| Found in the Central Valley region at the | | | | fundamental in providing access to the |
| confluence of the American and Sacramento | | | | growing city of Sacramento in the nineteenth |
| Rivers, Sacramento is the State capital of | | | | century, and are now used extensively for |
| California and is the State's seventh-most | | | | recreation. Boaters often make the journey |
| populated city. Enjoying a great year-round | | | | from the Bay Area of San Francisco and vice |
| climate, Sacramento is renowned throughout | | | | versa during the summer months, and both |
| the USA as one of the best places in which to | | | | rivers are used for jet-ski, kayaking and |
| live, and is also a great place to visit. | | | | rafting to varying degrees. However, Old |
| | | | Sacramento is what draws most tourists to the |
| Typical of the Californians' laid-back | | | | city, other than Sutter's Fort. Along its |
| approach to life the residents of Sacramento | | | | cobbled streets are many restored and |
| are quite relaxed about applying more than | | | | reconstructed buildings, some of which date |
| one nickname to their city and current | | | | from the 1860s. Here tourists can ride |
| favourites include: Capital City, River City, | | | | historic steam-hauled trains of the old State |
| The Big Tomato, Sacratomato, and the City of | | | | Railroad and paddle steamers from the Old |
| Trees. The locals also have several other | | | | West. Nearby the California State Capitol |
| colloquial names for their city, such as | | | | building bears more than a passing |
| Sacto, the Sac or Sactown. | | | | resemblance to the nation's Capitol Building |
| | | | in Washington DC. |
| Founded by Swiss pioneer John Sutter, | | | | |
| Sacramento was first established as a | | | | Sacramento is still a major transport hub, |
| westernised colony in 1839, under the | | | | with an international airport handling |
| protection of Sutter's Fort. The city shot to | | | | flights from most US cities, Canada and the |
| prominence following the 1849 gold rush as it | | | | rest of the World, with trains reaching the |
| rapidly developed as a major distribution | | | | city via Amtrak and the Sacramento Valley |
| point for California, and terminus to the | | | | Rail Station. If you are planning a visit to |
| first Transcontinental Railway. Sacramento | | | | all these superb attractions it is best to |
| became California's State Capital in 1855 - | | | | book a hotel in Sacramento in the downtown |
| the fifth city to get the honour after | | | | district of Area One. From there you will be |
| Monterey, San Jose, Vallejo and Benicia. | | | | ideally placed to visit all that the capital |
| | | | city of California has to offer. |
| The American and Sacramento Rivers were | | | | |