19+ Fun Things to do in Old Sacramento (2024)
Every city has its own tourist spot for out-of-towners. Old Sacramento cannot be missed for visitors to California’s capital. The waterfront area provides a rich Gold Rush history, quirky gift shops, and easy access to the river and downtown. Old Sacramento has something for everyone from couples to young families! Even locals (like myself) frequent the area from time to time.
In this post, I will uncover the best things to do in Old Sacramento, from historical attractions to scenic cruises or train rides to yummy eats!
Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!
Brief History of Old Sacramento
How the city rose above the storms
Sacramento was founded by Samuel Brannan and John Sutter, Jr. in 1850. At the time during the California Gold Rush, the city became a central hub for miners in search of gold.
The original streets of Sacramento were built 10 feet below the level it is today. However, flooding has always been a problem here (and still continues to be). In 1850, Sacramento experienced its first major flood, and in 1852, the city was completely wiped out by the waters but was still saved. This prompted a proposal to raise the city’s elevation, which was put off for a while. Sacramento then became California’s capital in 1854.
Another major flood occurred in 1862, which finally led the city to be raised just above the original street level using thousands of cubic yards of dirt to save the city once and for all.
From slum to tourist spot
While the gold rush started declining, Sacramento became known for its agricultural industry. However, most of the district moved more east, eventually leading Old Sacramento to be abandoned. Around the 1960s, the city started refurbishing the area.
Today, Old Sacramento attracts around 5 million visitors per year.
Things to Do in Old Sacramento (and Where to Eat!)
1. Visit the California Railroad Museum (and Ride the train across Sacramento from there!)
Owned and operated by the California State Parks System, the California Railroad Museum features 21 restored locomotives dating back to 1862. These trains are either powered by steam or diesel. There are also exhibitions featuring photographs, mini-models, artifacts, showcasing the importance of trains shaping society in California (and the West Coast in general).
Below are the admission costs for California Railroad Museum:
- Adults: $12
- Youths (ages 6–17): $6
- Children (ages 5 and under): Free
But the coolest thing about the California Railroad Museum? You can take a 50-minute train ride overlooking the Sacramento River from Sacramento Southern Railroad, owned and operated by the museum itself. The train excursion transports you back to the early 20th century with its vintage locomotives. There is even a first-class section where you are served snacks and refreshments (which is what I want to do sometime). This excursion operates from April to September only.
2. Grab a cup of joe at Steamers or Blueprint Coffee Project
Old Sacramento has two coffee shops suited to different tastes and preferences. If you like barebones coffee with traditional American dining, Steamer’s is more your jam. It is also a classic Sacramento business that opened in 1994.
If you have bougie taste with an affinity for all things Instagrammable, you’re going to love Blueprint Coffee Project. It is a nonprofit owned and operated by Project Church next door. There’s no food, but they do offer plant-based milk alternatives!
3. Window shop at Evangeline’s
Evangeline’s has two parts; a novelty gift shop and a costume shop adjacent. The street-level gift shop sells cheeky merchandise (albeit, some a bit inappropriate; there’s an 18+ section which I won’t share here) dedicated to pinup ladies, Star Wars, anime, cannabis, and other references you can think of. It’s kinda like Spencer’s.
Right next to the gift shop is the 3-story costume mansion (2 stories above the gift shop). Even if you don’t buy any of the expensive costumes, it’s still fun to walk around each floor marveling at everything and walking up the elaborate staircase in a 19th-century building.
Each floor in the mansion has its own theme of costumes. The second floor is filled with Renaissance, gothic, 1920s, and scientist costumes. The third floor’s costumes are fairytales, 1950s–1990s, and circus-themed. There is also a wall full of wigs, accessories, and makeup!
4. Window shop even more at Stage Nine Entertainment (for the pop culture lovers)
You can find all sorts of Disney and Old Hollywood memorabilia at Stage Nine, which is actually across the street from Evangeline’s. If you love Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, or Wizard of Oz, you’ll find such merchandise here!
There are also Sacramento-themed souvenirs such as mugs, clothing, magnets, and postcards.
Stage Nine has a small room dedicated to all things Disney, such as art prints and sculptures. There is even a TV that shows Disney movies live!
If you have kids, they are going to love Toy Emporium, which is actually adjacent to Stage Nine!
5, Go on a river cruise
City Cruises California takes you on a 90-minute trek on the Sacramento River. You can sit inside or go on the top-floor deck. And yes, there’s a bar. I did this during one of my friend’s birthdays, and we left the tabs open to get multiple drinks.
If you’re local to Sacramento or visiting sometime in the future, you can easily book a cruise right now below if you’d like!
6. Candy taste to your hearts’ content
Old Sacramento has multiple candy shops, but Candy Heaven allows you to taste the laffy taffy for free (my personal favorites are cinnamon roll, chocolate chip cookie dough, and mint). I always end up leaving with a bag of taffy and another bag of gummy sweets!
For homemade chocolates, popcorn, and ice cream, you’re gonna want to check out Sacramento Sweets Co.
