Help me flesh out my Sacramento-area travel itinerary
July 28, 2017 3:27 PM Subscribe
In two weeks I'll be flying to Sacramento and exploring several nearby towns on a nine day trip. I've never been in CA north of San Francisco so I'm excited to see some new sights. Enjoying food, museums, and the outdoors are all good. How does my itinerary look?
Aside from visiting my 93-year-old great aunt in Grass Valley for a few days, my plans are open. I've been reading through previous threads to get ideas about places to go. Here's my tentative plan:
Day 1: Fly into SMF, drive to Grass Valley
Day 2: Visit Grass Valley
Day 3: Day trip somewhere near Grass Valley (..?)
Day 4: Drive to Truckee and stay over
Day 5: Stay another night in Truckee? or drive to Lake Tahoe?
Day 6: Drive to Sacramento/Davis
Day 7: Visit Sacramento/Davis
Day 8: Visit Sacramento/Davis
Day 9: Fly out of SMF
Some questions:
I realize how hot it'll be there so I know that'll dull some of my desire to be outside. (Yes, I'll have to return another time of year to go camping.) But I'd like to go swimming whenever/wherever possible. Any tips for places to go along the way? I'd read something about swimming at Paradise Beach/American River in Sacramento...
Any suggestions on how I'm dividing up the days? I'll stay in Grass Valley for three nights for quality time with my aunt, but after that I'm open. Trouble is, I can't really visualize these places, or how locals move around in the summer. Does it make more sense to stay longer around the forests/Lake Tahoe, where the temps look a little cooler?
This older question yielded recommendations to stay in downtown/midtown Sacramento. Is that still suggested? Is it worthwhile to stay a night or two in Davis?
Any "can't miss" or favorite places along the way?
Aside from visiting my 93-year-old great aunt in Grass Valley for a few days, my plans are open. I've been reading through previous threads to get ideas about places to go. Here's my tentative plan:
Day 1: Fly into SMF, drive to Grass Valley
Day 2: Visit Grass Valley
Day 3: Day trip somewhere near Grass Valley (..?)
Day 4: Drive to Truckee and stay over
Day 5: Stay another night in Truckee? or drive to Lake Tahoe?
Day 6: Drive to Sacramento/Davis
Day 7: Visit Sacramento/Davis
Day 8: Visit Sacramento/Davis
Day 9: Fly out of SMF
Some questions:
I realize how hot it'll be there so I know that'll dull some of my desire to be outside. (Yes, I'll have to return another time of year to go camping.) But I'd like to go swimming whenever/wherever possible. Any tips for places to go along the way? I'd read something about swimming at Paradise Beach/American River in Sacramento...
Any suggestions on how I'm dividing up the days? I'll stay in Grass Valley for three nights for quality time with my aunt, but after that I'm open. Trouble is, I can't really visualize these places, or how locals move around in the summer. Does it make more sense to stay longer around the forests/Lake Tahoe, where the temps look a little cooler?
This older question yielded recommendations to stay in downtown/midtown Sacramento. Is that still suggested? Is it worthwhile to stay a night or two in Davis?
Any "can't miss" or favorite places along the way?
Because of the rampant snow we had, please be very very careful swimming in the rivers here in the Sierra. The waters are still running very high and fast and you need to be very careful as several people have drowned or need rescuing.
posted by HeyAllie at 4:15 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by HeyAllie at 4:15 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
I live in the Davis/Sacramento area, but I'm honestly going to need more information to help you figure out what you would like to do besides nature stuff, because your post is kind of vague.
I'll start you out with this. UC Davis usually has some interesting talks and events even during the summer, so here's their calendar here. There's the Mondavi Center and the new Shrem Art Museum. TANA is a treasure and Sol Collective is dope. Eat at taco trucks in Woodland.
Things I know people do outdoors:
Lake Berryessa
Colfax - this is a drive up from Davis, but playing in the river was so much fun. It's full of natural jade rocks and boulders.
I would look up Eventbrite events as well. Like there's this pretty cool free Common concert that's sponsored by the California Endowment. Burgers & Brew is my favorite restaurant of all time and has the best burgers I've eaten anywhere in California. Thai Canteen is my other favorite, and has both Davis and Sacramento locations.
