Sacramento, California: The Riches of the Past and Present

In 1848, James W. Miller found nuggets of gold in Coloma, California, sparking California’s famous gold rush. And today, you can pan for gold in the same site in the American River at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

In Sacramento proper, the Capitol building is both beautiful and educational. It is not only a working seat of government, but also a museum which details the process of California becoming a state and Sacramento being chosen as its capital. I particularly fell in love with the charm of Old Sacramento, which is a historic collection of Gold Rush-era buildings. This is a great place to take a stroll with the family and enjoy some old-time candy stores and saloons.

Be sure to check out the California Railroad Museum. I was so impressed by the sheer size of these first locomotives that were used to move goods through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Just an easy 30-minute drive outside of Sacramento is Lodi, a must for a romantic day trip. You’ll cruise through beautiful vineyards as you reach the Lodi Wine and Visitors Center. You can tour any of the 80 vineyards and 60 tasting rooms in the area without a map as it’s easy to improvise and jump from vineyard to vineyard, but in my opinion, the visitors’ center was a valuable experience. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a tasting room where we sampled six wines from the area. The tasting room noted our favorite wines and from that, she made her suggestions on which vineyards we should drive to. This was such a welcoming and personal start to a wine tasting excursion.

There are year-round festivals held by the Wine Growers Association, so it might be worth planning your trip around the Lodi ZinFest, for example, which takes place every May with wine and food tastings, entertainment and more.

If you happen to be travelling with the family, there are still plenty of agricultural attractions to see, such as the Davis Farmers Market. Located just west of Sacramento, it is one of the most famous farmers’ markets on the coast. We strolled through the rows and rows of delicious fruits and vegetables, sampling foods and chatting with farmers. There are a collection of vendors showcasing international flavors made with the local ingredients, and you can enjoy a fresh meal while listening to local bands in the park. The farmers market runs Saturdays year round and Wednesday evenings in the spring and summer.

Central California has an eclectic mix of attractions sure to satisfy every person in your travel group – from history fanatics to foodies, nature lovers to wine connoisseurs. All are guaranteed a wonderful vacation.