Sacramento

California Military Museum
1119 2nd St.
916-442-2883
Three floors of this museum showcase more than 30,000 artefacts--uniforms, weapons, photographs, documents, medals, and flags of all kinds--that trace Californians' roles in military and militia activities throughout U.S. history.

California State Railroad
125 I St.
916-445-6645
This 100,000-square-ft museum is the largest rail museum in North America. It features 21 locomotives and railroad cars and 46 exhibits. Visitors can experience all aspects of the railroad throughout its history in this enormous museum.

Capitol
Capitol Mall and 10th St.
916-324-0333
Built in 1869, California's Capitol features a 120-ft-high rotunda of amazing beauty. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the legislative chambers are in the style of the 1890's. The capitol park has impressive flower gardens and memorials.

Central Pacific Passenger Depot
930 Front St.
916-445-6645
At this reconstructed 1876 station there are plenty of exhibits and rides on a steam-powered train. The train makes a 40-minute loop along the Sacramento riverfront.

Crocker Art Museum
216 O St.
916-264-5423
The Crocker is the oldest art museum in the American West. Its extensive collections feature art from Europe, America and California.

Discovery Museum
101 I St.
916-264-7057
This children's museum is a replica of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks. The many hands-on exhibits include sifting for gold, walking into an Indian thatched hut, and viewing the print shop of the old Sacramento newspaper.

Governor's Mansion
1526 H St.
916-323-3047
This 15-room Renaissance style house was built in 1877 and was used by Ronald Reagan when he chose a new home. The mansion is said to have been one of the first homes in California to have an indoor bathroom.

State Indian Museum
2601 K St.
916-324-0971
This museum focuses on the Indians of California and offers arts-and-crafts exhibits, as well as a demonstration village. A ten-minute video fully explores the history and life of California's Indian population.

Sutter's Fort
2701 L St.
916-445-4422
Sacramento's earliest settlement was founded in 1839; today, visitors can go on a self-guided tour of the fort. Demonstrations of food preparation and firearms maintenance complete this interesting look at pioneer California.

Towe Auto Museum
2200 Front St. (one block off Broadway)
916-442-6802
With over 100 cars, including a 1931 Chrysler, a 1960 Lotus, and a bullet-proof Cadillac limousine once used by the U.S. State Department, this museum will interest auto enthusiasts of all persuasions. A 1920s roadside café and garage exhibit complete the museum.

Columbia State Historic Park
14 mi south of Angels Camp, Hwy. 49 to Parrots Ferry Rd.
209-532-4301
Called the Gem of the Southern Mines, this park sits in the heart of gold-rush country. Visitors can ride a stagecoach, pan for gold, or watch a blacksmith working at his anvil.

Sacramento is the capital of a state with 33 million residents, but it has retained an independent air. From Indian land to Gold Rush to the present, Sacramento has seen a wealth of changes, yet it has remained a beautiful destination celebrated for its wonderful scenery and blooming flowers. Sacramento is often overlooked during visits to California, but surely it would be a mistake to miss visiting such a historic and friendly city.

Write your own travel review >>