Sacramento - A Cow Town No Longer
California's Capital City is a Bustling Tourist Attraction
Apr 23, 2007 Jessica Springgay
Though often dubbed a "cow town" by residents of larger California cities, Sacramento is rich in culture and history. Founded in 1849 and a major hub during the Gold Rush, Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California and is now home to roughly 450,000 residents. Called the City of Trees and the River City because of the two major rivers that run through it, Sacramento offers an abundance of bike trails and levees in addition to the bustling downtown atmosphere surrounding the state capitol building. With San Francisco and the Napa Valley wine country both less than two hours to the west and Lake Tahoe less than two hours to the east, Sacramento is a premier location for both city and nature lovers alike.
Located in California's rapidly-growing Central Valley, Sacramento is the seventh most populous city in California. With a population of more than 2 million, the four-county Sacramento metropolitan area consisting of Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo and Placer counties is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in California. In 2004, the greater Sacramento area was named one of the five “most livable” regions in America by “America’s Most Livable,” and in 2002 Sacramento was named America’s most diverse city by Time magazine.
Sacramento is home to the Crocker Art Museum, the oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi River. The California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento is widely regarded as one of North America’s finest and most visited railroad museums.
Sacramento, Calif. is home to Gold Rush-era attractions, California State Capitol tours, outdoor adventures, as well as hotels, dining and cultural arts for every taste and budget. Sacramento can no longer be called a cow town. The greater Sacramento region offers something for everyone, including amusement parks like Raging Waters and Scandia Family Funland, art galleries, casinos, museums, performing arts exhibits and venues, farmers markets and vineyards and wineries. For sports fan, Sacramento is home to two professional basketball teams: the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs. Sacramento is also home to the Sacramento River Cats, a minor league baseball team that plays a Raley Field, which offers stunning views of the Sacramento skyline and often hosts concerts and other entertainment activities. Other sites of interest include the Sacramento Convention Center, Old Sacramento, Sutter’s Fort, the Towe Ford Museum, Discovery Museum, Fairytale Town and the Sacramento Zoo. When you travel to Sacramento, you're sure to discover gold.
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