West Sacramento is a riverfront suburb of Sacramento with an estimated population of 53,000, situated in Yolo County.
West Sacramento is known for its nice weather, nearby outdoor recreation areas, and central location with easy access to the region’s top attractions.
In West Sacramento, there are many parks, restaurants and shopping areas, such as Westbridge Plaza, Riverpoint Marketplace, and Riverbend Shopping Plaza Shopping Center.
Several festivals and events take place in West Sacramento throughout the year, including TBD Festival, The Sacramento Aloha Festival, and the Lantern Street Festival.
Below are 15 of the best things to do in and around West Sacramento, California.
1. Hang Out in Bryte Park
Source: GaudiLab / shutterstockWhen visiting a new place, there’ll be times when you just feel like staying put rather than jumping from attraction to attraction. A great place to take a break is at Bryte Park.
In this community park, you can find plenty of grassy spots to spread a blanket and read a book, or just relax in the sun and fresh air.
There are picnic areas with barbecue facilities in the park, so you can take your lunch with you. If you like watching sports, there are four baseball diamonds, eight soccer fields, and a basketball court.
Other on-site amenities include a walking track and a playground.
2. Visit the California State Capitol Museum
Source: Sundry Photography / shutterstockSituated in downtown Sacramento, the California State Capitol Museum has so much to see. This historic building was constructed in 1869 has beautiful grounds that feature monuments, and the gardens have 40 acres of trees from around the globe.
In the museum, start your visit by watching a short film detailing the property’s history. There are restored offices and three art galleries featuring both permanent and loaned collections, with hundreds of paintings, murals and statues.
In the West Wing, you’ll find 38 portraits of former governors. Guided tours of the exterior and interior of the property are available.
3. Spend a Day on the Greens at Bing Maloney Golf Course
Source: Mikael Damkier / shutterstockFor more than 50 years, Bing Maloney Golf Course has been offering world-class golf to players of all levels.
In total, there are 27 holes to play across an 18-hole course and another 9-hole course. The 18-hole course is a par-72 with a range of challenges to keep your game interesting.
The 9-hole course is a par-29 and is said to be even more challenging than the 18-hole course. It’s perfect for anyone who only has a small amount of time to play.
The facility has a driving range, chipping green, putting area, and sand bunker. Lessons are available and the on-site golf shop is in the top 100 shops in the country.
At Maloney’s Grill, you’ll enjoy a range of delicious options, including burgers and sandwiches in casual surroundings.
4. Admire Classic Cars at the California Automobile Museum
Source: Cassiohabib / shutterstockSituated along the scenic Sacramento River, the California Automobile Museum is an expansive facility showcasing more than 160 classic cars.
This museum aims to preserve and share automobile history so, during a visit, you’ll get to admire beautiful cars and learn the history behind them.
Hot rods, muscle cars, race cars, and early models are just some of the cars included in the collection. Many of them are on loan, so the exhibits change from time to time. Guided tours are available.
5. Sit Down to Classic Comfort Food at the Broderick Roadhouse
Source: Broderick Roadhouse / FacebookIf traditional American comfort food is what you crave, you’ll find it at the Broderick Roadhouse.
This laid-back eatery with country-style decor makes all their dishes from scratch using high quality, all-natural ingredients.
While the main attraction on the menu is the high-stacked burgers, there are a range of appetizers and sandwiches available as well. Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy any burger on the menu with a veggie patty instead of a beef patty.
The beverage menu offers plenty of options, including a range of carefully-selected, local craft beers.
6. Take the Kids to Fairytale Town
Source: Kit Leong / shutterstockFor over half a century, Fairytale Town in Sacramento has been entertaining children of all ages with its fairy-tale and nursery rhyme-themed exhibits.
At Fairytale Town, kids are exposed to learning experiences disguised as playtime. In other words, they have a blast without realizing they are actually learning.
The on-site petting zoo is another favourite attraction and this is where you can pet and interact with domestic farm animals, including lambs and pigs.
