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Best Places to Take Your Out-of-Town Visitors

By Keilah Woodard

It's that time of year when family and friends come to visit and entertaining them outside the house
is just as important as inside. Here is a guide to local attractions that will please kids and adults while
giving them a taste of what Sacramento has to offer.
11.12 Travel Outdoors- out of town guests - boat
Photo Credit: Keilah Woodard

Old Sacramento
129 J Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 442-7644
Hours: Vary among businesses
http://www.oldsacramento.com
Along the cobbled streets of Old Sacramento, there is plenty to keep your out-of-town visitors happy and send them home with great memories of our city. You can visit the California State Railroad Museum, take a walk along the river, eat salt-water taffy, take a carriage ride, eat at Fannie Ann's Saloon, and take an underground tour. Be sure to take advantage of the many photo opportunities Old Sacramento has while your guests are visiting.


The California State Capitol Museum
1315 10th Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 324-0333
Hours: Public tours are conducted daily, on the hour, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Films are shown daily in the
Basement Theater from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
http://www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov/

Start your visit to the State Capitol with a picnic lunch in the gorgeous gardens on the east side of
the building where statues and monuments have made their home. Once inside, be sure to check out the 58 county shadow box displays that line the halls. There are hourly tours available that are given by smart and informative guides. If you have young children, you may want to explore on your own. The beautiful architecture, the historical rooms, and the art are fabulous enough to capture even a toddler's attention. In the basement there is a theater that shows films all day long about the history of our state, the designing of the Capitol, and even a short film geared toward kids called "Capitol Visions."

11.12 Travel Outdoors- out of town guests - horse
Photo Credit: Keilah Woodard

William Land Park
3800 S Land Park Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 808-5200
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/parks/sites/land_map.htm
http://www.fairytaletown.org
http://www.saczoo.org
http://www.funderlandpark.com/

When you've got kids of any age to entertain, you can never go wrong with a trip to William Land
Park! Fairytale Town, the Sacramento Zoo, Funderland, Pony Rides, a duck pond, and picnic areas are all within walking distance of each other. Choose just one or combine activities for as full of a day as you'd like.

11.12 Travel Outdoors- out of town guests - museum
Photo Credit: Keilah Woodard

California State Indian Museum
2628 K Street
Sacramento, CA
Located next to Sutter's Fort
(916) 324-0971
Hours: Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Daily
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=486

If culture is what you are seeking, than the California Indian Museum is a great destination. Young and old will get a kick out of the preserved spaces and artifacts. Wander through this little museum and learn about California Indian tribes with display art by Native American Artists, basket weavings, Kachinas and more. Combine your trip to the Indian Museum with a visit to Sutter's Fort next door.

Sutter's Fort
(credit: parks.ca.gov)

Sutter's Fort
2701 L Street
Sacramento, CA
Located next to California State Indian Museum
(916) 445-4422
Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485

History comes alive at Sutter's Fort. The fort was the base for the gold discovery that cinched the westward expansion. The Fort was built in 1840, gold was discovered in 1848 and California joined
the union in 1850. You can venture through the whole fort and get a hands-on experience of everything. Kids love strolling through the jail, checking out the cannon and checking out detailed rooms that line the fort. There are very friendly and patient narrators who dress according to the times. They regularly have Living History Days when you can get an even better idea of what life was like during John Sutter's time.

Crocker Art Museum
216 O Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 808-7000
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Thurs: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
https://www.crockerartmuseum.org/

The Crocker Art Museum is not only fun for art enthusiasts, but a wonderful outing for those of any age
that are open to a new experience. Wander the galleries together, pointing out art that interests you
and talk about why. For children, ask the front desk to start you off on Story Trail for an art scavenger
hunt and end up in Tot Land where amazing activities will keep them busy for hours.


Sacramento Children's Museum
2701 Prospect Park Dr. #120
Rancho Cordova, CA
(916) 952-6852
Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sundays: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
http://www.sackids.org

The Sacramento Children's Museum offers hands-on learning, exploration and play. Each of the fun areas within the Sacramento Children's Museum focuses on different opportunities for exploration and they are all geared towards children ages 8 and under. Kids will not even realize they are learning as they spend hours playing in the Waterways, Raceways, Airways, World Market, Studio of the Arts, My Neighborhood, and Baby Bloomers.

Keilah Woodard lives with her husband and three children in Sacramento. She writes regularly
on what to do in the Sacramento area with kids and more of her work can be found on
SacramentoSidetracks.com.
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