Old Sacramento State Historic Park

Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a fun and charming place to visit if you’re into history or just looking for a nice way to spend an afternoon. Walking through the old-timey wooden boardwalks and restored 1800s buildings really makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. There’s a cool mix of museums, little shops, and restaurants—some are more touristy than others, but it adds to the quirky charm of the place. The highlight for me was definitely the California State Railroad Museum—it’s surprisingly impressive and really well done. Even if you’re not a big train person, it’s worth checking out. We also did the underground tour, which gives you a glimpse of how the original streets of Sacramento were raised after major flooding. Super interesting and a little eerie in the best way. There are also a bunch of souvenir shops, old candy stores, and novelty spots that are clearly geared toward tourists, but still fun to browse. Some places felt a bit overpriced or gimmicky, but that’s kind of expected in a historic district like this. The only downsides were the crowds and parking—it can get a bit busy, especially on weekends, and finding a good parking spot nearby takes a bit of luck or patience. Also, while the area is very family-friendly during the day, it felt a little less lively and safe at night. All in all, it’s a great place to bring visitors or just explore on your own if you’re into local history. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do every time you’re in Sacramento, but it’s definitely worth visiting at least once. If you pair it with the Railroad Museum or grab lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack by the river, it makes for a really solid day out.

Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a fun place to spend a day. The shops are charming, and the California State Railroad Museum is a real highlight. I had lunch at one of the local spots, and it made for a nice, relaxed visit. Parking can be a little tricky, but I was still able to find a spot without too much trouble. Overall, it’s a great place to explore for both locals and visitors.

We were visiting Sacramento on Sunday in late October, and it was a beautiful day walking around the historic park.

Had a nice walk here around 5 years ago! My family and I loved it — took some great photos!

Old Sacramento is a cool spot, a little on the tourist side, but fun. The train museum is a must do. very well laid out, fun, entertaining, and you will leave there with a little more knowledge. $12 for adults seems to be a more than fair admission. Unfortunately, the day we went, there was a TON of kids there. it might be best to call first

Great place with lots of historic buildings.

I rarely leave reviews this harsh, but I feel obligated to warn others. From the moment I stepped into this place, I was overwhelmed by a strong, unmistakable stench of rat urine — a foul, acrid odor that clung to the air and made it nearly impossible to breathe comfortably. It was like walking into a forgotten storage unit that hadn’t seen a cleaning product in years. As if the smell weren’t bad enough, I actually saw rats — not just one or two, but several darting across the floor and even disappearing into the floorboards and trash cans. I didn’t dare eat or drink anything around the area. I’m honestly not sure how businesses are still allowed to operate in its current condition. Do yourself a favor: skip this place for now. It’s not just uncomfortable — it’s a health hazard. The city should do something about this. It’s disappointing. I wished I had snapped a couple of pictures and recorded a video.

One of the few things I enjoy going to as much as an adult as I did as a kid. Amazing old machines that you can really get close to.

Great place to take people from out of town. Plenty of eateries, bars if that's your thing and fun shops. Candy, costumes, gifts, art, vintage clothes, jewelry, collectibles, novelty items, souvenirs and more. There are various museums within the area including the California Train Museum. There are historical buildings, own old paddle boat, a comedy club, vintage photo shoot/studio. You can also check out the sea lions on the river. Wooden sidewalks user friendly with ramps for those in wheelchairs. Street parking with meters for two hours. Parking garage nearby.

This classic park is beautiful. A great place to take a stroll and enjoy everything that they have to offer. I took my time and made the trek from my hotel room at the Kimpton Sawer. It's clean and fresh and very pleasant to the eyes. The colors of the leaves on the trees are unique. Glad I visited. Next time I'm bringing my kids to enjoy it as well.

