Old Sacramento

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.

This week: Musical Adventures & Fashionable Fun
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Fashion/Design: Capital Decades: 1940s Fashion Show Tsakopoulos Library Galleria May 21 Tues 6pm-7:30pm The Sacramento Art Deco Society directs a fashion show featuring vintage clothes and accessories of the 1940s.

Festivals: UC Davis Film Festival Varsity Theatre May 22-May 23 Wed & Thurs 8:30pm The array of short films is unpredictable and exciting. Categories include comedy, drama, animation, documentaries, and all things in between.

Festivals: Sacramento County Fair Cal Expo May 23-May 27 Thurs-Sun 10am-10pm; Mon 10am-7pm Enjoy the friendly atmosphere, traditional county fair competitions, agriculture displays, hands-on family activities, carnival, festival-style entertainment, and specialty foods.

Art: Big Names, Small Art Crocker Art Museum May 23 Thurs 6pm-9pm Bid on "Small Art" by "Big Name" regional artists at this festive silent auction party.

Music: Brit Floyd: The World's Greatest Pink Floyd Show Community Center Theater May 23 Thurs 8pm This stunning show features note-for-note performances of five full Pink Floyd album sides.

Festivals: Sacramento Music Festival Old Sacramento to Convention Center Area May 24-May 27 Fri-Sun 11am-Midnight; Mon 10am-4pm Get ready to dance in the streets morning, noon, and night as the Sacramento Music Festival celebrates 40 amazing years of world-class musical entertainment!

Festivals: International Kids Festival William Land Park May 25 Sat 10am-4pm Enjoy entertainment, a magician show, face painting, jump houses, lots of fun and prizes, and activities for the little ones.

Music: Torch Fest Torch Club May 25-May 26 Sat 4pm-1am; Sun Noon-1am Over 10 bands play each day! Music styles include blues, Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, funk, and soul.

Music: Foreverland: A Tribute to Michael Jackson Harlow's May 25 Sat 10pm With four vocalists, four horns, & a six-piece rhythm section, the band brings MJ's songs to life in a way no other group has done.

Special Events: Vettes for Vets California Automobile Museum May 26 Sun 10am-2pm See corvettes & honor military veterans at this event, which also includes food trucks and music!

Get your TixFix: Sacramento Music Festival Weekend passes! $220 value! Find out how to enter>

Three-day weekend? Check our Holiday Events section for Memorial Day activities, or do a quick date search for the weekend to see an even wider variety.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Markos Egure Learn more about muralist and creative painter Markos Egure in his Featured Artist Profile.

There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento calendar of events.

This week: Your Passport to Modern Amusements
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Food/Wine: Truckin' Tuesdays St. Rose of Lima Park Ongoing-Sept 24 Tuesdays 11am-2pm Enjoy lunch from Sacramento's favorite mobile food vendors, while sitting on bistro tables in the park. Each week features three different trucks!

Special Events: Yelp's Passport to East Sacramento Various East Sacramento locations May 14-May 16 & May 18 Tues/Thurs/Sat 7pm-9pm; Wed 6pm-8pm It's no secret: East Sac is loaded with an array of fantastic locally-owned businesses. Explore this historic and beautiful part of our glorious city with events galore!

Special Events: Mad Hatter Meets Mad Men Masonic Temple May 16 Thurs 5pm-8pm Fairytale Town mixes the zaniness of the Mad Hatter with the allure of the series Mad Men in its first ever offsite fundraising event.

Art: Art Ball Sacramento State May 17 Fri 5pm-8pm Paintings, sculpture, ceramics, drawings, electronic art, and more-much more-highlight Sacramento State's annual Art Ball.

Special Events: Mid-Century Modern Home Tour Sacramento Executive Airport May 18 Sat 9:30am-4pm Get an exciting peek into some of the best mid-century modern architecture, plus vintage transportation displays, exhibits, goodies, and more.

