The following post is by a special guest blogger: Sharlene Earnshaw, Trekaroo’s Blog Editor. Sharlene is a lifelong California girl who loves nothing more than to hike, travel, write, and then travel some more. Her 3-year old boy/girl twins and loving husband provide all the inspiration she needs to plan one new adventure after another. She is a self proclaimed National Parks nerd and has made it her goal to see every single National Park with her children. She is a dedicated road tripper and spent last summer on a 24 day road trip across the Western US and Canada. Her favorite travel memory is being greeted by cheers at the top of Inspiration Point in Grand Teton after being told that her toddlers wouldn’t be able to do it. She graduated from University of California at Davis with a degree in Communications.

When most people think of a California vacation, Sacramento is not usually the first city that comes to mind. Locals love to remind visitors that their city is within a two-hour drive of everything, including the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area, the vineyards of the Napa Valley and the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada. California’s capital city may not have the beaches and palm trees of Los Angeles or the cosmopolitan appeal of San Francisco, but what it does have is a rich history and plenty of great family-friendly destinations. As a former resident of this river city, I am here to say give Sacramento a chance. What is there to do in the City of Trees? Here are a few suggestions:

Stroll the wood plank sidewalks of Old Sacramento

Walking around Old Sacramento is like stepping back into the Gold Rush era. This 28-acre National Historic Landmark is filled with unique shops, dining and historical attractions, such as the world-class California State Railroad Museum. Some of my favorite shops in Old Sac include Evangeline’s, a costume shop and novelty store; G. Willikers Toy Emporium, an old-fashioned toy store with a great model train exhibit; the Candy Barrel, home to some of the best salt water taffy around; and Trailmix.net, a children’s outdoor gear and activity store. (Be sure to pick up their fun scavenger hunt that covers Old Sacramento.) Riverboat cruises depart from the docks off Front Street and are a great way to experience the riparian beauty of the Sacramento River. During the summer, be sure to hop on board the steam train and take a ride the way the Gold Rush settlers did over 150 years ago.

Spend the day enjoying William Land Park

Set in a gorgeous older neighborhood, just south of downtown Sacramento, is a beautiful city park that is home to playgrounds, ball fields, a duck pond and a couple of Sacramento’s most family-friendly attractions. The Sacramento Zoo calls William Land Park its home and is a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours. The zoo may be small in size, but it is still home to plenty of animal favorites including Sumatran tigers, giraffes (that you can feed!), orangutans, snow leopards and chimpanzees. Directly across from the zoo is Fairytale Town, an adorable little amusement park that’s perfect for kids under the age of 7. Popular fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Jack and Jill, and the Old Woman in the Shoe come to life with slides, animals and fanciful props.

Explore the American River

If cycling is your thing, be sure to check out the American River Parkway. Start where the Sacramento and American Rivers converge in Discovery Park and then peddle your way upstream toward the Folsom Dam nearly 32 miles away. Even if you don’t cycle the parkway’s entire length, a shorter ride will still allow you to experience plenty of scenic beauty and possibly encounter some of the wild animals that call the river home. If you would rather spend your time in the water, be sure to take a casual float trip down the American. Rafts are available for rent from companies such as American River Raft Rentals and shuttle buses are provided to bring floaters back to their cars at the end of the trip.

Take in a ball game

Sacramentans love their sports teams and you will too after spending a couple hours rooting for the home team. The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team, known for having the loudest fans in the NBA. Bring along your cowbell and be a part of the noise inside of Arco Arena. If baseball is more your game, then be sure to check out the Rivercats. They are a multi-championship winning AAA team with the one of the nicest minor league stadiums in the country. Kids will love running around on the back lawn and enjoy a multitude of child-friendly activities that are usually on site.

For more activities for kids in Sacramento.