Fun Things To Do With Kids In Sacramento

Last updated Nov 28, 2013

Sacramento natives can often be heard lamenting, “There is nothing to do here!” People who come here from other cities, however, have a different opinion. “There are lots of things to do! We are two hours from the beach, and two hours from the mountains…” Natives retort, “See? We have to leave the city limits to alleviate boredom.” I never minded leaving town to find things to occupy my time until I had children. With small kids in tow it can sometimes be necessary to stay close to home while having fun so when my son was little, my husband and I pooled ideas with neighbors and came up with a list of things to do, and it just so happens some of these activities are also used by tourists. So, if you should find yourself in Sacramento for business or pleasure, here are some things, listed in no particular order, that you can do with your children:

Sutter’s Fort. Located downtown, the fort has been a staple for school field trips for many generations. John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, created New Helvetia (New Switzerland) In 1839 after receiving a land grant from the Mexican government. It was Sacramento’s earliest settlement. After sending aid to the Donner Party in 1847, word spread of Sutter’s hospitality, and the fort became popular for new immigrants trying to find their footing in a new country. Unfortunately, gold seekers overran all of Sutter’s properties, and the fort is all that remains. It has been restored to historical accuracy and is open daily for tours. Exhibits include replicas and artifacts of tools and clothing from Sutter’s era, as well as special events like Living History Days and the candlelight tour called Emigrant Christmas.

Sacramento State Indian Museum. Opened in 1940 and sits on the same premises as Sutter’s Fort. No photography is allowed as they frequently display sacred items. The collection represents three areas of California Indian life; nature, spirit, and family. Exhibits include photographs of tribal elders, ancient Indian currency, baskets, some as small as the head of a pin, and tools over 2,000 years old.

ArtBeast. Also downtown, this busy, multi-floored facility (it was once a Victorian-style home) hosts playtime and special events each day of the week. A separate play area for children 18 months and under is on the top level. The facility also has cooking demonstrations to awaken the inner chef in young children. Because art time is also messy time, employees ask that parents supervise their own children and help with cleaning up so the areas are always ready for the next budding artist.

Old Sacramento. On Sacramento’s waterfront, Old Sac, is home to many shops of different types. A person can buy shirts and other souvenirs, movie memorabilia, toys, joke items, and just about any kind of snack imaginable. Food choices include pizza, big pretzels, ice cream, shave ice, gourmet candy made by hand on site, old fashioned candy by the pound, or the infamous Fat City, part of the Frank Fat food empire. Visiting Old Sac is a great way to spend a few hours, but if shopping is also part of the daily agenda, the Westfield Mall is a short walk. At the time of this writing, stores include Macy’s, Forever 21, Gymboree, the Body Shop, among others. There is also a food court, outdoor play area, and a movie theater.

California State Railroad Museum. Located on the far north end of Old Sac, the museum is home to beautifully restored train engines and passenger cars. There is also a library of railroad documentary collections, but they may only be read inside the library itself. The passenger cars are outfitted with period china and silver so visitors may get a realistic view of how passengers in past eras traveled. In addition to real train cars and engines, the museum boasts a massive collection of model trains from antiques to modern pieces. Train enthusiasts have said the museum is one of the best, if not the best, in the country.

Sacramento River Train. The train runs all year long and travels up and down the river. Special excursions go to nearby towns such as Woodland. Throughout the year, the train has holiday-themed rides, which are fun for everyone. The Christmas train is especially popular, and the cars are outfitted in holiday decorations. There is a zombie train, a Valentine’s Day train, one for Mother’s Day—if you can imagine it, they probably have it. In addition, the train offers three-hour trips with themes such as scenic lunches, sunset dinners, murder mystery dinners, and train robbery dinners.

Sacramento Children’s Museum. Located in Rancho Cordova, join the folks at the museum for story time every Tuesday at 10:00 and 2:00. This facility is perfect for the preschool set. There is imaginative play, water play, and art area.

Golfland Sunsplash. Also in Roseville, Sunsplash is really fun any time of year, but especially enjoyable in the summer because of all the water slides. The Sacramento region becomes very hot in the summer, sometimes reaching 112 degrees, and since it’s in the Sacramento Valley, there are few breezes to help with cooling, so utilizing waterslides for a few hours can be both fun and beneficial. The site also has miniature golfing and a full arcade.

Skatetown. If ice skating is something everyone would like to try, Skatetown in Roseville is a good place to experiment. They have many open skate times on weekends and weekdays, but they also have private lessons for both figure skating and hockey, so be sure to call first, just in case.

Crocker Art Museum. In Downtown Sacramento, close to Old Sac and the Westfield Mall, sits the newly expanded Crocker. The original building used to be the Crocker family home. The Crockers made their money in the building of the railroad. It’s lovely to mosey through the original building and imagine how the family must have lived. Downstairs in the original building is the children’s area where kids are free to make their own works of art to take home.

Sacramento Zoo. Located in William Land Park, the Sacramento Zoo is small enough to get through quickly, but large enough to keep the kids occupied for several hours. Save money and buy combination tickets for both the zoo and Fairy Tale Town.

Funderland. Also in William Land Park and within walking distance of the zoo, Funderland is great for small thrill-seekers. There is a snack bar and several rides so little ones can enjoy themselves from mid-morning until naptime. Entrance to this park is free and either tickets or wristbands can be purchased for the rides.

Fairy Tale Town. Located across the street from the zoo, the story-themed play park has lots of things for kids to do, including a garden area where wee ones can water the herbs and vegetables. Save money and buy combination tickets for both Fairy Tale Town and the Zoo.

I hope you find this list helpful. As more places are discovered, other articles will be written. Enjoy and have fun!