Music: 102.5 Live Discovery Park May 18 Sat 10am-5pm 102.5 Live features performances by T-I, E-40, Far East Movement, Baby Bash, Drop City Yacht Club, and Royalty. Also enjoy: beer and margaritas, photo booths, food, and vendors.

Festivals: Scooter's Clean Air Fun Fest and Bike Expo Fremont Park May 18 Sat 11am-3pm This family-friendly event features bike-centric exhibits and live entertainment.

Festivals: West Coast Brew Fest Miller Park May 18 Sat 1pm-5pm *VIP at Noon Enjoy unlimited microbrew tasting of 140+ beers from 70+ breweries, along with live music, great food, and awesome people.

Festivals: A Day on the Farm Soil Born Farms American River Ranch May 19 Sun 10am-4pm Come out for a day of learning, eating, celebrating, and exploring the natural world. There will be classes, kids' activities, live music, food, and more!

Festivals: Pacific Rim Street Fest Old Sacramento & Downtown Plaza May 19 Sun 10am-5pm Stop by and taste the food at one of the many food booths, watch and listen to the variety of entertainers, and experience the richness and diversity of many Pacific Rim cultures.

Get your TixFix: Color Me Rad 5K $50 value! Find out how to enter>

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Markos Egure Learn more about muralist and creative painter Markos Egure in his Featured Artist Profile.

There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento calendar of events.

As most merchants in Old Sacramento have come to understand, tourism is a large portion of their annual business and Jason Minow, owner of The Sacramento Sweets Co., is no different. The Sacramento Sweets Co. has been famil- owned and operated since its inception and has been in the same location in Old Sacramento since 1983.

“The job is fun because of the transient nature,” Minow said. “There is never a dull moment because you are constantly dealing with different people and no day is the same.”

Minow also appreciates the historical significance of Old Sacramento. Dating back to the days of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Pony Express and the telegraph, Old Sacramento was the original hot-spot of the Sacramento region.

“The way we live today is because of what happened in history. You can’t change it,” Minow said. “And now, business owners have fallen in love with the idea that they are creating history in the same way.”

The history that business owners are helping preserve as well as create is due to tourism in Old Sacramento. Approximately 15.3 million visitors come to Sacramento annually, and Old Sacramento is a primary destination. Also, over the last two years, travel and tourism have created and sustained 25,220 jobs in Sacramento.

No one understands this better than Minow and his family when it comes to operating The Sacramento Sweets Co.

“I live and die by tourism,” Minow said. “And, if you don’t come to Old Sacramento on a regular basis you are a local tourist.”

Although locals do contribute to The Sacramento Sweets Co., it is evident that without tourists of all types in Old Sacramento, Minow and his family would not be where they are today.

For a sweet and unique experience, visit The Sacramento Sweets Co. located at 1035 Front St. in Old Sacramento.

When people think of the difference tourism makes in Sacramento, it's about more than just showcasing the historic sights in the city, highlighting our thriving arts culture and bringing groups to the Sacramento Convention Center. Tourism makes a difference for Sacramento residents as well as those who arrive to get an authentic California experience.

Each year, 15.3 million visitors come to Sacramento. They come to see the epicenter of the Gold Rush in historic Old Sacramento, view stunning works of art in the newly expanded Crocker Art Museum, explore the rivers and delta, and get a closer look at the history of the railroad at the California State Railroad Museum. Class trips frequently visit the California State Capitol, and people are increasingly coming to sample some of our farm-to-fork food, as Sacramento was recently named the Farm-to-Fork Capital of America.

But those visitors bring something that also helps local residents. While they're here, visitors spend money, and that money contributes to the local economy in not only the hospitality industry, but also translates to tax money that goes to the general funds in local governments, which pay for services including police, fire, pools and parks.

As we celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, we look at some of the impacts tourism has on the local economy in Sacramento. Check out the infographic below for a quick look at some of those impacts.

