Before it was a bustling state capital, Sacramento was a stop on the Pony Express. Relive the city’s pioneer spirit in Old Town and Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, or explore the Capitol building’s classic architecture. Enrich your railroading adventure by exploring the beauty and brawn of the locomotives and coaches that forged the Golden State’s history at the California State Railroad Museum.

Explore the world-class bonsai garden in the urban oasis of Lake Merritt, where you can also run, bike, stroll or rent a boat. Indulge in more waterfront fun at Jack London Square, a hub for shopping, dining and recreation along the city’s Embarcadero. Tour the USS Potomac, FDR’s presidential yacht that was known as the “Floating White House,” or catch a ferry to that other city by the bay, San Francisco.

Immerse yourself in international flavors and cultures, from sushi and sake in one of the few remaining authentic Japantowns in America, to artifacts and alchemy at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. Then head for the hills, where wine trails meet bike trails in the Santa Cruz mountains.