There are also several beautiful gardens, including the Alphabet Garden. From time-to-time, concerts, movie viewings and storytelling sessions take place at the on-site stages.
7. Check out the Subtile Sculpture
Source: imageAllan / shutterstockAlong the Sacramento River, there’s a sight quite unlike anything anywhere else. You won’t miss it because it’s eye-catching and quite large at 26 feet long and 14 feet high.
This work of art is known as the Subtile Sculpture. It was created by artist Federico Díaz and placed along the river in 2017 as a way to bring public art to low-income neighbourhoods.
At first glance, and depending on what angle you view it from, the sculpture looks like a group of trees or a giant disco ball. After a while, it starts to lose its shape and starts to look like something else.
The thousands of steel discs that make up this sculpture move with the wind and shimmer in the sun so it takes on many forms depending on many factors.
8. Explore Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Source: milosk50 / shutterstockOld Sacramento isn’t just a historic part of the city, it’s also a State Historic Park and a fascinating place to visit. Here you can shop, eat, learn about the area’s history and admire the beautiful architecture of the old buildings.
The look and feel of the area is reminiscent of the Transcontinental Railway and the California Gold Rush.
Across the 28 acres of this city district situated along the Sacramento River, you’ll find over 100 retail shops, eateries, museums, and cultural attractions.
As you explore the area, you can also embark on a riverboat cruise, take a ride on an old train or take a little trip down memory lane in a horse-drawn carriage.
9. Sample Local Wines at Baker Family Wines
Source: Markus Mainka / shutterstockBaker Family Wines features handcrafted wines made with locally-sourced grapes. The inviting tasting room is where you can sample some of these wines or purchase a bottle to take with you.
Various events take place at the winery throughout the year.
10. Appreciate Fine Art at the Crocker Art Museum
Source: Sundry Photography / shutterstockThe Historic Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento started as a private collection and became a museum in 1885.
The exhibits showcase a variety of art, both from local artists and from around the country. There are European works, such as paintings, drawings and ceramics, and artworks from Africa and Asia.
Guided tours are available if you wish to learn more about the art and several events, such as studio classes, occur throughout the year.
11. Visit the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
Source: Sundry Photography / shutterstockSituated in downtown Sacramento, the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park is a must-see California Historical Landmark that was constructed in 1856.
During a visit to this massive property, you’ll see historic works of art, beautiful woodwork, 17-foot high ceilings, and period furniture. Guided tours of the property are available.
12. Learn About Local History at the California State Railroad Museum
Source: Sundry Photography / shutterstockSince the mid-1970s, the California State Railroad Museum has been exhibiting the history of the railroads of California and the Western United States.
The expansive property is a collection of six buildings and each building houses exhibits related to the history of the city and the railroads. On-site, there are also 21 refurbished train cars and locomotives.
Throughout the year, many educational events are held at the museum.
13. Pay a Visit to the Sacramento Regional Fire Museum
Source: Sacramento Regional Fire Museum / FacebookThe main goal of the Sacramento Regional Fire Museum is to display items related to the history of the Sacramento region’s fire service history.
The on-site exhibits showcase a variety of items, including artefacts, documents, and old firefighting equipment.
14. Visit the Animals at the Sacramento Zoo
Source: Shougui Yang / shutterstockWhen it started in 1926, the Sacramento Zoo was a small four-acre operation caring for 40 animals. Today, it’s a 14-acre state-of-art facility caring for over 500 animals.
Conservation is very important at this zoo. One of the things they do well, and take pride in, is ensuring the animals live in spaces as close to their natural habitat as possible.
As you make your way through the zoo, you’ll see mammals such as lions, jaguars, giraffes, zebras, chimpanzees, and red pandas. You’ll also see many amphibians, birds, and reptiles.
15. SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity
Source: Powerhouse Science Center / FacebookA variety of hands-on exhibits await curious young minds at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity in Sacramento.
Some of the exhibits include a planetarium, a space mission simulator and a nature discovery room. Visitors even have the chance to participate in a real archaeology dig.
