Downtown Sacramento Hotel

Nutritious eating options aren’t the only factor in planning a healthy meeting.  Physical activity is another component you need to consider.  According to Destination Hotels & Resorts, 54 percent of planners indicated that adventure/active options were of great interest this coming year.  This may be a current meeting trend, but incorporating physical activity has so many health benefits that can directly affect your meeting.

As we all know, sitting for long periods of time is hard on the body.  It strains the back, slows down the processes that metabolize calories, fogs the brain and causes ants-in-the-pants syndrome.  According to WebMD, incorporating physical activity in your day affects the nervous system and sets off pleasure chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine that make us feel calm, happy and euphoric.  In fact, single bouts of exercise can reduce anxiety for several hours afterward. Christin Anderson, MS, wellness and fitness coordinator of the University of San Francisco, says "You can think more clearly, perform better and your morale is better. This is pure science -- stimulate your nervous system and function at a higher level."
 
Keeping fit in Sacramento is easy to do.  Blocks from the Sacramento Convention Center, our Downtown and Midtown areas are chockfull of fitness options – from corporate health clubs such as California Family Fitness,  24 Hour Fitness and The Capital Athletic Club to indoor rock climbing, boxing and marital arts, yoga studios and boot camps.  The track at the State Capitol is trekked by many in suits and sneakers, and our 32-mile American River Parkway is traveled by walkers, joggers and bikers.  For more on walking and jogging options see the article below, “Breakout (and Walk) Session.”  Group trainers are also available to provide workout sessions right there at your meeting site.

Incorporating time for physical activity ensures a healthier and happier delegation…and ultimately a successful and memorable meeting.   
 

Sacramento’s moderate climate is perfect for a fun-filled day with the family – including the family dog. We’ve put together a list of five ways to enjoy California’s capital city with your dog.

Photo by Peaceful Pets Petsitting

1. Take your four-legged friend to a Sacramento dog park

Is your dog’s pent-up energy distracting you from other pursuits? Dogs can run it off at any of nine fenced dog parks in the Sacramento area. The two closest to Downtown Sacramento are Sutter’s Landing Dog Park at 20 28^th St. and Partner Park on Land Park Drive at Fruitridge Road. Remember to bring your own pickup bags.

2. Walk ’n’ wag in the jewel of the valley

Sacramento’s leafy parks beg exploring with your best friend. The jewel in the crown is the American River Parkway, a greenbelt and 32-mile paved multiuse trail with many access points between the Old Sacramento historic district on one end and Old Town Folsom on the other. You could also paw your way over to William Land Park, a 166-acre preserve about a mile south of Downtown Sacramento. Capitol Park around the State Capitol at 10^th and Capitol Mall is dog-friendly, as is local favorite McKinley Park, at 3330 McKinley Blvd.

3. Lay your head

Sacramento’s dog-friendly hotels include the Red Lion Woodlake, situated on a sprawling 19-acre campus offering plenty of room for a walk; the Best Western Sandman; La Quinta; Hilton Sacramento near Downtown and the Sheraton Grand in the heart of the convention district.

4. Chow down

Many Sacramento restaurants allow four-legged companions to join their uprights in dining outdoors – and in Sacramento, a moderate climate means patio dining is available about nine months per year. Café Bernardo and Capitol Garage in the thriving Midtown district are two local favorites. When it comes to local craft brews, Track 7 Brewing Company, a bare-bones but welcoming establishment near Sacramento City College, is the place to go no matter what the weather.

5. Doggy Dash

The biggest canine-centric event of the year in Sacramento is the Doggy Dash sponsored by the Sacramento SPCA. Held on the second Saturday in June at William Land Park, it’s a dog-meet-dog event with more activities than you can shake a stick at, and it attracts more than 5,000 dog enthusiasts each year. Can’t make it? Show your support any time by shopping at the SPCA Thrift Store at 1517 E St. in Downtown Sacramento.

For more tips on things to do with your dog in and around the Sacramento area, check out www.dogtrekker.com, a website devoted to dog-related fun in Northern California.

