Stay Informed

It may sound trite, but the first thing a fan of the Sacramento Ballet should do is join the company’s mailing list. This will ensure that you are among the first to know about upcoming performances, special events, opportunities to donate and support the ballet, and more.

Ticket Packages

Another great option is to subscribe to one of the Sacramento Ballet’s ticket packages. The Sacramento Ballet offers seven different subscription packages, which makes it easier for the area’s diverse income levels to afford tickets. One option is the Main Stage package, which lets fans see three performances at the Community Center Theater for $45. For locals who don’t want to miss a show, check out the all-inclusive six-performance package, which offers a 25 percent discount. You can also find packages that are tailored especially to families, for people who prefer only the most contemporary choreography, and lovers of the classics.

Another option: for as little as $20, the Sacramento Ballet offers single orchestra-level seats at the Community Center Theater. Another recent option is called Modern Masters, in which performances take place at three locations.

Check the Website

For all your news and information needs from the Sacramento Ballet, you’ll want to regularly read the company’s website. Everything you could want to know about the company is posted here, from upcoming events to ticket information, director bios, performers, history, directions, photos, media coverage and more.

Get Involved

You can also find easy ways to support the company. Options for online giving are included on the website, along with mailing information for sending in donations.

Ever since it’s founding in 1954, support from the community and others have been crucial to keeping the Sacramento Ballet thriving. This support over the years has come in the form of the formation of the Ballet Guild, and grants from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Sacramento Ballet has been a gift to the region for decades. Partnering with the company ensures it will continue to please audiences for years to come and provide a place where local youth can learn about this much-loved dance form.

– Steve Hartsoe

Sierra-At-Tahoe

1111 Sierra-At-Tahoe Road
Twin Bridges, CA 95735
(530) 659-7453
www.sierrattahoe.com

Sierra-At-Tahoe – the closest ski resort to Sacramento – is cherished by locals, yet largely overlooked by the Tahoe tourist crowd. Sierra-At-Tahoe is renowned for its glade skiing, terrain parks and family-friendly atmosphere.

Heavenly Mountain Resort

4080 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(775) 586-7000
www.skiheavenly.com

The muscle resort on Tahoe’s South Shore straddles the California-Nevada border and offers 34 miles of groomed trails, along with bowls, parks, pipes, and the signature Gunbarrel run, which drops 1,800 vertical feet to the lodge below. A gondola rising from a base-area village, just a block from Nevada casinos, makes Heavenly Mountain Resort especially popular with the late-night crowd.

Sugar Bowl

629 Sugar Bowl Road
Norden, CA 95724
(530) 426-9000
www.sugarbowl.com

Founded by Walt Disney and partners in 1938, Sugar Bowl is known for its wide-open bowl skiing, Alpine-style lodge and passionate local following. It’s 45 minutes closer to Sacramento than the bigger resorts along the Interstate-80 corridor, making it a great choice for day-trippers who get a late start out the door.

Northstar-At-Tahoe

100 Northstar Drive
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 562-1010
www.northstarattahoe.com

Northstar’s tree-protected runs make it the best place on the North Shore to ski or ride on windy days, and its base-area village, set off by cozy fire pits and a centerpiece ice rink, offers what might be the most vibrant après-ski scene at Tahoe. Resort lodging ranges from luxurious village condos to older, economically priced units with plenty of sprawl space for families. The five-star Ritz-Carlton Highlands at mid-mountain has its own dedicated lift.

Alpine Meadows

2600 Alpine Meadows Road
Tahoe City, CA 96145
(530) 583-4232
www.skialpine.com

Expert skiers and riders know Alpine’s black-diamond terrain to be some of the most challenging in the West, but fear not: This classic resort has plenty of runs suitable for beginners and intermediates, too. Base-area lodging is limited, and that’s how locals like it. Think Tahoe the way it used to be before the deep-pocketed developers moved in.

Squaw Valley USA

1960 Squaw Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA 93675
(530) 581-7225
www.squaw.com

Squaw Valley USA leaped from obscurity to world renown when it hosted the 1960 Olympics, and ever since serious skiers have tagged it as one of the best ski resorts in the Sierra. Hold your breath when riding up to High Camp on Squaw’s iconic tram; the views of the Sierra and Lake Tahoe beyond are dizzying. Ample base-area lodging provides ski-in, ski-out convenience.

