Sacramento is the state capital of American state California, on the west coast of the United States. The city's airport ferried almost nine million passengers in 2013 from a range of national destinations plus a select few other North American cities. It's roughly a 15-minute drive downtown, and we recommend hiring a car from Sacramento Airport to save yourself the trouble of taking public transport; especially useful if you're planning on driving in order to see the rest of California and its attractions. San Francisco for example is only 90 minutes away across the Bay.
Sacramento is one of California's oldest cities, and a settlement within the area called Sutter's Fort was one of the most established stops for those heading out west in the pioneer days. Visit Sutter's Fort and Old Sacramento to see what life was like for the first generations of settlers. Elsewhere in the city, the Sleep Train Arena hosts the professional basketball team the Sacramento Kings, who play in the NBA; while the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area provides almost 18,000 acres of peaceful space - a great escape from the city and a rare spot in the state to enjoy birdwatching.
