, Bobby Jackson and Hedo Turkoglu are fantastic players. Vlade Divac is loved by all and is such a workhorse. Peja Stojakovic is a huge talent (and a cutie too). Scot Pollard is another huge contributor. His hair is different for every game too. There's NOTHING boring about this team. Rick Adelman is a great coach and the Maloof Brothers are the best owners. They're not full of themselves and they truly enjoy the team. The team is so fun and it's something you'll not regret paying for. The Sacramento Kings (# 1 in the Pacific NBA as of today 05/16/02) are one of our finest assets! They're going to take down the LAKERS beginning this Saturday for the final round of the Western playoffs.Close

SMF - Sacramento International Airport has two terminals. Terminal A has 12 gates, with service from American West Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Jet Blue, and Southwest Airlines. There are twenty-two restaurants and shops and a postbox at the bottom floor. There…Read More

SMF - Sacramento International Airport has two terminals.

Terminal A has 12 gates, with service from American West Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Jet Blue, and Southwest Airlines. There are twenty-two restaurants and shops and a postbox at the bottom floor. There are also three children's play areas (one on the Delta/America West/Continental Concourse and two on the Southwest Concourse).

Terminal B, with service from Alaska Airlines, Aloha Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Horizon Air, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and United Express. There's another postbox in front of the terminal between B1 and B2.

Ground transportation includes taxis, bus, door-to-door shuttle, vans and limousine.

Yolobus provides hourly service (only every two hours on Sunday) to Sacramento city centre. Davis and Woodland buses pick up in the middle of the central islands in front of each terminal.