Anything interesting to do in Sacramento?
 

I have a few hours on a Friday (1-4p)and 5 hours on a Sunday (8a - 1p)
Mostly interested in history and shopping.
Friday is probably the best day for shopping. Sunday I can drive around to any interesting sites. Probably can't do museums.
Suggestions?
~Thanks!

If you may be interested in a Mystery Dinner, here is the URL:

http://www.deltaking.com/suspects.html

I wish I could do something outside of the hours listed... but I am attending a conference and we are only free Friday from 1-4p and Sunday 8a-1p.
Durnit...

Sorry Laura all I can suggest is a boat ride out of the Old Town.

Any locals here? Kal, where are you? [(

A walk around Old Town and the riverfront is interesting for almost anyone. It is especially so since you are interested in history. Some of it is touristy but some is authentic.

If you like railroads, the California State Railway Museum is located right at the edge of Old Town and it is one of the best 3 or 4 such museums in the country.

You are not too far a drive from many of the old gold rush towns in the Sierra foothills. Unfortunately, the amount of time you have does not lend itself to much exploring.

I agree with Old Town. That is a wonderful place to walk around.
Sutter's Fort, also, if you have the time.

Just saw this thread and was going to offer a couple of ideas but others already have. BTW, if you go to Old Town there is a great restaurant overlooking the river. Think they serve breakfast/brunch. Very relaxing. It is to the left when facing the steamboat that does tours. Have fun and I think the way the weather is going it will be not be overly hot!

Yes, Old Sact'o is fun for shopping/walking/history. There's a standard type mall (macy's etc) within walking distance of Old Town, if you want that. Old Sact'o has lots of fun, unique stores in a western type atmosphere
Sunday--possibly champagne brunch on the old riverboat moored theThe Delta King. I had lunch there once; setting and food were lovely. http://www.deltaking.com/
The park behind the Capitol Bldg has very moving Vietnam Memorial and beautiful gardens--worth the walk over from Old Sacto, if you have time (maybe a 30 min walk?)

OK - are you downtown and/or at the conventions center? If so, on your Friday afternoon you will not have time to go ANYWHERE outside of the central city. Friday afternoon traffic is horrible on all the freeways through Sac so it can take an hour just to get to places like Roseville (the Galleria - the most upscale large shoping center in teh area).

Shopping downtown is pretty slim except for the Downtown Plaza (Macy's and soem chain stores) and pockets of small shops in midtown. So your idea about shopping on Fri isn't that practical.

Old Sac is the big draw downtown. Especially the State Railroad museum. Along w/ the one in York England it is considered the best RR museum in the world. If you don't want a museum - then there is general Old Sac, The capitol bldg, Capitol Park, Sutters fort, or just a nice walk.

Sunday gives you more flexibility since the traffic is MUCH lighter. But shops don't open until 10 or sometimes 11 a.m.

I'm pretty sure the restaurant LoveItaly was thinking about is the Rio City Cafe. A TERRIFIC place to have lunch or sunday brunch - huge water side deck. There is a Joes Crab Shack right next door which is also good. Ther are other good places all over Old Sac -- Fat City, California Fat's etc. (The "fat" refers to the Fat family name -- NOT to diners waistlines)

But before anyone can give you reasonable suggestions especially for Friday - we need to know where the conference is. It will make a MAJOR difference what makes sense/is possible . . . .

Hi Janis, thought I had posted before but guess I failed to hit the Post button.

Yes, Rio City Cafe. I am soooo bad at remembering names, will try to do better in the future, LOL. Thanks for your information.

And an old institution restaurant in downtown Sacramento is Fat Frank's which opened up in the late 1930's. A great hangout for all the politicans and business people. A true Sacramento landmark. But don't know where you will be in Sacramento and you didn't ask about restaurants so probably of no interest to you but mentioned it in case you or anyone else was interested. It is on L St. can't remember the exact number but think it is in the 800 block. Enjoy your free time in Sacramento!!

LoveItaly: yes, Frank Fat's is a great place to eat (not Fat Franks's) Poor old Frank Fat is probably spinning in his grave :-)

Hi Janis, LOL, as I said, names I am not good at...yes guess he is spinning! He was quite a guy! Take care.

I'll be at the Hyatt or Sheraton... any preferences on the hotel selection?
I really wanted to stay away from the convention at the Delta King but it is sold out :(
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I am excited to visit the area, even though it is only for a couple of days!

Hey TxTravelPro, I sure hope you have a fun time of your "off hours'. Let us know how you enjoyed Sacramento. And btw, if you are interested you can go into our state capitol and have a look around. It is a beautiful building. Take care.

Both the Sheraton and the Hyatt are fine. Just flip a coin. At the Hyatt you might run into Arnold since that is where he stays during the week (it is across the street from the Capitol)

Be sure to eat at least once at the Esquire Grill - just steps from both hotels.

Since you will be in the middle of the city - do not consider traveling outside of downtown during your 3 hours on Friday. You can run into REALLY heavy traffic anywhere after about 2 p.m. on Fridays.

So during your free time on Friday I'd walk down the K street pedestrian mall (NOT a scenic walk - some islands of sanity between blocks of redevlopment/empty store fronts but perfectly safe).

It's a quick 5 blocks between the hotels at 12th/13th streets and the "civilized" part of the mall starting at 7th street. From there the downtown plaza (dept stores/shops/restaurants) and Old Sacramento/riverfront are all linked by a pedestrian walkway.

So concentrate your time between the river (basically Front street - would be 1st st if it was numbered) and 7th street.

During a conference break you can walk across L street and wander Capitol Park. Gorgeous rose garden, Viet Nam and other memorials, the Capitol itself and lots of lovely footpaths.

Your Sunday porblem is that nothing opens (Sutters Fort, shops, tourist attractions) until 10 or later. So you really only have a couple of hours to see/do anything. I'd go to Breakfast and then a nice long walk through midtown -- lots of funky neighborhoods, victorian homes, restaurants, galleries (though I don't think many galleries will be open on Sunday)

Sure hope it's an interesting conference since they aren't giving you much useful free time.

I have stayed at the Hyatt, which was a nice place to stay. The room was quite comfortable and the staff very accomodating. I haven't stayed at the Sheraton.

Thanks for all the great information.
I am going to stay at the Hyatt and will probably just roam around on foot as suggested...
:)

You could also take a cab or bus out to the "Fabulous Forties" and look at the houses in that special neighborhood. The concierge at your hotel can give you directions.

Five or so of the homes are featured on a Christmas tour, and some of them really are fabulous.

If you want to stay down near the river there is the fairly new Embassy Suites. Very close to Old Sac and Crocker Art Museum and the Towe Auto Museum which is open 7 days a week beginning at 10. It's on Front Street. Here's a list of cars on display at the beginning of the year:
http://www.toweautomuseum.org/html/display.html

I love the Fabulous Forties.