A New Era in California's Capital City

Sacramento is undergoing a distinct transformation, exuding an energy that's hard to ignore. From downtown to midtown, new shops, bars and eateries abound, bringing with them a modern, youthful vibe that is revitalizing the city. Our coffee is also creating national buzz, with Sacramento earning more mentions on Coffee Review's 2015 “Top 30” list than any other city.  Professional sports are also kicking up the heat, with the Sacramento Republic FC soccer team winning the USL Pro Championship in its inaugural season and selling out every match. The city is a top contender for future MLS expansion, and plans are in the works for a downtown stadium. The crown jewel of downtown's resurgence is the Golden 1 Center, the new sports and entertainment complex (home of the NBA Sacramento Kings) set to open in October 2016, along with corresponding hotels, restaurants and residences. In short, there's never been a better time to rediscover Sacramento.

America's Farm-to-Fork Capital

The epicenter of the country's farm-to-fork movement offers year-round farmers markets, fresh meals sourced directly from more than 1.5 million acres of regional farmland and Four Diamond chefs who have cooked at the James Beard House.

The region's food scene hits fever pitch during Sacramento's annual Farm-to-Fork Celebration in September 2016.  Throughout the nonstop food extravaganza, attendees can get their fill exploring a host of events, ranging from farm tours, to street fairs, to countless farm-to-fork meals. Event highlights include Restaurant Week; Legends of Wine; Farm-to-Fork Festival, a free family event that attracts more than 50,000 people; Farm-to-Fork Gala; one of the region's hottest tickets where top area chefs prepare an exclusive meal for hundreds of people on Sacramento's iconic Tower Bridge.

Sacramento's Resurging Neighborhood: Historic R Street District

R Street was once a thriving warehouse district built around Sacramento's first commercial rail line until the area fell into disrepair. The revitalization between 10th and 19th streets includes the Warehouse Artist Lofts (WAL) a mixed use residential and retail building, the Art Foundry, Verge Center for the Arts, Ace of Spades live-music venue, and a number of boutiques, restaurants and bars.   The newest addition, Bottle & Barlow, is a combination bar and barbershop.  The redevelopment of the century-old Crystal Ice plant will have residential, retail and office components.     

Raise a Pint in Sacramento

If it's a pint you're after, craft brewing has returned to the region in a big way, with more than 40 breweries. Prior to prohibition, Sacramento was the beer capital of the West.  The region's abundant fresh water supply, coupled with ideal growing conditions for California's first hops fields, led to more than 16 breweries in the city's downtown alone. Chief among them was Buffalo Brewing Company, the largest brewery west of the Mississippi River. Captain Frank Ruhstaller was a leader in Sacramento's beer production, helping to found several breweries including his namesake, Ruhstaller Brewery. Visitors can enjoy our beer scene in a myriad of ways: hop on Sacbrewbike, a 15-passenger bike; taste some local brews in a converted shipping container; or visit a hop farm just outside of town.  History buffs can take a self-guided early brewers tour at the Historic City Cemetery.  Mark your calendars for the second annual California Craft Brewers Conference in September 2016 and Sacramento Beer Week in February 2017.

Sacramento Presents Its Artsy Side

The Crocker Art Museum, the oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi, has an extensive collection of early California art and frequently presents high-profile temporary shows such as the recent Andy Warhol exhibit.  Explore the nationally renowned Art in Public Places (APP) includes some 650 works of art mostly be regional artists.  A stunning, stainless-steel Jeff Koons sculpture titled Coloring Book # 4 will be at the entrance of the Golden 1 Center when it opens in October 2016. Sacramento International Airport's Central Terminal B showcases some $8 million in public artwork. Most talked-about art objects are the 56-foot “Red Rabbit” and the Swarovski crystal chandelier resembling a valley oak tree. Take a self-guided Art in Public Places walking tour or participate in Second Saturday when local galleries open new exhibits. The 70,000 square-foot Bright Underbelly mural lightens up the dark underside of a freeway and a Mural Festival in August 2016 will continue to brighten up midtown alleys.

Sacramento: Gateway to California's Gold Country

Savor Sacramento and then explore California's Gold Country thirty miles to the east. Pan for gold near the original gold discovery site, taste some Rhone varietals at one of the numerous family-owned wineries, go antiquing in a quaint Western town, tour a mine, hike among giant sequoia trees, tame the whitewater rapids, tandem zip over the hilly terrain, take a hot air balloon ride or go spelunking in one of the caverns, relax!