Sacramento, California

Business of the educational sort took me up north to my home state’s capital, Sacramento. I have driven through the city on multiple occasions; Interstate 5 runs through the city, so we’ve driven through on the way to the Pacific Northwest and whitewater rafting trips on the American River. That said, I had not the opportunity to explore the state capital until this trip.

After landing at Sacramento International from Burbank, we headed to our hotel across the street from the State Capitol. Being so close to the capitol building was a pleasant surprise, as it was a convenient start for some California adventures.

California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850, after the California Gold Rush brought an influx of thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich. This population boom accelerated the necessity for organized government. The first constitution of California was approved in Monterey in 1849, prior to California’s admission to the Union, was revised in 1879 and is still in effect today. The capital of California moved several times, with Sacramento being established as the permanent seat of government in 1854. Construction on the capitol building began in 1860 and took 14 years to complete. Today, the Neo-classical building draws over one million visitors annually, including tours and school field trips. Indeed, we saw several school groups while walking across the park.

I did not have an opportunity to tour the inside of the building while on this visit, as it was a working trip, but I was able to take several walks around the 40-acre park. There are a number of memorials paying tribute to law enforcement, military, and first responders, as well as beautiful rose and succulent gardens.

Within clear view of the Capitol is the iconic, Art Deco-styled Tower Bridge. Checking Google Maps, I found that to get to the bridge is an easy, flat walk from the Capitol. So on the second day of our trip, I had some time between my last session and dinner to get some steps and take a little walking tour of this part of the city.

After stopping at my room for a sweater and a quick change of shoes, I crossed the California State Capitol Park and headed west on Capitol Mall. I passed by the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts, which houses California’s Third Appellate District. The court has jurisdiction over 23 Northern California counties. The courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and is also a state landmark. There is a statue of Justice Mosk, who had been a California attorney general and, with a 37-year tenure, was the longest serving associate justice of the California Supreme Court to this day.

I continued on, heading west on Capitol Mall. I walked through the downtown core area, home to a number of banks, as well as state and federal buildings. Many of the private institutions were decked out for the holidays, which made my walk in the bright afternoon sun feel that much more festive, and there was a crisp autumn wind blowing through the capital.

After walking about three-quarters of a mile, I crossed over Interstate 5 and came to my intended destination: the graceful, bright yellow Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge spanning the Sacramento River and connecting the state capital with West Sacramento in Yolo County.

Though I have a rather irrational fear of drawbridges- or rather, getting stuck on one when it is about to lift- I am fascinated by both the design and the mechanics of them. The bridge was completed in 1936, and according to signage around the park, is the only historically significant vertical-lift bridge in California. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The total length of the structure is 737 feet, with a main span length of 209 feet. The architectural design is Streamline Moderne, a type of Art Deco, with elements that are similar in style to the Golden Gate Bridge. No wonder why I loved it so much. I have long been enthusiastic for bridge design, and enjoyed photographing bridges on various travels since I was old enough to handle my dad’s old Minolta. Apparently that makes me a pontist, the type of nerd who really loves bridge design and engineering. And perhaps, there is a link to that part of my personality that loves building bridges, metaphorically.

I was not yet ready to end my walk, so I followed the path to the River Walk Park on the West Sacramento side. The park offers walking trails and boat access in a peaceful setting. Well, mostly peaceful. There was the incessant barking of what sounded like sea lions reminiscent of Pier 39 in San Francisco. I learned that sea lions, the males in particular, will travel upstream from the coast for food in the Sacramento and American Rivers.

After spending a few minutes trying to spot the source of the barks, I figured it was time to give up and head back over the bridge. While I still had about two hours to kill before our six o’clock meeting time, I had to make a trip to the Anthropologie for a toiletry item. I retraced my path back to the edge of the Capitol Park on 15th Street. From there, I headed southeast to a nice shopping area on R Street, passing by more government offices, including the California Department of Education.

