Old Sacramento

Old Sacramento

1002 Second St.
Sacramento, California 95814
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Local Phone: (916) 442-7644

What is now the Old Sacramento Historic District was the city's waterfront hub during the Gold Rush era. Unfortunately, it was prone to flooding and was wiped out several times before the streets were raised. Most commercial activity moved to higher ground, and the district, with its wealth of crumbling Victorian architecture, became one of the West Coast's most derelict skid rows.

In the 1960s, Interstate 5 was routed through the area and the district was threatened with destruction. Instead, a redevelopment plan was hatched and the first historic district in the West was created. With 53 historic buildings on 28 acres, Old Sacramento today is the city's tourism hub, housing many restaurants, entertainment venues and shops on the banks of the Sacramento River.

The district has both National and California Historic Landmark status and has served as a backdrop in many movies and television shows. It's also the site of many living history events and annual festivals, as well as Fourth of July and New Year's Eve fireworks displays.

Old Sacramento is a delightful area to explore with four-legged companions. It offers numerous outdoor dining possibilities, great river views, ample outdoor seating, hiking or biking on a waterfront trail and trips over the Tower Bridge to a riverfront esplanade in West Sacramento. The district is connected by tunnel and walkway to Westfield Plaza, an open-air shopping mall in the heart of downtown Sacramento.
 

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Sacramento’s Tower Bridge, with pedestrian and bike lane.
Sacramento’s Tower Bridge, with pedestrian and bike lane.
Sacramento’s No. 1 tourist destination is as popular with locals as with visitors. And now that masks are off and smiles are on, it’s crazy hopping with activity again. The Old Sacramento Waterfront is loaded with history – it played a major role as a jumping off spot and supply center during the 1849 Gold Rush. With its waterfront location, wealth of historic buildings and protection as a state and national historic landmark, it retains an enduring charm. more »
Apple at American River Parkway <br/> Photo Credit: @thunder_tiger
Apple at American River Parkway
Photo Credit: @thunder_tiger
Sacramento, California’s “City of Trees,” takes great pride in its shady parks. William Land Park, just south of downtown, is its largest urban oasis. The 166-acre preserve is home to a zoo, a golf course, an amusement park, duck ponds, picnic grounds and miles of canine-friendly walking paths. Among many other events, it hosts the annual Doggy Dash and Bark in the Park Festival (April 27 this year) to benefit the Sacramento SPCAmore »
Dog running free
Photo Credit: Eileen McFall (CC)
If you’re one for “spoke and wheel” getaways, the centrally located state capital makes a great hub for day trips throughout the region. Of course, you and Sparky might find so much to do that you won’t even want to leave town. more »
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