Do you like to go social dancing? Firehouse 5 is fantastic for blues fusion and tango. Spotlight Ballroom has various dances like Midtown Stomp for east coast swing/lindy hop on Friday nights, and Mango's and The Grad (in Davis) have salsa and bachata dancing.
posted by yueliang at 4:18 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'll start you out with this. UC Davis usually has some interesting talks and events even during the summer, so here's their calendar here. There's the Mondavi Center and the new Shrem Art Museum. TANA is a treasure and Sol Collective is dope. Eat at taco trucks in Woodland.
Things I know people do outdoors:
Lake Berryessa
Colfax - this is a drive up from Davis, but playing in the river was so much fun. It's full of natural jade rocks and boulders.
I would look up Eventbrite events as well. Like there's this pretty cool free Common concert that's sponsored by the California Endowment. Burgers & Brew is my favorite restaurant of all time and has the best burgers I've eaten anywhere in California. Thai Canteen is my other favorite, and has both Davis and Sacramento locations.
Do you like to go social dancing? Firehouse 5 is fantastic for blues fusion and tango. Spotlight Ballroom has various dances like Midtown Stomp for east coast swing/lindy hop on Friday nights, and Mango's and The Grad (in Davis) have salsa and bachata dancing.
posted by yueliang at 4:18 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hey, I live in Grass Valley! It's a lovely town. I'm guessing you're staying with your great aunt; if not, the best full hotel in the area is the Gold Miners Inn, until recently Holiday Inn. There's neat B&Bs too if that's more your speed.
Grass Valley and Nevada City are about 5 miles apart and are more similar than different. Each has a cute little downtown area that's good for an hour or two of poking around. Good restaurants, etc. To the extent there's nightlife it's on Commercial Street in Nevada City, a few pubs and live music places.
My #1 suggestion for you is to go swimming in the South Yuba River. It's like church for locals, beautiful and clear and wonderful. My favorite spot is Hoyt Crossing; park where 49 crosses the river and hike upstream. But everyone has a favorite swimming hole and there are many options with short or long hiking as you prefer. Bridgeport is another option for a gentler beach and there's a nice little park there. Like HeyAllie says the river is a bit faster and colder than usual this year but it's OK. But be smart and respect the river, especially in rocky rapids.
Other Grass Valley park experiences that are sort of fun are the Empire State Mine and the North Star Power House. They're both mining remnants. Empire is the big attraction, and is great, but I kind of like the restored engines and stuff at North Star more. Not sure where to recommend for a day trip, maybe a drive on 49 up to Downieville or down to Placerville? I wouldn't bother, honestly, there's enough to do near Grass Valley. It's hot but not terrible hot. Highs of about 90 are typical this time of year, gets down to about 60 at night. It's very dry.
I like Davis but I'm not sure it's super exciting for an overnight visit. I'm not a huge fan of Sacramento either. The State Capitol is worth a visit, and Old Town is a popular tourist attraction. But it's really hot down in the valley. (No offense, neighbors!)
I'd look to spend a night in Lake Tahoe if you can swing it, not just Truckee. South Lake Tahoe is the densest area, but mostly Tahoe is about resorts and rustic cabins that are near the lake / hiking. (Reno and Carson City are like a whole different thing. They have their charms too, but it's a different trip.)
posted by Nelson at 4:25 PM on July 28, 2017 [4 favorites]
Grass Valley and Nevada City are about 5 miles apart and are more similar than different. Each has a cute little downtown area that's good for an hour or two of poking around. Good restaurants, etc. To the extent there's nightlife it's on Commercial Street in Nevada City, a few pubs and live music places.
My #1 suggestion for you is to go swimming in the South Yuba River. It's like church for locals, beautiful and clear and wonderful. My favorite spot is Hoyt Crossing; park where 49 crosses the river and hike upstream. But everyone has a favorite swimming hole and there are many options with short or long hiking as you prefer. Bridgeport is another option for a gentler beach and there's a nice little park there. Like HeyAllie says the river is a bit faster and colder than usual this year but it's OK. But be smart and respect the river, especially in rocky rapids.