It was a few more blocks and a cut through Fremont Park to get to the shops. The R Street Corridor is a revitalized historic district that now features shopping, dining, and entertainment. I stayed in the general area of the Anthropologie and Mendocino Farms, and ran my errand without any distractions. It was then time to head back and get ready to meet my colleagues for dinner. Getting out and walking the city was a great way to see the sights and get in some extra steps. I returned to my hotel just as the sun was beginning to set in the west over the Tower Bridge, lending its soft glow as the lights were coming on across the city.

The next morning, I decided to take another walk prior to my first session, this time to find coffee that was not Starbucks. My intention was to walk across the Tower Bridge, then double back to head to Philz on R Street. But Google Maps and my own curiosity has a way of getting the better of me.

Rather than head back to Philz, I ended up finding a cute little coffee shop in West Sacramento. Tree House Cafe was tucked into a little corner on 3rd Street. I probably would have missed it if not for Google Maps. The cafe offers up a number of breakfast and comfort food items, as well as fresh pastries. There are vegetarian options, such as the breakfast burrito and vegan muffins. I opted for the broccoli quiche and a cappuccino with oat milk along with a vegan pumpkin muffin for when I got hungry between sessions. The quiche was satisfying, and the cappuccino was quite good. I think my favorite thing however, was the muffin. Many times, vegan baked items can be dry, but this muffin was moist, even hours after I took it to go.

After enjoying this light breakfast, I decided to take a different route. I continued down 3rd and crossed the river via the I Street Bridge, an historic truss double-deck swing bridge. Historic is a bit of an understatement. There is a modernization project in the works to replace the 110-year-old bridge beginning in 2026, and its completion is expected to take at least four years. In the meantime, pedestrians and vehicle traffic share the upper level, with train traffic on the lower deck. There is a sidewalk for pedestrians, but I would not exactly recommend crossing the bridge on foot. It felt rather sketchy and outdated.

On the bright side, crossing the river at I Street did offer another view of the Tower Bridge. It looked different in the morning cloud cover that did not burn off even as the day progressed, but it was still very pretty from across the river.

I made it safely across the bridge and back onto terra firma in Sacramento. From there, I followed Google Maps back to the convention center with plenty of time for my first morning session. By then, there were a number of people heading out, some with badges from the very conference I was attending. I was thankful for another chance to explore more of the city with a coffee in hand.

Some things to consider:

Crime is an oft-cited concern for the California state capital. It is true that property crimes are higher in Sacramento than in other cities, with some areas experiencing less crime than others. There are also challenges with homelessness, as in many major cities across the country. I generally felt safe walking during the day. At night, I stayed with my colleagues and did not have any issues. As in any locale, I recommend situational awareness.

Parking is a premium in Sacramento. We walked whenever possible and utilized Uber all other times. SacRT offers light rail and bus services if you prefer public transit especially in the downtown and midtown areas.

Guided tours of the California State Capitol are available on weekdays from 10 am until 4 pm. Self-guided tours are also available during business hours. For larger groups or school field trips, call 866-240-4655.

The weather in Sacramento can be changeful, as we found on this trip. When we landed at SMF, it had been sunny and warm. The week turned gusty, then cloudy with morning fog. I recommend clothing that can be layered, along with a coat or jacket.

I had a lovely time exploring Sacramento on foot. Walking was a great way to see the many art displays around the city. There are many adventures to be had in my state’s capital. And there was more to see on this adventure. Next stop, Old Sacramento! All aboard!

References:
California, State of. “Planning.” California State Capitol Museum, 23 Sept. 2025, capitolmuseum.ca.gov/about-the-capitol/history-of-the-capitol/planning/. 

“About the 3rd District.” California Courts Courts of Appeal, 2025, appellate.courts.ca.gov/district-courts/3dca/about. 

“Tower Bridge.” Tower Bridge – HistoricBridges.Org, 2013, historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=california%2Ftowerbridge%2F. 

“I Street Bridge Replacement: Engineering.” City of Sacramento, http://www.cityofsacramento.gov/public-works/engineering/projects/i-street-bridge-replacement-project.