Sacramento holidays

California begins here, as Sacramento City proudly states, and there’s no missing that this is Gold Rush town. You can see 200-year-old preserved buildings and the fort where gold was first struck, which really bring the world-changing history of this city to life. But Sacramento is so much more than gold.

You can take a lantern-led tour at the Old City Cemetery, or see a B-Movie at the Crest Theatre. Tour the seat of government in the Western state at the State Capitol Museum, where the history of California rests in the shadow of active government buildings. Take the little ones to Fairytale Town or spend an afternoon at Sacramento Zoo. Enjoy the thrill of the NBA at the Golden 1 Centre, or soak up the atmosphere of college football at Hornet Stadium. Prefer to try an activity? Cycle along the American River Bike Trail, or take a raft onto the Sacramento waters.

Take a walk through Old Sacramento along the bustling banks of the Sacramento River, then pass through the original 1850s business district and explore the buildings the Gold Rush built. Search for ghosts in the Eagle Theatre, the first in California. Visit the famous Pony Express Terminal, then step aboard the Railway Post Office at the California State Railway Museum. 

Looking for some culture? Browse the galleries of the longest continually operating art museum in America’s west at the Crocker Art Museum and discover ceramics from around the globe. Cross Tower Bridge, explore the history of the car at the California Automobile Museum, and let the Sacramento History Museum show you the city beyond the Gold Rush.

Step back from the river and explore Sacramento’s vibrant Midtown. Browse boutiques, peruse galleries, and watch a show at B Street Theatre, a beloved Sacramento institution. Grab a coffee and a cake, or immerse yourself in the city’s cosmopolitan dining scene, where Californian classics meet global cuisines. And make sure you visit Midtown Farmers Market on Saturdays for the freshest local and artisan produce.

Discover Sutter’s Fort, the original centre of Sacramento life, where you’ll find the two-storey adobe structure in which James W. Marshall first struck gold and transformed the American West forever. Uncover the stories of Sacramento’s original residents at the California State Indian Museum, and pay homage to its significant citizens of the last century in the California Hall of Fame.

April to June is the best time for your Sacramento holiday, as temperatures rise and the festival season gets into full swing. The average rises from 25°C to reach 30°C in July and August, as the California State Fair in July marks the beginning of the crowds. Summer can bring drought but temperatures soon begin to cool again from September and increased rainfalls always bring relief.

Alternatively, the autumn festivals make September to November another excellent time to visit Sacramento. And reduced visitor numbers means getting around the attractions a breeze. Winter temperatures generally hover around 10°C between December and February. This time of year can be wet, but the New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular firework show and January’s Dine Downtown offers mean there’s always a reason to visit, rain or shine.