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The Sawyer/ Elevation 10
Sacramento may be known as California's political nerve center, where lawmakers shape the state's agenda from the ornate halls of the Capitol—but that’s hardly all it is. The city sits at the heart of the Central Valley, an agricultural powerhouse surrounded by more than 1.5 million acres of farmland growing over 160 crops. Chefs here cook with what farmers harvest each week, so restaurant menus change constantly, and every Saturday morning the Midtown Farmers Market, ranked the best in California and third in the nation by the American Farmland Trust, fills several blocks.
Daily life unfolds beneath a dense canopy of elms, sycamores, and valley oaks that long defined Sacramento as the City of Trees. Around the Capitol, a 40-acre park filled with gardens, memorials, and trees planted by visiting dignitaries reflects how deeply greenery shapes this place. Old Sacramento's wooden sidewalks and riverfront warehouses nod to the city's 19th-century origins, while Midtown's murals, galleries, and music venues give the capital a distinctly modern cultural pulse.
In 2026, Sacramento feels like it’s hitting its stride: Last year, the capital hosted the Michelin Guide California ceremony and Terra Madre Americas, bringing the global Slow Food summit to the US for the first time. A $1.4 billion expansion of Sacramento International Airport is underway, following record-breaking visitor numbers in 2025, and Hotel Eleanor, the city's first five-star property, opens later this year. The city's energy extends to sports, too, with the NBA Kings drawing packed crowds downtown and the Athletics temporarily calling West Sacramento their baseball home. There’s a reason we named it one of Condé Nast Traveler's Best Places to Go in 2026—this is year to give Sac a second look. Here's where to eat, stay, and play once you arrive.
Sacramento is one of our Best Places to Go in the US, part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2026—find more travel inspiration here.
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Sacramento's Tower Bridge is an enduring symbol of the city—and host to the city's most iconic dining event.
Francisco Chavira
The best time to visit Sacramento
Spring and fall are the best times to visit Sacramento, when warm days and cool evenings make it easy to spend time outdoors. Spring coincides with the peak of the Central Valley growing season, when farmers markets fill with strawberries, asparagus, and other early harvests that quickly show up on restaurant menus. Fall brings the city's signature food events, including the Farm-to-Fork Festival and the elusive Tower Bridge Dinner, a communal meal stretching across the bridge with seats awarded through a highly competitive lottery. (Registration for the lottery usually opens in mid-July.)
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The Tower Bridge Dinner takes place at the end of summer, with tickets raffled off.
Francisco Chavira