The Hyatt Regency in Downtown Sacramento opened its doors for the first time 25 years ago, and since then, it has maintained a AAA Four-Diamond rating. Just steps from the Sacramento Convention Center, the Hyatt is centrally located for meeting planners and tourists alike, who can walk to the major Sacramento tourist attractions from its front door.

To celebrate 25 years in business, the Hyatt recently gave away 25 rooms for $25 per night to people who had stayed at the hotel 25 years ago. Soon, the Hyatt will announce another promotion – giving $25 hotel rooms to couples who had their wedding receptions on the grounds. For more information on that, follow the hotel’s Facebook page.

Two of the people who stayed at the Hyatt in its opening year were Dennis and Kathryn Raymond, who spent their first night as a married couple in the then-new Hyatt.

In the last 25 years, Kathryn, an artist who painted with others during the opening of the Crocker Art Museum’s new wing in 2010, said she has been to several charity events at the hotel.

Dennis, an executive with F&M Bank, said the layout is similar, but the Hyatt has been upgraded over the years to maintain a fresh and inviting look.

The Raymonds in the lobby of the Hyatt in 2013.

But what does the couple remember most about the hotel from their first stay?

“Room service,” Kathryn said with a laugh. “We were starving after our wedding reception, because we barely got to eat. No one tells you beforehand, but you spend all your time socializing and then afterward you realize how hungry you are.”

Dennis said he remembers eating big portions of whatever sounded good on the menu, including breaded cheese sticks and spaghetti.

“It was really good, and the service was excellent,” he said.

As newlyweds, the Raymonds – who lived in Sacramento – took advantage of a lower rate for local residents before heading off to their honeymoon on the Northern California coast in Mendocino.

“We were excited, because we’d never really felt so grown-up before, and here we were as a married couple staying in the nicest and newest hotel in the city,” Dennis said.

Today, the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, located at 1209 L St., remains one of the city’s flagship hotels, situated on the recently revitalized downtown section of K Street, it is just feet from the Sacramento Convention Center and overlooks the Capitol and Capitol Park.

Whenever people visit Sacramento, there are a few spots that consistently come to mind. Old Sacramento and Tower Bridge are iconic locations in the capital city, but there are far more hidden gems that the locals know and like to showcase.

Our fans come from near and far, and they enjoy sharing their favorite photos of the city. Share your photos with us by posting on our Facebook timeline or sending us a message with your photo.

Tower Bridge, which is more than 75 years old, remains one of Sacramento's landmarks, and both residents and visitors enjoy taking shots of it from every angle. Tracy Counts took this shot of the bridge at night with cars flashing by, seen only by the streaks of their headlights.

Just across Tower Bridge from Sacramento is West Sacramento, home of the Sacramento River Cats baseball team. The season just kicked off, and the games at Raley Field are always a great time. Go to the ballgame with family, friends or a date and have a blast. The view from the stadium area is also pretty nice, as can be seen in this photo from Leslie Prétot.

When you go see a River Cats game, it's a short walk into Old Sacramento for a dinner or drinks on the river or browsing local specialty shops. While the Sacramento weather is usually bright and sunny, we occasionally get cloudy and rainy days in the winter months, and they can give a different feel to the city, as captured in this shot by Lisa Ouellette.

Most of the time, however, when Sacramentans see clouds, it's far less ominous. Shane Hunt said he likes to check out the cloud reflections in the glass front of the U.S. Bank Tower on Capitol Mall. Capitol Mall connects Tower Bridge to the state Captiol, which is open for tours of the building as well as rotating historical artifacts in the museum. The Capitol Mall Farmers Market is also held on the space, and the Farm-to-Fork Festival will be held on Capitol Mall Sept. 28.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the central business district is William Land Park, which is loved by locals and visitors alike. Attractions within the park include the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town, but the park itself is an attraction. Bring some birdseed and feed the ducks, or just pass the time relaxing in the sun or the shade. Melissa Rehurek took this photo of one of the fountains in the park with the ducks.

If you're looking to connect with a piece of Sacramento history, a visit to the California State Railroad Museum is in order. You can see numerous locomotives and train cars at the museum, and you can even take a train on one of the museum's excursions. Located in Old Sacramento at 125 I St., it's within walking distance from Downtown Sacramento hotels. History of the railroad may be captured in the museum, but the Sacramento area remains one of the major railroad hubs in the country, and Ulysses Goose Simmons took a photo of this train at the nearby Roseville railyards.

