What’s New in Sacramento, California

    Tower bridge, Credit-irwachapter27.org

Tower bridge, Credit-irwachapter27.org

Sacramento Is Fun and Affordable

Sacramento ranks among the “Top 10 Fun and Affordable Cities in the US” according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Many areas outside major cities offer both affordable homes and a variety of restaurants and bars, according to a new report from Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate. The company evaluated 6,106 ZIP codes in which the median home price is within 20% of the state’s median home price. It then selected the 25 areas with the greatest number of bars and restaurants. The list of fun, affordable Top 10 cities includes Honolulu, Scottsdale, Anchorage and Wilmington, N.C.

Norman Rockwell Exhibit Comes to Sacramento

The Crocker Art Museum is proud to present a collection by one of America’s most iconic artists, Norman Rockwell, from November 10, 2012 to February 3, 2013. “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell” offers a rare look at nostalgic and historic works from the Norman Rockwell Museum collection that explores the artist, his images, and their impact and influence on American culture.  The exhibit will feature more than
50 paintings and 323 original “Saturday Evening Post” covers. It is the first major Rockwell exhibit in California in 10 years.

Volaris Begins Service at Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Volaris, Mexico’s second-largest airline will start twice-weekly nonstop service to Guadalajara, Mexico from SMF beginning November 15, 2012. Only nine other US markets offer Volaris service. Regularly-scheduled outbound service is scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays; inbound service is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volaris will be operating either the Airbus A319 or the Airbus A300 aircraft with a capacity of 141 or 174 passengers, respectively.

 

Sacramento Launched Regional Wine Guide Website

The Sacramento region is home to more than 200 wineries and tasting rooms and is quickly gaining a reputation as a popular wine-tasting destination. To help leverage that momentum, the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) has revised the comprehensive, visitor-friendly, regional wine-focused guide that will encourage and enable greater exploration of all the region has to offer. Sacramento’s wine guide provides maps and information highlighting the following counties: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Northern Sierra, Placer, Sacramento/Yolo, and San Joaquin. The complementing website launched in April 2012.

Old Sacramento Underground Tours

Hidden beneath the city for nearly 150 years, Old Sacramento’s underground has long been the capital’s best-kept secret.  Today, you can join thousands of residents and visitors in uncovering the facts behind the legends that lie below our buildings and sidewalks.  Explore excavated foundations and enclosed pathways while your tour guide recounts the tales of the devastation, perseverance, and determination that led to California’s only successful street-raising project. The regularly scheduled tours will continue through November 2012 and will resume in March 2013.

Sacramento Walking Tours Offer Glimpse of California History, Art and Architecture

These unique tours through downtown Sacramento introduce visitors to the people, places and events that shaped California history. From John Sutter to Cesar Chavez, these tours cover more than 150 years of state and local history. Topics range from art and architecture to cultural, religious and urban history. All tours are guided and last approximately one to two hours.

Sacramento365.com Announces “Make it a Night” Feature span>

Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events, announced the launch of “Make It a Night (MIAN),” a feature now available on every event listing on the site. MIAN lets users view nearby restaurants, hotels and bars to help them round out their theater or festival experience with an overnight stay, meal or drinks before or after attending an event. Users simply search on Sacramento365.com for an event they’d like to attend and click on the “Make It a Night” button or tab.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) Opened $1 Billion Expansion in October 2011

The airy, four-level project includes integrated customs facilities, a two-level roadway to separate arriving and departing traffic and energy efficient and environmentally conscious design that is anticipated to receive LEED certification. The new Central Terminal B is designed to meet future air travel demand by replacing the outdated 216,000 square foot/13 gate Terminal B, with the new 669,000 square foot/19 gate Central Terminal B. The project also includes an $8 million public art program, most notably the 56-foot “Red Rabbit”.  SMF recently won a national design award for its concession program for medium-sized airports and has been ranked as the 5th most tech-friendly commercial airport in the country by PC World magazine. “Terminal B is packed with outlets and USB ports, elevating the smallish airport into our top five.”  SMF was among the first in the U.S. to offer free Wi-Fi.

Sacramento by Train

The 2012 Sacramento RiverTrain season is in full swing, having featured Great Train Robbery Lunches and Murder Mystery Dinners. A variety of daytime and evening trips are scheduled weekly for the remainder of the year. The California State Railroad Museum 29th annual weekend excursion trains will continue through September 2012 and will resume in April 2013.  There will be themed train rides around Halloween and the Polar Express in November and December.

Sacramento Children’s Museum Celebrates First Anniversary

The Museum, opened in August 2011 and features various exhibit areas to encourage children’s imaginations and prompt them to tinker, laugh and wonder. Special shows, programs, and speakers complement the exhibits. Although the Museum appeals to visitors of all ages, it is designed primarily for children to age eight and their families.

Courtesy of Lucy Steffens, Sacramento tourism bureau

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