Minor league baseball is a hoot! Just be sure you go to a night game because it will be HOT in August during the day.

I don't know anything about public transportation in Sacramento, so this may or may not be easy to get to, but we happened upon a really good Thai restaurant in a strip mall near Arco Arena. We've been a couple of times (on the way from SF to Lake Tahoe) and it's been very good both times.

http://www.bangkokgardencuisine.com/

If you stay at the Residence Inn you will be at 15th St. between K and L and really shouldn't need to use public transport much if at all.

You will be right at the NE corner of Capitol Park (honestly a 1 min walk), walking distance to almost all of downtown and mid-town, 11 blocks straight down K street to Old Sacramento and the waterfront, and about 12-13 blocks to the Crocker. Less than 2 blocks from the Community Center theatre if there are any shows/concerts that interest you, and the same from the Memorial Auditorium.

There is very good bus service in the central city (all explained on the Regional Transit website)and there are light rail stations on K St that will take you out to Folsom if you run out of thing to do in the city.

If the River Cats Baseball team is playing at home while you are here definitely go to a game. The stadium is just across the river from Old Sac. You can walk or take shuttle buses.Most of their games are at night so wouldn't conflict w/ other sightseeing and the experience/stadium are terrific.

I dare say you've seen more of CA than a lot of folks who post advice on here :)

(No need to go out to Natomas for good food -- and the public transport out there is pitiful)

GTG sounds good, Monday 12th August for lunch? How does this work?

Thanks again everyone, for all the help. I'm sure that we will eventually be able to produce a trip report with which to convince even those sceptical posters that Sacramento is more than a 2-day city!

>>GTG sounds good, Monday 12th August for lunch? How does this work?<<

A bit closer to the date - maybe starting in June-ish start a thread here (and maybe one in the Lounge forum too) and we locals can post restaurant recommendations/count noses etc.

It is really easy (Fodorites are always up for GTGs :) ) No telling how many will be able to attend due to work/vacation schedules - but usually some/several can make it.

You can also head out on Light Rail to Folsom and take in the old Town feel there (Sutter Street stop). The old part was recently redone and is very nice. Additionally there is a light rail stop at the Folsom Outlet shops at Iron Point Way.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=27
http://www.historicfolsom.org/


Folsom has Second Saturday April to Sept where art and outdoor activites are on display.
http://www.historicfolsom.org/gallery_2ndSaturday.cfm

The Wells Fargo Pavilion will have The King & I until August 11th:

http://www.californiamusicaltheatre....fm?page=428076

I second Janis's suggestion on that particular Residence Inn. We go up to Sacramento every March for a lawyer meeting I go to and that's where we stay. Reasonable price for a really nice room with buffet breakfast included. We always take the shuttle in from the airport and either walk or use public transportation. There's a bus across the street that goes over to the train station and old town, although it's a pleasant walk (maybe 25 minutes, slow pace?).

We've done the GTG with the Sacramento folk a couple of times and they are the BEST OF FODORS -- always a good time, with good food, friendly folk. In the summer of 2006, we had a car, but that was because we were doing a road trip to Oregon, and we got tickets (thanks, Michelle!) to see the River Cats game -- what fun that was!

Aside from great food, cool pubs (one right around the corner from the hotel!) and historical beauty, I highly recommend the Railroad Museum -- it's done up similarly to the Castle Museum in York if you've ever been, with real artifacts in a made up village -- in this case, an entire state -- California, and how the railroad was built, along with a number of the old passenger trains with dining cars, sleepers, etc. -- especially memorable for people like me who, as a kid, took the Super Chief across country.

Someone say <i>GTG in Sacto</i> \:D/

Bacon and Butter isn't too far from your hotel...I've been told the food there is good.

We got the Res Inn several times on P'line and as our buddy Surfergirl and the others have said, is very nice and great location.

If you go to a Rivercats' game, I'd advise sitting on the 3rd base side since some summer night sunsets can be brutal on the 1st base side.

Kal, make sure to give me a call!?

Color me embarrassed....still. :-]

Ah, kal made the scene! We're up 1st weekend in March. Husband will be going to Beerfest while I work on legislation, but are free Sat. Evening if anyone has any interest.

2nd and 3rd? I'll check with my Social Secty. ((Y))

Janis, thanks for all the help. I'll try nearer the time to organise an August GTG.

I see from your profile that your next trip includes London. If that is up to date, can I return the favour and suggest a visit to our city's latest tallest building, The Shard. We went to the viewing gallery yesterday and it is the next best thing to a helicopter flight. At around 1000 feet it is not the Sears, but you look out over Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and a host of other London landmarks. Book in advance & print your ticket on line to save yourself £5 [$7-50?] and even on a dull day you will be astounded.

If you are heading this way I can suggest other London treats that the guidebooks probably ignore - The Foundling museum, Postman's Park, etc. Let me know.

roger_cook: Thanks for the offer. The Shard was on my checklist - would love to hear more. This time I'm staying in St Katharine's Marina so will be walking distance from the Shard.

I'm probably one of few Sacramentans who has been to both the Foundling Museum <i>and</i> Postman park :)

I lived in the UK for several years and go back often. This trip I'm taking my cousin who has not been so we'll likely be doing more 'first-timer' things. Probably the farthest off the beaten path will be the Geffrye. Cousin is afraid of heights but has said she <i>thinks</i> she can manage the Eye. I haven't broken the Shard to her yet >)

In the next few weeks I'm going to post a thread over on the Europe board re a possible London GTG.

<<<Cousin is afraid of heights but has said she thinks she can manage the Eye. >>>

Janis, I'm afraid of heights too, but I managed the Eye on more than one occasion. Actually, it's not height I'm afraid of, it's being suspended in mid-air at a height (I'm not afraid of hiking up a steep mountain trail, but I don't want to look over the side, likewise, I don't really like chairlifts). Anyway, tell her not to stand too close to the windows at first - she can gradually move closer as she gets more comfortable..

sf7307: I've done the drill - told her all of that and she thinks/hopes she's ready :) I've been on the Eye 5 or 6 times - once w/ a friend who is <u>terrified</u> if heights. He can't ride in glass elevators, even ones indoors. And his wife has it even worse. But he was bound and determined to get photos and I told him he could sit on the central bench (knowing that wouldn't last long and he'd end up by the windows).

He ended up LOVING it and tried to talk his wife to go back up w/ him. No dice . . .

Because the Shard tapers to the top, you do not get the same "On the edge" sensation that you can experience with vertical windows, even with your nose pressed to the glass! Viewed from the Shard, the Eye looks like a toy.

Have you ridden the cable car across the Thames from the O2?

Janis: London GTG sounds good. I'll look out for your posting.

I have put a photo taken from the top of the Shard onto my profile site. You can just see St Katherine's.

"<i>Have you ridden the cable car across the Thames from the O2?</i>"

Haven't done that yet. My last visit was in June for the Jubilee and I don't think it had opened yet. Was reading about it a few weeks ago. Not sure if we will end up that far east on this visit though. (have walked under the river at Greenwich a few times)