Sacramento offers a wealth of picturesque sights, fun adventures and hidden corners perfect for relaxation. Our most recent fan photos show a variety of some of the things we like to do in the springtime, from boating to performance arts to simply kicking back and relaxing with a latte.

If you’d like to submit your photo of Sacramento, message it to us or post it on our wall on our Facebook page.

Sacramento is a city built at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, and locals and visitors alike take to our waterways, especially in the warmer spring and summer months. This photo submitted by Tracy Counts shows a boat at the Riverbank Marina.

Another of Sacramento’s strong points is its diversity of locally owned coffee places, which outnumber the larger chain locations. Mattie Allison Doan shared this photo of lattes at Broadacre Coffee, which is a relatively new spot opened in a former bookstore located at 1014 10^th St. in Downtown Sacramento.

There’s no shortage of unique buildings in the Sacramento area, and one that sticks out is the Ziggurat Building across the river in West Sacramento, shown in this photo by Adam Lundt. West Sacramento’s River Walk Park is located near the Ziggurat Building and Raley Field, and it’s one of the best places in the area to get a photo of Downtown Sacramento.

Of course, heading across the river isn’t the only place to get a fantastic shot of Downtown Sacramento. This photo by JHowat Media was taken from the top floor of a publicly accessible parking garage at 14^th and H streets. You can see much of Downtown Sacramento and all the way to Tower Bridge next to Old Sacramento.

Speaking of Tower Bridge, it makes an appearance in this photo submitted by Jessica Bianucci of her friend, Lexi Whaley, who is a local dancer. Sacramento has a wealth of performing arts, from the Sacramento Ballet to numerous theaters showing locally produced shows or Broadway hits. Find out what events will be going on when you stay here by visiting Sacramento 365.

The rivers are great, but swimming pools are just as popular, and this shot of a rooftop swimming pool in Downtown Sacramento comes from Billy’s Market & Deli. While this one is only open to residents of the building, many Sacramento hotels offer outside or rooftop swimming pools. Check our Sacramento hotels website for special rates and events.

See our previous fan photo post here.

When you bring your meeting and convention groups to Downtown Sacramento, you're bringing them to a place with fantastic weather that can be taken advantage of in unique ways.

Maintaining an exercise regimen can be difficult when you're a frequent traveler or attending a long conference, but a jog, run or walk can be just what you and your delegates need to keep the juices flowing.  Luckily for you, Runner's World ranked Sacramento the number four top running city in the United States, and it was named "25 Best Walking Cities" by Prevention Healthy Living Group.

Encourage your delegates to break out and walk by extending a break time in between an afternoon session for 30 minutes. Studies show that walking not only can help attendees stay attentive and involved, but it can also demonstrate how easy it is to be more active on a regular basis. MORE

If you’re meeting at our convention center or staying at a downtown hotel, here are a few routes of varying distances that allow you to see some Sacramento attractions. MORE

If you're considering Sacramento as a location to host your meeting or convention, you can find more information on our website, www.visitsacramento.com.

Some say getting there is half the fun.  In Sacramento’s case, you can save 100 percent of the fun for when you arrive, because getting here is the easiest part.  We want you to be able to start enjoying great Sacramento attractions, accommodations and experiences as soon as possible.  And there are a variety of quick and easy ways to get here.  You just need to pick one. 

Here are four easy ways to get to Sacramento:

1. By Plane 
   Sacramento International Airport was recently named fourth best airport in North America for customer service by Airports Council International (ACI), the international trade association for commercial airports.  Sacramento International Airport is the gateway to Northern California and the world.  It offers 11 airlines and 130 nonstop flights a day with service to major West Coast cities plus Maui; Honolulu; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Phoenix; New York; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Las Vegas; Guadalajara and more.  In 2012, Sacramento International Airport served 8.9 million passengers.
   