Other Grass Valley park experiences that are sort of fun are the Empire State Mine and the North Star Power House. They're both mining remnants. Empire is the big attraction, and is great, but I kind of like the restored engines and stuff at North Star more. Not sure where to recommend for a day trip, maybe a drive on 49 up to Downieville or down to Placerville? I wouldn't bother, honestly, there's enough to do near Grass Valley. It's hot but not terrible hot. Highs of about 90 are typical this time of year, gets down to about 60 at night. It's very dry.
I like Davis but I'm not sure it's super exciting for an overnight visit. I'm not a huge fan of Sacramento either. The State Capitol is worth a visit, and Old Town is a popular tourist attraction. But it's really hot down in the valley. (No offense, neighbors!)
I'd look to spend a night in Lake Tahoe if you can swing it, not just Truckee. South Lake Tahoe is the densest area, but mostly Tahoe is about resorts and rustic cabins that are near the lake / hiking. (Reno and Carson City are like a whole different thing. They have their charms too, but it's a different trip.)
posted by Nelson at 4:25 PM on July 28, 2017 [4 favorites]
At the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento there's an exhibition on Hi-Fructose magazine (contemporary art influenced by tattoo/graffiti).
In the Crocker's permanent collection there's lots of nice California Impressionism.
posted by sebastienbailard at 5:30 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
In the Crocker's permanent collection there's lots of nice California Impressionism.
posted by sebastienbailard at 5:30 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
You mentioned museums, so you might enjoy the California State Railroad Museum. It's in the cheesy Old Sacramento part of town, but the museum itself is first class. Even if you aren't into choo-choo trains.
posted by Longtime Listener at 5:33 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Longtime Listener at 5:33 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Shrem is closed for the summer.
It's going to be 90-108 in all of these areas, more or less. Driving to Tahoe takes hours and hours and hours from what I've seen of the drivers heading there on Friday and Saturday, so if you do that, that'll be a lot of time.
I like Davis, Grass Valley, and Nevada City, but all three of them on a tourist level pretty much boil down to "walk around their downtown and go in cute shops." The shops are cuter in GV/NC, the art galleries are cuter in Davis, those are good in the downtown even if you can't go to the Shrem) Davis probably isn't worth sleeping over in, though. It's not really all that tourist-oriented. The Crocker in Sac is definitely cool .
I'd say to check this website in two weeks to see what activities are going on in the area.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:36 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's going to be 90-108 in all of these areas, more or less. Driving to Tahoe takes hours and hours and hours from what I've seen of the drivers heading there on Friday and Saturday, so if you do that, that'll be a lot of time.
I like Davis, Grass Valley, and Nevada City, but all three of them on a tourist level pretty much boil down to "walk around their downtown and go in cute shops." The shops are cuter in GV/NC, the art galleries are cuter in Davis, those are good in the downtown even if you can't go to the Shrem) Davis probably isn't worth sleeping over in, though. It's not really all that tourist-oriented. The Crocker in Sac is definitely cool .
I'd say to check this website in two weeks to see what activities are going on in the area.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:36 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
How can I forget the Crocker! The Crocker is veeery cool. Very much seconded. And yes, I agree with jenfullmoon's assessment.
posted by yueliang at 6:16 PM on July 28, 2017
posted by yueliang at 6:16 PM on July 28, 2017
Sutter's Fort in Sacramento is worth seeing (if you like that sort of thing); maybe an hour or so, not a whole day affair.
Interesting factoid: when Col. John Frémont first visited California (not long before it became part of the US .. Frémont was later involved in the US taking California from Mexico) he stayed with Sutter, though not at Sutter's Fort I think, and wrote how he rode over to visit the neighbors .. in Santa Rosa, which is almost 100 miles away. Quite a different idea of 'neighbor' from our current view.
posted by anadem at 6:35 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Interesting factoid: when Col. John Frémont first visited California (not long before it became part of the US .. Frémont was later involved in the US taking California from Mexico) he stayed with Sutter, though not at Sutter's Fort I think, and wrote how he rode over to visit the neighbors .. in Santa Rosa, which is almost 100 miles away. Quite a different idea of 'neighbor' from our current view.
posted by anadem at 6:35 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you like the outdoors, spending a couple of nights up at Lake Tahoe would be worth your time. There are a lot of great hikes. Here's some ideas, some more ideas, and some more.
posted by elmay at 7:17 PM on July 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by elmay at 7:17 PM on July 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
When I lived in Davis I couldn't wait to get out of Davis/Sac. I don't think there's multiple days worth of things to do there, honestly. That said, in Sacramento Corti Brothers grocery is worth a stop, and if you can time your stop in Davis to coincide with the Farmer's Market (Wednesday afternoon/evening and Saturday morning), it's pretty great.