This is my FAVE place in Sacramento! I came here often even when I still lived in Sacramento. I held birthday and Christmas parties here---Delta King and other restaurants that have sadly closed since. I'm happy to see Delta King every time I stop by for a visit. I will never get tired of this place. I love coming here just to walk around, check out the shops, have an ice cream cone, and other goodies! I used to spend hours at the museums here, and even biked the trail from Old Sac to Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail and all the way to Sac State, and even all the way out to Folsom. Took the Underground Tour here many years and it was so much fun to learn about the history. Take it if you have a chance! Such a great way to learn more about the area. The Ghost Tour was also a fantastic way to learn about all the ghostly things in Old Sacramento!! They have added The Waterfront which included a carousel and ferris wheel. We rode the ferris wheel and it was fun! Would love to ride it again at sunset when all the lights are on! The two-hour metered street parking is free before 10AM so if you'd like to get breakfast at Rio City Cafe or Steamers then it would be a great time to beat crowd for a spot. If you're visiting during the holidays, you can take advantage of free holiday parking on select days and times. There are two garages available: Old Sacramento Garage, entrance on I Street between 3rd and 2nd. And the Tower Bridge Garage, entrance on Capitol Blvd at Neasham Circle near the Tower Bridge.

Small. Not a lot to do. Alot of restaurants and a few shops. Nice to walk around. Was here for about an hour and was in pretty much every shop. Nice view of the tower bridge. Metered parking and the machines take cards. Would be walking distance to the state capital if you wanted to visit that as well.

What an awesome place to spend the day. So many cute shops and old historic buildings to see. Yes, you have to pay for parking but that's normal and they take cards very convenient. Just happened to be there for Hispanic heritage, very cool to see all the low riders and the pride in their vehicles. Lots of music, people dancing and they even had a Ferris wheel and games. The views of the old steam boat and the sun setting was breathtaking. The food was good, we got fish and chips, something fast but next time I'll definitely try a sit down restaurant. Dont forget to stop in and support the local shops.

Over the years, this has always been my #1 go to spot in Sacramento. Yes it is touristy but it is tourism steeped in history. It is also a cornucopia of food, unique shopping and tchotchkes galore. We love just wandering up and down the streets, picking up a bite to eat. There have even been times when we have completed our Christmas present list here. There is ample parking under the freeway and easy access to the park. A must see while in Sacramento.

Like you're in the past! Huge old trains, kids were thrilled to climb there! I enjoyed walking there!

I miss Huell Howser's California's Gold. One of the best public programming ever featured on television. Visiting places he's featured is always a treat and delight. Thank goodness for YouTube since you can pretty much watch a lot of episodes there. Old Sacramento is not your typical "tourist trap" unlike Fisherman's Wharf as it has more substance and it doesn't feel as commercialized as the aforementioned place. Yes, it has shops that sells cheap shirts and souvenirs, but it's a lot more than that. Walking this historic district really gives you a feeling and perspective on how it was during the wild west and gold rush days. The buildings are beautifully restored and you almost feel like you're walking in a huge functioning Hollywood set. You can really appreciate the details and authenticity of this place and there's nothin fake about it. There are museums you can visit, and the California Railroad Museum is certainly one of the highlights. There's also the California Automobile Museum, Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, Huntington & Hopkins Hardware, Sacramento History Museum and Wells Fargo Museum. All of these are within walking distance from one another. Prior to the pandemic, you can take a train excursion at the Central Pacific Passenger Station by the riverfront. They even have a "Polar Express" expedition that you can take during November and December. However, all rides are currently suspended to the obvious. On the riverfront is the Sacramento River and the Tower Bridge. Although not as iconic as Golden Gate Bridge, (what bridge is?) it's still charming and the view at night is pretty picturesque, with the right camera. There's also several historical tours you can take from gold, historical, ghost, railroads and river tours. If you like theatres, they have 'em too. I heard the St. Patrick's Day Parade is something one must attend during their lifetime, and we'll definitely have that in our bucket list. And what would the wild west be without a saloon. Fanny Ann's Saloon is one of their most popular one and worth a visit just for the experience. There are other bars in the area, just don't get in a fight and get tossed out. And if you get hungry, there's plenty of places to choose from - from pizza, burgers to seafood. Nothing fancy or high-end in my opinion, just good, solid food. But it's pretty close to downtown so you can easily walk or drive to a different place of your choosing. Right across Tower Bridge is Sutter Health Ballpark, home of the Sacramento Rivercats, the Triple A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. It used to be the A's, but I think Sacramento prefers being affiliated with the Giants better. It really is a pretty neat place, especially if you're a history buff. But, there's something for everyone here. You have to visit more than once to experience everything it has to offer. Best part of all, finding parking here is a lot easier compared to Fisherman's Wharf with street parking and garage parking available. Note: All photos I took was pre-COVID-19. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 4

