That Cool Travel Couple

If you’re from SoCal and looking for a place with actual seasons to escape to, we have just the place for you. Sacramento is easily accessible and much more affordable than SoCal. There are tons of fun fall-things to enjoy while you’re here!

How to Get There

The easiest way to get to Sacramento is to fly. Southwest offers direct flights out of both LAX and Burbank. We much prefer flying out of Burbank as it’s less busy than LAX. It is about an hour and a half flight. You can go on any airline, but we like Southwest as we find them to be the most flexible in case our travel plans change.

You can also drive to Sacramento, but the drive is about six hours from LA. It just depends how much time you have to spare on commuting.

Where to Stay

There are plenty of cool Air BnB’s to choose from in Sacramento. We recommend staying in the Midtown or Downtown area. These areas have lots of shops and restaurants that are an easy walk away.

We personally chose to stay at the Sterling Hotel, a boutique hotel kind of between downtown and midtown. This hotel was originally a privately owned mansion built in the 1890s. It has since then been transformed into an apartment building, and then into a hotel. We found this hotel to be in a great location for exploring Sacramento. The touch of history is evident in the guest rooms, hallways and shared spaces and we really enjoyed that aspect.

What to Do

Staying at Sterling Hotel puts you in prime location to explore the city of Sacramento. Try brunch at Beast and Bounty to get your day started. You’ll want to visit the capitol building for its stunning interior and historical information. Outside of the capitol is a beautiful park which is a great place to relax or picnic. Nearby the capitol is the World Peace Rose Garden which is a fragrant and gorgeous collection of many different varieties of roses.

Check out old town Sacramento which has plenty of buildings preserved from the 1800s. You’ll feel like you were transported back in time. Grab an ice cream from Sam’s Cafe and take a stroll. There are also lots of cool vintage shops here to wander into. Near to Old Sacramento you’ll find Drake’s which is listed as a beer garden, but is so much more. It’s a sprawling outdoor space with a variety of drinks and pizzas available to purchase. There are also outdoor games and cozy firepits for the evening time as well.

Apple Hill is a must-do on any fall visit to Sacramento. It’s about a 45 minute drive east from the city. Apple Hill is a collection of more than 50 farms up and down highway 50. You can do an Apple Farm crawl up and down the highway. Sample a flight of locally brewed and deliciously flavored apple ciders at Hidden Star, and check out their awesome metal sculptures. Head to Boa Vista to sample the wine from their own vineyard and amazing apple donuts and fritters. Try some freshly grilled burgers and hot dogs at Pine-O-Mine Ranch, and play with their friendly pups.

One of our favorite things about Sacramento is that it’s super close to our favorite winery, Bogle Vineyards! If you haven’t tried this wine yet, check out the Old Vine Zinfandel (available at most grocery stores). The vineyard itself is super relaxed and you can bring your own snacks to enjoy. Post-COVID they have become more strict about having reservations, which are easily obtainable online in advance of your visit.

Close to Bogle is the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg. This collection of tasting rooms and a few eateries are housed in old beet sugar refinery! P.S. we recommend ubering or having a DD for this portion of the trip, if you plan on sampling their many alcoholic delights!

Have dinner at Cafe Bernardo, and be sure to try their pizzettas! For a night out, check out the live music and vintage feels at Shady Lady Saloon in Downtown Sacramento. The Snug is close by and has a chic (but exclusive) vibe if you can be bothered to wait in line. The Cabin in midtown is decorated after a cozy log cabin and has tasty (and affordable) cocktails.

And that’s a wrap on your weekend in Sacramento! Interested in checking out other areas of California? Head over to this page!