Sacramento holds a special place in Janie Desmond-Ison’s heart not only because she works in the most historic part of the city, but because her family is what makes the history of Sacramento so appealing. As a fifth-generation Sacramentan, Desmond-Ison lives and breathes Sacramento. Her great-great-grandfather migrated to Sacramento from Illinois in 1848. However, he returned to the Midwest in order to bring the rest of his family to Sacramento in 1850.

Upon second arrival, Janie’s great-great-grandfather became a fire fighter in Old Sacramento. Thus, her love for Old Sacramento was born into her lineage four generations earlier.

“This family heritage makes me appreciate and feel connected to Old Sacramento on a bigger scale than just working here,” said Desmond-Ison. “It has really taught me to value Old Sac and it is part of the reason the destination is so important to me.”

As a child, Janie remembers visiting Old Sacramento with her grandparents and parents. Although what she remembers Old Sac to be is nothing like we see today.

“We were brought to Old Sacramento as children basically to show what happens to you if you don’t go to college,” Desmond-Ison said. “It was a dirt pit filled with transients.”

Although Janie laughed as she said this, there was much truth to it for that time. But, as more people began to occupy Sacramento, Old Sac started to turn into the historical hub it is today.

Janie opened Steamers in 1994 simply because she loves coffee and loves Old Sacramento. Janie closed shop in 2000 when she began working at the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) as the Vice President of destination development.

“I started working in travel and tourism when I opened Steamers because Old Sac is a destination,” said Desmond-Ison. “But I continued that work at the SCVB because I value Sacramento as a destination.”

Although Janie took a short leave from Steamers, she couldn’t stay away. And, in 2008, Janie re-opened the coffee shop adding a hot kitchen and started serving a full breakfast and lunch.

Today, Janie says her business is about 50/50 locals to tourists. She finds that Steamers has become a destination for cyclists of the region which presents the idea of the ‘local tourist’. Visitors from outlying suburbs of Sacramento visit Old Sacramento only on occasion, making them a local tourists.

“Old Sacramento is a historical destination in Sacramento,” Desmond-Ison said. “No other city can claim what Sacramento can, especially in Old Sac.”

Travel and tourism are a large part of what makes Janie and Steamers successful each year. Visitors to Old Sacramento are important to Janie, but also the other businesses located in this historical destination. When more people visit Old Sac, businesses thrive which in turn puts money back into the livelihood of the city.

“It is a challenge now working to preserve the history of Old Sac for tourists and visitors while still being a viable commercial district,” said Desmond-Ison. “But the value of the concept of Old Sacramento never dies.”

This week: Repeat the Cycle: Do Good & Give Back
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Special Events: Arts Day of Giving Various locations April 29 Mon, activity times vary This 24-hour giving challenge for the arts is the perfect time to give, as donations receive a match. More than 20 special events are planned for this day, including a fun-filled Lunch Hour Event!

Sports/Rec: May is Bike Month Various locations May 1-May 31 Dates & times vary All across Sacramento, people are bicycling! Join activities all month long to promote cycling in the Sacramento region.

Fashion/Design: Kaleidoscope Fashion Show American River College May 3 Fri 11am/5pm/7:30pm See 12 designer's work, celebrating the designer's views, silhouettes, and styles.

Music: Friday Night Concerts in the Park Cesar Chavez Plaza May 3-July 26 Fridays 5pm-9pm Kick off the CIP season with Element of Soul, Musical Charis, They Went Ghost, & DJ Epic.

Poetry & Lit: Read-Aloud: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone Fairytale Town May 3 Fri 6pm Relive the epic story that enchanted millions of readers of all ages. Join Fairytale Town for a unique nonstop read-aloud of J.K. Rowling's first tale in the popular Harry Potter series.

Food/Wine: Smoke & Fire: Tri-Tip & Rib Cook-Off Competition 1409 Del Paso Blvd. May 4 Sat Noon-4pm Enjoy delicious food, live music, antique fire trucks, a beer garden, children's activities, and more.