Old Sacramento is the treasure for the people of Sacramento. It is getting more and more beautiful and activities in Old Sacramento in recent years. It becomes the entertainment capital in the California State Capital. If you're a visitor to Sacramento or if you're a resident of Sacramento but never check out the Old Sacramento in the last couple of years. I will encourage you to come to visit with your friends and family to enjoy the fantastic weekend at Old Sacramento. You'll not be disappointed!

The old town is definitely worthwhile for a visit. It gives a sense of history of the city. The California Railroad Museum is a must visit to understand the history of the railroad, Stanford and the laborers, and the development of the west. Walking along the water front is truly enjoyable, and some of the shops are good to visit too.

Old Town is always a fun visit with the family. Our son loves the trains.

We had some extra time to kill waiting for our delayed Amtrak train, so we spent an hour walking around this historic section. The buildings and sidewalks are right out of the old west, and there is a monument to the Pony Express. We stopped into several shops but didn't buy anything, although some of our tour group did. We also strolled along the riverfront a little bit and peaked at the big steamboat that was docked there. One of our group asked us to get some of the small donuts from a shop we saw on the bus, so we obliged and shared our treats. All in all, a nice way to spend some time if you're in the area.

My first time here was a few weeks about with my little family. It was definitely one for the books. A really cool experience. To think how long these restored buildings have been here. You really get the old western type feel. I loved it here. I can imagine living in Sacramento and just coming to chill here, look at all the people from different walks of the world. Enjoy some food. Do a little shopping. Must be nice living near here. We did some shopping. A lot of cool shops here, was so close to getting a new tattoo, but my daughter was getting cranky. And nobody wants to here a 2.5 year old with her lungs cranky. So we passed on the tattoo. It was a lot of fun. The steam train ride omg! It was very much fun. We rode in the back with the open train so we could feel the wind, see the breakthrough views of the tower bridge, river, etc. it was absolutely beautiful. Also didn't know they have a train that goes all the way to Santa Cruz!!! How cool is that. Stops in Santa Cruz for a little while then goes back to Sacramento. I was in shock. Next time we're in Sac I will definitely be taking that ride. They have so many candy shops, food places, shops, I even forgot they offer horse carriage rides! How awesome is that. Can't wait to come back.

What a place!!! This is a national treasure located in heart of Sacramento. Love the history behind this place and this is one of only place where you can actually use your sensors to smell, touch, and feel history. Sad that I couldn't see the court room (I was told that it was haunted) but loved everything about this place. Yes, I know some people might call this place tourist trap but hey, it's worth it! Highly recommend!!

I will never bring anyone here again. I brought friends from Idaho here on 9/9/23. What an embarrassment! The shops were either empty or closed. Homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk in sleeping bags, you had to literally walk around them. It was dirty and every trash can we walked by was overflowing to the point that trash was all over the ground. The restaurant selection is horrible. And the smaller public parking area by Candy Heaven had people sitting on their truck tailgates drinking alcohol. Never again am I going here. I was so embarrassed to bring out of town friends here.

Fun place to explore an old town feel. It's like you've stepped into a street scene from an Old Western. Lots of Mom & Pop's shop & knickknacks to browse. There's several good restaurant options as well and you can enjoy the view of the river. It's a cute outing with the family or with friends. Could be hard to find parking, especially on the weekends.