   Sacramento International Airport is located 10 minutes from Downtown Sacramento hotels and attractions.  Related: Top 12 Things You May Not Know About Sacramento International Airport  

2. By Train 
   It doesn’t matter if you are starting out in Northern California or if Sacramento is just another stop on a long Northern California itinerary: Seeing our beautiful region by train is an experience in itself.  Amtrak links Sacramento to the Bay Area, the Central Valley and beyond.  Traveling by train is convenient, scenic and easy.  And our historic train station is located Downtown, steps from Old Sacramento and Downtown Sacramento hotels, shops and attractions.  Click here for more information about Amtrak routes, trains and pricing.  Related: Five Reasons To Travel To Sacramento By Train. 
    
3. By Automobile 
   Sacramento is one of California’s most accessible cities by car.  Whether you are coming to Sacramento from the Bay Area, the coast, the Central Valley or the Sierras, the Sacramento region is easy to access.  While drivers should be mindful of usual rush hour times, Sacramento traffic is far less of an obstacle than many other large California cities.  Also, Downtown Sacramento features a great deal of affordable parking for visitors.  Click here for maps of Downtown Sacramento, the Sacramento region, off-street parking and more.
    
4. By Bus/Motorcoach
5. When you are traveling to Sacramento with your group, we know you pay close attention to how easy and convenient it will be to park and access your motorcoach.  Our Tourism team will work with your group to make sure all aspects of bringing your motorcoach to Sacramento are fully taken care of.   Click here to email the Tourism team about bringing your group to Sacramento by motorcoach.  If you are traveling to Sacramento by Greyhound, you will be able to enjoy our new 10,000-square-foot LEED-certified terminal that features six bus bays, a sleek modern design and an onsite restaurant serving hot meals and snacks.  Related:  All Aboard! Five Ways Sacramento Gives You a Hassle-Free and Value-Added Motorcoach Experience.

    

   California begins here in Sacramento, but we realize that your California itinerary might not.  These 4 ways to get here make it easy to fit Sacramento into your Northern California itinerary.  For more information about Sacramento, please visit us at www.visitsacramento.com.

    

The Sacramento region has played a huge part in the history of America.  In Sacramento, nestled in with all of the modern amenities of a world-class city, there is an appreciation for our region’s history and the contributions we continue to make to the American culture.  We are proud to give visitors to Sacramento an all-American experience, showcasing our history, culture and the celebration of our “Old West” heritage.  From our role in the great California Gold Rush and the great American migration to America’s greatest pastime, Sacramento is a true slice of Americana.

Here are 10 Sacramento-area attractions that will show you the best of the Old West, American traditions and all the latest fads.

• Sutter’s Fort - See what was once called the “capital” of a settlement known today as Sacramento. Established in 1839 by John A. Sutter, a German-born Swiss entrepreneur, Sutter’s Fort marks a pivotal point in the history of California and westward migration. The fort was a self-sufficient community that served as Sacramento’s original commerce center, offering supplies and rest to pioneers coming west.  Learn about life in this settlement through costumed reenactments and interactive displays.
   
• Marshall Gold Discovery State Park - Stand in the exact spot where John Marshall discovered gold in 1848, setting off one of the most significant migrations the world has ever seen. The tiny town of Coloma, with its various Gold Rush-era structures and cemetery, is located about an hour east of downtown Sacramento.
   
• Old Sacramento - Step back in time to the days of the Gold Rush.  Against the Sacramento River as a backdrop and set amongst recreated or restored Gold Rush-era buildings, wooden plank sidewalks and horse-drawn carriages are more than 125 boutique shops, restaurants, attractions and museums – all within walking distance of several downtown Sacramento hotels.

• Military Museum – Located within Old Sacramento and other downtown Sacramento attractions, this museum is the official military museum and historical research center of the State of California.  The museum houses more than 33,000 artifacts and a substantial library of archives focusing on California’s rich, but sometimes unknown, military history.

• Caifornia State Railroad Museum - Learn about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and how trains have shaped people's lives, the economy and the unique culture of California and the West. With 21 meticulously restored locomotives and cars, the museum is widely regarded as one of North America’s finest and most visited railroad museums.

