Why You Should Go to Sacramento Now

Sacramento may not make it to the top of many buckets lists, but it should, especially now. Lady Bird recently catapulted Sacramento into the spotlight, but that’s not the only reason to plan a visit to California’s capital city. From a refreshingly creative culinary scene to a flourishing downtown corridor, here’s what makes Sacramento worthy of a place on your must-visit list.

A Vibrant Public Art Scene

Sacramento’s public art scene is thriving thanks to Wide Open Walls, the city’s annual mural festival that brings together and celebrates the capital region’s emerging local artists, as well as nationally-recognized street artists. Since the annual festival began in 2016, more than 55 large-scale works of art have popped up all across town. Take a guided running or walking tour with Sac Running Tours to check out the murals, learn the inspiration behind the artworks and dig into the history of street art in Sacramento.

Lady Bird, Come to Life

Lady Bird writer-director Greta Gerwig called her award-winning film "A Love Letter to Sacramento." Fans of the film will want to explore her hometown to see first-hand where she drew her inspiration. Set out on your own to snap photos of various filming locations, like Tower Bridge, Thrift Town, and the “Blue House,” the title character’s favorite house in Sacramento. Or, sign up for a guided tour that goes deeper into Gerwig’s vision for the movie and the history of Sacramento as you take in iconic locations from this coming-of-age movie.

A Trendy New Food Hall

Due to open in May, The Bank is on track to be a food lover’s dream and was conceived to be the center of Sacramento’s food scene. The historic D.O. Mills Bank Building at Seventh and J Streets is transforming into an on-trend food hall boasting multiple restaurants and bars across three floors inside this historic downtown building. Preservation & Co., a specialty foods company known for its cocktail mixes, wing sauces and srirachas, will debut a new menu when it opens a quick-service eatery inside The Bank. 

A Revitalized Downtown Corridor

With the opening of Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, in late-2016, a revitalized downtown corridor has begun to spring up around the indoor arena. Golden 1 Center sits in the middle of Downtown Commons, which is known simply as DOCO. New boutiques, restaurants, hotels and entertainment options have come alive in recent months, like Punch Bowl Social, a massive venue with bowling, karaoke, an ‘80s arcade and bocce courts, as well as the hip, new Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. Both spots opened in late-2017.

A Huge Farm-to-Fork Scene

The local farm-to-table scene is massive, so it’s no wonder Sacramento is known as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. An annual Farm-to-Fork Festival each September celebrates the region’s locally-grown foods, and top chefs in the Bay Area are taking notice. Distinguishing palates are flocking to Canon, a new restaurant concept in East Sacramento that boasts creative, seasonal fare like Charred Broccoli di Ciccio with Kimchi Vinaigrette. Chef Brad Cecchi recently returned to Sacramento from the Bay Area to share his culinary talents and passion for the region’s agriculture community.