7. Try the Irish Coffee at Sean Finnegan’s Pub
If you love caffeine-based cocktails like I do, you’re going to enjoy the signature drink at Sean Finnegan’s. It’s a concoction of Tullamore Dew Whiskey, coffee, and heavy cream with cinnamon sprinkled on top using a stencil of Finnegan’s logo.
There’s also your standard bar food fare like nachos, pizza, and sandwiches.
If you happen to be in San Francisco, you’re going to want to check out the Buena Vista, which is where Irish coffee started and what it’s famous for. If it wasn’t for Buena Vista, there would be no Finnegan’s.
8. Make your own cereal concoction at Cerealism
You know those fro-yo bars where you can select a flavor and add as many toppings as you want? Well, Cerealism is the cereal version of that!
For $7, you can build your own cereal, with your choice of up to three types of cereal. Then, you can choose up to two toppings, and it’s 50¢ per extra topping. These toppings include fruit, marshmallows, candy, cookies, and mini ice cream cones.
After that, you have your choice of milk; whole, 2%, soy, almond, oat, horchata, or flavored oat (banana, chocolate, or strawberry).
Or you can order one of six specialty bowls; for example, the Rainbow Brite cereal has fruit loops, a big rainbow marshmallow, and mini white marshmallows underneath acting as clouds.
Cerealism also has fun specialty drinks like lemonade pouches, Lucky Charms latte (vanilla latte with Lucky Charms marshmallows and whipped cream on top) and milkshakes topped with candy, cookies, chocolate sauce, and even more whipped cream.
The interiors in Cerealism are fun with neon colors, taking you back to your childhood. It’s also a dessert lover’s dream!
9. Go on an Underground Tour
Want to experience Sacramento from the early 19th century? You’ve got to take the underground tour operated by the Sacramento History Museum, where you can physically experience the city’s original street level, which was 10 feet lower than it is today.
Sacramento is famous for its nasty floods, causing total damage in 1850 and 1852 and wiping out the city. Because of this, the city government pushed for the streets to be completely elevated.
These hour-long tours run seven days a week in the afternoon. During weekdays, the tours start at 12 pm and 1:30 pm, but the weekends have a lot more openings.
Be prepared to wear closed-toe shoes as you will be walking on uneven terrain, dirt, train tracks, and cobblestone streets. The tours operate rain or shine, so dress accordingly.
After your tour, refresh yourself with some wine tasting at the Underground Tasting Room!
10. Make art and support local artists at Atrium 916
Atrium 916 is a non-profit dedicated to creating art for the greater good of the local community and the environment. They offer an open art cafe where you can come in and paint to your hearts desire; the staff provides a canvas, brushes, paints, and stencils.
There are also original art prints, jewelry, and accessories hand-crafted and upcycled by local artists. Most of the earrings are made with inner tubes of a bike!
11. Go on a food tour
Sacramento is rising as one of the top foodie cities in the US and the world. WalletHub ranked us as #3 for the top foodie cities in the US, right after Miami and Portland. Eater.com revered Sacramento as one of the top culinary destinations in 2024, alongside Osaka, Cairo, Medellin, Seychelles, and fellow US cities like Philadelphia and Milwaukee. We even got a shoutout from National Geographic!
So why not get a taste of the culinary delights our city has to offer with a food tour?
SactownBites offers food tours all over the city and beyond (like in Capay Valley and along the Delta), and what do you know? They have a walking food tour in Old Sacramento!
Your guide will take you to a few eateries where you will sample different bites, and it adds up to a full lunch. During the tour, you’ll also get a mini history lesson on how Sacramento came to be, from the Gold Rush to becoming the capital of California. Make sure to come hungry!
12. Dine at Delta King
For lunch, dinner, or Happy Hour, you can dine at Delta King, a 285-foot-long steamboat overlooking the Sacramento River, Ziggurat building, and Tower Bridge.
I went here for Happy Hour during 4th of July, ordering some wine and cheese plates. It was a fun experience watching the sun set and the fireworks pop off!
Delta King is also a 44-room hotel. If you’re looking for a unique experience, I can’t recommend staying here enough!
13. Grab burgers and drinks at Fanny Ann’s Saloon
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have some drinks at a 19th-century style bar? Well, you can experience it at Fanny Ann’s Saloon, though it was established in 1973.
Fanny Ann’s Saloon is modeled after Old Sacramento’s old bars before the floods wiped them out. Originally, Fanny Ann was a steamboat built in 1842 that transported supplies to Sutter’s Fort and greater Sacramento during the Gold Rush. Unfortunately, she was caught in a tragic fire in 1869, but some parts of her were able to be salvaged, like the cannon above the entrance to the saloon.
Today, Fanny Ann’s is known for serving up delicious burgers, appetizers like fries, onion rings, wings, cocktails, and beer. It’s also the perfect spot to watch a Kings or Rivercats game (even though it’s smack dab in between Sutter Health Park and Golden 1 Center). There are also fun arcade games, including pinball!
For a more modernized bar (with some old motifs), check out Honey and the Trapcat.