Sacramentans have all kinds of opinions about Old Sacramento, but I have to chime in that this is probably one of my favorite places to hang out, shop, eat, people watch, and generally spend time at. Like most of us locals, we have grown up appreciating this "must see" tourist attraction, where we bring our visiting friends and relatives. Sometimes, I would come here as a teenager with my friends because it was an interesting historical landmark with it's restored buildings that were once old west businesses, a Discovery Museum, a History Center, a Railroad Museum with a real steam locomotive you can ride on, lovely river views along the walkways, the Delta River boats you can cruise down the river on, horse carriage rides, and a multitude of restaurants, and snack bars. As I got older, it was one of THE places to visit for night clubbing and bar hopping. Now that I'm much older, I enjoy the wonderful and unique shops that you just don't find anywhere else, especially all together in one place! You can often find something going on to celebrate holidays, seasons, cultural events and a variety of musical genres to attend. Yes, specialty stores can be pricey, driving and parking can be stressful and not always convenient, crowds of people annoying, and even the wooden sidewalks and brick streets can be dangerous to those wearing high heels! But the businesses that manage to stay afloat and be a part of Old Town really deserve our patronage and support. I hope that most people will come to appreciate the interest, the sights, and the historical value of what Old Sacramento has to offer the public. It's just a fun combination of old and new!

Came here and really enjoyed walking around and seeing the old town. Reminded us of New Orleans old town. Went into gift shops and came out with a bunch of good things! One of the gift shops facing the train had an additional 50% off and we crazy! Good place to stop by!

December 11, 2021 Update of any comments. Try one thousand fifty six. Yes it is touristy. The museums do have A D A compliance. Many the restaurants do not have the A D A compliance. Try think Original House Of Soul. Ah sure they say they are A D A compliant, right, every is supposed to know to go to a back door. Then one has telephone the number to say they need to enter. What if person does not knowing their telephone number, how then does the person telephone their number? The think call I Shanghai. Very steep, no hand rails. If someone were to ask me of any Chinese restaurants in Old Town Sacra, I would honestly say cannot recommend, cannot answer the question. This seems be the only Chinese restaurant in this of Old Town Sacra. If there were any other Chinese restaurants, if there were any Japanese restaurants, they are now all gone. For females, do not wear dreaded, painful, high heel shoes. Card board areas where people walk, there little holes in these. If you misstep, you will for sure seriously get injured. I do miss Old School House. Free admission. It has been closed since Mister Corona Virus invaded Earth. One can look inside, but as of now, the Old School House is closed.

There's a lot to love in these six or so square blocks, even as a local. Sure, it's a district that caters almost exclusively to tourists, but peek between the overabundance of taffy shops, sports bars and bargain t-shirt stores and you'll find some really useful hangouts, including one of California's most iconic costume shops (Evangeline's), notable historical museums (the Railroad Museum), watering holes (Sactown Sports Bar being my favorite) and a gorgeous waterfront than anyone should enjoy. I'm not even mentioning countless seasonal activities like the Polar Express, Gold Rush Days and the 4th of July. And that's just scraping the surface. I've been here many times for fancy dinners at the now defunct Ten 22 or the legendary Firehouse. I've bought records, kites and kitchen utensils. I've been to comedy shows. I've hosted gatherings at Joe's Crab Shack because who doesn't love pots of seafood? Overall there's something for everyone. Parking is tight and crowds are large on weekend summer days, but as long as you have an idea of what this place represents, you should be able to meet all your expectations.

Well First Date Of Visit : December 30,2019 and I was thinking hay what is there to do in Sacramento so I look at Yelp and found this Place and boy is it cool !! It kind of reminds me of Old Town in San Diego !! Pretty cool Structures and There are lots of cool places to eat here also !! So knowing me I love to eat and there is a Variety Of different places to eat here and the Museum with Trains is cool also !! But Just be Aware that you might have to pay 10 Dollars for Parking here in the Structure and hang on to your ticket because you will need that to get out . Now there is an area kind of in the back where there is a River and there is a perfect spot to take pictures !! I do highly Recommend you put this on your Bucket List !! It is a Must see attraction for anyone visiting Sacramento !! There are parking meters for you to park your car also but it fills up quickly !! Perfect for Families, Friends, or anyone who loves to see some cool sites !!! Overall I enjoyed this place and I can find myself returning and enjoying again !!!

