The stunning home of the Sacramento Kings does double duty as a music and performance venue. Unveiled in 2016, the architecturally striking, LEED-certified basketball arena shifted downtown’s cultural hub west of the Capitol with over 40 home games, touring acts (such as Kanye and Lady Gaga), and an eatery- and shop-filled plaza (in true Sac fashion, the arena’s food program sources 90 percent of ingredients from a 150-mile radius). Even without tickets, you should check out the public art dotting the plaza including Jeff Koon’s flashy “Coloring Book #4,” ten giant dart sculptures from Gale Hart, and a lush soundscape from Bill Fontana.
Sacramento has always meant business. Sitting at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, Sacramento was a commercial hub during the Gold Rush, and became the Golden State’s capital in 1854. But after years of hustle and bustle, new establishments and lots more people, it’s now a prime spot for things to do. And downtown is something special.
It’s green and bright, and delightfully walkable (Sacramento actually has more trees per capita than any city in the US), and there’s plenty of museums for both kids and adults to explore. Downtown is also home to some of the best food in Sacramento, so we’ve included some seriously good food spots here. It’s even earned a name for itself as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. So listen up, we’ve rounded up all the best things to do (and consume) in this fantastic area, so you can fill a week or a weekend. Here are the best things to do, see and eat in downtown Sacramento right now.
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