Sacramento

America’s Most Diverse City. The largest tee canopy in the U.S. Commercial center of the California Gold Rush. Explore all this and more in “The 916.”

Sutter’s Fort was established in the area now known as Sacramento in 1839, positioning this city to be a center of commerce and culture by the time news of California’s rich gold deposits reached the rest of the country. Located at the meeting of two rivers in the northern Sacramento Valley, it was the perfect terminus for the First Transcontinental Railroad, the Pony Express, riverboats, and wagon trains of all sorts. If you were going to California with a banjo on your knee, chances are you were headed to Sacramento. Today, the fort is still standing—it’s the oldest restored fort in the nation—and the original downtown area (Old Sacramento) is a living historical district awaiting modern explorers like you.

If you’re looking for free things to do in Sacramento, go for a walk under the canopy of trees that help the metropolitan area retain its rural feel. Watch the leaves whip by overhead while biking the 32-mile American River Bike Trail (a.k.a. the historical Jedidiah Smith Memorial Trail). Modern Sacramento with its hipsters and Second Saturday art walks is inseparable from its history, so enjoy the mix of old and new wherever your adventures in Sac take you.

Wondering what to do in Sacramento when you get hungry? Let your fork be your guide. In fact, all you’ll have to do is hold a utensil out, and watch as farm-to-fork food comes to you. Okay, maybe it’s not that easy, but with so many nearby farms in the valley combined with incredible cultural diversity, great eats from near and far aren’t hard to find.

Ready to saddle up for Sac? With Travelocity’s Sacramento vacation packages, that’s pretty darn easy too. Forks up!

Frequently Asked Questions about Sacramento

How big is Sacramento?

Sacramento has a population of just under 500,000 and an area just over 100 square miles (259 square kilometers). The city is located northeast of San Francisco and San Jose in the Sacramento valley, and is known for being a highly multi-cultural city.

Does the Sacramento Zoo have elephants?

The Sacramento Zoo does not have elephants. In 1991 it sent its only elephant, Winky, to live at the Detroit Zoo. Like most zoos, The Sacramento Zoo didn't have adequate facilities to fulfill Winky's needs. The zoo is still an active advocate for protecting elephants from poaching.

When was Sacramento founded?

Sacramento was built at the site of famous Sutter's Fort, founded in 1839 by John Sutter. It wasn't until the start of the Gold Rush in 1848, however, that Sacramento officially became a city. Sam Brannan was the first entrepreneur to set up shop to supply miners on the Sacramento River on a site that would later become the heart of the city.