Day 1 – Old Sacramento

Sacramento was founded in 1848 as a jumping-off place and commercial center, supplying prospectors seeking their fortunes in the goldfields of the Sierra Nevada. The architectural legacy of that Wild West period is preserved in Old Sacramento Historic State Park, where 50-odd buildings harken to the time when miners flooded the wharfs, Pony Express riders galloped through and the Transcontinental Railroad opened the West to the masses. Stop by the Visitor Center on 2nd Street and load up on literature, but whatever you do, don’t miss the California State Railroad Museum, one of the premier institutions of its kind in the nation. The Delta King, a vintage paddle wheeler now serving as a hotel, offers off beat accommodation. Grab lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack, a lively waterfront eatery, take a carriage ride or river cruise, and finish off the day with a romantic dinner at the Firehouse Restaurant.

Day 2 – The Downtown Grid

Start off your day at the see-and-be-seen Tower Cafe before moseying over to the Crocker Art Museum, founded in 1885 as the oldest public art museum in the West. A new, $100 million wing stands in stunning contrast to the 19th-century mansion that housed the original collections. Grab lunch at the museum’s Crocker Cafe, and then explore the gardens and museum at the iconic California State Capitol. Save afternoon for Midtown, the city’s hippest district, where you can cruise an eclectic mix of boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops and eateries. Opt for a casual dinner at Hot Italian or sample acclaimed farm-to-table cuisine at Grange, a contemporary restaurant in the city’s hippest hostelry, the Citizen Hotel.

Day 3 – The Rivers

The Sacramento and American Rivers are where Sacramento residents go to play, and their biggest playground is the American River Parkway, a 32-mile greenbelt with a paved, multi-use trail stretching from Old Sacramento to Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Rent a bike and ride to the rivers’ confluence at Discovery Park, or walk across the iconic Tower Bridge and view the city skyline from across the water. The upscale Rio City Café, Crawdads on the River and Pearl on the River are among many waterfront eateries. In November, treat yourself to a self-guided tour of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, where thousands of salmon flop their way up a fish ladder. In summer, rent a kayak and enjoy a paddle on Lake Natoma, or head 48 miles upriver to Coloma and scare yourself silly on a guided whitewater rafting trip.

Sacramento Zoo

3930 West Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 808-5888
www.saczoo.com

The Sacramento Zoo occupies 14 acres in leafy William Land Park, smack in the middle of one of the city’s oldest and most attractive neighborhoods. Since the institution’s founding in 1927, Land Park residents have been accustomed to hearing lions roar. Visitors delight in hearing them, too, along with sounds made by the more than 400 animals on display in modern exhibits. Baby animals born at the zoo are newsmakers in Sacramento, commanding headlines each year. Besides being a place where visitors can observe lions, tigers, giraffes, polar bears, and 140 other species of critters, the zoo is dedicated to educating visitors about wildlife conservation. As one of just over 200 fully accredited zoos in the nation, the non-profit institution takes wildlife stewardship seriously. More than 450,000 people visit the zoo annually, including thousands of school-aged kids on field trips. To avoid those squealing masses of children, plan to visit on non-holiday weekend mornings or after 1 p.m. on weekdays.

Capitol Aquarium

1920 29th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 452-5556
www.capitolaquarium.net

Think of it as a tropical fish store on steroids. Since the 1970s, spectators as well as collectors have been flocking here to view the colorful sea creatures swimming in more than 500 sparkling aquariums stacked up against the walls. Visitors can feed the koi, get up close with an electric eel, admire many species of living coral, and learn how to care for saltwater and freshwater fish. It’s an especially cool place to visit on hot summer days. Call to schedule a self-guided tour at a time when school groups are not present.

Folsom Zoo Sanctuary

403 Stafford Street
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 351-3527
www.folsom.ca.us

Since 1963, this small but heart-grabbing facility has offered sanctuary to wild animals that have been orphaned, injured or rejected as pets. The educational focus is on responsible behavior toward all animals, whether domestic, wild, or somewhere in between. Creatures on display include the traditional tigers, bears and birds, but what makes this facility unusual is its focus on half-wild animals, such as feral pigs, horses, sheep and deer. The sanctuary’s underlying mission is to reduce the trade, use and possession of captive wild animals as pets.

