Old Sacramento
add photosThings to Do in Old Sacramento
• Discovery Museum, 101 I Street; (916) 264–7057;
www.thediscovery.org. $; free for kids 3 and under. In a circa-1850 city hall, you will find a huge gold nugget collection, a planetarium, hands-on science and technology exhibits, simulated space travel in the Challenger Learning Center. Nature trail and okay-to-touch animals in the Nature Center, history exhibits, and more.
• Towe Auto Museum, 2200 Front Street; (916) 442–6802; www.toweautomuseum.org. Adults $$; kids $. Crazy for cars? Visit this cache of more than 200 antique and classic cars and trucks, including every Ford car from 1903 to 1953. The kids can climb up behind the wheel
of a Model T flatbed truck and other wheeled beauties.
• Old Sacramento Schoolhouse, 1200 Front Street; (916) 483–8818. Free. A replica of an 1884 one-room schoolhouse. Sit at a wooden desk with a slate and chalk, read the list of punishments for bad behavior (Telling Tales out of School, 8 lashes), ring the school bell, swing on swings in the schoolyard.
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 1039 Second Street; (916) 448–8801. Hand-dipped ice-cream bars, caramel apples, chocolate covered strawberries, and fresh, homemade candy. You could be in trouble here.
• Southern Railroad Excursions, Front Street at the railroad depot; (916) 446–6645; www.csrmf.org. Adults $$; ages 6 to 12 $; ages 5 and under are free. Weekends April through September, vintage steampowered trains chug along on a forty-minute route beside the Sacramento River. Choose from enclosed coaches or open-air gondolas. The whistle blasts, the steam pours out, and the river breezes blow!
12 Reviews for Old Sacramento
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"Relaxing and Fun"
Old Sacramento is a great place to take the family when you need a change of scenery and a change of pace. Walk the streets lined with old buildings, pop into the candy store for a sweet treat and enjoy a picnic by the river. The train museum, also in Old Sac, is a great place to take the kiddos too!
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"You will love this place."
It's hard not to fall in love with this place. Being here, you get the chance to be away from the city as so to speak. The horse drawn-carriages and vintage shops are such a unique delight. The river is there and the golden bridge over it glows with lights at night. There's some great restaurants there that overlook the river, interesting museums, and ferry boat cruises. Don't forget the wonderful candy stores, incense shops, and the 3-story costume mansion!
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"Old Sacramento"
This is a great little street to go to if you want to shop and eat. We liked how some of the food shops were very kid-friendly, more like fair foods that you eat outside, and icecream shops, candy stores, etc. Our son really liked to see the big steamboats on the river too. He got a kick out of that. He got bored after about two shops, though, so we didn't end up shopping much.
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"Unique & Fun For All Ages"
When visiting the Sacramento area...make sure to visit Old Sacramento. This cute and quaint little town will take you back in time with many little shops, restaurants, entertainment, activities, and lots of history. Walk down the cobblestone streets and watch an old western shoot out or pose for some pictures by the retractable bridge. My kids enjoyed this travel spot even as toddlers. We loaded them in strollers, packed them with snacks, and had fun for all. Older kids will enjoy the horses and cowboys too!! This one you will never forget and want to visit each time you visit the area.
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"Perfect for kids and tourists"
Old Sacramento is perfect for families or friends. It's full of old fashioned candy and novelty stores. Lots of fun places to eat and fun things to see like horse drawn carriages. Be careful when you park. The meter maids don't mess around and you have to pay the meters until 8pm.
1 family found this helpful
"The best place to go in Sacramento "
I have been to Old Sacramento many, many, many, many times. I used to live about 10 minutes away and it never got old for me. Its a nice reproduction of the Godl Rush era with some cool shops (you have to check out Evangelines, the taffy stores, and the toy store with the giant model train displays.Also visit the California State Railroad Museum if you have train loving children. During the summer months they offer train rides in Old Sacramento. You can also take a river cruise that originates from Old Sac and is alot of fun.
1 family found this helpful
"Get back to your roots"
Old Sacramento is a great place to take the kids. They can get a feel for what the city looked like in its early years. There's a train museum, a riverboat, an old schoolhouse, plenty of candy stores, and a whole lot more! Certain times of the year they even cover the roads in dirt and everyone dresses up like they did in the "olden times".
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"Fun with the Family"
Early in the morning when the mist hangs low on the Sacramento River, footsteps echo on the boardwalks, and you can imagine this rollicking port during the California Gold Rush, when as many as 800 sailing vessels tied up here at the docks. Reeling from months of sailing around the Horn, gold seekers raced down the gangplanks, bargained for provisions and livestock, then rode away in wagons and on horseback to seek their fortunes in the Sierra foothills. “Forty-niner” days are still alive in the restored wooden false-front saloons, firehouses, dining halls, and emporiums of Old Sacramento, a National Historical Monument.
Browsing the hundred boutique shops, more than twenty restaurants, and museums and historic sites will take a full day or two.
Annual events in Old Sacramen to include the Festival de la Familia, with hundreds of vendors and free entertainment, such as Latin, Caribbean, and Native American music. At the Pacific Rim Festival, live entertainment includes the thrilling Japanese taiko drummers and martial arts demonstrations; kids can make art while parents browse for arts and crafts and try the exotic foods (www.pacificrimstreetfest.org). The Gold Rush Days festival over Labor Day weekend re-creates early days, with horse-drawn carriages, characters in period costumes, and living history events and performances. From spring to fall, a bright yellow water taxi runs from the L Street landing to three marinas along the river, where you can stop and dine at waterfront restaurants. Make a reservation: tickets $$; children $; (916) 446–7704; www.riverotter.com.
1 family found this helpful
"Very fun"
It is a nice area where you expect cow boys to emerge at any moment. Visit the old school, it is very interesting and a way to see how school was in the past. There is a little Wells Fargo museum, and many candy stores selling taffy.
A fun place to end the day in Sacramento.
1 family found this helpful
"Like a movie set"
We arrived in Old Sacramento a few days before Christmas. With the restored old west buildings, lights in the trees, and the polar express train pulling in to the train station, being in Old Sacramento felt like we were in a movie set. You can almost imagine cowboys walking up and down the streets. When arrived at dusk and got to hear the train pulling in at the train station museum. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend a visit.
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"Make sure to check out GeeWhilikers"
My kids LOVE Old Sacramento. There is so much to do - from the train museum (which is fairly cheap) to shopping to eating - everyone is happy. MY kids especially love the candy store - sampling is welcome (within reason) and GeeWhilikers - a good old fashioned toy store.
2 families found this helpful
"Old West with Convenience"
Old Sacramento is full of fun stores, candy shops, and ice cream parlors. If feels like an old western town should feel with wooden sidewalks and railroads. The train museum in Old Sacramento is a must see. It's huge! And young kids are free.
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