Bounded by the Sacramento and American rivers and shaded by thousands of trees, California's capital is peaceful and seems almost rural. But it's a center of art, music, and theater, and has several fine museums. Take your pick: you can observe politicians at work or admire pickled peaches at the state fair.

Historic Old Sacramento, a string of 19th-century buildings bordering the Sacramento River, has been turned into a pleasant collection of shops and restaurants. Downtown boasts a pretty mall stretching to the ornate, domed capitol building. Sutter's Fort, in the heart of downtown, is a reminder of the city's founder, John Augustus Sutter. It was at his sawmill, about 30 mi east of the this fort, that gold was discovered in the state in 1848---sparking the infamous California Gold Rush.

Many stately Victorians of various styles and ornateness dot the town, reminders of the city's past as a wealthy center of commerce during the state's early years..

Be sure to spend some time in Old Sacramento. Once the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad and the short-lived Pony Express, this national landmark and state historic park encompasses 28 acres along the Sacramento River waterfront and more than 100 restored Gold Rush-era buildings. You'll find a marketplace, new public docks, excursion cruises, museums, and some of Sacramento's best restaurants. The historic Delta King, a paddlewheeler that once traveled between San Francisco and Sacramento, is permanently moored here and has a hotel and restaurant.

An interesting up-and-coming neighborhood is Del Paso, just across the American River from Sacramento proper. Until recently a decaying street of auto-repair shops, it's become a haven for small, edgy art galleries, artists' studios, and antique and rummage shops. A few good restaurants have opened too. Several times a month, the businesses here stay open late for a neighborhood walk and sometimes an impromptu street festival.

On Sacramento's outskirts, ranch homes and shopping malls reflect the growth during the 1960s from sleepy cow town to a city complete with suburban sprawl. If the place seems quiet on weekends, it's because residents have fled to the great outdoors. Sacramento is nearly equidistant to the Sierras, the San Francisco Bay area, and the Napa Valley.