• Sacramento History Museum - The Gold Rush is only part of the story. The Sacramento History Museum is a reproduction of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks. It explores Sacramento’s city founders, the Gold Rush, industry and more.

• Sacramento Wineries – California is known the world over for its superb wines, and some of its finest are made right here in Sacramento.  From the rustic California Delta to the oak tree-dotted foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Sacramento’s wine region is one of the most diverse and scenic you’ll find anywhere.

• California State Capitol – California’s economy is one of the 10 largest economies in the world.  Laws made in Sacramento play a major part in American politics.  Learn what makes California’s capital tick at the California State Capitol.  Opened to visitors in 1869, the State Capitol features changing museum exhibits and historical rooms offering a view into California’s political past while the rest of the building acts as a “living museum.”

• Raley Field – You can’t get a better American experience that sitting back and enjoying America’s pastime.  Raley Field is the home of the 2008 PCL Champions the River Cats, and it is located within walking distance of Old Sacramento, downtown dining and downtown Sacramento hotels.

• Shopping – We love to shop in America, and Sacramento is home to a variety of shopping destinations that offer a variety of stores to please all types of shoppers.  From big box classic American mall stores to locally owned specialty stores to high-end designer shops, we have it all here in Sacramento.

We are here to help you plan your “All-American” experience in Sacramento.  Contact us for more information about planning a group tour to Sacramento or visit our website for more information.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our Hometown Tourists visited the California Automobile Museum on their most recent excursion.  The following blog includes accounts by Janet Lewis and Carol Dabrowiak with photos by Cynthia Gibbs detailing their visit to this Sacramento attraction.  When you stay at a participating Sacramento Gold Card hotel, remember to ask for your FREE Sacramento Gold Card.  The California Automobile Museum offers two-for-one adult admission and a 10 percent discount in gift shop with your Sacramento Gold Card. THe California Automobile Museum is located at 2200 Front St. near Old Sacramento.

Janet Lewis

Did you know that there were electric cars as early as 1899?  One version was steered with a rudder!  Did you know that Dodge vehicles are the inventions of the Dodge brothers?  That the earliest automobiles got about 40 horsepower from a 400-cubic-inch engine - a ratio of 10:1?  And that now we have more like 1:1?  It can all be found at this Sacramento attraction located a short distance from downtown Sacramento hotels, restaurants and other museums.

From the quadricycle to horseless carriages (literally), from touring cars to the modern age, it's all pretty fascinating when you can hear the stories from people who know what they are talking about. 

Cindy, Carol, and I really lucked out to receive a docent-led tour on our recent visit to the California Auto Museum.  Don W's obvious passion and enjoyment of autos and auto history definitely ignited my interest and made me want to pause and actually try to figure out how the energy gets from the engine to the wheels, as well as the mechanical principles used to stop the early autos. 

It was fun to climb in the historic old truck on display and try out the foot pedals inside and the hand crank on the front (watch out for your thumbs).  Of course brightly colored, stylish vehicles caught my eye, especially the 1920s yellow-and-green roadster all trimmed out in fancy brass.  I could easily imagine Carol, Cindy and myself gliding up to the Grand Island mansion on a summer night in our fancy flapper getup for a swanky party!  Then there is the sparkly golden car and the dark turquoise vintage T-Bird, each vehicle cooler than the last, until I fell in love -- with the Edsel! 

The California Automobile Museum had several choice Edsel examples on display the day we visited.  The red-and-black sedan turned my head, but my favorite is the light turquoise woody Edsel station wagon (surf city here I come).  We even saw a Mercedes that strongly resembled Cindy's first car.  And Carol was intrigued with the Delorean and its wing-like doors.   

There is so much to see if you can find a way to know what you are looking at.  A docent-led tour is definitely the way to go!  The California Auto Museum is a big place - 70,000 square feet.  Plans and fundraising are under way for a new museum building at the same location.  You can help:  Go see the amazing exhibits at the California Automobile Museum. 

Carol Dabrowiak

If you need to hold an event or arrange a group tour, why not have it at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento?  This would be a really fun and interesting place to have a business meeting, reception or a group of tourists for a visit.  The museum is located near Downtown Sacramento, close to many hotels and other Sacramento attractions. It has a stage and sound system where a band can perform or you can conduct a training session. Staff can set up tables for banquets, parties, wine tasting and more. The best part would be the chance to tour the museum and learn the history of the American automobile. But you don't need to be invited to an event to visit the exhibits.

