Old Sacramento, vibrant heart of California's capital

Only 1h30 from San Francisco, the city of Sacramento, whose names refers to the river bordering it, recalls the conquest of the West, with its historical district, sprinkled with picturesque buildings dating back to the 18th century. One steps back to a time when gold fever was in full swing : colorful Western facades, wooden sidewalks, tourist coaches and steam boats—such was the setting!

Sacramento, at the heart of the Californian capital!

Very lively, the district offers a wide array of attractions. Starting with the old renovated train station where one climbs into a steam engine, a museum sheltering the largest collection of Californian art in the United States, another one dedicated to Wells Fargo, whose Pony Express coaches of yesteryear went back and forth across the country, without forgetting to slip on a period costume for the vintage photo.

Nicknamed the « Big Four », these buildings, dating back to 1839, are right next to the most handsome railway museum in the United States. © AL

Cadillac, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, these license plates ornament cars that epitomize the glory of made in USA vehicles. © AL

Non-stop shopping and tastings

All around, the boutiques are filled with iconic souvenirs that appeal to everyone. As for the restaurants, they adopt the « Farm to Fork » spirit, recalling the locally driven produce of Sacramento, a city with 40 farmer markets surrounded by well-known vineyards. Nearby, wine tourism and tastings are ongoing successes…

Sometimes transformed into an events location, the Tower Bridge is covered in gold leaf, as a reminder of the Capitol's dome. © AL

From a key-chain to the California's state T-Shirt, the « Bear Flag » is endlessly reproduced… © DR

Going to Sacramento

With Wow Air, departing from Roissy CDG1. The company that comes from the cold offers 2 daily flights to San Francisco, via Reykavik, and its Premium class allows its passengers to benefit from priority check-in and boarding, 2 pieces of luggage, an XL seat and an onboard meal. wowair.fr

Just like its Airbus A300, the entire fleet of the Icelandic company is brand new. © DR

Travelling with Equinoxiales

The customized travel specialist, well-known for its savvy tips to upscale US travellers, organizes trips and personalized stays in California, including Sacramento, in order to successfully put together holidays in keeping with everyone's whims. Tel : 01 77 48 81 00 and www.equinoxiales.fr

Specialized in exclusive travels, this tour operator knows all the secrets of the North American destination. © DR

Moving around with Alamo

Number 1, and car rental specialist with service locations all over the United States, the « Blue & Yellow » company offers a wide range of vehicles, as well as brand new 4X4 landcruisers in order to look at life from above when traveling on the Californian « Highways ». www.alamo.fr

Present in 50 American states, the Alamo logo reassures all those who rent cars. © DR

Visiting with Visit California

Represented by the mN'O bureau in France, Visit California is the official tourism organization in California. Its multilingual, interactive and continually updated Internet site will enable you to discover the must-go spots of this dream destination. A precious state-of-the-art tool for a successful trip to the Golden State. www.visitcalifornia.com/fr

Before leaving, the discovery of the Visit California site is mandatory to stock up on hot tips… © DR

Address book

• State Capitol. For the superb aspect of this government building whose works and rooms recall the birth of California. www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov
• Railroad. For a journey into yesteryear with perfectly restored vintage steam engines and deluxe railroad dining-cars. www.californiarailroad.museum
• Crocker Art. To look at the works of Rembrandt, Durer, François Boucher, and its main gallery, dedicated to paintings recalling the conquest of California. www.crockerart.org

Shopping :

• At the Golden 1 Center. Downtown, this deluxe mall shelters the Macy's department store, well-known brands and a cinema auditorium. www.golden1center.com

Restaurants :

• Mulvaney's B&L. In a former firehouse, this trendy table, featuring an open kitchen, is the chic culinary venue in Sacramento. www.mulvaneysbl.com
• Jim-Denny's. Impossible to miss this cult hot spot that has stayed the same since the 50s—according to specialists, they serve the best house burgers. www.jimdennys.net

Wine tasting :

• Old Sugar Mill. A former sugar mill on the outskirts of the city, this large warehouse shelters 15 wine estates that will make you discover their products and grape varieties of which Zinfandel, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sangiovese are the stars. oldsugarmill.com

Staying in Sacramento

At the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. Ideally located, this new ultra sophisticated establishment conveys luxury to all its services, and its restaurants are the new gourment rendezvous of « Sac ». www.ihg.com

How can one resist this restaurant right in the middle of gigantic towers ? Here you can dig into a very old-fashioned and delicious burger… © DR