Special Events: May the Fourth Be With You: Star Wars Celebration West Sacramento Community Center May 4 Sat 4pm-9pm This Star Wars-themed mini-convention features vendors, costume characters, art, film, exhibits, games, hands-on activities, fashion show, contests, crafts, live comedy, and more.

Special Events: David Sedaris Crest Theatre May 4 Sat 8pm With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America 's pre-eminent humor writers. See him live at the Crest!

Local Marketplace: GOOD: Street Food + Design Market 1409 Del Paso Blvd. May 5 Sun 11am-4pm Attend Northern California's most dynamic gathering of innovative and artisan food and design!

Nightlife: Cinco de Old Sacto Old Sacramento Bars May 5 Sun 6pm-2am Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Old Sacramento! Participating bars will have food and drink specials as well as live music, comedy, karaoke, and dancing.

Get your TixFix: A Little Princess at Sacramento Theatre Company $92 value! Find out how to enter>

Happy Cinco de Mayo! See ways to celebrate.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Markos Egure Get a sneak peek at our May Featured Artist & see his mural unveiled on Tuesday.

It's time to bike! Register to record your miles for May is Bike Month & join our Sac365.com team!

There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento calendar of events.

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.

This week: Marvel at Sacramento's Diversity
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Nightlife: Raw Sacramento: Marvel District 30 April 17 Wed 7pm-10:30pm This multi-faceted artistic showcase features film, music, fashion, art, and more.

Fashion/Design: Inside the Vault Textile Tours: Hats & Headwear Center for Sacramento History April 18-April 21 Thurs-Sun 11am/1pm/3pm On this tour, you will have the rare opportunity to view nearly 75 pieces of headwear dating from the 1860s to the 1970s.

Comedy: B Street Live! Assembly Ongoing-June 1 Thurs-Sat 7pm-8:15pm This sketch comedy act, akin to SNL, changes based on current events & pop culture.

Theatre: Taming of the Shrew TAAC's Blue Box Theater April 18-May 4 Thurs-Sat 8pm; Sun 7pm Set in a trailer park, The Alternative Arts Collective's adaptation of Shakespeare's tale adds a new level of zany to this classic kind of, sort of love story.

Music: The English Beat Ace of Spades April 19 Fri 7pm It's a night of ska, reggae, and new wave as The English Beat perform at Ace of Spades! Also performing is La Noche Oskura.

Local Marketplace: Traders' Faire: California's First Mall Sutter's Fort State Historic Park April 20-April 21 Sat & Sun 10am-5pm Learn from & support artisan crafters at this event, and stroll next door to the Indian Museum for their crafts market, too!

Festivals: Sacramento International Film Festival Various Downtown locations April 20-April 28 Daily, times vary See some of the world's best filmic talent both globally & locally with over a week of films, workshops, & special events.

Sports/Rec: Capital City Classic Crocker Park April 21 Sun 8am Follow a scenic 5K, 10K, or 10-mile course with views of the State Capitol, Tower and I Street Bridges, Old Sac, the Sacramento River, and Crocker Park.

Festivals: Art Spark: An Inclusive Arts Festival for Families Crocker Art Museum April 21 Sun 11am-1pm Families are invited to an inclusive celebration of children and the arts. Enjoy performances by Francie Dillon along with many other groups and hands-on fun stations designed for visitors of all abilities.

Festivals: Sacramento Earth Day Celebration Southside Park April 21 Sun 11am-4pm Learn about living healthier & protecting the environment while enjoying great entertainment, activities, and cuisine.

It's time for Earth Day! Find events here.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Shawn Aveningo Learn more about poet Shawn Aveningo in her Featured Artist Profile.

Get access to half-price tickets! Visit our Goldstar deals page.

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There are always lots of things to do in Sacramento California. Find these events and many more on Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento calendar of events.