The museum is housed in a large warehouse along the Sacramento River near Downtown Sacramento. It doesn't look very fancy on the outside, but it is ideal for the display of automobiles. It has vintage cars from every decade since the first car was built in the late 1800s. The early vehicles were horseless carriages. They used buckboard seats and wheels with wooden spokes. There were no tops or headlights, and you had to crank them to start the motor.

Our docent, Don, told us facts about the cars on display. He quickly realized that Janet, Cindy and I were not so interested in the evolution of carburetors or transmissions, so he told us stories about Henry Ford and how he built his empire.  Ford didn't invent the automobile, he invented the automobile industry. He wanted everyone to be able to afford a car, so he constantly looked for ways to bring down costs. He used assembly line mass production and set up dealer franchises around the country.  By 1916, Model T sales reached 472,000 vehicles at a cost of $360 each.  Originally the cars had steering wheels on the left, but Mrs. Ford wanted to exit the vehicle on the right side so she could step onto the sidewalk. So the steering wheel was moved to the left side of the car.

We learned that a lot of the cars are on loan to the museum. The owners can come by and borrow them back if they want to go to rallies or auto shows. Most of the cars, even the really old ones, are still drivable. The cars are sometimes used for parades, weddings and processions.

The California Automobile Museum encourages school field trips. It has hands-on activities geared to every age group. One of the activities recreates an assembly line where students put together a Model T cardboard car. There were students working on a project when we were there.  This would be a great venue for Sacramento student tours.

The day we visited the museum, we saw vintage cars, racecars, alternative fuel cars and the blue Plymouth that Gov. Jerry Brown famously drove in his first term of office. There were also special exhibits highlighting off-road vehicles and automobiles from 1968. You realize that Americans have a serious love affair with their cars. And I mean that in a good way. Stop by for a visit.

In town for a convention? You don’t have to stray far from the Sacramento Convention Center to discover the essence of our city. Here are 10 suggestions for filling in those gaps between commitments.

1.       Rub shoulders with politicos and fill up on fun facts during a free tour of the California State Capitol.

2.       Get some fresh air in Capitol Park, where 40 acres of gardens and memorials await exploration just two blocks from the convention center.

3.       Explore Midtown. Sacramento’s vibrant Midtown district is home to dozens of boutiques, galleries, restaurants bars and nightclubs. From the convention center, turn right on J Street and let serendipity be your guide.

4.       Get happy. Downtown and Midtown restaurants are justifiably renowned for happy hour deals aimed at the after-work crowd. Mikuni Sushi, Spataro, Ella Dining Room & Bar and de Vere’s Irish Pub are all popular.

5.       Visit Old Sacramento. Don’t miss this 28-acre National Historic Landmark district filled with buildings set in the time frame of the 1849 Gold Rush and the coming of the Transcontinental Railroad.

6.       Eat our (or in). Trying local restaurants is the fun part of a convention stay, but don’t overlook in-house dining at your convention hotel. Dawson’s at the Hyatt, Morgan’s at the Sheraton Grand and Grange at the Citizen Hotel are among the city’s best.

7.       Take a coffeeshop break. Sometimes you just need to get away from the crowd, out of your hotel and into a place where you can enjoy a quiet cuppa joe. Temple Coffee and Old Soul Co. are Sacramento originals.

8.       Visit the California Museum. From its Hall of Fame gallery to its changing exhibits, this “home of the California dream” explores the people, places and events that have shaped the state. Dig in some more at the California State Archives, upstairs in the same building.

9.       Go carousing. Sure you have to be dressed and at your meeting by  8 a.m. tomorrow. But that shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying Sacramento by night. Our night spots include Mix Downtown, The Park Ultra Lounge, Faces and Harlow’s.

10.   Get cultured. The Crocker Art Museum, founded in 1885 and recently doubled in size thanks to a new addition, showcases a century and a half of California art as well as changing exhibitions.