Situated at the
confluence of
the Sacramento
River and
American River,
Sacramento is a
city of
contrast,
defying
expectations
that the capital
of a state must
be a bustling
metropolis
studded with
sleek steel and
glass towers.
There are
buildings
fitting that
description
clustered
downtown, but
the heart of
California's
capital city has
tree-shaded
streets lined
with elegant
Victorian homes.
Unlike most
major
metropolitan
areas that grew
from a civic
center,
Sacramento
started from
several small
communities that
grew together.
Today, within
the sprawling
metropolis, the
influence of
these original
settlements can
be seen
throughout the
city. Just a few
minutes
southeast of
Sacramento
International
Airport along
Interstate 5,
Sacramento
visitors are
rewarded with
sweeping views
of the river
meandering down
to the Delta.
Sacramento's
tiny settlement
grew explosively
with the
discovery of
gold.
Disappointed
gold-seekers
returned from
the gold fields
and founded the
surrounding
towns. Today,
the Sacramento
region extends
west from Davis
and Woodland to
the lovingly
preserved
frontier town of
Auburn,
northeast along
Interstate 80,
and to vacation
spots in the
Sacramento River
Delta.
Sacramento has
grown from a
tent city to the
capital of
California and
has never
forgotten its
colorful Gold
Rush roots.
Old
Sacramento/Downtown/Midtown
Since its humble
beginnings as a
tent city,
Sacramento's
fate has been
intertwined with
its namesake,
the Sacramento
River. Today,
Old Sacramento
is a 12-block
restored
neighborhood
between the
river and
Interstate 5 and
is a state
historic
district with
interesting old
stone and brick
buildings. There
is a world-class
comedy club, a
live theatre,
elegant
restaurants with
sweeping views
of the river,
candy stores,
costume shops,
pubs and
bookstores to be
found along the
canopied plank
sidewalks. The
focal point of
downtown is the
Downtown Plaza ,
reached from Old
Sacramento
through a
pedestrian
tunnel covered
with colorful
murals. This
open-air mall
(cooled with
suspended
“misters” during
the summer)
features a
megaplex movie
theater,
department
stores, a
bookstore,
specialty
clothing stores
and much more.
Plaza shoppers
are entertained
by strolling
musicians,
jugglers,
acrobats and
mimes.
Beyond the plaza
is the K Street
Mall , which
extends several
blocks to the
east and is home
to the Crest
Theatre . This
Art Deco venue
was a vaudeville
theater that has
been restored
and is now a
repertory cinema
featuring art
and foreign
titles. Further
down K Street is
the Esquire IMAX
Theatre with its
six-story tall
screen, several
vintage record
stores, novelty
shops, a blues
club and several
splashy
psychedelic
murals painted
on the dignified
walls.
The trees grab
the attention of
the first-time
visitor to the
Midtown
district.
Throughout the
city, there are
more than
250,000
varieties of
fruit, flowering
and palm trees.
Many of the
trees are huge
elms and oaks
planted by
homesick
settlers. In the
summers, when
temperatures
average in the
high 90s, the
cool shade of
the trees is
welcome. Along
the shaded
streets are
several
cutting-edge
off-Broadway
theaters, a
diversity of art
galleries, fine
and down-home
dining
establishments,
as well as
nightspots
catering to
every taste.
Regardless of
which part of
Sacramento you
plan to visit,
rest assured
that here along
the banks of the
river with its
Gold Rush past
you will find a
city with a
promising
future. It is,
after all, the
location of
bustling and
productive new
enterprises,
home to a major
university and
the seat of
government for
the great state
of California.
Here are just a
few popular
Sacramento
areas:
Land Park,
Winn Park, Arden
Park, Curtis
Park, Tahoe
Park, Fabulous
Forties, East
Sac, Oak Park
...
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