Sacramento is the capital of California and one of the highlights of the United States' west coast. Although it may not be up there with the likes of Los Angeles and San Francisco in terms of popularity, it's still extremely favourable with tourists for its historic buildings, shopping, dining and famous museums. Don't want to miss out on what this fantastic city has to offer? Check out these top five attractions which are all well worth a visit.
State Capitol
This building was built in the 1860s and is known as one of the most beautiful Capitol headquarters in America for its stunning surrounding gardens. Some of the rooms form a museum with portraits, antiques and artwork, and the Vietnam War Memorial stands in the northeast section of Capitol Park to commemorate those who lost their lives in the longest war involving the USA. You can find out more details about the State Capitol on their website.
California State Railroad Museum
We've already mentioned Sacramento's museums because the city is home to some of the best in the country - and the California State Railroad Museum is no exception. Showcasing restored locomotives and railway coaches of all ages, this is a must-see attraction. The best thing about it is its interactive nature - you can walk through a sleeper car and, in the summer months, there are train rides on a steam locomotive along the Sacramento River.
Old Sacramento
The above museum is located in Old Sacramento, which is well worth taking a look around. It's known as a historic landmark that fought fire and floods to survive, but today it's known as the social hub and entertainment district of the city. It offers shopping and dining, as well a plethora of museums and theatre shows. The ghost and historic walking tours are highly recommended so you can get a real flavour of this unique location.
Fairytale Town
If you want to keep kids entertained, take a trip to Fairytale Town. It's as fun as it sounds, with farm animals, gardens and themed playing areas based on fairytales and nursery rhymes to keep little ones smiling - in fact, it's been known to make a fair few adults smile too.
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, founded the fort in 1839 and it was known as Sacramento's first settlement. Today, the fort has been returned to its original appearance and makes for a fantastic experience - authentic living quarters, a jail, a variety of stores and a blacksmith's workshop are just some of the things available to explore during your visit.
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