14. Take saloon-style photos at McGee’s Old Time Photos
If you’re looking for a fun experience and souvenir from Old Sacramento, you’ve got to take 19th-century saloon style photos at McGees. Get ready to don some dresses with corsets, accessorized with boa feathers, garters, long pearl necklaces, and hats with even more feathers. Men also have clothing options to choose from like a variety of suits and hats to match. And fake rifles!
The photos come out with a sepia filter, just like how they were taken before color photography was a thing. And you’ll pose against snazzy backdrops with wine barrels, bottles of whiskey, and wagon wheels.
15. Cross the Tower Bridge over to West Sacramento
Right next to Old Sac is the Tower Bridge (basically Sacramento’s Golden Gate Bridge), which connects to West Sacramento, a different city in a different county. West Sac’s River Walk Park is great for a nice stroll, bike ride, or a picnic on a beautiful day. Because West Sac is a fairly small city, you can walk to The Bridge District where all the upcoming, hip restaurants are being built, or to Sutter Health Park for a River Cats game during the summer.
16. Walk over to DOCO (Downtown Commons) for restaurants, shops, and entertainment
On the opposite side of Tower Bridge and West Sacramento is DOCO (Downtown Commons), filled with nightlife, restaurants, shops, and luxury hotels nearby. Golden One Center is nestled right inside, and is home to the Sacramento Kings and many concerts.
What used to be an old mall, DOCO replaced Westfield Downtown Plaza with a walkable, lively atmosphere.
17. Get your giggle on at Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club
I’m not a huge comedy watcher, but I know it’s something people enjoy, especially when their favorite comedian is in town. Laughs Unlimited is one of Sacramento’s well-known comedy clubs! It’s a laid-back atmosphere for a friends’ night out, and there’s a wide selection of drinks like beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails, and soda.
18. Go on a ghost tour
Given Old Sacramento’s history, there are bound to be some haunted buildings and ghosts floating around. If the paranormal fascinates you, consider going on a walking ghost tour at night! This also makes for a fun fall Sacramento activity.
19. Ride the Waterfront Wheel or the Front Street Carousel
I’m a Ferris wheel lover, but I have yet to ride Old Sacramento’s Waterfront Wheel, which has been installed in recent years. On the 65′ Waterfront Wheel, you can see sweeping views of Downtown, the Sacramento River, Tower Bridge, and the Ziggurat building in West Sacramento. You have to be at least 44″ to ride the Waterfront Wheel.
The Front Street Carousel is your classic merry-go-round, perfect for families. A child must be at least 36″ to ride alone. If they are shorter than that, they need to be accompanied by an adult.
Both the Waterfront Wheel and the Front Street Carousel cost $6 to ride.
Holiday Events in Old Sacramento
Mardi Gras Carnaval
Get out your beads, masks, and anything green, purple, and gold to celebrate the biggest Mardi Gras parade and party in the city! Old Sacramento is filled with live music, mask-making workshops, and New Orleans cuisine such as jambalaya, gumbo, beignets, and po boy sandwiches.
The date for the 2025 Mardi Gras Carnaval is TBA.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
Get lucky with another big bash in Old Sacramento! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is a big deal, with performances from Celtic bands and Irish dance groups. There are also beer gardens and a chance to find leprechauns. Just don’t forget to get decked out in green so ya don’t get pinched!
The date for the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is TBA.
4th of July Fireworks Show
While the 4th of July Fireworks Show takes place at the Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, you can still watch it from Old Sacramento. You can’t go wrong whether you’re sitting on a bench or doing Happy Hour at Delta King!
Theatre of Lights
The Theatre of Lights is a free evening holiday performance taking place from Wednesday on Thanksgiving Eve to Sunday (except for Thanksgiving Day). Old Sacramento is decked out with colorful lights and garlands. There are so many talented acts during the Theatre of Lights, including Billy Farmer, the Emmy-nominated voice actor who plays Disney’s Goofy.
There are also reenactments of Twas the Night Before Christmas and Sacramento from the 1800s (pre-capital era), with sounds and sights of floods, fires, and rowdy saloon parties.
The Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Thanksgiving Eve on November 27, 2024, by Santa Claus.
New Year’s Eve
There used to be a fireworks show coming from Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Old Sacramento and the Tower Bridge would get completely packed! But unlike the 4th of July Fireworks Show, they stopped doing it for NYE since COVID-19 and for logistical reasons.
But there are still special dinners and comedy shows taking place in Old Sacramento, so it’s still pretty lively!
You can also go on a New Year’s Eve river cruise, which includes 1 glass of champagne and a live DJ. There are also snacks and cocktails available to purchase!
Old Sacramento Parking Information
While Old Sacramento has its own parking garage, there are a few parking garages nearby in the Downtown area.
- Old Sacramento Garage
125 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814 - Tower Bridge Garage
1289 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95814 - DOCO Central Garage
414 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814 - DOCO West Garage
325 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814 - DOCO East Garage
579 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814
There is also street parking around the area from 10 am – 10 pm.
Wrapping up the Best Things to do in Sacramento
Whether it’s your first time in the capital of California, you come frequently for work, or you’re a local, no trip is complete without visiting Old Sacramento. For a unique, relaxing experience, I recommend a river cruise down the Sacramento River with cocktails in hand.
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