Sacramento Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Sacramento, California - CA, USA)

Sacramento is awash with tourist attractions, ranging from a number of important historic sites to adventure theme parks and shopping precincts. The town of Sacramento was founded by the Swiss pioneer, John Sutter, during the Gold Rush days of the mid-19th century, and Sutter's Fort marks the occasion today.

In addition, Sacramento Zoo is very well laid out and one of the area's premier attractions, being established as far back as the late 1920s and covering around 4.5 acres / 2 hectares.

These historic zoological gardens first opened with just a handful of animals and enclosures, while nowadays, visitors will find more than 600 creatures, following expansions and upgrades over the years. These now include African lions, snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, chimpanzees, lemurs, orangutans, gibbons, zebras, giraffes, porcupines, sloths and red pandas.

Guided tours of the Sacramento River offer another aspect of the area, featuring pleasant views along the way. Themed cruises can be arranged, with food buffets, live music and dancing.

Spirit of Sacramento Riverboat Cruises

Address: 110 L Street, Sacramento, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 916 552 2933
The Spirit of Sacramento Riverboat explores the shores and historic landmarks of the American River aboard two 19th-century vessels. Cruise options include a short sightseeing trip, the longer Captain's Brunch cruise, the Murder Mystery specialty event, a sunset cruise and karaoke nights. It should be noted that these particular boats tend to get very mixed reviews, with regards to the food offered, the staff and the overall condition of the facilities onboard.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children

Sacramento Zoo

Address: 3930 West Land Park Drive / Sutterville Road, Sacramento, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 916 264 7055
Sacramento Zoo, not far from Fairytale Town, is home to numerous exotic beasts from around the globe, all of which live in a beautiful and fitting setting. There are also interesting 'animal encounter' lectures at the zoo's amphitheater, with other highlights including the option of taking part in the 'Adopt an Animal' program, a playground area for children, a reptile house, landscaped gardens and a gift shop.
Open hours: daily, February to October - 09:00 to 16:00, November to January - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, child ages three to 12 years discount, children under three years free

Fairytale Town

Address: 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 916 808 7462
Located near to Sacramento Zoo and the William A. Carroll Amphitheatre, Fairytale Town is an old fashioned amusement park that has been around for a while, priding itself on its small scale and low-key recreations from children's fairytale books. Notable attractions include the boot of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, the Crooked Mile, a pirate ship and puppet shows on weekends.
Open hours: March to October, daily - 09:00 to 16:00; November to February, Thursday to Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children aged three to 12 years and seniors, members and children under three years free

Sutter's Fort

Address: 2701 L Street, Sacramento, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 916 445 4422
Founded in 1839 as the first Euro-American settlement by John Augustus Sutter, a German-born Swiss immigrant, today Sutter's Fort comes with a number of visitor attractions. These include a blacksmith's shop, a prison, a bakery and living quarters, as well as farming livestock areas. Tours are provided with audio backing and staff at the fort dress up in original clothing to create an authentic atmosphere.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Westfield Shoppingtown Downtown Plaza Holiday Ice Rink

Address: 701 K Street / K Street Mall, Sacramento, California CA, USA
Tel: +1 916 442 8575
The Westfield Shoppingtown Downtown Plaza Holiday Ice Rink features a life-sized Dickens Village and comes with plenty of decorations to admire. This is a great place to visit if you are here in the wintertime and keen on skating. The rink is also available for private bookings and lessons.
Open hours: November to mid-January, Sunday to Thursday - 12:00 to 20:00, Friday and Saturday - 10:00 to 22:00
Admission: charge, skate rental not included