Lots of cool stores to check out and very old town vibes! Sometimes they have people playing music, boat tours, polar express tours! I went to a chocolate store and had some yummy chocolate turtles! I saw someone doing a wedding photos hoot and food trucks across the street from the photo shoot! Basically it's full of surprises and fun! Check it out - touristy item! Ahahah

A fun local diversion from the hectic pace of I-5 just nearby SITREP Old Sacramento = Awesome! We are very lucky here in River City to be sporting an "Old" town-style district and I am among many local residents that appreciate the diversity and multi-purpose aspect of the State Historic Park. SETUP From scenic frontier-style storefronts, horse-carriage hansom rides, to eclectic stores and candy-shops, Old Sacramento has a lot to offer both the tourist and the local denizen alike. Restaurants, stores, boutiques, clubs, museums, etc. etc., all come together and provide a wonderful sight-seeing opportunity for all alike. And the variety that is offered at different times of the year is quite mesmerizing. During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend there is 4-days of the Internationally famous "Sacramento Jazz Jubilee." During October there is the VAMPYRE BALL @ The Necropolis (below Cafe Americain). And all throughout the year there are several cultural festivals such as the Asian-Pacific Islander Festival and the Festival de Familia. And on both New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July, there are fewer places you would want to be in order to see some pretty spectacular Fire Works displays as well as all the celebrants jamming the streets of the Old Sacramento District. THE LOWDOWN Old Sacramento is one of my favorites places in the world!

Love biking here, getting some candy or ice cream or a fresh beignets, walking the docks, long time childhood favorite!

Cobblestone roads, wooden plank walkways, old historic schools and trains, all along the beautiful Sacramento River--That is Old Sacramento. This is definitely one of my favorite places to go in Sacramento. There are lots of little restaurants ranging in all types of food, and if you don't want a sit down restaurant they have little pizza joints and sandwich places too. But if you go here, you have to stop in one of the old fashioned taffy stores where they just have barrels upon barrels of taffy in every flavor imaginable! And those candy apples you can see in the windows of the candy stores here, don't just look at them through the windows, go in and buy one! Buy one and then walk over to the side of the river, grab a bench and eat and take in the scenery. There are also a few bars here and pool halls, but everything is all in the disguise of Old Sacramento--it really does look like it did years ago (granted, yes, it has gone through a few face lifts ha) but coming here just always makes you excited because it looks so different in comparison to everywhere else in Sacramento. It is home to places like the Jazz Jubilee and other events, and be sure to stop in some of the museums here too or even pay and take a little river taxi ride!!! The options are endless! Just go!!!

Had never been down here before, but it's a very cool historical area with lots of rest shops and some great restaurants as well.

Complacency is going to turn Old Sac ghetto. I like to go by there at lunch, since I work downtown, but lately it's been inundated with slackers and bums. I tried to eat at one of the outdoor cafes but was driven away by homeless beggars and smokers. Civilized behavior is learned, so without enforcement, people act like pigs. Just ask anyone who takes public transportation to work.

I've seen this kinda thing done better elsewhere. Pine Street in Long Beach, Sta Monica Promenade, Folsom, etc. Parking meters and gift shops are priced like Brentwood in SoCali, ridiculous. And the place could use more concert events and better publicity.

This could be a great family destination, but it falls short on a few levels. Love the carriage rides, but too many cheesy souvenir and food place. Needs a facelift, for sure.

Had an amazing time in the Old Sacramento area. If you are a history buff and would like to know more about the gold rush days this is THE place to go. The only issue I had was with the lady napkin nazi at the German hotdog stand next to the excursion train depot. I couldn't have a napkin unless I bought something!? Almost blew my nose hunter style on her counter top.