Top Things To Do In Sacramento

When you’re building your Sacramento itinerary, a few items need to make it onto the bucket list. When you’re exploring all the best Sacramento activities, start with some of the below suggestions.

The best things to do near Sacramento include:

• Visit Downtown Sacramento, the central business district of the City of Sacramento
• Visit Folsom Lake, a reservoir with swimming beaches and boat ramps
• Watch the Sacramento Kings at the Sleep Train Arena
• Take a trip over Tower Bridge
• Visit Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, an imposing Victorian mansion that doubles as a museum

Sometimes your visit needs an Instagram post with an iconic landmark to truly feel complete. These tourist attractions should provide plenty of material for your inner foodie, history buff, or photographer.  

Popular attractions near Sacramento include:

• Head to Handle District, one of the city’s trendiest Midtown blocks
• California State Railroad Museum, a colorful 2-story museum documenting railroad history
• California State Capitol, an elegant museum documenting the history of California
• Take a visit to Old Sacramento State Historic Park
• Admire the beauty of the Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament

Every trip is different. Sometimes you have time to explore the entire city, and other times, you need to prioritize. If you have some spare time during your vacation, try adding a few of these Sacramento activities today.

Exciting activities near Sacramento include:

• Get the lobster mac and cheese at Station 16
• Stop and smell the roses at International World Peace Rose
• Stop by Scout Living, a vintage store
• Visit The California Museum in downtown Sacramento, home to the California Hall of Fame
• See the original Pony Express Terminal in Sacramento, a national historic landmark and home to the Wells Fargo History Museum

If you’re looking for things to do in Sacramento at night, you’re in luck. The city is filled with nighttime places to visit including dive bars, arcades, and taprooms.  

Nighttime activities near Sacramento include:

• Start the evening with an IPA at Track 7
• Try the specials at Hop Gardens Taproom
• Head to Revolutionary Wines, an urban winery
• Wander into B-Side, a friendly dive bar
• Head to Coin-Op Game Room, a Sacramento arcade bar

When looking for things to do in Sacramento with the kids, the fun activities should begin with Fairytale Town. Amusement parks, children’s museums, and the zoo are also good choices for filling the trip with kid-friendly activities.

Family-friendly things to do near Sacramento include:

• Ride the trains at Fairytale Town
• Interact with the exhibits at Sacramento Children’s Museum
• Meet the animals at Sacramento Zoo
• Take the kids on a quest with Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure - Sacramento
• Enjoy the rides at Sunderland Park, an amusement park with 9 rides

If you are looking for things to do indoors, there are 28 museums in Sacramento. Together, they cover everything from medical history, to the Gold Rush of California, art, and railroads. Art enthusiasts and history buffs will have no trouble exploring Sacramento’s diverse collections.

Sacramento things to do indoors include:

• Learn about airplanes at the Aerospace Museum of California
• Figure out how agriculture systems work at the California Agriculture Museum
• Learn more about the pharmaceuticals at Don & June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum
• Learn more about medicine at Museum of Medical History
• Visit Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park for a historic setting worth posting on Instagram

Even in a new city, you need to find a place to explore the great outdoors. Whether it’s whitewater rafting or exploring lush gardens, Sacramento has outdoor activities for you.

Active things to see in Sacramento include:

• Tour the rapids through American Whitewater Expeditions
• See the wildlife in Effie Yeaw Nature Center
• Explore the caverns with an authentic hour-long tour of Sutter Creek with Gabby’s Gold Rush Tours
• Cycle through the American River Bike Trail
• Hang out among the roses at McKinley Park