Yosemite National Park

www.nps.gov/yose

Though a little bit of drive at 176 miles from Sacramento, no mention of the Sierra Nevada mountain range would be complete without Yosemite National Park. At nearly 750,000 acres, Yosemite is home to a myriad of wildlife, plants and trees and boasts 19 waterfalls, the largest of which is Yosemite Falls. At more than 2,000 feet, it is the tallest waterfall in North America. Spot a black bear or photograph beautiful glaciers while on your visit. Hike one of the park’s 800 miles of trails or scale Bridal Veil Falls. There really is no end to the wonderful sights and things to do while visiting Yosemite. Accommodations range from the rustic to the luxurious with everything from tent camping to the grand Ahwahnee Hotel and all points in between.

Lake Tahoe

www.visitinglaketahoe.com

For a person who loves the outdoors, there’s nothing like Lake Tahoe. Featuring seven world-class ski resorts, including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Sugar Bowl, the sports enthusiast will not be disappointed. But, the fun doesn’t end when the snow melts. Summer activities abound at lakefront beaches, parks and golf courses. Lake Tahoe is divided between the North Shore and the South Shore, with both sides splitting space between California and Nevada. This popular destination features an abundance of casinos, resort towns and lodging. Want a quaint bed and breakfast? Try the Cottage Inn at Lake Tahoe. Looking for something with a little more nightlife? How about the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge and Casino in Crystal Bay?

Mono Lake

www.monolake.org

Interested in nature and conservation? Then perhaps you’d enjoy a trip to Mono Lake. Located 218 miles from Sacramento, Mono Lake offers camping and educational and recreational activities to please nearly everyone. The lake itself is 70 square miles and close to volcanoes, ghost towns and an abundance of streams teeming with trout. Check out birds on the Eastern Sierra Bird Trail or enjoy a sunset tour of Tufa Grove. Take in a seminar on hydrology or photography or grab your pole and catch some fish. If it’s outdoors, you’ll likely find it at Mono Lake.

City Bicycle Works

2419 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 447-2453

7885 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 726-2453
citybicycleworks.com

You know you’ll be treated right at CBW in midtown. This place feels like your neighborhood bike shop. The staff is nice, the selection isn’t huge, but what they have is perfect for those looking for a mid-range ride. It’s conveniently located in midtown. Parking is limited—they have two spots in their parking lot, but even if those spots are open, chances are they’ll be occupied by customers test riding bikes or browsing the cruisers that line the front of the store. Luckily, there’s plenty of parking on the street. The mechanics are super cool and they don’t charge an arm and a leg for repairs.

Mike’s Bikes

1411 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 446-2453
www.mikesbikes.net

Mike’s has a great selection of bikes, tools and accessories. The staff is helpful, and although the mechanics aren’t the friendliest, you get what you need. The prices are competitive with other local shops and the location is good. They also have lots of FREE parking. If you’re allergic to dogs you might want to take some Benadryl first – they have a shop dog. Check out their website for a wealth of information about riding in northern California.

REI

1790 Expo Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 924-8900
www.rei.com

It’s a big box store with a small shop feel. REI is known the nation over, but friendly staff at the bikes department at the Sacramento store has the feel of a smaller shop. They’re attentive and helpful. Twice they helped me get parts for less than I would elsewhere. They offer a wide selection of accessories. Their selection of bikes seems to cater more to the general rider and have plenty of bikes for kids at kid bike prices. The parts selection is decent, but not great. I went looking for a quill stem for a road bike and they didn’t have it. Lastly, if you buy anything at REI, a portion a portion goes toward your annual refund.

Patriot Bicycles

4719 San Juan Ave
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 961-9646

Chances are you’ll get good advice from these guys. They’re knowledgeable and take the time to answer and questions you have.

Natomas Bike Shop

3291 Truxel Road
Sacramento, CA 95833
916.641.8640
www.natomasbikeshop.com

These guys are a smaller shop and, with it, the small shop feel. But don’t let that fool you; they have a great selection and provide good service.