Sacramento’s Best Places to Visit:
The top rated Places to Visit in Sacramento, CA are:
- Sacramento Zoo – is one of 200 plus zoos and aquariums that are institutional members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- Crocker Art Museum – features the world’s foremost display of California art and offers a diverse spectrum of exhibitions, events, and programs
- Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park – was a 19th-century agricultural and trade colony in the Mexican Alta California province
- California Automobile Museum – has a collection of over 150 classic cars, race cars, and muscle cars
- Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament – is considered one of three of the most historically significant buildings in Sacramento
Sacramento Zoo
Sacramento Zoo is one of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ more than 200 institutional members. WAZA is the global zoo and aquarium community’s “umbrella” organization. Leading zoos and aquariums from all over the world, as well as the regional and national zoo and aquarium associations, are among its members. WAZA’s objective is to provide guidance, encouragement, and support to zoos and aquariums around the world, as well as other like-minded organizations, in animal care and welfare, environmental education, and worldwide conservation.
The California Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1986 and became a non-profit in 1992. CAZA was established to assist its members in speaking out on statewide problems that affect the zoo and aquarium industries. The California Association of Zoos and Aquariums is engaged in legislative and regulatory matters today.
Products/Services:
Virtual Programs, Field Trips, Overnight Safari, and More
LOCATION:
Address: 3930 W Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95822
Phone: (916) 808-5888
Website: www.saczoo.org
REVIEWS:
“A really fun time, very family-friendly, lots of places to sit down and chill out and many pathways that make it easy to navigate the Sac zoo and also safely, socially distance from others. Masks are required. Bathrooms are public and scattered throughout, and the zoo itself has gift shops and places to eat as well. If you’re looking for something to do and see some really incredible animals, this is the place.” – Meghan K.
Crocker Art Museum
Crocker Art Museum is known for its holdings of European master drawings and worldwide ceramics, as well as having the world’s best display of California art. The Crocker is the region’s principal resource for the study and appreciation of great art, with a wide range of exhibitions, events, and programs to complement its collections, including films, concerts, studio lessons, lectures, children’s activities, and more.
The first floor of the historic building has also been designated as an education center, with four classrooms, space for student and community exhibitions, the Gerald Hansen Library, and Tot Land. It is the only museum in the Sacramento region to be certified by the American Alliance of Institutions, which recognizes only about 1,100 of the 33,000 museums in the United States. AAM certification verifies that a museum adheres to the museum profession’s standards, administers its collections responsibly, and provides excellent public service.
Products/Services:
Films, Concerts, Studio Classes, Lectures, Children’s Activities, and More
LOCATION:
Address: 216 O St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 808-7000
Website: www.crockerart.org
REVIEWS:
“A beautiful, peaceful space, inside and out. The collection of early California paintings is wide-ranging in time, locations, and painting styles, well-annotated and worth the trip. Some of the large Asian pottery collections could do with more notation. I was also left wanting to know more about the original uses of the original Crocker Mansion portion of the building.” – Skip M.
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park was an agricultural and trading town in the Mexican region of Alta California. The fort’s site was established in 1839 and given the name New Helvetia by its constructor, John Sutter, though the fort’s construction did not commence until 1841. In the California Central Valley, the fort was the first non-Indigenous settlement. The Donner Party, the California Gold Rush, and the construction of the city of Sacramento, which surrounds the fort, are all associated with the fort.
It is notable for its location as a waystation at the terminus of the California and Siskiyou Trails. The fort was abandoned after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma on January 24, 1848. The adobe edifice has been restored to its former state, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation now manages it. In 1961, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
Products/Services:
Tours, Rides, Birdwatching, Safari, and More
LOCATION:
Address: 2701 L St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (916) 445-4422
Website: www.parks.ca.gov
REVIEWS:
“Great experience. The docents are very helpful. There are boards explaining the history of the Fort and how it pertains to Sacramento. If you are in the area or close by visit this historic place. The exhibits are very interesting. Highly recommend.” – Steve M.
California Automobile Museum
California Automobile Museum is a museum themed for automobiles in the state of California. Over 150 historic automobiles, race cars, muscle cars, and early models are on show in the museum’s 72,000 square feet of area. The California Automobile Museum’s aim is to preserve, exhibit, and educate the public about the automobile’s history and impact on our lives. The California Automobile Museum was the first permanent automobile museum in the western United States. Founded in 1983 as the California Vehicle Foundation, the Towe Ford Museum opened to the public in 1987, featuring the world’s biggest collection of Fords, courtesy of Montana financier Edward Towe.
The first car donated to the California Automobile Museum was a restored 1938 Buick sedan, which is now on exhibit at the museum and was a gift from John Joyce, president of the Golden One Credit Union. The Towe Auto Museum was renamed in 1997 after the museum began displaying vehicles of all makes and models.
Products/Services:
Car Museum
LOCATION:
Address: 2200 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: (916) 442-6802
Website: www.calautomuseum.org
REVIEWS:
“One of the better Automobile Museums I’ve been to. Plenty of interesting cars to see from all eras. Be aware, the buildings are not heated. Plenty cold the day I visited. Otherwise, this is highly recommended if you’re in town.” – Jack R.
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is one of Sacramento’s three historically significant structures. It took the kind of determination and courage that the early pioneers of California were famed for when it was built at a period when Sacramento was changing from a mining town to a capital city. The cathedral is now both a religious and a civic monument. It serves approximately 1,000,000 Catholics and runs from the southern boundary of Sacramento County north to the Oregon border.
In a 42,000-square-mile area, the diocese includes 102 churches. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, located west of the Mississippi River, is one of the largest cathedrals in the United States. Because of its vastness, it has been the venue of final funeral Masses for former California governors, most recently Pat Brown in 1996.
Products/Services:
Historical Church
LOCATION:
Address: 1019 11th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 444-3071
Website: www.cathedralsacramento.org
REVIEWS:
“A beautiful Cathedral in downtown Sacramento. A place must see and visit when you come to the area. It is right beside the Capitol so you would not miss the place. Its intricate structure and its interior are so breathtaking that make you feel you are in one of those Churches in Europe.” – Albert B.
Mark has lived in Detroit, MI his whole life. He has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications including the Yahoo News and True Dakotan. As a journalist for Kev’s Best, Mark covers national and local businesses.