Top things to do near Sacramento Airport
Visit Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Located just 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Sacramento Airport, Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a town frozen in history. With an entire district preserved in true 1800s style, it contains such attractions as the B.F. Hastings Building (the original location of the California Supreme Court and one-time terminal of the famous Pony Express), the Lay Adams Building (Sacramento’s oldest non-residential structure) and the city’s oldest remaining firehouse.
You’ll love the romantic, Spanish-influenced architecture and genuine sense of the old Wild West. Whether seen from the deck of a riverboat or through first-class carriage glass, dining in style in wood-paneled carriages as the first engineer pulls the engine’s whistle, Old Sacramento is a real treasure.
See some Californian art
Sacramento has a wealth of great museums, including the California State Railroad Museum and the California State Capitol Museum, but chief among them must be the Crocker Art Museum, the oldest continuously-running art museum in America’s west.
Exhibits include a major collection of Californian art, dating all the way back to the time the state was formed, a collection of over 1,500 17th- and 18th-century European drawings and a treasure trove of eastern artworks ranging from Japanese armor to Korean ceramics and from Pakistani Buddhist art to the treasures of Chinese tombs.
Enjoy Sacramento Zoo
First opened in 1927, Sacramento Zoo is a must-see for all animal lovers. With over 500 animals on-site, you’re sure to see something amazing amongst the attractions that include lions, giraffes, tigers, zebra, chimps, emu, wallabies, jaguars and bats.
There’s an adventure playground for kids and a ‘Zoo Train’ for the really little ones, all adding up to an unforgettable day out for all.
Visit the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Whether you're religious or not, cathedrals can be amongst the most awe-inspiring sights on earth and Sacramento has a beautiful example. A Roman Catholic cathedral dating back to the late 19th century, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament underwent a $34 million restoration after the turn of the millennium - and it shows.
A 13-foot (four-meter) crucifix hangs over the altar, backed by intricate ceiling carvings of delicate gold and blue. From the outside, an ivory spire towers over the surrounding trees, painstakingly restored to original Italian renaissance style. This cathedral is a must-see for lovers of architecture.
Get wet ‘n’ wild
If you’re wilting from the Californian heat and need somewhere to cool off, look no further than Raging Waters Sacramento, a water park with nine twisting, twirling slides and two humongous pools (including northern California’s first-ever wave pool).
Particular highlights include the near-vertical Cliffhanger and the pitch-dark, five-story-high Dragon’s Den. Worried it sounds too scary for the little ones? Don’t fear, the Treehouse Reef and Shark Pool provide water-based antics for all ages.
Check out some classic cars
Car lovers will be in awe of the California Automobile Museum, which contains over 150 vehicles. Stretching back 120 years, the exhibits include a 1900 Locomobile Steam Car, Ford’s famous Model T, classic muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and newer technological marvels such as the eco-friendly Nissan LEAF.
