Sacramento

Sacramento, California, founded in 1850 by gold rushers, houses trendy downtown nightclubs and nine shopping malls — but it’s the numerous historic attractions, including many of the 30-plus galleries, museums and theaters, that help make it interesting and keep its storied past alive. Perched along the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, the capital city also offers varied outdoor recreation that includes 120 parks covering more than 2,000 acres.

Built in 1869, the California State Capitol, with its white domed top, features an interior filled with mosaic floors, stained glass windows, mural-covered walls and a 100-foot rotunda within a double-domed ceiling. The capitol also includes a museum, gift shop, a portrait gallery highlighting California’s past governors and numerous exhibits that showcase the Golden State’s finest landmarks and attractions. You can take a free, daily one-hour guided tour of the capitol. Forty acres of gardens surround the capitol, complete with a rose garden, trout pond and native plants, flowers and trees found throughout the state’s diverse landscapes.

There’s a lot of shopping in Sacramento! Boutiques are usually located in downtown Sacramento or in Midtown, a highly walkable neighborhood full of small venues and art galleries. Larger big box stores dot the suburbs. For mall shopping, try Arden Fair Mall or the Westfield Galleria in Roseville. If you’re looking for shops outside of the city center, visit Folsom. It’s home to both charming antique stores and a large outlet mall.