Do you drink or have any interest in wine at all? When I lived in Davis we would go to Napa/Sonoma a lot, it's not a very long drive (~1hr) and there's a lot more interesting stuff than Yolo county; both wineries and other things in Downtown Napa (Oxbow Market), in Yountville, St Helena, Healdsburg, etc.
posted by zingiberene at 8:34 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Do you drink or have any interest in wine at all? When I lived in Davis we would go to Napa/Sonoma a lot, it's not a very long drive (~1hr) and there's a lot more interesting stuff than Yolo county; both wineries and other things in Downtown Napa (Oxbow Market), in Yountville, St Helena, Healdsburg, etc.
posted by zingiberene at 8:34 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all for such diverse and interesting suggestions!! And for the helpful caution about swimming. I'm looking forward to this trip even more after exploring these different tips.
anadem, that is interesting to think of Santa Rosa in that way. And Sutter's Fort sounds right up my alley.
posted by mayta at 11:37 AM on July 29, 2017
anadem, that is interesting to think of Santa Rosa in that way. And Sutter's Fort sounds right up my alley.
posted by mayta at 11:37 AM on July 29, 2017
Response by poster: Oh and zingiberene, I'm not really into wine but it's still good to know about Napa/Sonoma. I'll check 'em out.
posted by mayta at 11:40 AM on July 29, 2017
posted by mayta at 11:40 AM on July 29, 2017
I'd also recommend spending your time in the foothills and skipping Davis and possibly Sacramento. Davis is just a little town, there's nothing that interesting to see there. Sac can be a day trip from Grass Valley, no problem. There is some cool stuff to see in the Delta, 40 minutes or so beyond Davis but if you are headed up the Sierras I'd probably do a loop that includes Tahoe, Truckee, South Tahoe, down 395 to Mono Lake area and come back over to the central valley via Jackson. Or something like that. That'll be a fun road trip with some weird places and some beautiful places and not as hot.
posted by fshgrl at 1:19 PM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 1:19 PM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just visited Sacramento and we went to the Hi-Fructose exhibit at The Crocker, The Undergound Sacramento Tour and brunch at The Porch.
Other resaturants that are great:
http://www.kyotosushibargrillramen.com/
http://www.tapatheworld.com/
http://www.cafeteria15l.com/
posted by amapolaroja at 12:25 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Other resaturants that are great:
http://www.kyotosushibargrillramen.com/
http://www.tapatheworld.com/
http://www.cafeteria15l.com/
posted by amapolaroja at 12:25 AM on July 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
So I spent a few hours in Davis while waiting out rush hour in the Bay Area en route from Redding to SFO on this road trip. It was a nice town, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Can't speak for Sac; I've never been and I've heard differing opinions.
Staying up in the foothills sounds like a good idea. If you want to head somewhere else, I second the recommendation of Sonoma and its environs. It's beautiful and has lots of great food, even if you're not particularly into wine. I'd just drive straight there from Truckee or Tahoe, and stay somewhere near Sonoma, or Petaluma maybe. You can spend a day in wine country and then a day at Point Reyes National Seashore before heading back to Sac.
posted by breakin' the law at 8:22 AM on July 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
Staying up in the foothills sounds like a good idea. If you want to head somewhere else, I second the recommendation of Sonoma and its environs. It's beautiful and has lots of great food, even if you're not particularly into wine. I'd just drive straight there from Truckee or Tahoe, and stay somewhere near Sonoma, or Petaluma maybe. You can spend a day in wine country and then a day at Point Reyes National Seashore before heading back to Sac.
posted by breakin' the law at 8:22 AM on July 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rtha at 3:38 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]