Itineraries

The pandemic taught us a lot of things, including how to stay safe and healthy while still finding entertaining and enjoyable things to do. Luckily, there’s no shortage of unique activities, outdoor experiences, and cool places to visit in and around Sacramento. We’ve created a special socially distanced itinerary with an added emphasis on health and safety for these unique times so you can still enjoy everything our city has to offer while still feeling comfortable.

Walk the gayborhood

Sacramento’s gayborhood, Lavender Heights, is a great place to stroll around on a warm sunny afternoon. Located in Midtown, the area owes its name to the large number of queer residents and LGBTQ-owned businesses, as well as gay-friendly boutiques, galleries, cafes, and a rainbow crosswalk. Also worth checking out is Old Sacramento, a charming stretch along the Sacramento River with over 125 shops and restaurants, many of which offer outdoor dining and takeout service.

Explore the parks

After grabbing takeout, why not have a leisurely picnic in the park? Sacramento has over 220 parks and parkways that cover over 4,200 acres of land. River Walk Park is located along the west bank of the Sacramento River and offers stunning views of the city skyline, plus walking paths and grassy knolls perfect for laying out and relaxing. William Land Regional Park is a popular hangout for families and features lakes, picnic areas, a rock garden, and a golf course. Then there’s Capitol Park, home to the Capitol Park Rose Garden, which features over 150 varieties of roses and was designed to be a sanctuary of peace, love, and inspiration for people of all identities.

Tour the wineries

According to marketingtherainbow.com, LGBTQ people like to drink wine 16% more than straight people. (Who knew?!) Lucky for them, the Sacramento area is surrounded by over 200 vineyards, many of which offer free, daily wine tastings in socially-distanced outdoor settings. This handy Wine Guide provides a map and information on all the different wineries in the area. Just remember to call ahead to confirm each winery’s hours and guidelines.

Pedal your heart out

Here’s an activity you definitely won’t find anywhere else. Enjoy the breeze and the picturesque views by riding a railbike down the tracks along the Sacramento River. Each railbike seats two, making it a fun activity for you and your travel companion. The two of you will feel like you’ve been transported to whole nother place and time as you cruise from Sac Town through the Yolo Countryside. See River Fox Railbike for more info. 

Hike the trails

It’s a well-known fact that gay people walk fast, which is what makes us such excellent hikers. (That was a joke, people!) With warm weather all year round, and plenty of trails in and around the city, Sacramento is a hiker’s dream locale. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is a paved multi-use pathway that spans 32-miles, from the Sacramento River to American River, just north of downtown. The River Walk Trail in Cosumnes River Preserve is located about 30 minutes outside of the city and offers a 3-mile trail through a nature preserve that’s home to lots of plants and wildlife. And the Cascade Canal Trail is a little over an hour outside the city and has over eight miles of shaded, wooded trails. Here’s a list of other amazing trails worth checking out.

Hit the road

Sacramento is situated in the heart of California Gold Country, surrounded by beautiful rivers, untouched forests, and rolling foothills. Rent a car for an afternoon and head out to see the scenic drives and quaint towns where early settlers once mined for gold. Places like Placerville and Auburn still maintain much of their historic charm. Then there is Columbia, which is one of the best-preserved Gold Rush-era towns. Also worth seeing is the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, the place where it all began when James Marshall first discovered gold while building a sawmill in 1848.