Things to See and Do near Sacramento

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Boredom results from practiced habitual avoidance.  There is always something to do.

Sacramento

Sports

 

Towns Near Sacramento

San Francisco

CAUTION:  Leave car completely empty and doors unlocked, or your car will be vandalized.
Someone must stay with vehicle at all times if door locked and not parked in guarded parking lot.
Gangs of thieves break windows to get in trunk via pass-through; police do nothing.

Highway 1

  • North on Hwy 1

    • Golden Gate Bridge
    • Sausalito
      • East Side of Highway
      • West Side of the Highway (last Exit before the bridge)
        • Golden Gate Outlook (ocean side)
        • Bay View Outlook
        • Ocean View Outlook
    • Picturesque Winding Road on cliffs looking over the Pacific Ocean
      • Beautiful, but the driver can’t see anything due to driving on a winding road
    • Stinson Beach
      • Nice hidden beaches require climbing down steep trails
        • Be aware, clothing optional
      • not much in town
    • Can drive hundreds of miles North
      • Redwood Forest
      • Cliffs and Outcroppings
      • Towns dimpled along the way
      • Eventually, a Large Expanse where there is nothing but nature
        • Research potential road closings before you go
        • Fill your gas tank at half a tank (always check for the next available gas station and hours of operation)
        • Take warm clothing, a raincoat, food, and water
          • likely windy conditions make umbrellas ineffective

  • South on Hwy 1

    • Ocean front drive, not too curvy
    • Very expensive hotels along this route, must go inland to find affordable hotels
    • Most towns are notable because of their beach
    • Santa Cruz (nice town)
      • Marina Boardwalk
        • Restaurants and Shops
      • Paved bike trails

Northeast from Sacramento (Scenic Forested Drive)

  • Chester via Hwy 70
    • Check for Road Closures, great bike ride with no cars when the road is closed
      • Alternate route by car from Paradise to Chester is 2 hours, for drop-off
      • 8-hour one-way bike trip from Chester to Paradise, CA on Hwy 70 (more downhill)
    • When Hwy 70 open
      • scenic mountain river drive with small waterfalls (beautiful)
  • Grass Valley
  • Nevada City

Southeast from Sacramento

Jamestown (historic old west town – 1 hr 50 min)

  • Gold Mining Experience
    • Hands-on Tour where you actually pan for and find tiny gold flakes
  • Old Mercantiles
  • Haunted Hotel and Saloon
    • Jamestown Hotel
      • There is nothing I know more affirming of an afterlife than the potential of friendly spirits
  • Cavern Tours
  • Mark Twain Cabin (along the route to Jamestown)
    • interesting story about mule teams supplying the California gold rush
  • Frog Racing (call for information)

Columbia (historic gold mining town – 1 hr 45 min)

  • Smooth Large Rock outcroppings from hydraulic mining
  • Well-maintained old west buildings
  • Working Blacksmith
  • Memorable

Calavaras Big Trees State Park (Sequoia Trees)

Northern California

Casinos

  • Red Hawk
  • Thunder Valley
  • Cash Creek
  • Hotel Hollywood
  • Jackson
  • many many Poker casinos not listed here (minimal slots)

Lake Tahoe (2-hour drive – Hwy 50)

  • Boat Rentals
    • Party Cove
  • Water Ski Boat Rental with Pilot
  • Snow Skiing
  • Casino
  • Scenic Drive around Lake
  • Multi-million dollar Rock Mansion that is now a State Museum (Northwest Shore)
  • Places to explore along the way
    • Placerville
      • Apple Hill
    • Ice House Rd, Falls
      • Need truck, rough road
  • Small towns to explore near Lake Tahoe
    • Carson City
    • Minden
    • Virginia City (old West Tourist Attraction)

Reno (2-hour drive – Hwy 80)

* well-traveled roads, but in remote areas, cell phones have blind spots

San Jose (2-hour drive)

Amusement

Shopping

Art Galleries and Museums

 

 

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