[Thanks to Pamela Flick of Defenders of Wildlife for this list]
If you’re visiting Sacramento for the first time or making a return trip, we encourage you to arrive early or stay after the conference to enjoy all the Capital City and the surrounding regions have to offer – there’s something for everyone!
Just steps from our conference venue is Capitol Park and the California State Capitol Museum. Take a free guided tour or wander the park and Capitol building on your own, including the self-guided tree tour, a multitude of monuments and memorials, the world peace rose garden, the historic offices and legislative chambers, artwork, architecture and more. http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/
Take a journey into the past at the California State Railroad Museum. Experience the feats of engineering and ingenuity that have kept the Golden State steaming along for nearly 200 years. Weekends also include the option of joining the Museum’s popular railroad excursion. Train rides include closed coach cars and a first-class observation car pulled by either a steam locomotive or a vintage diesel locomotive from the Museum’s collection. https://www.californiarailroad.museum
Celebrate the impact the automobile had on the Golden State’s history, art and technology, and culture at the California Automobile Museum. Experience automotive evolution like never before, with tours offered daily and a chance to see an array of cars up close and personal. https://www.calautomuseum.org
Explore Old Sacramento Historic Park, which has more buildings of historic value in its 296 acres than any area of similar size in the West. It is also the site of the western terminus of the Pony Express postal system, the first transcontinental railroad, and the transcontinental telegraph. Be sure not to miss the many kitschy shops and tasty restaurants, ice cream parlors and candy stores. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=497
Get a true taste of Sacramento aboard a Hornblower River Cruise. Take in the unique beauty of California’s capital city and hear exciting tales about the first days of the Gold Rush and legendary Pony Express, or simply grab a cocktail and enjoy a happy hour cruise along the Sacramento River. https://www.hornblower.com/port/category/sac+rivercruises
Sacramento is America's Farm-to-Fork Capital, where we encourage the use of local food to make a positive impact on health, economy, the environment, and our community. Check out one of our many Sacramento Farmers Markets hosted around our city and surrounding region throughout the week. https://www.farmtofork.com/taste-and-tour/farmers-markets
Sacramento’s restaurant scene has been heating up for years, so there’s no better time to eat and drink “The Grid” and find your local favorites! https://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/eats-drinks
What’s a trip to California without some wine tasting? Lucky for the Sacramento region, wine country and wine tasting opportunities abound…
Sacramento Sugar Mill - http://oldsugarmill.com/wineries.html
El Dorado County Wine Trails - https://visit-eldorado.com/el-dorado-wine-trails
Amador County - https://amadorwine.com/wineries
Napa County - https://www.visitnapavalley.com/wineries
Sonoma County - https://sonomawine.com/visit
See where the Gold Rush all began at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. James Marshall discovered gold here in January 1848, leading to the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere, changing the course of history in California and the nation. http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484
Make a Splash – Go Whitewater Rafting on the South Fork American River! The most popular destination for whitewater rafting in California, the “South Fork” is the ideal river for anyone wanting to enjoy a fun yet relaxing day on the river. https://www.coloma.com/recreation/whitewater-rafting
Grab some locally grown fruits and vegetables and freshly pressed apple cider at one of more than 50 family farms at Apple Hill in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento. Enjoy the winding roads and scenic beauty that have been part of this popular destination for the past half century. http://applehill.com
Straddling the state line between California and Nevada and lying at 6,225 feet in elevation, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest lake in the United States (after Oregon’s Crater Lake). Outdoor recreational opportunities abound year-round, and fall is a wonderful time to visit this High Sierra gem, after the summer crowds have waned. https://visitinglaketahoe.com
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
The California Academy of Sciences is a renowned scientific and educational institution dedicated to exploring, explaining and sustaining life on Earth. Based in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, it is home to a world-class aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum—all under one living roof. https://www.calacademy.org
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected since 1908, the primeval forest of Muir Woods National Monument is both refuge and laboratory, revealing our relationship with the living landscape. https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
The rich variety of natural and cultural resources of Año Nuevo State Park draws visitors from around the world. The park’s Natural Preserve offers an extraordinary wilderness experience, where every year up to 10,000 elephant seals return to breed, give birth and molt their skin amongst the scenic dunes and beaches. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523
The Monterey Bay Aquarium – considered by many to be the best in the world – is a showcase for the habitats and sea life of one of the world's richest marine regions. With nearly 200 exhibits including 35,000 creatures representing over 550 species, the Aquarium is a window to the wonders of the ocean. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org
The Winchester Mystery House is an architectural wonder and historic landmark in San Jose. This Queen Anne Style Victorian was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm magnate William Wirt Winchester. Since its construction in 1884, the property and mansion were claimed by many to be haunted by the ghosts of those killed with Winchester rifles. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com
Home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America, San Jose’s Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an educational institution that uses trans-disciplinary approaches to increasing knowledge about the past, present, and future, especially related to the diversity and relationships in nature and among cultures. https://egyptianmuseum.org