I had only been to the state capitol once. This is not something I was proud of. With all the important protests in recent years, I had been to not a single one. Well I was there in spirit at least.I had only been to a conference at a hotel here once, and it was not even downtown. Enough said, it was time to see old town Sacramento.
I have been intrigued by historical places like Old Town Sacramento for a long time, especially after learning all about it in history books, and in documentaries on the old west.
The Transcontinental Railway begins here, and there are so many things that have happened in our state capitol over the years. So I headed into the old city. I knew there was so much to see, both above, and below ground, such as the underground city. There was even an old riverboat called the Delta King, still docked here, a reminder of times gone by.
On the way into Sacramento, we paid a visit to a friend, touring the airplane hangar in Mather, where he worked. He had a very important job, caring for private jets, and making sure they were in tip top shape.
This expansive hanger was adorned in oversized American flags.
It made me feel proud to be there, because I love our country, with its centuries of technological advances, some of which were sitting right here in this hangar.
After bidding my boyfriends friend adieu, it was off to Old Town Sacramento, where we would visit another friend.
But first, we had to take a brief self-guided tour of downtown, with its vintage buildings, and Gold Rush Era nostalgia, where miners flocked to strike it rich.
The Transcontinental Railroad made all that possible. There are so many interesting railcars, cabooses, and locomotives here on display. The California State Railroad Museum is located here. It is a great place to get lost in time amongst the old railcars.
The old buildings here date back to mid-1800’s. There are still boardwalks for sidewalks, commemorative statues celebrating the history of California, such as the Pony Express statue, depicting a rider delivering the mail in any weather.
Things were serious in those days. They claimed,“Neither rain, nor snow, nor death of night, can keep us from our duty.” If only the workers of the present day took their work as seriously as the riders of the Pony Express, what a world it would be.
I stopped to admire the line coming out of Steamers, which must have some pretty good fish and chips, judging from both the line, and the police waiting in it. If the cops eat there, it’s gotta be good.
The thing about the historic downtown here is it does not take long to see it all. We had been there less than an hour. We stood there checking out the riverboat, debating if it was a museum or a business. Well it happened to be both.
No sooner had we come to a consensus, than a phone call came in, from the friend we were visiting. So we headed off through the downtown, away from the Victorian buildings, passing skyscrapers, toward the other side of town.
We were heading to a good old fashioned dive bar where everyone came up to us, because our friend was a local, and w felt like we were at Cheers. It was only darker, and there was a small dog running around.
Travel is nice and all, but what matters really is people in your life. There is no reason it should take 20 years to visit a friend, when you’re only a day’s drive away, but that is just how life goes sometimes right?
Be bid Sacramento adieu, and headed towards Calistoga. Our next stop was wine country.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, and it is helpful in knowing what to expect, should you decide to visit here.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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Disclaimer: The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2023 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
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